During my 28 years with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Ithaca 37 Deerslayer Police Special was our department shotgun. Every Sheriff’s black and white had an Ithaca 37 in the shotgun rack. Such iconic guns…. They appeared in Adam-12, L.A. Confidential, The Terminator, They Live, and countless other movies and shows. They were replaced with Remington 870s in the early 2000’s, and deputies were afforded the opportunity to purchase the old Ithacas from the department. I paid the princely sum of $140 for an almost mint condition DSPS with 20” barrel, rifle sights, and 7-shot tube. I absolutely love it. Thanks for the great video.
I. very much enjoyed this video . I am 75 living in Idaho. with the rain coming down tonight and remembering when for my tenth birth day my dad bought me a brand new 16 gauge Ithaca model 37 with a solid rib 28 inch barrel and it still weighs just 6 pounds . This was my first gun and I still cherish it to this day. When I pick it up it feels better than any of all the modern rifles and shotguns that came later in my life. . Funny about that . Thanks for all the great comments everyone and how all my great hunting memories with my dad came flooding back into my mind tonight. Let's all say thanks and remember our dads for all they gave and did for us . Les Jones
hey les, you're comment reminds me, my dad told me 3 days ago to come grab his ruger redhawk 7/3'8s inch barreled .44 mag, which was supposed to be mine after his death, when i first fired that gun i had very little experience with handguns in general and was doing a poor job of proving otherwise, as soon as i grabbed that monster something changed in me, and his text ringtone was the classic wildwest music, and it went off as if on queue as i grabbed ahold of it, literally like a movie, and i decided i just had to do a good job with it and he told me "you gotta fire it because one day it's yours" i drilled the center of the targets forehead all 6 times with accuracy i've never repeated like god himself took hold of my hands, i've never felt so alive before or since, every time that monster thunders ill think of this comment as much as i do him, i hope when i grow old i remember him as fondly as i do this comment in this moment
My Dad's Model 37 12ga was built in 1941 and he bought it when he was 12 years old. He said he worked a lot of long days on his grandad's ranch in south Florida to buy it used. It has a Cutts compensator on it and he still has all the chokes. He's took a lot of ducks, dove, and quail over the years with it. I've hunted with it as well. People are amazed with how smooth and fast the action is and think you are shooting an auto. I wouldn't trade or sell it for anything. It's just priceless.
I have my Dad's old 12 gauge Ithaca 37 he bought back in 1975. He picked an Ithaca over all the other shotguns on the market because it was the shotgun of choice when he was in Vietnam. The shotgun still works as good as new.
If you apply rearward pressure on the fore end before the shot the pump will release with the shot, and natural reaction your arm will push it back forward. It can be run incredibly fast this way, and the slam fire feature will sometimes cause a super fast double if you don’t get your finger off the trigger. Finest pump ever made.
I am 75 years old and live in Virginia. My father had a 12 gauge model 12 that he used for many years before turning it over to my two brothers and myself. Youngest brother still has it. The very best 37’s are what we call nut pin guns. They have a sliding pin in the magazine cap nut. They are the very best of the 37’s. The very slickest actions. Made that way until late 50’s I believe. A few of the early 60’s gun were also very good. As the years went on and market demands the guns started have be made cheaper. I have three myself a 20 gauge deluxe, a very nice very early 16 with a checkered forearm and low serial number and a 12 gauge deluxe. All are nut pin guns. My brothers each a few 37’s each. Some of my old hunting partners also have 37’s. Most of us started to use double guns as we became able to afford them. I consider myself very fortunate. I really enjoy your channel, keep going with it.
M37 shares it's basic John Browning design with the Browning BPS, still made in Japan by Miroku. So still accessible to everybody and yes, it's a fantastic pump action shotgun.
The Ithaca Model 37 is my favorite pump of all time. The action is so slick and the featherlight 12 carries and swings like a 20 gauge. Wonderful guns. Btw, it’s cool that you got yours in 16 gauge. 16 used to be extremely popular in the U.S. Sadly, it’s far less popular today. The old 16 gauge used to be known as “The queen of the uplands”. It gave you a gun with the weight of a 20 gauge and the payload of a 12…very valuable when you’re putting several miles a day on your boot soles over hard country.
Great job, I inherited my father in laws 16 ga and occasionally shoot it,no poly choke. I have a 12 ga with a vent rib that I bought new in 1973, still love it. Keep up the good work.
It has to be over 74 years old. My Dad had it before I was born. Told me he traded a Browning A5 for the Ithaca 37. He was a quail hunter and wanted a lighter shotgun than the A5 and the Ithaca 37 fit the bill
For those who own a 37, Upper Sandusky Ihaca will sell you a replacement barrel (must be above 850,xxx serial number) in lengths up to 30" with invector chokes. I purchased one for my old 37 to replace a plain full 28"....brought new life to my old 37
My old hunting partner as a young man was a machine gunner with the occupation force after the battle of Okinawa. There were still hundreds of Japanese holdouts active on the island. He used the Ithaca 37 as a perimeter security weapon around the machine gun. He still used one to hunt with when I was hunting with him and even at his advanced age, he was deadly with it. He said that everyone in his unit wanted a 37 because, " They don't give no trouble". Indeed.
My father handed down to me an Ithaca Model 37, 16 ga. he purchased in 1940. It is the slickest, smoothest, fastest operating pump gun I have ever experienced. It came with a 26" modified choke barrel, no ventilated rib, "corncob" forend and a checkered, straight grip stock ("English" grip). The wood is a better grade than normal, but nothing fancy, which may just be a coincidence. My gun will "slam fire", later models wouldn't. I never found a practical use for that feature. 🤷♂ My father ordered from Ithaca a 2nd barrel, 23" Improved Cylinder. The barrels are marked with the serial number and "-1" and "-2". This was before the time of interchangeable barrels. Each barrel had to be hand fitted to the guns at the factory and were serial numbered to match the receiver. There were no "choke tubes", of course, you changed barrels. Barrels weren't cheap. That's why "poly chokes" and Cutts compensators were popular. The "deluxe" Poly-choke had the "recoil compensator" slots. This was also when Ithaca was still making a separate receiver size for the 16ga. The gun is overall slimmer and lighter than a 12 ga. Later versions in 16 ga. were built on a 12 ga. receiver and are clunky in comparison. Yours is also the 16 ga. receiver. Compare the measurements to a 12 ga. and you will see the difference. This gun had a great career hunting pheasant, ducks, quail and doves. Yes, the 16 ga. was good for decoyed or jump shooting ducks when we could use lead shot. I handload ammunition for this gun, and 2 other 16 ga. guns I own. Prices for ammo have gotten out of control, and selection is poor, but by handloading it is no different than a 12 or 20 ga. I still shoot skeet and, occasionally, sporting clays with it. I haven't had it out for a while. Your video triggered me. I will use it for a round of sporting clays this week! I don't hunt anymore, my age and arthritis have put a stop to that, but the gun will be handed down to one of my sons. I figure it's good for another three generations or so.
The first gun I purchased on my own was a 37 lightweight in 12 gauge, 2 3/4”. 26” barrel that I bought with paper route money when I was 13. Well worn but much loved. It was my first repeater and it harvested hundreds of Wisconsin pheasants. I still miss that old gun.
My best upland bird hunting buddy has a Model 37 16g that he’s hunted with for years. Right now he’s in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with his German Shorthair Pointer for a couple of weeks. I can say that he’s dropped 4X the number of grouse that I have with his Model 37. Great gun and definitely the best pump ever made. BTW - slam firing is fun and stupid, and truly a hillbilly way to burn ammo in West Virginia.
