Ithaca shotgun from 1963

[Tightlinestrav1]

Hi, I ended up owning a rag full of parts. When I put the larger pieces together I get this.
I'm no gunsmith but pretty sure I need a barrel. Anybody have advice where to get parts for these old things? I am missing a couple pins too. Or should I just.part it out and forget the headache?uploadfromtaptalk1433371883126.jpguploadfromtaptalk1433371921347.jpguploadfromtaptalk1433371976615.jpguploadfromtaptalk1433372089259.jpg

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I'd get s short smooth bore barrel. You have the foundation of an excellent home defense shotgun there, assuming it is an Ithaca M37. A very light weight and dependable bottom ejecting shotgun used by LE agencies for decades.

[Mad-B-Man]

wow, you're lucky that the serial is post 855,000, else you would have had to send the receiver to ithaca for a 180 dollar barrel fitting.

every thing else should be fairly easy to source at brownell or numrich.

[rcslotcar]

I carried an Ithaca M37 for the best part of 30 years in my patrol car. It had zero bluing left but was in perfect shooting condition.

[NapalmCheese]

I think yours would be recent enough that you can buy any old M37 barrel (again, assuming it's an M37) and it would fit without a problem. Early Ithacas had their barrels hand fit, and as such the barrels aren't interchangeable. Later Ithacas don't have this problem.

[pacrat]

that is an M37

[Bobby Ricigliano]

that is an M37

Then I say:

Nice score.
Worth it to restore.

[sealocan]

You might try gunparts corp. /numrich
or maybe Jack First gun parts.

[pacrat]

Need to determine original gauge before hunting parts. They were made in 12-16-20 ga. IIRC [which I often don't] the 12-16 had a common reciever size but the 20 was smaller.

Here is a schematic

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufacturers/IthacaSKB-33316/Shotguns-36647/37Featherlight-40933/PartsList-34028.htm

There is an excellent step by step assembly guide with illustrations in the old NRA Firearms Assembly, Guidebook to Shoulder Arms. If you can find a copy.

Mine was stolen years ago by a druggy family member. Maybe Bobby and some other members that have them, can chime in with measurements to compare reciever sizing.

I gifted my good friend the Cop Across the street my left over M37 12 ga barrel just recently.

[NapalmCheese]

IIRC [which I often don't] the 12-16 had a common reciever size but the 20 was smaller.

I don't believe this is correct about the 12 and 16 gauge but I can't say one way or the other definitively. While I don't have access to a 12, I can measure a 16 later tonight if need be.

[pacrat]

OP, if it is a 12 ga reciever. I would be jumping on this barrel.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=486056436

Caution.......Barrel stub thread pitch changed between old and newer model 37s. Old/New barrels do not interchange. I don't remember what Sr # the change was. I have a hand written note to self, from back in the day that #855,000 was the switch over. NOT SOLID INFO

Do your homework

[-hanko]

OP, you've scored most of a shotgun superior to the 870/500 recommendations seen here over and over. If you have any reservations as to keeping her, PLEASE PM or email me from here.

I have a C&R and would be happy to take her off your hands...missing barrel and parts are no problema.

Does she come with a bolt??

thx and hth

-hanko

[HUTCH 7.62]

Cool project. Looks like it could be a nice gun with some parts

[Steve_In_29]

The Ithaca 37 (and Steven's clones) make excellent HD shotguns and work great for lefties.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

The Ithaca 37 (and Steven's clones) make excellent HD shotguns and work great for lefties.

I agree. They eat and poop out of the same hole. Awesome ambi solution before ambi was even a word. Here's mine!