Really wanted the Ithaca, but left with a Browning BPS Hunter 20 Ga

[Milkmaster]

I'm glad it worked out. I may look around at gun shows for a barrel that doesn't have the corn cob on it, but for the time being, I'm just going to stare at it and drool.

You should know that all barrels on older Ithaca 37 shotguns were hand fitted up to ~1964 and are not interchangeable between guns. Here is a list of SN's/years.

 

[Milkmaster]

FYI...

 

[Milkmaster]

Love my old Ithaca They are a classic. I had to replace the buttstock on it years back. I ordered it directly from Ithaca back then.

 

[Freudianfloyd]

You should know that all barrels on older Ithaca 37 shotguns were hand fitted up to ~1964 and are not interchangeable between guns. Here is a list of SN's/years.
View attachment 1125547 View attachment 1125548

I wonder if it would be worth cutting the barrel after the poly-choke and getting it threaded for choke tubes? The barrel will still be 25" long without the poly-choke. Or I will just learn to like the poly choke.

 

[SwampWolf]

I wonder if it is a later stock? Did they have different grades of the 37 in 1949?

I'm not sure; hence my question. In the era, white spacers were likely applied to "higher end" guns and corn cob fore-ends being the mark of more affordable models. I'd be surprised if the two features were factory features found in the same model-but I'm no Ithaca expert.

 

[Freudianfloyd]

Love my old Ithaca They are a classic. I had to replace the buttstock on it years back. I ordered it directly from Ithaca back then.
View attachment 1125553

I'm very new to Ithaca, but I am loving the one I picked up.

 

[Freudianfloyd]

I'm not sure; hence my question. In the era, white spacers were likely applied to "higher end" guns and corn cob fore-ends being the mark of more affordable models. I'd be surprised if the two features were factory features found in the same model-but I'm no Ithaca expert.

Sounds like I will be doing some research.

 

[Frulk]

The Model 37 I mentioned in an earlier post is SN484XXX. It has a plain, non ribbed barrel and a white line spacer on the uncheckered buttstock but not on the pistol grip (and no pistol grip cap which has Ithaca on it). 2 and 3/4 chamber. Looks to be made in 1952.

 

[Barnfixer]

If you don't like the looks and the idea of the Polychoke, I'm not sure I'd recommend one on a gun that you otherwise love. I think they are functional but not everyone appreciates the aesthetics. My Auto 5 had a Cutts Compensator (somewhat similar in appearance to a Polychoke) when I bought it. I kind of appreciated the nostalgia, but otherwise it did look a bit dorky. I bought the gun with the intention of shortening the barrel, if not I think I would have looked for one without the Compensator.

But I understand your appreciation of the Model 37. I bought my first one a few years ago and really liked it, ended up with a couple more. I've shortened the barrels on mine (I prefer the feel of a shorter shotgun), had screw-in chokes installed (which I recommend if you want to be able to change the choke), shortened the stocks a little bit, added recoil pads, and refinished the wood. The long-barreled one in the photo below has since been shortened and the wood refinished like the others. I highly recommend the gun if it fits you as well as it does me. IMO, they are high-quality guns, and enjoyable to operate and shoot.

View attachment 1125178

I've watched the 37s sell on GB for a few years now. Unless they've spiked up recently, you can pick up a very nice one in the $500-$550 range if you keep your eye out. Add another $100 and you'll have a wide range of choices. I prefer the 1955 and earlier models, or if not that old, maybe the 1966 and earlier, but they are all good guns.

That'd be a real shame.

Not a fan of polychokes, but a huge fan of 16turbo’s cut and tubed ones. I say get it, cut it and choke tube it.

 

[I6turbo]

I wonder if it is a later stock? Did they have different grades of the 37 in 1949?

Yes, that's a later model stock. The 1949 model would have originally had a stock like the one on the long-barreled gun in my photo above. It's a 1950 model.

Here's your photo brightened so that it's easier to see the stock details. That pressed checkering pattern and white ITHACA lettering on the grip cap started in 1968. The checkering pattern ran through 1973.