Johnny thanks for the video! I've got a couple 16 gauge 37's from the mid 50's. One of them is a plain barrel with the deluxe Poly Choke. The difference between the deluxe and standard model Poly Choke is that the standard is shorter, does not have the porting on the end, and doesn't have the gold filled lettering. Several years after owning the gun I lucked into a solid rib barrel that a good gunsmith fitted to the action making it now a 2 barrel set. My other 16 started as a 2 barrel set with the first barrel being a vent rib mod choke and the second being a rifle sight slug barrel. I also owned an aluminum receiver 20 gauge 37 from the early 70's. THAT gun was built to be light to carry in the field. I think it was sub 5.5 lbs which made it not so nice to actually shoot. I loved the idea of it but just never did as well with it as I did with my 16's so a friend of mine owns it now.
It’s kind of funny now but the number of Polychokes put on shotguns- personality I’ve had Winchester Md 12 , Model 31 , Model 37 , Rem870 and even a single shot 20 ga shotgun- the Poly choke was the first of its kind to have a variable adjustable option
Thanks, Jonny. The Ithaca is one of those guns that has withstood the test of time. They are made in Sandusky, Ohio USA and are some of the best ones made (CNC'd with the aid of the original blueprints and the modern metallurgy). The Ithaca traces its DNA with the Remington Model 17 that was designed by JMB. I've had several (one in 16GA that dated to 1951). Smooth guns. Glad you're finding the charm of the classic American Pump. Thanks for the video!
I agree. The Ithaca 37 are great. I have one and it is the smoothest shotgun I own... And I own a lot of pumps. Second is the High Standard K1200 or Flight King.
My dad had one just like yours. 16 ga with a polychock. He could shot dove from close to a long ways away. I was lucky enough to get one in 12ga. Just great.
I have an Ithaca Model 37 pump shotgun in 12 gauge. Mine is the 'Basic' model which has plain satin finish walnut stock, walnut stained hardwood 'corncob' style fore-end, parkerized metal parts and no scroll engraving on the receiver. It was manufactured in 1980 I purchased it new in 1982. It came equipped with a 28" modified choke barrel. Shortly after I purchased it I had the barrel shortened to 25" and a Polychoke adjustable choke installed (exactly like the one in the video). That made for a very versatile, easy handling shotgun. It is a very well made solid dependable shotgun and I've taken much game with mine from small game to deer. Since the 'Basic' model was based off the military/police version of the Model 37 at the time; mine does not have the trigger disconnect thus will 'slam fire' if the trigger is held down while while cycling the action with the safety off and live ammo in it. Never tried it but I've read the 'Basic' model will 'slam fire'.
I love my '37 !!! It belonged to my Father and was made in 1956. It has a similar Poly-Choke. Breaks clays, kills birds, all the stuff you want it to do. As for slam firing, that is as you'd say loads of fun....great for our club's annual pumpkin shoot!
I have an m37 I bought a few years ago. It was made in 1941 , model m 37 T. I has a higher grade of wood and the engraving are not fancy but are definitely hand done, it has the owners name on the bottom of the trigger guard and is done in old English, double or single stroke I do not know. When I first cleaned the gun it was full of grass, you alway wonder where the grass came from. When I cleaned and lubed the shotgun it ran like greased lighting. This model 37 has a Cutts compensator with choke tubes you screw into the body, I have always liked this setup. It also has what I call a disconnected trigger, load the gun, fire the first round and with the trigger held back pump the gun and it will fire the mag dry. The federal gov here made that illegal in the early 1970s. Thanks for your great videos.
The 37 is the finest pump shotgun. Unfortunately, other brands are less costly and they may have priced themselves out of the market. I dropped off a 12 gauge when they moved from Ithaca to King Ferry to have a barrel installed on a pre 800K serial numbered gun to make it interchangable. Then about 15 years later I did the same when they moved to Ohio, they even gave me a tour of the facility in Upper Sandusky. I sound snobby, but there isn't a pump shotgun made today that is as well built as a vintage Model 37.
As you know it is a John M Browning gun 😊 His design back in 1907 .He sold the Patton to Remington that’s how come you have the Remington model 10 then Ithaca pick the design and made the model 37
It a shame that the Browning Gun Company had to wait till 1977 to make their own gun. Brownie was a genius gave America the world the first only truly pump shotgun.
Jonny, Thanks for the video. I have a 1957 Ithaca 16 gauge ( $ 350 ) and a ten year old ( yes still made in Ohio USA ) 12 bore with screw in chokes. I love that gun and have shot ( once ) a perfect round of skeet. I enjoy it perhaps more than my Beretta 686 and 694 as it just seems to be a basic shotgun from a time when the world was a simpler place. Those who tout there 870's don't know how smooth the Ithaca action is. Anyway , thanks again. cheers, JZ
Very comprehensive and informative video. Bought it, shot it, took it apart, told us the history and the price points. Checked all the boxes! Well done sir.
My Father purchased an Ithaca Model 37 20 gauge in 1948. He used it for pheasant hunting. In 1980 my Father gave me his model 37. I have used it many times for pheasant hunting. After 75 years the model 37, having had no parts replaced, works better than my Benelli Nova or my Remington Wing Master. I wish companies made guns to this standard these days.
My first repeating shotgun was a M37 in 16 gauge that now resides with my brother. I used it to hunt fur and made enough to buy my first new repeating shotgun; a Remington M870 12 gauge magnum. That Remington now resides with another family member. Lots of memories wrapped up in those guns and I am glad to see you have yours. It is well worth refinishing as new models are quite expensive. Cheers!
I have the M37 pump in 20 & 28 gauge. They both have harvested literally hundreds of rabbits and dozens of grouse. Very light for all day uplands field cruising. And the 12 gauge Deerslayer easily plopped a wild boar at 70 yards using a single Brenneke Classic slug. This is my comfortable security blanket when black bears are about. I also own a circa 1997 Turkeyslayer and the newer Waterfowl that have yet to be tested in the green fields of home. I am a walking advertisment for Ithaca Gun Company.
I bought a mod 37 a few years ago. It was a rusty pitted mess. It was born in 1969. It had never been shot. Mechanicaly it was brand new. After conserving the metal , removing the pitting, then rust bluing it, she is like new. Bytw, it has a vent rib, mod choke. Breaks clay like nobodys buessness.
I learned to shoot trap and skeet with a Winchester model 12. I always thought they were the best. The 37 is a very good shotgun. But the model 12 points better in my opinion. Cheers Ron
I have a 1948 Model 37 in 20 bore and yes it's everything you described. Nimble and light at 5.7lbs, built to a high standard and my favorite to take into the uplands.
Thank you JC and crew. An absolute delight for a Sunday afternoon. I have never shot a pump action but after looking at this I am sure that I would like to have a go. Just picked up a nice SXS from Holts so I'm a bit scuppered if I wanted a pump action as the wife is already looking at my bulging gun cabinet with some dismay.... But who knows what the future holds!!! Good luck guys and keep up the good work, always a joy! C
They are a very smooth action. I own one from the 90s and love it because of bottom load bottom ejection. I also own another bottom ejection only it’s an auto Remington CTI 105 and it’s sweet.
I got a model 37 16 1963 and a model 37 1953 both in 16 gauge. I sent them to Ithaca years back to be redone completly. Its a hoot to open the safe and stare at those old 16s that look brand new
I had a 16ga Ithaca given to me by my Dad. It was a Pre-War gun. 26in MOD choke. Fastest rabbit gun I ever owned. I passed it on to a nephew to keep it in the family. Three generations have hunted with that gun. It's been worked on but is still in great shape.
