Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Ithaca 37 16 gauge

I am getting ready to get serious in my search for an Ithaca 37 in 16 gauge.

Since this will most likely be a purchase over the net and gun will essentially be bought sight unseen what would be some questions to ask the buyer that would be common for the Ithaca?

Look first at overall condition with detailed photos. Ask to ensure it functions as it should. After that, definitely ask about any barrel damage: dents, buldges, bore putting, rust.

Next look for cracks in the stock or other wood damage, especially at the head of the stock (where the wood joins the metal on the buttstock). Then examine wood for cosmetic condition and add-ons such as a pad. If pad is added ensure stock is not too short (not much less than 14” or so unless you have very short arms).

Show stoppers for me are those that affect shooting, especially barrel damage. A cracked stock can be repaired, but unless you know how to do this, it would be expensive in relation to the value of the gun.

Good post above. Would add, “is it recent manufactured or older?”
Both are good guns, but the newer manufactured in Ohio I believe, is quite heavy. I owned one for a short period of time.

37's are great guns. The OHio guns are extremely well made. The new slug guns have rifle like accuracy. They will run a bit of money, but nice.

My early 50's 16 weighs 6# 1 oz. I think the newer Ohio ones are closer to 7#. My old one is sure light, trim, and pointable.

Serial numbers pre 855,000 do not have interchangeable barrels without gunsmith checking/tweaking. Post 855,000 guns, barrels can be swapped.

I did know that about barrels.


So after a new barrel is fitted can the old barrel be swapped back on without having to refit it?

Yes it can as long as the threads in the receiver were not tampered with.

Is it just a headspace issue with using a different barrel other than what was installed at the factory?

No the pre 855k barrels were threaded like a rifle barrel to the receiver and then removed and the threads interrupted for the takedown feature so each barrel was fit to it’s individual receiver. After 855k they went from threads to straight cut grooves.

This.

You can send an original early production barrel to a smith (like Les Hovencamp who was the head smith at Ithaca in New York) and they can make the barrels interchangeable without messing with the gun.

Or, (and I don't think I would do this), you can send to Ithaca in Ohio, they modify the gun, so that any late model barrel will interchange in it.

The old ones are beautiful light and natural fit

There is a great Ithaca thread in Shotgun World web site.
Les Hovencamp does business in Ithaca, NY as Diamond Gunsmithing.