New (to me) Ithaca 37 16 Gauge!

CoryTheCowboy

CoryTheCowboy

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A decrepit duck blind in Atikokan, ON
Well, I started off my shotgun career (if you can call it that :roll: ) with either an Ithaca 37 or a Winchester 97 (both in 12) depending on the say, and I thought it was time to "go back to my roots", but in 16 instead :lol:. I did a bit of research and while 97's were made in 16's, they're hard to find and expensive. A 37 though...they were around and in their scaled frame...that would be a nice pump. I could ease the choke out to Mod (if I found a full) and it would be a great grouse/duck gun for the hunting I do.

I posted Ad's on various forums and sorted through all kinds of messages. I had one guy tell me he had a vent rib 37 with removeable chokes (came with an IC, M, F) and a 26" tube for $375. I thought "Perfect!" Just as I was sending him a message to say "I'll take it!" he sent me one. "Oh, sorry, it's actually a 20 Gauge". Just my luck :( Then there was the 37 with a "factory" 23" Mod barrel. A bit short for what I wanted...a waterfowl gun.

I was getting to the point in my search where I didn't think I'd find anything when I stumbled upon a site called "Firearms Canada". I talked to a few people and they said the site was sketchy at best. Regardless, I typed "Ithaca 37" into the search bar and the first result was a "Ithaca 37R Deluxe 16 Gauge". Interested, I clicked the link. A decent looking gun with a price of $350. Above what I wanted to spend, but he said he was willing to entertain offers. I got some more pictures, but ultimately decided the price was too high. I told him his price was more than fair, but it was more than I wanted to spend. He asked what I was willing to pay, and we ultimately decided on $300 CDN shipped...or basically $275 for the gun. I got his name, address, phone number and it all checked out. I decided this was the gun for me.

We quickly completed the transfer after I sent payment, but we had to wait due to the Canada Post strike :evil: When they went back to work I sent him an e-mail and he said he was on his way to the P.O. Well I waited a few days for a tracking number and nothing. I sent him an e-mail and he said his assistant had sent it and he was looking for the receipt. A waited a few more days and then I phoned him. He apologized and said he would send the tracking number the next day. Again, I waited. I sent another e-mail and was starting to get worried. It had been a few weeks since Canada Post had went back to work and things usually took about a week. I was just about to phone again when I went to the post office and saw I had a parcel. It was about 40" long. Just about the size of a shotgun box! :lol:

I ripped it open as soon as I got in my front door and was beyond happy. While it's not pristine, it's definitely been taken care of. This was the first Ithaca I've seen without a ring-tail fore-end. I also noticed that it doesn't say "37R" or "Deluxe" anywhere on the gun. Not a big deal as I'm happy with it...but curious just the same. I asked my sister when she would be free to go trap shooting and she said on Friday (I got it on Tuesday). It got even better the next day when I went to the post office and there was my new MEC 600 Jr. in 16 Gauge! I loaded up some 1oz loads and waited. I visited a good friend who was almost as anxious as me for the gun to arrive and from the serial number, it looks like it was made in 1946. An old girl ;)

After work on Friday off we went. She shot 25 with her 11-87 (12 Gauge...silly girl :lol: ) and then it was my turn. She loaded up the hand thrower and I got ready. "Pull!" and waited. Waited. Waited. I turned to see her frantically waving the MTM thrower around trying to get the pigeon to release. This was the first trip with this particular thrower and she didn't get grasp the concept. I do give her credit for trying though, but it was in vain. I picked up the thrower in my right, held the 37 in my left and threw a hard, high one. I threw the gun up and without thinking was rewarded with a dust cloud. I did this a few more times and clipped some clays, but I wasn't shooting my best. We decided to pack up and bring out the other thrower on the weekend and hope for better luck.

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I've got 2.2 pounds of Nice Shot #5 and some #5 Bismuth on its way. I'm hoping to get a nice duck load together by September :D Depending on how they pattern, I still my get the choke eased out, but I want to test it first.

Sorry for the long post, but I'm still pretty excited :lol:

Cory
 
Nice looking shotgun!! I'm new to the 16ga also, looking forward to the grouse season to give it a real tryout. Enjoy your new toy. there is a great site just about 16 ga called 16ga.com (add the www)
 
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Nice shotgun. I have bought a few guns now ( and sold a couple) off of Firearms Canada with no problems yet. In fact, some I had for sale sold off of that forum before selling off of this forum. And a couple of guns I became interested in were listed on that forum but not others. So you never know. You just have to keep checking.
 
I have one just like it, only mine had the barrel cut down to 25 inches and a poly choke installed years ago. It is my very favorite upland gun especially with the ability to instantly change chokes to suit the load. I started reloading for mine straight away too. Ammo can be pricy and availability is often an issue. I also shoot 1oz loads. I wish I had the #5 shot you mentioned. I shoot #6 for grouse but there are lots of pheasants where I live so I could make good use of the #5 if I could get it.
Congrats on a new favorite gun. Long may you shoot together.
 
What does a scaled older version of the 16ga M37 weigh? Does the Ithaca offer the same convenience/ease of unloading live rounds from the mag tube as is the case with the BPS?
 