My father hunted quail with a Model 37 in 20 gauge. It is what I learned to use as I grew up. I am 75 years old. I have never found a smoother pump shotgun or one that handled as well as that gun. His gun was in Improved Cylinder choke. Many years later, after I was grown and my father still wanted to take to the field but could no longer keep up with the dogs, we began dove hunting together. I had Ithaca make a custom barrel for his gun in Full Choke. It had to be a custom job because the interrupted thread that mounts the barrel and keeps it in the receiver had been changed over the years as to the number of interrupting cuts.My son now has both the gun and the extra barrel. Dad's gun had been made prior to WW II and was beautiful. As a 15 year old my father told me that for my birthday he would buy me whatever shotgun that I wanted. I was enamored of side by side doubles at that time so was looking for one. We walked into Davidson's Hardware in Greensboro, North Carolina and I saw the first over and under that I had ever seen or even heard of on the rack. Of course, being 15, that is what I had to have. I still have that gun. No one in the rural South were using an over and under for hunting at that time. The O&U is a Beretta Golden Snipe in 20 gauge with a Circassian walnut stock with the splinter forearm and two triggers. I hate to think what he paid for it. It was probably the most expensive gun that he ever bought. After passing his gun on to my son, I missed it so much that I found one built in the 50's in modified choke. I can shoot it better than any other shotgun that I own. By the way, the reason for the slam fire action is because it was designed back when market hunting for waterfowl was still in existence. Commercial hunters would find the ducks rafting in large groups at night, spotlight them, and then fire with a punt gun or a fast repeater to kill as many ducks as possible. The Winchester Model 97 will do the same thing. That is also why these guns were designed to hold more that three shells which is the legal limit under Federal Law when hunting migratory birds. You could kill a lot of ducks sitting on the water and just getting into the air by slam firing the gun until empty.
The early Remington 870's were superb for a stamped part pump gun. They were called the ADL Deluxe. Nicely checked, and had impressed matting on the barrel. They had a nice lively feeling and felt lighter and less clunky then later 870's. The action was smooth as silk although not quite as smooth as the 37. As time went on, the 870's got cheaper in both materials and attention to detail. I love the 37 but an 870 is more convenient when shooting clays due to side port loading. Both excellent guns and designs.
And when it comes to maintenance an 870 is a breeze to take down for a deep cleaning. The M37 like the M12 Win are quite a bit more involved for disassembly/ assembly.
I bought a model 870 16Ga.after I got out of the army in 1968,I wanted a 12 Ga,but the hardware store owner where I bought it from talked me into A 16 Ga ,and I really glad he did, I paid $ 20 down and $10 a week until it was paid for,I believe it cost me $104.95.
My first shotgun was an Ithaca pump 16 gauge just like that. My grandfather gave it to me and not sadly I sold it and bought a browning 525 that I still have and shoot as much as possible.
I'm not convinced the Ithaca 37 is better than Winchester's Model 12, but I'm not ruling it out either. I learned to shoot with a 16 gauge Model 12 that belonged to my father, and which I eventually inherited. It's still locks up like a bank vault.
@@hennys63personally I’ve owned Multiple model 12’s,1897’s,and 37’s and I gotta say the 37 takes it for me but then again it’s not really a fair comparison since none of them were new
I have an Ithaca Model 37, Featherweight in 12 gauge. It has the 'Raybar' front sight. It is hands down the finest made, smoothest cycling pump action shotgun I have ever used. My uncle bought it new back in the late '40's after WWII. It saw little use as he really wasn't into hunting. One evening back in the '90's I was at his place for dinner and he offered to sell it to me. I asked how much he wanted for it. He hummed and hawed, then said he at least wanted to get his money out of it. "What I paid for it", he said. That was $45. Best $45 I ever spent!!
Of all the pump guns I have handled, the Rem 31 gets my vote as the smoothest of the group. Great to see a video on an American classic, keep up the good work!
I have a 1st year Model 31. It was a Law Enforcement Agency that was founded the same year. It has all of the Agency markings. Of course it has a short barrel and it gets use every deer season. I use it for follow up, trailing gun. I have finished several off with it.
I have a DSPS ( Deer Slayer Police Special) my first shotgun given to me by my father in law. It was designed by John Browning, arguably one of the best gun designers of all time. 1911, BAR, M1917, M2, Browning High Power, A-5, Superposed
I carried one of these in 12 Ga with a deerslayer barrel as a backup gun for the hunters I was guiding for 28 years in the Canadian Rockies. It never failed me and I would reccomend it to anyone. Light, strong, easy to load and use, and tougher than hell. Lost it in a river crossing many years ago (along with my camp gear and a couple of 16' boats!...don't ask) Replaced it with a Browning which my son now has, I hope he doesn't loose it too!
Okay, Johnny, I have stopped hating you and I now think you would make a fine son-in-law. My old pump is a model 97 in 16 gauge made in 1902, I think. Good video. I enjoy your work.
My best friend bought one back in 1970 when we were in high school. I remember it being super smooth to operate. He still hunts with it today. Lord only knows how many rounds have been fired from it in 53 years of upland and duck hunting.
I actually own the model shotgun that inspired that Ithaca. The Remington model 17a 20gauge. Fantastic shotgun. Been in my family for years and still may favorite.
I have my father's 12 gauge 37, built in 1949. Has a corncob for end and checkering on the stock. He bought it used in 1950. Shoots like a dream and since I am lefthanded it's great. Original 12 gauge was 2 3/4-inch chamber. I also have a Upper Sandusky gun in 3 inch. Too bad they are no longer slam fire.
As a southpaw, I started on a 20ga junior model that has been passed down a few generations, my first gun was a brand new 12ga M37 in about 2000, I had a great uncle that was a fairly accomplished trap and skeet shooter that used Win M12s in competition but always went for his M37 when a meal was on the line.
I've got a 16 g made in 1964 same year I was born.A pleasure to carry it's a featherweight however recoil pretty stout do to lightness. We carried 37 fitted for bayonet when I was in Berlin 1982 MPs
I recently inherited a 16 gauge Model 37 from my father in law. Honestly didn’t know anything about it until I watched this video. After doing some research, turns out I have a 1938 model 37! Can’t wait to hunt pheasant with it now! Thanks for the vid and making my day!
That 16 is light as a feather and smooth as silk to handle. I hear the new Ithaca's are beautiful and even better built than before . I have plans on visiting the new factory in Upper Sandusky Ohio .
First pump shotgun I ever got my hands on was my grandfather's 20ga Model 37. I bought mine in 12ga a few years ago and spent many hours functionally restoring it. I've since (quite easily) convinced many friends and family members looking for a shotgun to buy a 37. One of them ended up buying two. I've shot other pump shotguns and they all simply feel cheap in comparison.
I'm 77 years old and have had grandpa's featherlight for 60 years . Full choke and modified interchangeable barrels , hunting, trap, all around great gun.
Peter Hathaway Capstick used a 12 bore Win. Mod.12 when going into the bush after wounded leapards because they also had the Browning designed slam fire feature, a feat I am not eager to duplicate.
Thanks @TDS Outdoors! This video is a honest review of an American classic. 37's are over-looked by most shooters today. However many upland hunters are starting to buy these old warriors up and we see them more often now on bird, squirrel, and rabbit hunts in the southern USA. I'm glad you high-lighted the 37"s history of a quality made firearm. At hunting camp, in a gun rack with modern guns, the 37 clearly stands out. Good video!
