doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Ithaca Model 37 safety locked up

Just bought a clean little 1951 Model 37 20 ga., but the safety is locked in the off position. Haven't had time to fool with it; any suggestions before I start?
JR

'Ya got good screwdrivers, right?
Stock comes off first, trigger group slides out the back, after screws are removed.
Clean some of the gack out, lightly lube, and report back to us. Bet everything is fine after that.
jOe should be along to tell you it isn't a fine gun and not to talk about it here, but, just ignore 'im.

Best,
Ted

THERE is a little spring loaded plunger that into one of two notches in the safety. It mad be dirty or damaged. Nothing else should be in the way. Be careful nor to loose this if you take the trigger plate assembly apart. Very simple mechanism as you will discover. The danger it it all is once one is acquired, more tend to follow! You have been warned.(where is that smile icon?)

Take it apart inside an old pillow case; small springs and spring powered parts stay closer & much more easily findable that way. You can easily make a 'holder opener' for the pillow case from a bent wire coat-hanger. And please wear eye protection.

The safety detente (or little silver colored plunger thingy) and the safety button are the only two parts of the safety system. The safety is nothing but a trigger block. If you push the detente up out of the way, you can just slide the button on through and out to clean.

If it is a replacement safety button, the notches on the button may not be lining up properly. There are at least a couple of variations in the Model 37s. The new barrels won't fit the older ones, and the new safety button won't work in the older guns either. That may be your problem...Geo

http://stevespages.com/pdf/ithaca_3787.pdf is a manual that tells how to disassemble the M37. The picture in step 5 shows the left side of the trigger assembly, including the safety and the plunger. It appears that the plunger could be freed w/o taking the gun apart, as suggested above. If just stuck from hardened lube or corrosion, a drop of Break Free, Kano Kroil, or WD40 to soak on the plunger and on the safety could loosen it. Then, if the safety is still stuck, try to push the end of the plunger in with something that will not scratch the metal.

Thanks guys. Going to work on it later today. My guess and hope is the detent plunger is stuck from old oil and needs to be freed up to let the safety button move.
JR

Nice catch.

Pete

Just some gummed-up oil. Works fine after a little heat, Seafoam Deep Creep, and some light tapping with a nylon hammer.

This gun is a real peach; no hickies anywhere, good varnish with dark, red/brown wood with some dark contast streaks, small corncob forend, checkered buttstock, original Ithaca buttplate, about 98% blue, 28" full. Slick as a whistle and so slim and trim.

I grew up shooting my Dad's 16 ga. Model 37 andit's amazing how much more svelte (I can use that word here?) this 20 ga. is than the 16. Already looking for a solid rib barrel! Appreciate all the replies and help.
JR

Geo,
The lefty safety buttons from the Upper Sandusky people and the unit sold by Brownell's both work in older guns. I put a Brownell's safety in my 1957 model 37 with no problem. No problem, except, it is a funky gray color, and the gun is blue.
John, I've got a Remington model 17 and I know what you mean. For what it's worth, Mine is a 1933 vintage gun, and every model 17 barrel I've ever tried (about three) worked fine on it. I picked up a second 26" modified barrel off Ebay a while back, and it works perfect.


Best,
Ted