Ahsan Ahmed said:
What does a scaled older version of the 16ga M37 weigh? Does the Ithaca offer the same convenience/ease of unloading live rounds from the mag tube as is the case with the BPS?
Click to expand...
I would venture to guess it's no different from my 1971 made 20 gauge. Just push on the spring loaded shell stop on the bottom LH side and out they pop.
This 16 gauge looks to be a very nice handling shotgun. I have several 12s and one 20 myself. Never met an M37 I didn't like Cory!
 
My Ithaca Repeater book by Walter Snyder lists your gun as an Ithaca M37S, the S stands for Standard Grade. These were the furious post-war years and sporting shotguns of any make were in high demand. It's said that 1946 was a turning point year in peacetime production as the government equipment for 1911-A1s were no longer required and more room could be made for shotguns finally. The checkered forearm points at pre-war parts. Later on the ringtail fore-ends became standard for this model, once the pre-war parts were exhausted. The gripcap came and went depending on the model, but the checkering on the handgrip, is most defintiely early post WWII checkering style.
You've got a excellent shotgun friend, made when quality really meant something in American firearms. I'm sure it will give you years of good service!
 
I really like the slim shape/design of the Ithaca forend. An English or a pistol grip stock minus the deep curve would be a nice touch....I believe some 80s production were offered with short bbl and a straight stock.
 
Ahsan Ahmed said:
What does a scaled older version of the 16ga M37 weigh? Does the Ithaca offer the same convenience/ease of unloading live rounds from the mag tube as is the case with the BPS?
Click to expand...

I don't have a scale handy, but I'd guess right around 6 pounds. Like Brutus said, just press the shell stop and they pop out.

Thanks for the info Brutus!

Purple hulls were definitely up the "cool factor" in my opinion ;)

Shredder, if I could've found one like yours I would've bought it in an instant...I've always liked the idea of a Poly-Choke, but I've never actually used one. My Dad has a 37 in 12 Gauge with a Cutts on the end, and the extra weight definitely helps with swinging through.
 
CoryTheCowboy said:
I don't have a scale handy, but I'd guess right around 6 pounds. Like Brutus said, just press the shell stop and they pop out.

Thanks for the info Brutus!

Purple hulls were definitely up the "cool factor" in my opinion ;)

Shredder, if I could've found one like yours I would've bought it in an instant...I've always liked the idea of a Poly-Choke, but I've never actually used one. My Dad has a 37 in 12 Gauge with a Cutts on the end, and the extra weight definitely helps with swinging through.
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You're welcome Cory!
Myself I never find Ithaca shotgun posts too long.

Cheers....................:cool:
 
Mine had the cutts compensator on it as well. It was originally an integral part of the poly choke. I found it really increased the decibel level so I cut it off leaving the poly choke by itself. NO regrets. I just weighed mine and it is exactly 7 pounds. I would have guessed it lighter but I can only compare it to my Rem. 870. By comparison the m37 waves like a wand. Mine has the ribbed fore end but is pre 1950 as the take down nut has the little slide out pin in it. I understand this was discontinued in 1950. Mine is worn silver nearly all over from years of handling and hunting but especially around the first half of the receiver where it naturally balances. Bore is mirror bright, function is 100% and it patterns very well indeed with my 1 oz loads of #6 shot. It will stay in my collection for as long as I am able to keep it.
 
Ahsan Ahmed said:
I really like the slim shape/design of the Ithaca forend. An English or a pistol grip stock minus the deep curve would be a nice touch....I believe some 80s production were offered with short bbl and a straight stock.
Click to expand...
To revisit Ahsan's question, there were three series of production runs of Ithacas with English straight grip stocks. Introduced in 1982-1985 the English Ultralite (aluminum alloy receiver) offered in 20 gauge and 12 with a 25 inch barrel and screw in chokes. The second series during the bankruptcy years of 1985-86 list this special non-catalogued version as the Model 37 English Mag Vent, offered in 20 and 12 to use up English parts in the inventory along with the 3inch magnum receivers. In 1997 Ithaca LLC offered this again as the English stocked version of the Deluxe Field. Of course the straight gripped model was called the Model 37 English, with 24 or 26 inch barrels with three removable chokes, in 20 gauge only this time around.

I'm no expert! I blame the book..................;)
 
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I'm gonna have to look up one of those Upland versions in a 20ga. :) The stock measurements on the Ithaca are quite right for me.
 
I shot a 16 for many years and it always worked well for me. Finally went to a 12 as I was tired of looking for what I wanted and paying more for 16 gauge shells over the cheaper more available 12's.

I would have gone for the 20 gauge as it is on a smaller frame. 20 gauge 37's are quite desirable because of that. As far as I remember the 16 and 12 share the same frame size on the Ithaca 37.

They are very reliable shotguns.
 
Very nice! In my corner of Canada that gun would be perfect with an IC choke. When one thinks of classic grouse guns, one does not generally think of pump actions. The exception to this is the Model 37 in 16 ga. or 20 ga. Truly a grouser of distinction!
 
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