Remington 870 Wingmaster has been 'the One' for me and most of my shootingvgroup. That dual action arm gives a feelingvof quality ehen youbpump it and the walnut stock always looks great. I am however saddened that spare parts availability serms to be drying up nowadays. I really would like to eeplace all the springs, but finding them is nigh on impossible.😢
You did such a great job in this video of describing one of our (US shooters) most beloved guns.👍 BTW...we like pumps and autoloaders because, historically, we have had much greater opportunities to hunt birds and game where more than 2 shots are actually useful. Even long after the market hunting days, having 3-5 shots for hunting wild pheasant, doves, grouse or quail is a good thing. Americans also use shotguns for hunting game such as deer, black bear and wild hogs as well. A good shotgun can be "one gun" for hunting everything from rabbits/squirrels to all types of birds and large game. A single sighting plane is preferred, especially when using slugs. Slide and autoloading shotguns are typically less expensive than double guns...and Americans are much more of the "practical hunting" type than the British. Where I grew up, we took our gun and walked out the front door to go hunting. Or put the guns in the back of the truck and drove to a nearby acquaintances property. We ate breakfast and lunch at home and went hunting between meals. It wasn't a fancy affair. Our family had my father and 5 sons that were hunting...that's a lot of guns to buy.
My first firearm was an Ithaca 37 Deer slayer in 20 gauge. I remember how light it was and smooth the action was. I purchase it when I was 18 to go hunting deer in NY. Some areas of NY don’t allow rifles for deer hunting. It’s shotgun only were I was hunting. I sold it after college because I was short on cash.
Good day and thank you for the video. I own a 12ga Deer Slayer Police Special I bought when they were cheaper. If you have any mechanical aptitude, I suggest you disassemble it to deep-clean it and to get an idea how it works. Like most all JM Browning's guns, it is an elegant design. You won;t be able to remove the mag tube. Any report on how the Poly Choke patterns would be of interest.
Bought one new in 1973, 20 gauge. Used a lot for Quail (till they dissapeared in Central Texas) and used a lot for dove. Unforetunately, cut the stock down for the next generation of kids, they love it.
I've a Featherlite 1940 mfg 12ga, a pretty 56' 16ga, both handle and shoot just as well. I'll never part with either till I'm done shooting. Best , smoothest, most reliable pump ever made.
Ithaca did many great things through the years, including a restart on SXS guns in the late 90s and early 2000s. Model 37 has been a hunting sportsman's standard since it arrived. At least here in America. If you want it to be a real stunner, a gunsmith can do a fresh hot blue on the action and add a rib to the barrell, keep that poly choke, that one is truly delux. Fancy walnut from your choice of countries can turn that gun into a real head turner that shoots even better with a stock that measures up to your needs. Very nice video either way, but a video on improving that pump could be fun too.
I'm 70 and my dad gave me an M37 20 gauge when I was 9. When I turned 11 he bought me a 12 gauge and I still shoot that gun today for upland game. Over the years I have acquired 14 more M37's including an M37 Waterfowler. For my 50th birthday my wife gave me a set of 20, 16 and 12 gauge M37's.
I love the Model 37. I grew up with an antique Wingmaster. I consider them about the same quality. I emailed Ithaca and ask them when they were going to start producing 37 again. They told me at least one year and that was about one year ago
I have a 37 in 20 guage and I love it. I also have the Ithaca model 51 in 12 guage and I love it also, the 51 will only hold 3 shells, I guess because it was designed to be a bird gun. I glad you mentioned the slamfire feature, many people don't know about that. It could be a unpleasant surprise if one didn't know. LOL
I bought a 12 ga. a couple of years ago. It's a beautiful mid-60's gun with the corncob forend. For years, I was never interested in this gun, now I'm a fan. I would like to get an older 16 ga., maybe it's because that's what I shot as a lad. Nice video!
I have one in every gauge. They did hand checker back in the day, It was just a simple double pointed strip each side and some more complicated depending on model. Forend as well. They are smooth as glass. The 16G I have is a skeet model with vented rib, fixed choke, and i love it except for the ammo and lack of availability.
I have a few old, very old pump and semiauto shotguns. I have a 12ga Win Model 12, 12ga Remington 31 and a 16ga Ithaca 37. Love the three of them. Can't say which one is the best or the one I love the most. The Model 12 was made in 1925, Ithaca was made in 1941 and the 31, I can't remember. Had a 1948 12ga Ithaca 37, but I gave it to my oldest son, with another Winchester Model 12 I had.
I have a Ithaca model 37 lightweight 16 gauge with the poly choke and I just love that shotgun, It’s just a great shooting and handling shotgun, I personally really love 16 gauges in general as well
I am glad you got the 16 gauge gun. They no longer make them in 16 gauge, unfortunately, despite 16 gauge rising in popularity significantly in the last 7 years. Thank you guys for saying the truth about the gun, ITS SMOOTH, it's unlike any other gun, it works well and it's impressive. This is my personal favourite pump action shotgun ever made, and I have played with all but a 28 gauge variant. They are superbly accurate, smooth, flawless functioning, ZERO HEAT used to manufacture the gun, and the gun is not an assembly line mass production gun like a Mossberg 500 or Remington 870. The only fault, terrible production between the 80s and 2006, leading to the company closing down three times, and the stock tends to crack due to it being thin around the sides connecting to the receiver. I am glad you got to finally try one and that you enjoyed it. I knew you would enjoy this shotgun, especially in the misunderstood 16 gauge, that yes, will out pattern 12 and 20 gauge. Never underestimate the 16 gauge, it's the perfected gauge.
I've been a big fan of the pump action, mostly since it is fun to pump to shoot. I've owned a 20 and 12 ga Remington 870 and then I got a Benelli Super Nova Pump a little over 20 years ago. It has been my favorite shotgun since. I was going to get a Super Black Eagle but liked the Pump action over a semi auto. A friend of mine had a Ithica and I really liked how it looked.
Being 75 years old I first experienced the 37 when I was 16 years old prior to that I had my Grandfathers 16 ga double barrel. I fell in love with the 37 . I personally wasn’t brought in to the Winchester Model 12 until I bought a used trap gun that an old guy sold- it had a custom stock with a thumb hole which the gunsmith adjusted for me- my trap average was 25 out of 25 and my Love affair with Model 12 began- currently owning 6 of them that I have refinished the wood and used a cylinder honing tool to develop chokes for the ammo I was using- while migratory ducks and geese have become my birds of choice I did purchase the Beretta semi automatic 12 and 20 gauge basically because the day bag limit is 20 snows and 10 specks in California. The Older Gentleman I hunt with bring them geese for their kids and grandchildren and being I’ve hunted with these Old guys and have been shooting shotguns since I was 10 they buy me shells to fill there limits: God Bless The Life I’ve Been Given
You’re mentioning of the 31 helped me remember and I would like to personally Thank you, as I said at 74 years old I am recovering from a medical emergency 5 years ago and memory is the issue. I began shooting the 16 ga Model 31 while I was training my dog and would buy Pheasants or Chucker for the trials. Probably the Smoothest of All Pumps ever made . My Son was 14 years old and he cut his teeth on the 31 .Thank You for Being My Some Beautiful Memories
The 37 is the most overlooked shotgun to date. The featherlights are phenomenal shooters. Best place to find them are the guys who are in their 70s who bought theirs new 50yrs ago.
Dallas PD used these back in the sixties , There was always one in the gun rack! When getting tickets back in those days they'd put you in front seat. Every officer told me the samething, Best shotgun made!
That's because it's a John Moses Browning design. The Browning BPS is the same but without the interrupted thread barrel removal. The Ithaca is definitely a wonderful Shotgun in the woods hunting.
