Ithica Gunsmiths???

[gman183]

Does anyone recommend a gunsmith who does work on Ithica Shotguns, specifically the model 37. I need to have a second barrel mated to the receiver and have been told it requires a gunsmith to headspace.

[TKM]

What are the first three digits of your serial number?

From a related post on IthacaOwners.com.


The newer POST 855,000 barrels are interchangeable.

The older barrel threads (pre-855,000) had a pitch to the threads, just like on a bolt. There is a dimensional relationship between the barrel face, the shoulder at the end of the threads, the face of the receiver and an internal shoulder.

This is why the barrels are serial nbr'ed to the receiver. There will be a serial nbr on the front face of the receiver, running vertically next to where the barrel goes in, and the serial nbr on the barrel that also has a - (dash nbr) to indicate choke. Such as 543123-2 indicates a MOD choked barrel.

Ithaca choke marking system: "1" for Improved Cylinder; "2" for Modified; "3" for Improved Modified and "4" for Full choke. There were also Skt marked barrels (or maybe nbr 5)

In order to fit the barrels (from what I can tell by observation and talking to other folks) the barrels were screwed into the receivers and a "witness mark" put on them. If you look at the older barrels most if not all will have the witness mark. All of mine do (older ones). The witness mark allowed them to align the barrel in fixtures to cut the thread interrupts, the extractor cuts and to put the barrel lug on.

Most pre- barrels will not even start. You can fudge them by backing them out a little but then they won't headspace correctly. If they do start, they will usually stop before going into position.

Because the threads have a "pitch" to them, the barrel is actually pulled into the receiver a small amount, just like a bolt is pulled into a nut/threaded hole when turned. A 1/4 turn does not translate into much movement, but it is there and has to be taken into account.

To fit a barrel, the barrel face and the shoulder have to be carefully machined on a lathe a little at a time until the barrel will go into the receiver, start into the threads and then when turned, bottom out with the all the aforementioned features in alignment. A person has to understand the dimensional relationship before hacking away at the metal.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Send it directly it Ithaca They will do the work for a very reasonable price.

I had them completely redo mine a couple of years ago and it came back perfect.

Contact Zack Amert at 419-294-4113.

Do it by tomorrow or else you'll have to wait a week until everybody gets back from the SHOT Show.

Randy

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