How reliable are they? Browning design, does that help answer your question?Besides the aforementioned gunpartscorp.com, here are a few sources for barrels.
Well, first of all the serial number given is for a model 37 and not the model 51. All model 51s serial number begin with 5100. Since your begins with 37 would you not believe that it is a model 37.
Auctionarms.com, gunbroker.com, gunsamerica.com, brownells.com, ithacagun.com, and I've even seen them on eBay. Not too many aftermarket parts available for them, but maybe that will change now that Ithaca has come out with their 'Homeland Security' model.ChairborneRanger is right, you can't add a magazine extension due to the way the barrel attaches to the mag tube.
Only thing I would recommend is maybe a sling and a rubber buttpad. They kick like a mule!
I can email you a disassembly manual if you're interested. It's in 10 parts, total about 1Mb.Here's a pic of my '66 Ithaca riot gun.
Not sure, but I don't think you can get an extension mag for an Ithaca 37 because the mag is integral to the action. So if you can't extend the mag, cut the barrel like rigidrotor. Remember the Ithaca Auto-Burglar?That's incorrect.
For a time Ithaca offered the Model 37 DSPS with an eight-shot magazine and a barrel with the magazine stop extended further towards the muzzle to accomodate the longer magazine tube. A few of these barrels are still out there, but you'll have to look. The second option here is to remove the magazine stop and have it silver soldered as needed. However, there were most certainly eight-shot Model 37s and it is certainly possible to modify yours.Brownell's used to sell extended magazine tubes and Pennsylvania Gun Parts 1701 Mud Run Road York Springs, PA 17372 (717) 259-8010 had everything else.
Most items should be available from Ithaca, too.It is not entirely a John Browning design. This first appeared as the Remington Model 1908 from Irwin Pedersen and evolved into the improved Model 1910 from John Browning. A twenty gauge version debuted as the Model 1917 Remington and both the Models 1910 and 1917 were superseded by the Model 29 Remington (which is actually closer in design and manufacture to the Model 37 than any of the earlier incarnations). These were all discarded for Remington's own in-house design, the Model 31. Ithaca was known prior to the Model 37 as a maker of high grade custom doubles, but due to the depression, was sinking fast. The wheels there decided that they ought to get into the repeater business and there was this Pedersen/Browning design that Remington was no longer using and the rest is history. Originally Posted By BigBear:That's the shotgun that is at arms-reach from where I type this.
I'm a Ithaca freak. It's the KKF pumpgun of choice. I've made barrels for these, with thicker walls for added stiffness after rifling. My bedside SG is a DS Police Special in factory nickle/8-shot. There was a guy in SGN (I think Tommy at Creekside Gun Works) that did the extended mag conversion. It requires the barrel lug to be moved up to the muzzle, and a longer magtube/spring to be installed. It's a fairly straightforward operation.
The Autoburglar was a double (20). The Stakeout, as used by NYPD (and Tubbs on Miami Vice) was a cutdown 37 in 20 gauge. These appear on the collectors market from time-to-time. Originally Posted By KurtsKustom:Originally Posted By BigBear:That's the shotgun that is at arms-reach from where I type this.
I'm a Ithaca feak. It's the KKF pumpgun of choice. I've made barrels for these, with thicker walls for added stiffness after rifling. My bedside SG is a DS Police Special in factory nickle/8-shot. There was a guy in SGN (I think Tommy at Creekside, or LostCreek, Gun Works) that did the extended mag conversion. It requires the barrel lug to be moved up to the muzzle, and a longer magtube/spring to be installed. It's a fairly straightforward operation.
The Autoburlar was a double. The Stakeout, as used by NYPD (and Tubbs on Miami Vice) was a cutdown 37 in 20 gauge. These appear on the collectors market from time-to-time.
Let's just take this off-board for a secret rendezvous, big guy.Anyway back on topic FOR JUST A MOMENT, the 37 is a $200 gun. A.good.
$200 gun, but a $200 gun nonetheless. So why blow maybe a couple hundred dollars on mods to an Ithaca 37 when you can just trade yours in for the version you want? My comments earlier, which Jim takes hyper-literally, simplified so even Jim can understand, are that the extended mag version of the Ithaca 37 is not that common but if you look you will find one, and it is good to go out of the box without mods.
Originally Posted By BigBear:Vinnie, Uncle Mikes makes a set of sling swivels for the 37. That would work for a 2-point sling.Or you could rig up a CQB type sling. The buttstock would be easy as it would basically velcro on like the 870 or 590.