Jonny - very nice episode. Glad to see you experiencing even more variety. I’m fortunate to own what I consider the the best two pump action shotguns ever made, namely the Remington Model 17, which became the Ithaca Model 37, and the Winchester Model 12. The Ithaca you shot is also a wonderful gun and continues to put game in the bag. Should you be inclined, episodes on all the classic American side x side’s, such as Parker, Ithaca, A.H. Fox, Baker, L.C. Smith, and Winchester Model 21 would be well received. Keep up the good work!
Love the old Ithaca 37's. My first one was a 20ga Ultra-Featherlite with the aluminum receiver rather than steel. Nice to carry, but kicked worse than the 12ga steel version I picked up a few years later. Being a lefty the Ithaca was just a natural choice for me, though I still tend to favor the 20ga Remington 870 Wingmaster which was my first shotgun. Also have a couple of the Browning BPS's (12 and 16ga), but both of them suffer from an inability to shoot low-brass shells as doing so locks them up something fierce (shell head expansion issue with today's cheap shell construction). High brass shells shoot fine in them, but I honestly don't shoot any of my pump guns much anymore as I've shifted to and prefer shooting side-by-sides now.
One of the first changes Ithaca did to the Remington model 17 was add a top extractor because the model 17 had extraction problems after being fired. I’ve had many 37’s and they are very smooth and fun to shoot. My favorite is a 1948 37 in 16ga. Walter Snyder wrote a book and the history of the mod 37 Ithaca and one on the history of Ithaca Gun Company bot in hard cover. I have both books and suggest anyone interested in Ithaca Guns should try to locate these two books, very informative on Ithaca. Thanks for the video from a guy who believes like Walter Snyder put it “ Ithaca 37 best gun going”
I have a Model 37 Featherlight in 20ga. My uncle gave it to me when I was 12, I'm now 50. Mine is slightly newer than that, but I believe it is from the the 60's. The fore end is different, and it's a fixed choke. It's still the only shotgun I own.
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During my 28 years with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Ithaca 37 Deerslayer Police Special was our department shotgun. Every Sheriff’s black and white had an Ithaca 37 in the shotgun rack. Such iconic guns…. They appeared in Adam-12, L.A. Confidential, The Terminator, They Live, and countless other movies and shows.
They were replaced with Remington 870s in the early 2000’s, and deputies were afforded the opportunity to purchase the old Ithacas from the department. I paid the princely sum of $140 for an almost mint condition DSPS with 20” barrel, rifle sights, and 7-shot tube. I absolutely love it.
Thanks for the great video.
I. very much enjoyed this video . I am 75 living in Idaho. with the rain coming down tonight and remembering when for my tenth birth day my dad bought me a brand new 16 gauge Ithaca model 37 with a solid rib 28 inch barrel and it still weighs just 6 pounds . This was my first gun and I still cherish it to this day. When I pick it up it feels better than any of all the modern rifles and shotguns that came later in my life. . Funny about that . Thanks for all the great comments everyone and how all my great hunting memories with my dad came flooding back into my mind tonight. Let's all say thanks and remember our dads for all they gave and did for us . Les Jones
hey les, you're comment reminds me, my dad told me 3 days ago to come grab his ruger redhawk 7/3'8s inch barreled .44 mag, which was supposed to be mine after his death, when i first fired that gun i had very little experience with handguns in general and was doing a poor job of proving otherwise, as soon as i grabbed that monster something changed in me, and his text ringtone was the classic wildwest music, and it went off as if on queue as i grabbed ahold of it, literally like a movie, and i decided i just had to do a good job with it and he told me "you gotta fire it because one day it's yours" i drilled the center of the targets forehead all 6 times with accuracy i've never repeated like god himself took hold of my hands, i've never felt so alive before or since, every time that monster thunders ill think of this comment as much as i do him, i hope when i grow old i remember him as fondly as i do this comment in this moment
What a fine story. I just inherited my uncle’s 37 and I plan on making memories with it and my children!
My Dad's Model 37 12ga was built in 1941 and he bought it when he was 12 years old. He said he worked a lot of long days on his grandad's ranch in south Florida to buy it used. It has a Cutts compensator on it and he still has all the chokes. He's took a lot of ducks, dove, and quail over the years with it. I've hunted with it as well. People are amazed with how smooth and fast the action is and think you are shooting an auto. I wouldn't trade or sell it for anything. It's just priceless.
I have my Dad's old 12 gauge Ithaca 37 he bought back in 1975. He picked an Ithaca over all the other shotguns on the market because it was the shotgun of choice when he was in Vietnam. The shotgun still works as good as new.
If you apply rearward pressure on the fore end before the shot the pump will release with the shot, and natural reaction your arm will push it back forward. It can be run incredibly fast this way, and the slam fire feature will sometimes cause a super fast double if you don’t get your finger off the trigger. Finest pump ever made.
I am 75 years old and live in Virginia. My father had a 12 gauge model 12 that he used for many years before turning it over to my two brothers and myself. Youngest brother still has it. The very best 37’s are what we call nut pin guns. They have a sliding pin in the magazine cap nut. They are the very best of the 37’s. The very slickest actions. Made that way until late 50’s I believe. A few of the early 60’s gun were also very good. As the years went on and market demands the guns started have be made cheaper. I have three myself a 20 gauge deluxe, a very nice very early 16 with a checkered forearm and low serial number and a 12 gauge deluxe. All are nut pin guns. My brothers each a few 37’s each. Some of my old hunting partners also have 37’s. Most of us started to use double guns as we became able to afford them. I consider myself very fortunate. I really enjoy your channel, keep going with it.
I live in Covington VA have. 1964 37 16g.whst part of VA you in
M37 shares it's basic John Browning design with the Browning BPS, still made in Japan by Miroku. So still accessible to everybody and yes, it's a fantastic pump action shotgun.
Compared to the Ithaca the jap Browning is a pig.
The Ithaca Model 37 is my favorite pump of all time. The action is so slick and the featherlight 12 carries and swings like a 20 gauge. Wonderful guns. Btw, it’s cool that you got yours in 16 gauge. 16 used to be extremely popular in the U.S. Sadly, it’s far less popular today. The old 16 gauge used to be known as “The queen of the uplands”. It gave you a gun with the weight of a 20 gauge and the payload of a 12…very valuable when you’re putting several miles a day on your boot soles over hard country.
Great job, I inherited my father in laws 16 ga and occasionally shoot it,no poly choke. I have a 12 ga with a vent rib that I bought new in 1973, still love it. Keep up the good work.
My 16 Winchester model 12 still shoots and works well.
It has to be over 74 years old. My Dad had it before I was born. Told me he traded a Browning A5 for the Ithaca 37. He was a quail hunter and wanted a lighter shotgun than the A5 and the Ithaca 37 fit the bill
Completely agree about the Ithaca mdl 37 I own several great pump guns
Here in the states we always called it a Sweet 16
For those who own a 37, Upper Sandusky Ihaca will sell you a replacement barrel (must be above 850,xxx serial number) in lengths up to 30" with invector chokes. I purchased one for my old 37 to replace a plain full 28"....brought new life to my old 37
My old hunting partner as a young man was a machine gunner with the occupation force after the battle of Okinawa. There were still hundreds of Japanese holdouts active on the island. He used the Ithaca 37 as a perimeter security weapon around the machine gun. He still used one to hunt with when I was hunting with him and even at his advanced age, he was deadly with it. He said that everyone in his unit wanted a 37 because, " They don't give no trouble". Indeed.
My father handed down to me an Ithaca Model 37, 16 ga. he purchased in 1940. It is the slickest, smoothest, fastest operating pump gun I have ever experienced.
