hughlong Posted February 21, 2010 Report Share Posted February 21, 2010 I have an excelent condition WW2 Ithaca Trench Gun, original blue finish, RLB and ordnance bomb marked, in the correct serial number range, everything perfect and as it should be EXCEPT, it has a winchester handguard. Any board members out there who can help out with the proper Ithaca WW2 trench handguard? hughlongii@aol.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalbert Posted February 21, 2010 Report Share Posted February 21, 2010 I have an excelent condition WW2 Ithaca Trench Gun, original blue finish, RLB and ordnance bomb marked, in the correct serial number range, everything perfect and as it should be EXCEPT, it has a winchester handguard. Any board members out there who can help out with the proper Ithaca WW2 trench handguard? hughlongii@aol.com hughlong, I wonder whether the handguard was added later by a collector, or if, perhaps, it may have had the Winchester handguard installed by an in-service armorer? Can you post pictures? Thanks for posting! David Albert dalbert@sturmgewehr.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hughlong Posted February 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2010 The trench gun came as is from the DCM in the late 1960's to my father. It was wearing the winchester bayonet mount/handguard.....but it should have had a ithaca handguard as it was originally issued. I have an excelent condition WW2 Ithaca Trench Gun, original blue finish, RLB and ordnance bomb marked, in the correct serial number range, everything perfect and as it should be EXCEPT, it has a winchester handguard. Any board members out there who can help out with the proper Ithaca WW2 trench handguard? hughlongii@aol.com hughlong, I wonder whether the handguard was added later by a collector, or if, perhaps, it may have had the Winchester handguard installed by an in-service armorer? Can you post pictures? Thanks for posting! David Albert dalbert@sturmgewehr.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Posted February 23, 2010 Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 hughlong: Sorry for the question, but does it look different than the Winchester and if so will it be marked Ithica? I may have a source. A picture on one would be nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hughlong Posted February 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 HERE IS A QUOTE FROM OLDGUNS.COM: Ithaca Model 37 trench guns manufactured under government contract during WWII were fitted with ventilated metal handguard/bayonet adapter assemblies. The Ithaca handguard had six rows of ventilation holes. The WWII Model 37 Ithaca trench gun was finished in commercial grade blue, including the handguard/adapter assembly and had standard sling swivels. The stock was plain and unadorned and was not stamped with an inspector's cartouche. The forend had parallel grasping grooves. The only martial markings observed on the trench guns were "RLB" stamped on the left side of the receiver next to a small Ordnance Department flaming bomb and a small "p" proof mark on the left side of the barrel. The "RLB" initials were those of inspector Lt. Col. Roy L. Bowlin, Chief of the Rochester Ordnance District. Observed trench gun serial numbers range from: #61038 to #61856. All known original WWII Model 37 trench guns have the "RLB" marking on the left side of the receiver So 6 rows is the key hughlong: Sorry for the question, but does it look different than the Winchester and if so will it be marked Ithica? I may have a source. A picture on one would be nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmagee1917 Posted February 23, 2010 Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 Not that easy. Winchesters came 6-row and , later , 4-row. There is a difference in the shape of the bayo lug area ( where the "ring" fits over) and in the "arch" shapes between the mounting screws between all makes , but , while it's clear in photos , it's almost imposible to decribe in words. Indeed , a case where a pic is worth a thousand words. All will interchange , and when one was damaged , they just replaced it with another. Both , my 97 and my 520-30 have Winchesters on them. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjb1 Posted February 23, 2010 Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 The differences are difficult to describe in words but here is a start: The area connecting the main body (barrel attachment region) is connected to the lower bayonet-lug area by a particularly-contoured metal region. In "NASCAR" terms, the Winchester type is a long sweeping curve, the Stevens is a short straight connected to a longer straight by a relatively tight-radius curve, and the Ithaca is between those two in contour (but closer to the Stevens). The moral of the story is that you need to get Bruce Canfield's book on combat shotguns. He has good clear closeup photos of all three types so you can see how what you have compares to the others. Joel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSMGguy Posted October 31, 2010 Report Share Posted October 31, 2010 (edited) Most later Winchester four hole handguards were also "W" marked. I saw a nice Ithaca handguard sell for $1,200 not long ago. While they are out there, they are easily as rare as the trenchgun. I'd continue looking, but in the interim maybe have the Winchester guard finished to match the gun (if it doesn't already) and be prepared for a long search indeed. This auction has a nice photo of a correct Ithaca trench shotgun handguard: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem....?Item=198024792 Edited October 31, 2010 by TSMGguy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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