Ithaca Model 37

[fquinonez]

Does anyone have an Ithaca Model 37? If so, how do you like it? Is it a worthwhile investment/purchase?

[Cali-Shooter]

I own an Ithaca. Mine is from around 1930's pre-WW2 civilian hunting model. It only holds 5+1 shells, but it also has no trigger disconnector, so you can slam-fire it (shoot the gun as fast as you can pump it) if you keep the trigger squeezed. The only other shotguns that you can slam-fire on are the Winchester 1897, and Winchester 12.

Look into the details of what Ithaca you are looking to buy. There are hunting, police, and even military versions of the Ithaca 37.

I love my Ithaca, it's a pump shotgun 'blast' from the past

[MAX100]

Take a look at the Savage Stevens 350 Ithaca 37 copy with Ghost Ring Sights. It has a green fiber optic front sight. I have one and it's very well made, with steel trigger guard. The action is very slick right out of the box. 5+1 capacity.

GC

[Thefeeder]

Does anyone have an Ithaca Model 37? If so, how do you like it? Is it a worthwhile investment/purchase?

The 37 is a well made shotgun. The downside is fixed chokes.

As far as a worthwhile investment, the high grades are, if you can find one and don't overpay for it.

Here are the top grades

$1000 Grade
$5000 Grade
Presentation
Anniversary

Refinished or non-original configurations are devalued and basicly fancy shooters. Again, condition is everything.

[fquinonez]

I guess I made a mistake when I said investment. I am not looking at purchasing a shotgun as an "investment" per se. I meant purchse. I have a friend who has a newer Ithaca Model 37 (10 years old) that has only been fired once. It was a gift, and he has to ged rid of it because of wifey.


The edict was, if it can't be locked up in a safe you can't keep it around the rug rats. They live in an apartment, thus no safe.

Thanks for the feedback!

[echoarms]

Buy one from before the 80's so you get the slam fire option.

[gadjeep]

I have one in 20ga. Smoothest pump action ever!

[aippi]

One of the best pump shotguns ever made. Only issue I have is there are so many parts and they are hard to work on.

[B Strong]

Does anyone have an Ithaca Model 37? If so, how do you like it? Is it a worthwhile investment/purchase?

The Ithaca model 37 is another product of the genius John Moses Browning, may he sit at the right hand of God.

It is a fine tool for any use you wish to put it.

[Sugarfoot47]

Buy one from before the 80's so you get the slam fire option.

The new production defense models that I checked out at Turners have the ability to slam fire. I kind of thought this was done and gone some time ago because of liability reasons, but the one I handled was capable of doing it. I checked and double-checked and the hammer went down everytime I racked the slide with my finger depressed on the trigger.

[billped]

I have used my 37 12ga for 20+ years - duck, goose, and dove, mostly. Not sure of mfg year, I'll need to check. It is incredibly smooth and reliable. When I use another gun, it just doesn't feel right.


Bill

[RipVanWinkle]

I have an Ithaca Model 37 that was given to me by my uncle in 1954. It was my first gun. It's a 16 ga. (yeah.I know ), full choke barrel, serial # 9xxx made in 1938, the second year of production and the first year of production for the 16 ga. We lived in Ithaca, and my uncle bought it new and was a friend of one of the gunshop smiths who made it. It has the checkered forearm that preceded the "corncob" design that appeared after the war. It isn't pretty anymore, but it still functions perfectly. Over the years I've had a bunch of shotguns, but I kept going back to the Ithaca. It's my only shotgun now.

I see the "nothin' special" old ones like mine for sale pretty frequently for very reasonable prices. There are some good deals out there for something that will last a couple of lifetimes. I don't know much about the newer guns that were made after production ceased in Ithaca, but I think they are being made by a new company in Ohio now. Sadly, the old gunshop in Ithaca was demolished awhile back. Here's a link to a gunsmith who only works on Ithacas. His website has some interesting history and some good links:

http://www.diamondgunsmithing.com/

[PEBKAC]

Nice guns. I had to de-everything one a friend of mine bought (it was in a bit of a bad-way, cleaned up okay though). Quite fiddly with the little screws. I have some issues with it being less that easy to expand the capacity on those things but if you don't mind that aspect you should be fine.

And as many have mentioned: slamfire...very very fun.

Pick up a cheap one and except for the cleaning you will likely have to give it you will probably find it to be quite a worthwhile purchase.

[-hanko]

Better than a "mossy" or "remy"

A 37 is by far the slickest pump available.

I have 2...one is a 1945 parkerized gun with walnut furniture, Ithaca verified s/n as one shipped to the Army. It's loaded and near the bed 100% of the time.

Second is "truck" (land cruiser) gun, a DSPS (deer slayer police special). Long magazine, 20" barrel.

Both have never failed to feed, fire, or extract.

The drawback to Ithaca's is that they're under appreciated...if you're in the video game (aka "tacticool") mindset, you can't hang another 5 pounds of useless crap on the gun. Go instead with the Mossberg or 870. Ithaca's last forever, I see used ones here in Boise at Cabelas, most pawnshops, and any gun store...Prices run $250 and up.

You will NOT be disappointed with an Ithaca 37, guaranteed.

-hanko

[RipVanWinkle]

And as many have mentioned: slamfire...very very fun.

Oh Yeah! and the bottom ejection is nice too!