It came with a 26" modified choke barrel, no ventilated rib, "corncob" forend and a checkered, straight grip stock ("English" grip). The wood is a better grade than normal, but nothing fancy, which may just be a coincidence. My gun will "slam fire", later models wouldn't. I never found a practical use for that feature. 🤷♂
My father ordered from Ithaca a 2nd barrel, 23" Improved Cylinder. The barrels are marked with the serial number and "-1" and "-2". This was before the time of interchangeable barrels. Each barrel had to be hand fitted to the guns at the factory and were serial numbered to match the receiver. There were no "choke tubes", of course, you changed barrels. Barrels weren't cheap. That's why "poly chokes" and Cutts compensators were popular. The "deluxe" Poly-choke had the "recoil compensator" slots.
This was also when Ithaca was still making a separate receiver size for the 16ga. The gun is overall slimmer and lighter than a 12 ga. Later versions in 16 ga. were built on a 12 ga. receiver and are clunky in comparison. Yours is also the 16 ga. receiver. Compare the measurements to a 12 ga. and you will see the difference.
This gun had a great career hunting pheasant, ducks, quail and doves. Yes, the 16 ga. was good for decoyed or jump shooting ducks when we could use lead shot.
I handload ammunition for this gun, and 2 other 16 ga. guns I own. Prices for ammo have gotten out of control, and selection is poor, but by handloading it is no different than a 12 or 20 ga. I still shoot skeet and, occasionally, sporting clays with it. I haven't had it out for a while. Your video triggered me. I will use it for a round of sporting clays this week!
I don't hunt anymore, my age and arthritis have put a stop to that, but the gun will be handed down to one of my sons. I figure it's good for another three generations or so.
The first gun I purchased on my own was a 37 lightweight in 12 gauge, 2 3/4”. 26” barrel that I bought with paper route money when I was 13. Well worn but much loved. It was my first repeater and it harvested hundreds of Wisconsin pheasants. I still miss that old gun.
My best upland bird hunting buddy has a Model 37 16g that he’s hunted with for years. Right now he’s in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with his German Shorthair Pointer for a couple of weeks. I can say that he’s dropped 4X the number of grouse that I have with his Model 37. Great gun and definitely the best pump ever made. BTW - slam firing is fun and stupid, and truly a hillbilly way to burn ammo in West Virginia.
Johnny thanks for the video! I've got a couple 16 gauge 37's from the mid 50's. One of them is a plain barrel with the deluxe Poly Choke. The difference between the deluxe and standard model Poly Choke is that the standard is shorter, does not have the porting on the end, and doesn't have the gold filled lettering. Several years after owning the gun I lucked into a solid rib barrel that a good gunsmith fitted to the action making it now a 2 barrel set. My other 16 started as a 2 barrel set with the first barrel being a vent rib mod choke and the second being a rifle sight slug barrel.
I also owned an aluminum receiver 20 gauge 37 from the early 70's. THAT gun was built to be light to carry in the field. I think it was sub 5.5 lbs which made it not so nice to actually shoot. I loved the idea of it but just never did as well with it as I did with my 16's so a friend of mine owns it now.
It’s kind of funny now but the number of Polychokes put on shotguns- personality I’ve had Winchester Md 12 ,
Model 31 , Model 37 , Rem870 and even a single shot 20 ga shotgun- the Poly choke was the first of its kind to have a variable adjustable option
Thanks for the memories, I still own my 1965 12 ga. DV grade with Deluxe Poly Choke.
I have one in 20 gauge. The most awesome pump I have ever had. The most under rated of all pump action shot guns.
Thanks, Jonny. The Ithaca is one of those guns that has withstood the test of time. They are made in Sandusky, Ohio USA and are some of the best ones made (CNC'd with the aid of the original blueprints and the modern metallurgy). The Ithaca traces its DNA with the Remington Model 17 that was designed by JMB. I've had several (one in 16GA that dated to 1951). Smooth guns. Glad you're finding the charm of the classic American Pump. Thanks for the video!
Made in Upper Sandusky not Sandusky.
I happen to own 4 of that pattern , 2 remingtons 2 Ithaca. One 1937, special trap, and a mid 60s aluminum frame , 2 barrel set . Love them so much😊
I agree. The Ithaca 37 are great. I have one and it is the smoothest shotgun I own... And I own a lot of pumps. Second is the High Standard K1200 or Flight King.
My dad had one just like yours. 16 ga with a polychock. He could shot dove from close to a long ways away. I was lucky enough to get one in 12ga. Just great.
I have an Ithaca Model 37 pump shotgun in 12 gauge. Mine is the 'Basic' model which has plain satin finish walnut stock, walnut stained hardwood 'corncob' style fore-end, parkerized metal parts and no scroll engraving on the receiver. It was manufactured in 1980 I purchased it new in 1982. It came equipped with a 28" modified choke barrel. Shortly after I purchased it I had the barrel shortened to 25" and a Polychoke adjustable choke installed (exactly like the one in the video). That made for a very versatile, easy handling shotgun. It is a very well made solid dependable shotgun and I've taken much game with mine from small game to deer. Since the 'Basic' model was based off the military/police version of the Model 37 at the time; mine does not have the trigger disconnect thus will 'slam fire' if the trigger is held down while while cycling the action with the safety off and live ammo in it. Never tried it but I've read the 'Basic' model will 'slam fire'.
I love my '37 !!! It belonged to my Father and was made in 1956. It has a similar Poly-Choke. Breaks clays, kills birds, all the stuff you want it to do. As for slam firing, that is as you'd say loads of fun....great for our club's annual pumpkin shoot!
I have an m37 I bought a few years ago. It was made in 1941 , model m 37 T. I has a higher grade of wood and the engraving are not fancy but are definitely hand done, it has the owners name on the bottom of the trigger guard and is done in old English, double or single stroke I do not know. When I first cleaned the gun it was full of grass, you alway wonder where the grass came from. When I cleaned and lubed the shotgun it ran like greased lighting. This model 37 has a Cutts compensator with choke tubes you screw into the body, I have always liked this setup. It also has what I call a disconnected trigger, load the gun, fire the first round and with the trigger held back pump the gun and it will fire the mag dry. The federal gov here made that illegal in the early 1970s. Thanks for your great videos.
The 37 is the finest pump shotgun. Unfortunately, other brands are less costly and they may have priced themselves out of the market. I dropped off a 12 gauge when they moved from Ithaca to King Ferry to have a barrel installed on a pre 800K serial numbered gun to make it interchangable. Then about 15 years later I did the same when they moved to Ohio, they even gave me a tour of the facility in Upper Sandusky. I sound snobby, but there isn't a pump shotgun made today that is as well built as a vintage Model 37.
As you know it is a John M Browning gun 😊 His design back in 1907 .He sold the Patton to Remington that’s how come you have the Remington model 10 then Ithaca pick the design and made the model 37
It a shame that the Browning Gun Company had to wait till 1977 to make their own gun. Brownie was a genius gave America the world the first only truly pump shotgun.
Jonny, Thanks for the video. I have a 1957 Ithaca 16 gauge ( $ 350 ) and a ten year old ( yes still made in Ohio USA ) 12 bore with screw in chokes. I love that gun and have shot ( once ) a perfect round of skeet. I enjoy it perhaps more than my Beretta 686 and 694 as it just seems to be a basic shotgun from a time when the world was a simpler place. Those who tout there 870's don't know how smooth the Ithaca action is. Anyway , thanks again. cheers, JZ
How does the newer one compare to the 1957 gun
Very comprehensive and informative video. Bought it, shot it, took it apart, told us the history and the price points. Checked all the boxes! Well done sir.
My Father purchased an Ithaca Model 37 20 gauge in 1948. He used it for pheasant hunting. In 1980 my Father gave me his model 37. I have used it many times for pheasant hunting. After 75 years the model 37, having had no parts replaced, works better than my Benelli Nova or my Remington Wing Master. I wish companies made guns to this standard these days.
