Question about Ithaca 37

[squee116]

I just got an Ithaca 37 featherlight, looks to be 26 or 28" long barrel, with poly-choke, and beautiful finish. The craftsmanship on the poly-choke is astounding, however, I don't do much(any) bird hunting or sporting clay shooting.

I got the gun because:
a)I got a deal on it, since the stock was cracked and broken
b)No disconnect on the trigger
c)Smoothest action I've felt in a shotgun yet

HOWEVER, the gun is a pre-855000 serial number, and as such, the barrel is not interchangeable. I was hoping to convert the gun to its riot gun form, which leaves me two options. Chop the barrel down, or send it in to Ithaca, and have them properly take out the barrel, put in an insert, and fit a shorter barrel for around $375.

On the flip side, while I'm not a hunter or sport shooter, I really appreciate the craftsmanship that went into putting this gun together, as is, poly choke and all.

I was hoping to get alternative plans, or opinions about my dilemma.

[11011500a]

I got lucky, I picked up a 30" barrel here that fit my 37 . The seller sent a pic of the treads and they matched up to my old barrel and so i bought it and it dropped right on,the gun runs 100%.
My guns serial # 189xxx-4 and the barrels serial # 757xxx-4
So I don't know if the dash means something to the threads, or if its just a coincidence. Good luck in your search.

[NapalmCheese]

The dash number at the end of the serial is the choke, 4 is full, 2 is mod, 0 is cylinder.

Finding a new barrel for your old Ithaca will be pricey, if you're really in love with it, it might be worth the cost. My Ithaca is my favorite pump gun, there is no finer pump gun than an Ithaca 37 Featherlight IMO.

If I were you, I'd keep it and play clay games and/or take up bird hunting. Of course, I already play clay games and hunt birds so I might be biased. If you want a riot gun with some history to it, find (and pay the big bucks for) an original 1897 Winchester. They were made as riot guns and trench guns, the trench guns have heat shield and bayonet lug. There were also model 12 riot guns and Remington model 11 riot guns, those are semi auto (I think they made a 'riot' variety, not super sure). Bonny and Clyde were known for using cut down Browning BARs and cut down Remington model 11s.

The model 11s have a lot of good history and are really inexpensive. I wouldn't buy one to chop, but that's mostly because I like bird guns. Otherwise, if killing the value of an old gun doesn't bother you that might be the way to go to get a historically accurate short shotgun.

[squee116]

There isn't much monetary value to the gun. I got it for $160.

For sure it needs work though. The stock had a large portion of it crack off, near the top of the rear end of the receiver, close to where my cheek would be resting. I figure that's gonna be around $100 fix right there.

[NapalmCheese]

Well, let's put it this way:
You definitely didn't get ripped off, but you didn't get a rocken deal either. If you restock it you probably won't be able to get your money back. If you get the stock fixed for $100 bucks, you'll probably get you money back plus dinner.

Check out Diamond Gunsmithing, the guy that owns the shop was the master armorer at Ithaca for a good long while.

Again, I really enjoy shooting my Ithaca, so it would be worth it to me to restock it in something nice. If you're just looking for an HD gun or something then not so much.

Plenty of Ithaca 37's rode between the driver and passenger seat in police cruisers for many years.

[jfifer]

Just save the stock, refinish it,or sell it. There are a few synthetic options, as well as other wooden stocks available. It is a great shotgun that will last forever. I have a 1948 ithaca and prefer it over any modern shotgun.

[loophole]

I have a 1948 ithaca and prefer it over any modern shotgun.

I have a 1973 model that my daughter took for a "test drive". She will disown me if I ever get rid of it. It's hers once she has a place of her own.

[Chaos47]

If this one is in as nice of condition as you say then sell it and get one that has already been chopped or messed with.

[JDay]

You can buy one with a shorter barrel for what it would cost to send it to Ithaca to have it done.

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[12GAUGE]

For gods sake if you want it in a HD configuration cut the barrel down and your done. I did it to one and have zero regrets. Its a shotgun use it how you want to.. sorry but I don't see this as a Dilemma After your done take it out and slam fire that bad boy!!

[John Browning]

Google Michael Orlen. He does nice work. He chopped a Wingmaster for me to 18.5 and threaded it for chokes. It is a super classy riot gun with a vent rib, fancy walnut, and interchangeable chokes now.

[Grumpy-old-man]

Hi squee116;

I love the Ithaca's too, and have had a couple of the riot guns over the years. That said, my take is that you should restock your classic Ithaca and keep it for trap shooting, then pick up a $220 Stevens Model 350. Its a Chinese made Ithaca clone with two major changes - dual action bars and ghost ring "fiberoptic" sights. Minor changes are the barrel and magazine tube, both of which are somewhat thicker than those on the original Ithaca.

I just got back from the range today and no, my Chinese Ithaca clone is not quite as smooth or fast as my 1981 vintage 7+1 shot Ithaca with the cop issue slam fire FCG. But its good enough to be sitting by my bedside as I type this, with 5x rounds of 00 buck in the tube and 5x slugs on the cuff. I bought my old Ithaca new and its cherished enough to have become a safe queen and hand-me-down for the next generation, so I needed a replacement for hard use. The Stevens fit the bill for me.

Only changes I've made to the basic gun are:
1. Stronger magazine spring (for a Rem870 police gun) - I could cycle it quickly enough to get some feed issues with the original spring, since the shells weren't being given enough tension against the feed mechanism. The replacement spring fixed that issue - slugs, 00bk, whatever, it can throw 'em as fast as I can run the pump now.
2. Choate high visibility follower
3. Replaced the original fiber optic front sight with a slightly larger diameter rod that I fitted by hand and melted so its snug in the assembly now.

No, the original Ithaca is a better gun. Good luck finding a police gun in good shape for a price you'll want to pay has been my experience. I'm still kicking myself for selling my other Ithaca police gun, a 5 banger back when money was tight and I was stupid enough to say "who needs two shotguns". Yep still kicking myself for that one.

I've read mixed reviews on the Stevens 350, but for what its worth I love mine. Heck, if I can find another one, I'll be able to leave one by the bedside and leave the other in the trunk (see there's a good reason for 2x shotguns right there!). 'Course that's legal in Arkansas. Not sure about California.

Whatever you get,
Good luck and all the best,
Grumpy

[jfifer]

I have some experience with the 350 too- similar, not the same, but close enough make this one a safe queen, and leave it as is. I bought my wingmaster chopped to 18.5.

[squee116]

Oddly enough, I inherited a wingmaster from my uncle a while back. Rather than chopping, I bought a mossberg replacement barrel for around $70 and that's been my HD gun. I bought the corncob fore-end and refinished it to match my original butt stock. Great gun, but no slamfire.

[JDay]

Can we see some pictures?

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