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Found - Ithaca Model 37 Trench Shotgun


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As a followup to my question about M37 sling swivels, I would like to share some photos of an Ithaca Model 37 that I found. I believe this may be a WWII trench gun that has been updated some. The stock has been replaced with one from Herter's and the front sight has been added. I found this gun sitting in a small gun shop and thought hey look at that cool Police shotgun. As I grabbed it off the rack and looked at the bulged barrel I thought those three grooves look like they would be for a heat shield. I then saw the bomb mark and RLB and thought this might be a military gun. Note, I know nothing about military shotguns and have not paid that much attention to them. I brought it home and started looking it up.

 

Serial number is 61529 and barrel and receiver match. This is just outside the recorded range, but I see conflicting information on that. Hopefully Bruce can chime in to help.

 

I picked up a heatshield and sling swivel from Parts for Antique guns. I also found another 1940s model 37 that is all original and picked it up for a donor buttstock. Hoping to iron out the bulge some and add the heatshield and stock to get it looking good again.

 

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Ron

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A very nice find. You have a good eye. Would love to see it when youre all done. I have 2 trench gun repros, no real deals, ones an 1897 Norinco and my M12 trench that I built 2 years ago. I shoot them in Wild Bunch matches. Been looking for a Stevens 520-30 donor to remodel but theyve gotten a little pricy, wouldnt be match legal but I like the way they look. Edited by Baltimoreed11754
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My son, who is a custom gunsmith told me that he made a tool to take a bulge out of a shotgun barrel that he said works very well ... I have to admit that I didn't know that a bulge could be removed ... I learned something from this post ... And from my kid.

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stuff like this can be found very very low in the right spots because they're not "attractive" anymore.

 

 

 

 

I got my Stevens 620 for $120 last year.

took a lot of cleaning to get it running good. Took the barrel down to 18.25 cause the last few inches looked like a beaver tried eating it.

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I paid 301.00 for my lightly refinished 1940 Winchester model 12 two years ago that I rebuilt into a trench gun. An original one would have been alot more. Figured that I couldnt hurt it.

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Edited by Baltimoreed11754
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  • 1 year later...

Hi Ron,

I too bought a 37 years ago that is only around 30 above your serial number. It has the same markings as yours and also had the barrel notches for the shroud. Mine has was looks to be a parked finish very similar to what your receiver looks like. I too had to buy a donor gun for the stock as mine was replaced with a modern one. I would love to know the story on these because they seem to be legit guns but outside the "known" range. Seeing yours makes me feel more confidant that it was not something that someone added markings to make a fake trench gun. Maybe overruns that were sold to PD's or ? At this point I am happy with the gun as I dont have much into it and it may turn out to be something legit. Only time will tell

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Roland, if you can provide to me the serial number of your Ithaca I can confirm when and in what configuration it left the factory. Photos would be helpful particularly of the martial markings to confirm they are legitimate.

I wish winchester kept those same records. I can tell what year mfg it is but no way to tell which configuration it was when it left New Haven.

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Here are a couple pics of my 37. I am somewhat confused by the serial numbers in Canfields book concerning the 37 trench guns. In the collector notes section it states no guns after 61450 are original but then back on page 86 it shows two shipments with high serial numbers of 62123 and 62119. If that is the case my gun is under both of those numbers.

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Edited by Roland the Thompsongunner
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Tom D do the markings look legit on my gun? Also most data says the guns were all blued so If that is the case i guess this was redone with parkerizing at some point or is it possible its factory like the late war Model12 guns?
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Bruce, thanks very much for the finish clarification. I am still a bit confused on the serial number range for the original guns. My gun is in the 61500 range like the original posters gun. Do you believe these are WWII issued guns? Thanks for your help, dan
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Bruce, thanks very much for the finish clarification. I am still a bit confused on the serial number range for the original guns. My gun is in the 61500 range like the original posters gun. Do you believe these are WWII issued guns? Thanks for your help, dan

Dan, the WWII Ithaca Model 37 trench guns were in the 57,974 to 62,119 serial number range. There were only 1,422 made so not every serial number in that range was a trench gun.

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Roland, if you can provide to me the serial number of your Ithaca I can confirm when and in what configuration it left the factory. Photos would be helpful particularly of the martial markings to confirm they are legitimate.

Tom D I sent you the details on my gun thanks for your help. dan

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According to the Ithaca shipping records, it was shipped as a trench gun in July 1942. Too bad it's not original. If so it would be a $20,000+ shotgun.

I was looking over this topic again I am so exited to have my gun be an original trench gun. As Tom D stated too bad its not all original...but at the same time I would have probably have never had the opportunity to own a real gun if I did not stumble on this gun as Ron_Brock also did so I count myself lucky and will treasure it as part of my collection. I grew up hunting with ithaca 37's and still use one today.

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