doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Ithaca 37 question

Are Ithaca 37’s in 12 gauge with 26” bbls choked mod or full a rare thing?
I’ve been looking around lately for that configuration (with plain bbl, ring tail forend, etc) and haven’t really found a whole lot. Lots and lots of 28” bbls out there though.
Was it a balance thing as to why so few 26” bbl 37’s? (Not talking about deerslayers!)

Thanks in advance.

supply and demand...

I have always felt that the important thing with a Model 37 (or ANY shotgun) is to get one WITH A RIB. I wouldn't want one without a rib. I would also think that full choke would be the most common. I have a model 37 that (I believe was made around 1953). Solid Rib- 20 gauge- full choke. It was the first shotgun I ever bought when I was about 16 years old. I had it reblued and I will never let it go. There is one for sale right now that I was just looking at on American Trapshooter.com with a spare rib and probably some on Guns International. But I don't think that any Ithaca Model 37 is THAT big of a deal or rarity in any configuration- money-wise. Good luck.

Well, I hate to disagree with you, but I’m going to. I don’t think a rib is essential on any shotgun. I’ve shot limits of chukars, huns, grouse, pheasants, ducks, etc using Winchester Model 12’s & 97’s , Browning A5’s, Ithaca 37’s, Remmy 1100’s, etc.
I just took a 16 gauge Winny model 12 to Nevada for a 3 day long hike in the mountains for Chukars….26” ribless barrel. Chukars never knew I was shooting a ribless gun.
I never once felt my shooting would improve with the addition of a rib. Truth is, I don’t look at the rib or the bead when I shoot birds or clays. I shoot my solid rib Model 12’s just as good as the ribless ones

Anyways, I’d still like to know if Ithaca made model 37’s with 26” modified or full chokes barrels. If anyone comes across an example, even if it’s just for reference, I’d like to know about it.

1940 Ithaca catalog. "Any choke"

1957 Stoeger catalog

My 20 gauge is the 37R. I believe the R stands for rib. It has 28" barrels. For me, I wouldn't buy a gun without a rib. With my poor vision it sure helps having a rib. I don't look at the rib or the bead but my peripheral vision does. Plus it increases the value of the gun. But that's not the issue here. The question was- did Ithaca make a 37 with 26" barrels and I guess they did. So, good luck to all.

I like the Ithaca model 37. It was a star in its day amongst bird hunters, and deer hunters.

My favorite of all the American "pump guns" was the model 31 Remington. They were as smooth as silk in their actioning and operation.

Dustin,
I honestly see about a dozen 870s to every model 37, and Mossberg 500s outnumber both of them. From what I’ve seen a guy had to go a bit out of his way to get a 37, back in the day, and if those guys circa late 60s-70s were reading the wags they probably went with shorter barrels. Short tubes were the rage, until they weren’t.
You could get any choke you wanted in a barrel, but, when it came to 26” length, I’d bet whoever ordered the guns for stock probably just went open on the short tubes and tighter as the barrels got longer, trying to avoid having a bunch of different stock cluttering the place up.

Been there.

Best,
Ted

I like my Ithaca. I've had it for 60 years. It has taken a lot of rabbit, squirrel and quail over the years.