The forend part would be harder but I think a zip-tied or paracorded loop would work okay. It wouldn't be purty but it would be functional.Thanks again Big Bear. I've looked all over and never seen the Uncle Mike's set for the Ithaca. Allways the Mossberg or Remmington, and when I ask at the local gunstore, the tell me to get rid of the POS and get a Remmy or Mossberg. I think he just wants the Ithaca.
I D&T the front lug for a standard stud. I'll try to get a pic posted of my 'DEARSLAYER' barrel from a blank. I duplicated the interchangeble front sight base that accepts the interchangeable flourescentinsert when I built my heavy rifled 'DEARSLAYER' barrel, and also the quarter rib foriron rear sight, complete with D/T cuts for rings/optic, as was done by thefactory for the DS Police Special. That's exactly how I built my slug barrel, same sights, but mine came frombarstock. That's a lot of work.
A good solid sightsystem can be mounted to the slickbarrel. If you plan on keeping the barrelmounted, a receiver sight for the rear can also be utilized.
JimDandy, I paid less than $200 for the Ithaca riot gun you see in the picture, $165 to be exact. The buttstock was cracked right behind the top of the receiver, but a buddy of mine repaired it and sanded and oiled the stocks with linseed oil.
Came out pretty good I think.I am very well aware of what a well-worn Model 37 goes for. I've only bought/sold/owned a dozen or so of these guns over the past seven years. However, ChairborneRanger is rather unrealistic in his assumptions.
The price of a used Model 37 will run anywhere from $125 all of the way to about $450. I guess no one has thought about selling/swapping the parts that aren't wanted or used for something that better suits. I know, tough concept. Thanks again Big Bear.
I've looked all over and never seen the Uncle Mike's set for the Ithaca. Allways the Mossberg or Remmington, and when I ask at the local gunstore, the tell me to get rid of the POS and get a Remmy or Mossberg. I think he just wants the Ithaca.Vinnie-If you're interested, I have an Uncle Mike's sling swivel set QD 115 ITH for an Ithaca Model 37. The package has been opened for inspection, but they've never been used. I'll take $7 including shipping (Priority Mail). Email if interested.
Jim, my Model 37 is not that well-worn. It was a police trade-in so it was likely dinged from being toted in and out of a police cruiser more than it was shot. The metal internally and externally is in pretty good shape, as well as could be expected from a 36 year old parkerized scattergun.
I'm sure you're aware of the problem with buttstocks cracking behind the receiver. You've probably seen that a time or two. Because the gun is so light it kicks alot and cracks the wood in that location.BTW, if Vinnie doesn't take you up on the sling swivels, can I have 2nd dibs? Jim are you still rambling on? Had a hard day, buddy?If you want to see a sub-$200 Ithaca 37, you might try Pawn World right here in my dinky little AZ town. I personally bought an Ithaca 37 with a bunch of ammo about five years ago for $150 and sold the gun about a year later for $180.
Maybe you better leave OK and move to AZ. Just stay right where you are, several states away from me.Tell ya what, would you buy every Ithaca 37 I can get my hands on for, say, $250? Since you buy and sell 37s all the time, for apparently a lot more than that, you should be all over such a deal. Jim are you still rambling on? Had a hard day, buddy?If you want to see a sub-$200 Ithaca 37, you might try Pawn World right here in my dinky little AZ town.
I personally bought an Ithaca 37 with a bunch of ammo about five years ago for $150 and sold the gun about a year later for $180. Maybe you better leave OK and move to AZ. Just stay right where you are, several states away from me.Tell ya what, would you buy every Ithaca 37 I can get my hands on for, say, $250? Since you buy and sell 37s all the time, for apparently a lot more than that, you should be all over such a deal.Okay fantasy man, I'm not talking about some worn out, tired police trade-in with the barrel bobbed back.
Using your twisted analogy, I once bought a Ford pickup for $50. Granted it had no engine or transmission, but I gave $50 for a full size Ford pickup. Applying your cockeyed logic, Ford pickups are $50 vehicles. At any rate, you are not going to find a Model 37 Ithaca in good shape, with good wood, and a barrel that hasn't been messed with for your unrealistic price on a regular basis. I don't want to hear about your latest garage sale exploits either.Still yet, if a guy wanted to add on an eight-shot magazine could he not SELL his existing barrel and BUY a barrel that better suits him? Never made it over to the equipment exchange, huh?
How much is a new magazine tube and spring, $30? Could he not SELL his existing barrel.Morning Jim. I see the dawn of a new day has left you still with a big mouth and no brain. Big market for those old Ithaca 37 barrels in OK I guess?
