Originally Posted by Dirtfarmer
Cole,

Before hard core collectors take a shot at you, why don't you check and see how much value you're giving up with a restoration.

It would look pretty nice.

I restored a 1st yr mfg Ithaca 37R (1940 IIRC) with solid rib. Metal was pretty good, wood was solid but pretty ratty looking. I slightly reshaped it in the restoration to fit my uses, added a Decelerator pad, recut the checkering and it ended up looking pretty good.

You wouldn't believe the scolding I took from some guys over on the Shotgunworld, Ithaca Forum.

I had bought the gun pretty cheap, less than $300. maybe even $275, just don't remember. I finally got enough of them, one in particular, and wrote that if it was a valuable gun it would have cost more than it did. I think that made them even madder. They want to buy those old pre-war 37's dirt cheap then throw a fit if someone upgrades one.

If this Smith isn't a high dollar piece, fix it up... smile

Then, show us photos.

DF
I dunno. I got it from a pretty hardcore guy. I haven't seen any evidence of it being rare and you couldn't hurt it much condition-wise. The problem is the rounded edges. I like sharp edges. Of course if you've got a sharp gun with little finish, then you have to watch your refinish guy so he doesn't round the edges, especially around the screw holes. A fo-real restoration would be costly. I've got maybe $850 in it and I figure I could get it shootable for another $150 at most. The problem is sending it around and fooling with it.