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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,840
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,840 |
I was given by my uncle my grandfather's 1953 Ithaca 37 16 ga modified featherlight.Unfortunately it wasn't cared for after grandpa passed in 1966. When I received it this June it was rusted pitted and you couldn't even open the action, along with scratches,dings and gouges in the stock.If it wasn't my grandfathers and someone tried to give it to me I would have said "thanks but no thanks" Being that it was my grandfathers prized shotgun that my grandmother bought for him by saving a penny here and a dime there( he actually cried when she gave it to him) I decided to have it restored. I brought it to Frank at Sycamore Hill Designs http://www.sycamorehilldesigns.com/It wasn't cheap,I'm sure I paid far more than the guns monetary worth but you can't put a price tag on some things. All metal stripped blasted and reblued, engravings retouched,stock and fore end repaired and refinished. The gun looks and functions like the day my grandmother presented it to grandpa
My dog is a member of the "Turd Like Clan"
Covert Trail Cameras are JUNK
3 Time Dinkathon Champion #DinkGOAT
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 492
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 492 |
Beautiful gun! That's one of the best restorations I've seen.
Matt
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5,844
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5,844 |
Outstanding restoration! I have my Dad's Ithaca 37 20 gauge about the same vintage. Great old guns.
Chronographs, bore scopes and pattern boards have broke a lot of hearts.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,811
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,811 |
Well done on everyones part!!!! I'm thinking it is probably better than the day it came out of the box. Had one of those but gave it to a Bird Dog trainer friend who did some starter work for me on a young Dog. It was worth it, but now wish I had it back. Funny thing it was years ago and I forgot I had given it to him and a couple years ago started to look for it and went thru the house more than a few times looking and finally gave up. I mentioned it to another friend and he said you gave it to Gary about 15 years ago for getting Abby off and running. "You sure?" One day we were hunting together and I asked him about it and that is how it left the house. Well done, now get some scratches on it. A big spring gobbler would be nice.
Last edited by battue; 10/04/14.
laissez les bons temps rouler
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,784 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,784 Likes: 1 |
Beautiful 16 ga. That ga. and the Ithaca 37 were extremely popular with my clan of cousins when I was a kid.. I think most of theirs were probably full choke.. Wonderful guns.. My first pump was a 20ga. bought from my uncle for $60. Long gone now..
Molon Labe
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,840
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,840 |
Frank did say it was a bit rare for a modified barrel as most were full
My dog is a member of the "Turd Like Clan"
Covert Trail Cameras are JUNK
3 Time Dinkathon Champion #DinkGOAT
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,153
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,153 |
Super old gun, and I love it when somebody takes the time and $$$ to put a sentimental favorite back in action. BRAVO!
(You will find that this is a superior bird killer!).
Was Mike Armstrong. Got logged off; couldn't log back on. RE-registered my old call sign, Mesa. FNG. Again. Mike Armstrong
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 8,522
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 8,522 |
Great story, great gun. Looks like they did a spectacular job.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 11,388
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 11,388 |
Have the same modified choked gun I picked up off gunbroker a couple years ago. Refinished the stock myself, need to have the metal done as the receiver has some pitting. Yours is truly beautiful. I got my first Ithaca (a 20 guage, 1953 as well) about 10 years ago, and really love using them on birds- No matter its metal condition, it still kills wild Kansas pheasants just fine-
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,089
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,089 |
Damn, nice job! I'm not sure the year of mine but about the same I think. Mine is 16ga with full choke.
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,091
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,091 |
I still have my Ithaca Mdl 37 16 ga. purchased in Baker, Oregon in 1972. It has a 28" barrel originally full choke but since opened to modified. Shot extremely tight patterns. Has the "Raybar" front sight and impress checkering on the stock and forend. Use mostly 6 and 7 1/2 shot anymore. Used primarily for occasional forays for grouse, chukar and pheasants.
Happy Trails! NRA Life Member
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,546
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,546 |
I have a 1948 edition of the Ithaca 37 in 16 gauge modified. It doesn't look as nice as the fully restored gun, but it is a great shooter. I need to epoxy the cracks at the top of the stock's wrist, but otherwise it is good to go. I walked out of a pawn shop three years ago with it for $235 and it even had a left hand safety already installed.
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 8,184 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 8,184 Likes: 1 |
I have it's indentical twin my Grandad gave me as payment for plowing for him when I was 13. Mine was also in poor shape when I got it and I used it for my first refinishing project in gunsmith school. I had to restock mine as the buttstock was spilt and oil soaked beyond repair. Someone well before my time was unhappy with the full choke and sent it out to have a polychoke fitted so I trimmed it back to 27" and installed screw in tubes. Funny thing is I'd bought three tubes and put the light modified in to test fire it, never took it out and have shot Dove, quail, pheasant, ruffed grouse, spruce grouse, and ptarmigan with it. It's one of my most cherished possessions.
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,284
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,284 |
Great restoration job on a fine old shotgun. My son has his great-grandfathers Ithaca 37 in 20 gauge - great shotguns.
One of the sanest, surest, and most generous joys of life comes from being happy over the good fortune of others. Archibald Rutledge
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,840
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,840 |
My dog is a member of the "Turd Like Clan"
Covert Trail Cameras are JUNK
3 Time Dinkathon Champion #DinkGOAT
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,089
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,089 |
As a young man just out of the service my father bought a Model 37 16 gauge in 1948. I still have it and regard it as a link to my late father. When I go out on the occasional preserve pheasant hunt over dogs I take it and it carries well and is quick handling. Also shoot a round or two of 5-Stand with it every couple months. It functions very reliably.
These were well made shotguns and a very good design.
People sleep peaceably in their beds at night because rough men stand at the ready to do violence on their behalf.
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 15,599
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 15,599 |
Very well done, on all counts...
"Chances Will Be Taken"
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 8,522
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2003
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I'm extremely pleased with how well it shoots! Looks like the pheasants would disagree! (Be careful laying that nice bluing on a bloody bird.)
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 803
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 803 |
That was a beautifull restoration job on your Model 37. I have seen so many bad reblues with over buffing that your smith stands out as a true craftsman. Beautiful gun, enjoy.
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 8,625
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 8,625 |
great restoration those 16ga 37's are an extension of you they fly to your shoulder ready for whatever needed i got 2 my dads old gun which has seen double duty shooting deer and small game and one i picked up early in life just incase i didn't get the first gun
DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR
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