Well as far as I know they command about the market value of Enron stock.Sounds like after considering my generous proposal you are unwilling to put your money where your mouth is. Not surprising, and for once you are doing the smart thing.At least now I know that since you obviously have access to a computer today you aren't a certain Nigerian law student. I wondered about that yesterday.Have a nice day. I found some more info on the Ithaca Model 37 riot/trench guns on oldguns.net.Question:I understand the Ithaca Mod 37 was used by US forces in WW2. I am curious if the old model 37 I have might be one of them, or how I might be able to find out if it is.Answer:Troy, when the Ithaca Model 37 was standardized on August 7, 1941, it was envisioned that the company would turn out large numbers of the weapons in the event of war. After Pearl Harbor, Ithaca was given several contracts for the production of military shotguns, but after the delivery of 12,433 shotguns, it was decided that Ithaca should concentrate on increasing its production of the M1911A1.45 pistol and the production of shotguns was halted.
Ithaca delivered three types of model 37 shotguns to the military during WWII, trench guns, riot guns and training guns.Ithaca Model 37 trench guns manufactured under government contract during WWII were fitted with ventilated metal handguard/bayonet adapter assemblies. The Ithaca handguard had six rows of ventilation holes. The WWII Model 37 Ithaca trench gun was finished in commercial grade blue, including the handguard/adapter assembly and had standard sling swivels.
The stock was plain and unadorned and was not stamped with an inspector's cartouche. The forend had parallel grasping grooves. The only martial markings observed on the trench guns were 'RLB' stamped on the left side of the receiver next to a small Ordnance Department flaming bomb and a small 'p' proof mark on the left side of the barrel. The 'RLB' initials were those of inspector Lt.
Bowlin, Chief of the Rochester Ordnance District. Observed trench gun serial numbers range from: #61038 to #61856. All known original WWII Model 37 trench guns have the 'RLB' marking on the left side of the receiver.Ithaca delivered a number of riot gun versions of its Model 37 to the government during WWII. Most of the WWII M37 riot guns were converted from commercial shotguns and will have such features as checkered wood and finely blued metal.
Riot gun martial markings varied somewhat and many of the early riot guns did not have the 'RLB' marking found on the M37 trench guns. A few of the later riot guns were essentially identical to the WWII Model 37 trench guns except for the ventilated metal handguard/bayonet adapter and sling swivels. Some Model 37 riot guns underwent arsenal rebuilding during and after WWII. There were large numbers of Ithaca Model37 riot guns manufactured after the Second World War. Most of them were for police and civilian use but some were made under government contract for use in Vietnam.There were a number of skeet/trap type Model 37 shotguns delivered during WWII for training purposes.
Ithaca Shotgun Serial Number Lookup
Some of these guns were standard civilian production guns with no modifications except government ownership markings. Training shot gun barrel lengths were 28' and 30'. John tells me that most serial numbers of the examples of these that he has seen are in the 51,000 range. There is a 'U.S.'
Under the 'R.L.B./ordnance bomb' on some of these.If your Model 37 does not have any government markings it is unlikely that it is US Military issue. Jim, do you remember back in English class, you might have learned the word 'hyperbole?'
Perhaps that word came along after you dropped out (somewhere in the seventh grade). You might look it up in a 'dictionary,' which is a volume listing words in alphabetical order and offering their pronunciations and definitions.To the rest of you looking to this thread for serious information, I apologize for cluttering it up between myself and Jim, but hey we're just havin' a bit of fun. And I agree that any decent 'U.S.'
Marked Ithaca 37 is worth a.lot. more than $200 and would be something I'd like in my collection. Ithacas are good guns if you can find the one you want, they just aren't worth tying a bunch of money up in mods. Get a Benelli!
Or an 870!Right, Jim? Only 'down fall' on the 37 is the feed ramps. I have seen two that have blown up. The barrel is not the problem, the feed lips are the problem.Both have released a round from the mag(tube) and sprung the round(primer) directly into the feed lip/forked end. The round fired and blew the tube and the rounds still in the tube. On one only a single round went off.
Serial Numbers For Ithaca Model 37
On the other, it started a chain reation with the rounds in front of the firing round. Both rifles were toasted.If you get a used one, Check the feed lips and the shell release spring. If either one is worn or bent replaces them before shooting the shotgun.
If you can find a replacement feed, with out the forked ends, Do so as soon as possible!!!!!