My first repeating shotgun was a M37 in 16 gauge that now resides with my brother. I used it to hunt fur and made enough to buy my first new repeating shotgun; a Remington M870 12 gauge magnum. That Remington now resides with another family member. Lots of memories wrapped up in those guns and I am glad to see you have yours. It is well worth refinishing as new models are quite expensive. Cheers!
I have the M37 pump in 20 & 28 gauge. They both have harvested literally hundreds of rabbits and dozens of grouse. Very light for all day uplands field cruising. And the 12 gauge Deerslayer easily plopped a wild boar at 70 yards using a single Brenneke Classic slug. This is my comfortable security blanket when black bears are about. I also own a circa 1997 Turkeyslayer and the newer Waterfowl that have yet to be tested in the green fields of home.
I am a walking advertisment for Ithaca Gun Company.
I bought a mod 37 a few years ago. It was a rusty pitted mess. It was born in 1969. It had never been shot. Mechanicaly it was brand new. After conserving the metal , removing the pitting, then rust bluing it, she is like new. Bytw, it has a vent rib, mod choke. Breaks clay like nobodys buessness.
I learned to shoot trap and skeet with a Winchester model 12. I always thought they were the best. The 37 is a very good shotgun. But the model 12 points better in my opinion. Cheers Ron
I do love the old model 12.
I have a 1948 Model 37 in 20 bore and yes it's everything you described. Nimble and light at 5.7lbs, built to a high standard and my favorite to take into the uplands.
Thank you JC and crew. An absolute delight for a Sunday afternoon. I have never shot a pump action but after looking at this I am sure that I would like to have a go. Just picked up a nice SXS from Holts so I'm a bit scuppered if I wanted a pump action as the wife is already looking at my bulging gun cabinet with some dismay.... But who knows what the future holds!!! Good luck guys and keep up the good work, always a joy! C
They are a very smooth action.
I own one from the 90s and love it because of bottom load bottom ejection.
I also own another bottom ejection only it’s an auto Remington CTI 105 and it’s sweet.
I got a model 37 16 1963 and a model 37 1953 both in 16 gauge. I sent them to Ithaca years back to be redone completly. Its a hoot to open the safe and stare at those old 16s that look brand new
I had a 16ga Ithaca given to me by my Dad. It was a Pre-War gun. 26in MOD choke. Fastest rabbit gun I ever owned. I passed it on to a nephew to keep it in the family. Three generations have hunted with that gun. It's been worked on but is still in great shape.
My father hunted quail with a Model 37 in 20 gauge. It is what I learned to use as I grew up. I am 75 years old. I have never found a smoother pump shotgun or one that handled as well as that gun. His gun was in Improved Cylinder choke. Many years later, after I was grown and my father still wanted to take to the field but could no longer keep up with the dogs, we began dove hunting together. I had Ithaca make a custom barrel for his gun in Full Choke. It had to be a custom job because the interrupted thread that mounts the barrel and keeps it in the receiver had been changed over the years as to the number of interrupting cuts.My son now has both the gun and the extra barrel. Dad's gun had been made prior to WW II and was beautiful. As a 15 year old my father told me that for my birthday he would buy me whatever shotgun that I wanted. I was enamored of side by side doubles at that time so was looking for one. We walked into Davidson's Hardware in Greensboro, North Carolina and I saw the first over and under that I had ever seen or even heard of on the rack. Of course, being 15, that is what I had to have. I still have that gun. No one in the rural South were using an over and under for hunting at that time. The O&U is a Beretta Golden Snipe in 20 gauge with a Circassian walnut stock with the splinter forearm and two triggers. I hate to think what he paid for it. It was probably the most expensive gun that he ever bought. After passing his gun on to my son, I missed it so much that I found one built in the 50's in modified choke. I can shoot it better than any other shotgun that I own. By the way, the reason for the slam fire action is because it was designed back when market hunting for waterfowl was still in existence. Commercial hunters would find the ducks rafting in large groups at night, spotlight them, and then fire with a punt gun or a fast repeater to kill as many ducks as possible. The Winchester Model 97 will do the same thing. That is also why these guns were designed to hold more that three shells which is the legal limit under Federal Law when hunting migratory birds. You could kill a lot of ducks sitting on the water and just getting into the air by slam firing the gun until empty.
I have an Ithaca 37 in 16 ga with a Lyman Cutts Compensator. It was my Dad's and I LOVE it. It will be the one shotgun that I will not sell
The early Remington 870's were superb for a stamped part pump gun. They were called the ADL Deluxe. Nicely checked, and had impressed matting on the barrel. They had a nice lively feeling and felt lighter and less clunky then later 870's. The action was smooth as silk although not quite as smooth as the 37. As time went on, the 870's got cheaper in both materials and attention to detail. I love the 37 but an 870 is more convenient when shooting clays due to side port loading. Both excellent guns and designs.
And when it comes to maintenance an 870 is a breeze to take down for a deep cleaning. The M37 like the M12 Win are quite a bit more involved for disassembly/ assembly.
I bought a model 870 16Ga.after I got out of the army in 1968,I wanted a 12 Ga,but the hardware store owner where I bought it from talked me into A 16 Ga ,and I really glad he did, I paid $ 20 down and $10 a week until it was paid for,I believe it cost me $104.95.
My first shotgun was an Ithaca pump 16 gauge just like that. My grandfather gave it to me and not sadly I sold it and bought a browning 525 that I still have and shoot as much as possible.
I'm not convinced the Ithaca 37 is better than Winchester's Model 12, but I'm not ruling it out either. I learned to shoot with a 16 gauge Model 12 that belonged to my father, and which I eventually inherited. It's still locks up like a bank vault.
@@hennys63personally I’ve owned Multiple model 12’s,1897’s,and 37’s and I gotta say the 37 takes it for me but then again it’s not really a fair comparison since none of them were new
I have an Ithaca Model 37, Featherweight in 12 gauge. It has the 'Raybar' front sight. It is hands down the finest made, smoothest cycling pump action shotgun I have ever used. My uncle bought it new back in the late '40's after WWII. It saw little use as he really wasn't into hunting. One evening back in the '90's I was at his place for dinner and he offered to sell it to me. I asked how much he wanted for it. He hummed and hawed, then said he at least wanted to get his money out of it. "What I paid for it", he said. That was $45.
Best $45 I ever spent!!
Of all the pump guns I have handled, the Rem 31 gets my vote as the smoothest of the group. Great to see a video on an American classic, keep up the good work!
The 16 ga 31 I had was fairly mediocre.
I have a 1st year Model 31. It was a Law Enforcement Agency that was founded the same year. It has all of the Agency markings. Of course it has a short barrel and it gets use every deer season. I use it for follow up, trailing gun. I have finished several off with it.
I have a 12 gauge 31 with an adjustable Herter's choke and it is extremely smooth.
I have a DSPS ( Deer Slayer Police Special) my first shotgun given to me by my father in law. It was designed by John Browning, arguably one of the best gun designers of all time. 1911, BAR, M1917, M2, Browning High Power, A-5, Superposed
I carried one of these in 12 Ga with a deerslayer barrel as a backup gun for the hunters I was guiding for 28 years in the Canadian Rockies. It never failed me and I would reccomend it to anyone. Light, strong, easy to load and use, and tougher than hell. Lost it in a river crossing many years ago (along with my camp gear and a couple of 16' boats!...don't ask) Replaced it with a Browning which my son now has, I hope he doesn't loose it too!