 

[I6turbo]

I wonder if it would be worth cutting the barrel after the poly-choke and getting it threaded for choke tubes? The barrel will still be 25" long without the poly-choke. Or I will just learn to like the poly choke.

You could definitely do that if you like. I used Michael Orlen for all of mine and he did an excellent job, the guns pattern great and shoot to POA. A pump with a 25" barrel has about the same overall length and sighting radius of an O/U or SxS with 31" barrels, +/-.

 

[Freudianfloyd]

Yes, that's a later model stock. The 1949 model would have originally had a stock like the one on the long-barreled gun in my photo above. It's a 1950 model.

Here's your photo brightened so that it's easier to see the stock details. That pressed checkering pattern and white ITHACA lettering on the grip cap started in 1968. The checkering pattern ran through 1973.
View attachment 1125572

Well that's a shame and I thank you for the information, but I still like it and think it adds a nice touch to the gun.

 

[Freudianfloyd]

You could do that if you like. A pump with a 25" barrel has about the same overall length and sighting radius of an O/U or SxS with approximately 31" barrels, +/- a bit.

Any idea the cost to have that done?

 

[I6turbo]

Any idea the cost to have that done?

Recently increased, like everything else, from $65 (where it'd been for years) to $80.

My screw-in choke guns all have the Colonial Thin Wall Sporting Clays chokes in them. My Auto 5 also has the lengthened and polished forcing cone, and I've also had Michael re-install the beads on the guns he choked. I cut and trued three of my four barrels myself, but let him cut one of them because I didn't have time before I shipped it out. All of his work has been just right on mine.

 

[I6turbo]

Well that's a shame and I thank you for the information, but I still like it and think it adds a nice touch to the gun.

Yes, nothing wrong with the later model stocks. In addition to the difference in the checkering, there is just a little bit of difference in some of the various year model stock measurements, but it's very hard for me to tell the difference in between them when shouldering the guns, and hard to decide which I prefer. Also, I've shortened two of my three and added recoil pads, so that changes them a little. The guns are kind of long in the stock (not too long, but you can notice that you're stretched out when you shoulder it) if you add a recoil pad without shortening the stock, but that makes them great for passing shots. My "long barreled" Model 37 (2nd up from the bottom in the photo, which is a 1966 model with 1952 model stock and forearm) has a 20" barrel and also has the longest stock because it's not been cut and also has a recoil pad. That's the gun of the three that I'd use for Doves or such. The other two have shorter barrels and slightly shorter stocks.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

I'd like to buy a newer, Sandusky, OH, Ithaca, but they shut down at the start of Covid. I haven't seen one in-stock anywhere ever.

 

[Cvans]

I'd like to suggest that you shoot the gun a few times before cutting the barrel. Like many here I'm a firm believer in the adjustable chokes "if" they are installed correctly. The ability to change chokes instantly without carrying and changing tubes can be a big plus.
If you plan on shooting steel removing the adjustable choke is probably necessary.

 

[DustyGmt]

The company I work for recently moved to a new building, and now on my drive I pass a gun store. I have passed it hundreds of times, but today was the first day I ever stopped in. I don't know why I waited so long.
I would love it if there was a shop around me like this.

Of all the gun stores I have been too, I have never walked in to a WALL of guns and every one of them is open and can be picked up, handled, you can window shop, etc. They are not behind a counter, they are on a wall like cell phones would be in a store.

They also had a decent selection of used guns, which has been my thing lately. I didn't know what I was going to buy if anything, but I sold some stuff and had money burning a hole in my pocket.

On the used gun rack, they had some nice looking old shotguns, a Sweet 16, lots of 500's, a couple older automatics, and one that I absolutely fell in love with. An Ithaca 37 Featherweight in 12.

I have never owned an Ithaca, and instantly had to have it. The gun looked like it had never been fired but had a few scuffs and marks that look like it was banged around in a closet, but still in great shape. It cycled smoother than any pump gun I have ever held, and it seemed like a great price. However, my excitement turned to disappointment when I noticed it had a Poly-choke firmly attached to the barrel.