Like most gun companies, the has had a checkered path in terms of successes and failures. Founded in 1883 in Ithaca, N.Y., by William Henry Baker, Dwight McIntyre and John Vanatta, its original plan was to build fine double-barrel shotguns. Baker was a longtime gunsmith of good reputation for design and execution, but like many gunsmiths he had relatively little capital to work with, which sent him on an endless search for underwriters. By 1887 Baker had left Ithaca, and McIntyre, Vanatter and L.H. Smith, brother of L.C.
Smith, continued to run the company.The company enjoyed some success during the Edwardian latter years of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century, but mechanization and technology continued its relentless pursuit of all things efficient at the expense of all things aesthetic. Ithaca needed to come up with a magazine-fed shotgun to hold its share of the marketplace. It eventually chose a design patented by John Browning in 1915 and put forth as the Model 17, a contemporary of the that everyone seemed to want at the time. Trouble was, of course, Ithaca had to wait until Browning’s patent—owned by Remington—expired before it could utilize the features of the shotgun, so not much could be done until 1932.
By then the U.S. Was in the depths of The Depression, and companies like Ithaca again scrambled for working capital, as well as something that could give it a competitive edge in the market.Fortunately for Ithaca, Remington discontinued the manufacture of the by replacing it with the Model 31 in 1933. Like most Browning designs it depended on forgings and other relatively expensive-to-make parts. The Model 17 had some improvements patented by John Pederson—of Pederson Device fame—that did not expire until 1936. Ithaca had its own designer, Harry Howland, who modified the Remington’s firing pin and ejection mechanism in 1931, thus making it simpler and less expensive to produce. Finally, in 1937 Ithaca was able to bring the Model 37 to the market.The Model 37 is a manually operated, slide- or pump-action shotgun fed from a tubular magazine located beneath the barrel. Its most notable feature is that it is loaded and ejects through a common port located on the underside of the receiver.
The shotgun combines robustness with a simple, yet elegant design that ensured its success and popularity over more than eight decades. Though originally designed as a shotgun for hunters, its adaptation as a trench gun and police shotgun has equally cemented it in the hearts of gunners.
One reason for its popularity early on as a martial shotgun was its lack of a disconnector in the fire-control mechanism, allowing the shotgun to be fired by simply holding the trigger down and operating the slide. It was thought that this provided an increase in firepower, but in actuality the gun is nearly impossible to control when operated in this way—with the exception of motion pictures where guns can do about anything. Ithaca added a disconnector in 1975 after prodding from corporate lawyers.Its bottom-ejecting feature was actually an improvement, however.
Without a big hole in the side of the receiver, the Model 37 had some built-in resistance to catching debris inside the gun and tying it up. Too, southpaws appreciated not having smoking empty hulls flung across their faces, as was the case with other magazine-fed shotguns.The in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, as well as some other relatively minor skirmishes. It has seen extensive use by the New York and Los Angeles police departments, as well as the L.A. Sheriff’s Department. Countless other smaller law enforcement agencies pressed the Model 37 into service, too. It was very popular in the Midwest and prairie states as a waterfowl and pheasant gun.When the Model 37 was introduced it was also called the, though in 12 gauge it still weighed in at a shade more than 7 1/2 lbs. Later an Ultrafeatherlight model in 20 gauge with an aluminum receiver would be brought forth at about 4 1/2 lbs.
It has been chambered for 2 3/4' and 3' shells in 12 gauge, as well as 16, 20 and 28 gauges. The Model 37 has been fitted with rifle sights and called Deerslayer; clad in a synthetic camo stock and deemed Turkeyslayer; even given a straight, English-style stock targeting quail hunters.
Ithaca’s marketing guys used to make a big deal about the shotgun’s Raybar front sight, a sort of first-generation fiber-optic. Today it comes with a TruGlo red front sight.
The number of variations that the marketing guys came up with would boggle the mind, but these are the most popular. More than 2 million Model 37s have been built in this country. One particular variant—the Stakeout—featured a pistol grip sans buttstock and a 13' barrel designed for undercover policemen. It was made popular in the television series “Miami Vice” as the gun of choice for Detective Ricardo Stubbs played by Philip Michael Thomas, who, according to the firearms consultant for the program, had difficulty handling handguns. The Chinese and Argentines have produced knock-off variants of the Model 37 as well.Ithaca has undergone a lot of ownership changes over the years.
Today it is based in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, and prides itself as a gunmaker still building every part of its guns in the United States. The Model 37 is still available with MSRPs starting in the $895 range. Though never as popular as the or some other pump guns, the Model 37 retains a cult-like following, especially in the riot-gun configuration with a 20' barrel and an 8-shot magazine.