Trying to decide between Fabarm STF-12 and Ithaca 37 Defense
- Thread starter 870P
- Start date
If you get an old Ithaca, only one of those will be in your heart forever 
I couldn't find exactly what I wanted, so I made it. I had a mint 1959 M37, and had it cut down and rebeaded by Casey at TacOrd. I'm not sure it had more than a box before I received it, as the bluing was perfection. I don't shoot it enough (maybe 75 rounds a month sometimes) and keep telling myself it deserves better...but honestly, I can't part with it.
Accuracy wise, even as a cut down Full, it still shoots cleaner than everything else with an IC choke or less. The old guns are slick as snot. You've felt a Wingmaster's action? Think smmmooottthherrr.
The STF12 is cool too, I guess. Ha
I couldn't find exactly what I wanted, so I made it. I had a mint 1959 M37, and had it cut down and rebeaded by Casey at TacOrd. I'm not sure it had more than a box before I received it, as the bluing was perfection. I don't shoot it enough (maybe 75 rounds a month sometimes) and keep telling myself it deserves better...but honestly, I can't part with it.
Accuracy wise, even as a cut down Full, it still shoots cleaner than everything else with an IC choke or less. The old guns are slick as snot. You've felt a Wingmaster's action? Think smmmooottthherrr.
The STF12 is cool too, I guess. Ha
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- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
If you don’t have a Fabarm already you should pick one up, they are beautifully made shotguns.
I've never heard of a Fabarm until today; any reason why there 1400 plus? Brand name/ über quality stuff?
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
They don’t have a real strong presence in Canada or the USA, they need to do more promo. They’re really well made Italian shotguns. Leo and military in Europe use their tactical line, iirc HK severed ties with benelli in the late 90’s and went to Fabarm.
Ive never seen one of their sporting shotguns but if they’re anything like their tactical line then they will be great, fit and finish is top notch. Really smooth actions, tough guns. I’ve had one for 4 yrs and it shows no real signs of wear and I’ve hiked and hunted with it for a couple years in a row, great shotguns.
Ive never seen one of their sporting shotguns but if they’re anything like their tactical line then they will be great, fit and finish is top notch. Really smooth actions, tough guns. I’ve had one for 4 yrs and it shows no real signs of wear and I’ve hiked and hunted with it for a couple years in a row, great shotguns.
I've never found it a particular issue unless there is something mechanically wrong with the gun.
If you do happen to get a double feed, you can just reach up through the lifter forks and pop one round back into the chamber and the other back into the magazine.
My Ithaca would do that occasionally, when I first got it, but it had 75K rounds on it, no cleaning, light interior surface rust and tired original springs, once it got some actual maintenance it hasn't done it since.
If the bottom eject presents any real problem, its that it makes for a slower port load and is a bit of a hassle to chamber check.
PM sent.
Did you also see that recent In Range video of a Halloween shotgun-match, with the poorly-maintained Ithaca-37? ...
I was leaning Ithaca of late but it came to my attention that they may have switched from a milled to a cast bolt assembly in recently production.
I emailed them to see if this was the case and they haven't replied. This could be a deal killer, depending.
Also, in the Fabarm favor is that it accepts accessories much more readily, and what's more, is that Her Royal Vajesty, who's proudly part Italian, thinks I should choose the STF-12 over "that old farmer's gun".
I emailed them to see if this was the case and they haven't replied. This could be a deal killer, depending.
Also, in the Fabarm favor is that it accepts accessories much more readily, and what's more, is that Her Royal Vajesty, who's proudly part Italian, thinks I should choose the STF-12 over "that old farmer's gun".
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Truth is they aren't quite apples to apples in the comparison department. Guess it just depends on what you want. That said, if you wanted an Ithaca, I'd buy an older one, or try to import one of the new Inland clones....they just look fun
Get a nice old 37, send it to a Smith, get it cut, cleaned up, and refinished in some thing classy. Be cool to see a well done tacticool modernization on one.
Get a nice old 37, send it to a Smith, get it cut, cleaned up, and refinished in some thing classy. Be cool to see a well done tacticool modernization on one.