I wasn't instantly turned off by it, but it really made me second guess the purchase. So much so, I left and went out to my truck and thought about it for a while, called the only gun expert I know, and then went back in to the store and looked it over more. In the end, I just couldn't bring myself to buy it. That big corn cob just took all the aesthetic out of the glossy gun.

Next to the Ithaca however, was a mint condition Browning BPS Hunter for a really good price. The gun also had the original box and choke tubes. The best part, it was a 20. I have several 12's but only one other pump 20. That combined with them dropping the price sealed the deal, and so I left with the Browning instead.
View attachment 1125136

Now I am at home still thinking about that Ithaca. And thinking I need to pick it up next time I head home that way from work.

What do you guys think of Poly-choke, corn cobs, etc. How much would that kill the deal for you?

Also, what does a really nice Ithaca 37 Featherweight go for these days?

 

[Riomouse911]

You done good and THR enablers done good. It’s a win/win.

Freudianfloyd

There never was a doubt in my mind that you would make the right choice and go back and get the Ithaca too!

I think everyone here knew you were going to do it long before you came to the same conclusion!

Enablers Unanimous strikes again.

Congratulations on two nice shotguns! I have three BPS, which are on the heavy side, but I have never had an Ithaca 37.

Maybe someday I will rectify this absence like you did .

Stay safe.

 

[Old Dog]

Well, I couldn't take it anymore. I had been obsessing over this gun for 3 days and told my wife today that if it is there on my way home, it is a sign that I should buy it. Low and behold, it was still there. The guy also came down on the price so that was a nice bonus. I had high hopes the poly-choke was factory installed, but it wasn't besides being marked Improved, the gun is older than the poly-choke. Before I bought it, I looked up the serial number and this gun that is in excellent condition besides some wear on the mag tube from racking the slide and some flaking of urethane from the forearm, was made in 1949! It honestly looks like it had only been held, or stored in a closet.

I tried to get a shot of the inside of the barrel but it didn't want to show up. It honestly doesn't look like the gun has ever been fired. There isn't so much as a scuff down the entire length of the barrel ID.

It is the smoothest racking gun I have ever had, and it only got better when I oiled it. It was a bit dusty inside.


View attachment 1125507

Good thing I didn't see your OP until tonight -- I would've told you to stake out the shop until it opened the next morning and go in the door, wallet in hand.

Yours looks to be about the same vintage - and condition - as the one I inherited from my late father-in-law. (Ours does not have the white spacer in front of the buttpad or on the pistol grip, but the wood grain is superb) Initially, I too was totally put off by the poly-choke, but years later, am a huge fan of any Ithaca Model 37. The action is just too smooth. Having been issued and shooting Remington 870s and Mossberg 500s/590s for the past 42 years, when I discovered the 37s, it was enlightening.

 

[Riomouse911]

Good thing I didn't see your OP until tonight -- I would've told you to stake out the shop until it opened the next morning and go in the door, wallet in hand.

Yours looks to be about the same vintage - and condition - as the one I inherited from my late father-in-law. (Ours does not have the white spacer in front of the buttpad or on the pistol grip, but the wood grain is superb) Initially, I too was totally put off by the poly-choke, but years later, am a huge fan of any Ithaca Model 37. The action is just too smooth. Having been issued and shooting Remington 870s and Mossberg 500s/590s for the past 42 years, when I discovered the 37s, it was enlightening.

When I first started, many long moons ago, LASD issued Ithaca 37’s for patrol deputies. I was told by a senior deputy I knew the Ithaca was selected because the bottom eject made it pretty much universal for left or right handed employees (outside of the safety). So range training and operation were easier to accomplish with 8,500 sworn personnel.

I don’t know if what I was told was factual info or just speculation, but it certainly makes some sense.

My career has been all 870’s and Benelli M1’s, so I have no Ithaca 37 experience.

Stay safe.