Okay, Johnny, I have stopped hating you and I now think you would make a fine son-in-law. My old pump is a model 97 in 16 gauge made in 1902, I think. Good video. I enjoy your work.
🤣 see you at thanksgiving dad
Bring a nice goose or duck. @@tgsoutdoors
The 37 is a fine gun. And the 16 is actually my favorite.
My best friend bought one back in 1970 when we were in high school. I remember it being super smooth to operate. He still hunts with it today. Lord only knows how many rounds have been fired from it in 53 years of upland and duck hunting.
I have my Dads 1950s 37R Deluxe 16g. In impeccable shape. Still looks brand new. It is the smoothest pump I own and shoots amazing.
I actually own the model shotgun that inspired that Ithaca. The Remington model 17a 20gauge. Fantastic shotgun. Been in my family for years and still may favorite.
I have my father's 12 gauge 37, built in 1949. Has a corncob for end and checkering on the stock. He bought it used in 1950. Shoots like a dream and since I am lefthanded it's great. Original 12 gauge was 2 3/4-inch chamber. I also have a Upper Sandusky gun in 3 inch. Too bad they are no longer slam fire.
As a southpaw, I started on a 20ga junior model that has been passed down a few generations, my first gun was a brand new 12ga M37 in about 2000, I had a great uncle that was a fairly accomplished trap and skeet shooter that used Win M12s in competition but always went for his M37 when a meal was on the line.
My first shotgun was a 37 in 16 gauge. It was old and I loved it.
I wish I still had it. The original owner wanted it back.
I feel your pain.
Ithaca Model 37 is my favorite pump shotgun.
I own a 1975 12ga and a 1956 16ga.
Both of them are a birdhunter's dream.
I have my dad's 1958 16 gauge feather light mint condition love that gun will never get rid of it
I've got a 16 g made in 1964 same year I was born.A pleasure to carry it's a featherweight however recoil pretty stout do to lightness.
We carried 37 fitted for bayonet when I was in Berlin 1982 MPs
Have a 20ga made in 1949. Slickest action ever and well under 6lbs
I recently inherited a 16 gauge Model 37 from my father in law. Honestly didn’t know anything about it until I watched this video. After doing some research, turns out I have a 1938 model 37! Can’t wait to hunt pheasant with it now!
Thanks for the vid and making my day!
That 16 is light as a feather and smooth as silk to handle. I hear the new Ithaca's are beautiful and even better built than before . I have plans on visiting the new factory in Upper Sandusky Ohio .
First pump shotgun I ever got my hands on was my grandfather's 20ga Model 37. I bought mine in 12ga a few years ago and spent many hours functionally restoring it. I've since (quite easily) convinced many friends and family members looking for a shotgun to buy a 37. One of them ended up buying two. I've shot other pump shotguns and they all simply feel cheap in comparison.
I'm 77 years old and have had grandpa's featherlight for 60 years . Full choke and modified interchangeable barrels , hunting, trap, all around great gun.
Just purchased a Noble model 60a that takes 16 gauge. I’m super excited to get it out this week.
Peter Hathaway Capstick used a 12 bore Win. Mod.12 when going into the bush after wounded leapards because they also had the Browning designed slam fire feature, a feat I am not eager to duplicate.
Thanks @TDS Outdoors! This video is a honest review of an American classic. 37's are over-looked by most shooters today. However many upland hunters are starting to buy these old warriors up and we see them more often now on bird, squirrel, and rabbit hunts in the southern USA. I'm glad you high-lighted the 37"s history of a quality made firearm. At hunting camp, in a gun rack with modern guns, the 37 clearly stands out. Good video!
Remington 870 Wingmaster has been 'the One' for me and most of my shootingvgroup. That dual action arm gives a feelingvof quality ehen youbpump it and the walnut stock always looks great. I am however saddened that spare parts availability serms to be drying up nowadays. I really would like to eeplace all the springs, but finding them is nigh on impossible.😢
My first and favorite shotgun! Bought in high school for $80.00 used in 1970.
You did such a great job in this video of describing one of our (US shooters) most beloved guns.👍
BTW...we like pumps and autoloaders because, historically, we have had much greater opportunities to hunt birds and game where more than 2 shots are actually useful. Even long after the market hunting days, having 3-5 shots for hunting wild pheasant, doves, grouse or quail is a good thing.
Americans also use shotguns for hunting game such as deer, black bear and wild hogs as well. A good shotgun can be "one gun" for hunting everything from rabbits/squirrels to all types of birds and large game. A single sighting plane is preferred, especially when using slugs.
Slide and autoloading shotguns are typically less expensive than double guns...and Americans are much more of the "practical hunting" type than the British. Where I grew up, we took our gun and walked out the front door to go hunting. Or put the guns in the back of the truck and drove to a nearby acquaintances property. We ate breakfast and lunch at home and went hunting between meals. It wasn't a fancy affair. Our family had my father and 5 sons that were hunting...that's a lot of guns to buy.
My first firearm was an Ithaca 37 Deer slayer in 20 gauge. I remember how light it was and smooth the action was. I purchase it when I was 18 to go hunting deer in NY. Some areas of NY don’t allow rifles for deer hunting. It’s shotgun only were I was hunting. I sold it after college because I was short on cash.
Good day and thank you for the video. I own a 12ga Deer Slayer Police Special I bought when they were cheaper. If you have any mechanical aptitude, I suggest you disassemble it to deep-clean it and to get an idea how it works. Like most all JM Browning's guns, it is an elegant design. You won;t be able to remove the mag tube. Any report on how the Poly Choke patterns would be of interest.
Bought one new in 1973, 20 gauge. Used a lot for Quail (till they dissapeared in Central Texas) and used a lot for dove. Unforetunately, cut the stock down for the next generation of kids, they love it.
I've a Featherlite 1940 mfg 12ga, a pretty 56' 16ga, both handle and shoot just as well. I'll never part with either till I'm done shooting. Best , smoothest, most reliable pump ever made.
Ithaca did many great things through the years, including a restart on SXS guns in the late 90s and early 2000s. Model 37 has been a hunting sportsman's standard since it arrived. At least here in America. If you want it to be a real stunner, a gunsmith can do a fresh hot blue on the action and add a rib to the barrell, keep that poly choke, that one is truly delux. Fancy walnut from your choice of countries can turn that gun into a real head turner that shoots even better with a stock that measures up to your needs. Very nice video either way, but a video on improving that pump could be fun too.
The two screws with locks at the top of the receiver, are the rear pivot point of the lifter/ejector.
I'm 70 and my dad gave me an M37 20 gauge when I was 9. When I turned 11 he bought me a 12 gauge and I still shoot that gun today for upland game. Over the years I have acquired 14 more M37's including an M37 Waterfowler. For my 50th birthday my wife gave me a set of 20, 16 and 12 gauge M37's.
I love the Model 37. I grew up with an antique Wingmaster. I consider them about the same quality. I emailed Ithaca and ask them when they were going to start producing 37 again. They told me at least one year and that was about one year ago
Just recently purchased one , looking forward to restoring it , mod 37 pump full choke
"Greatest pump action of all time..." - Absolutely!
I have a 37 in 20 guage and I love it. I also have the Ithaca model 51 in 12 guage and I love it also, the 51 will only hold 3 shells, I guess because it was designed to be a bird gun. I glad you mentioned the slamfire feature, many people don't know about that. It could be a unpleasant surprise if one didn't know. LOL
I bought a 12 ga. a couple of years ago. It's a beautiful mid-60's gun with the corncob forend. For years, I was never interested in this gun, now I'm a fan. I would like to get an older 16 ga., maybe it's because that's what I shot as a lad. Nice video!
I have one in every gauge. They did hand checker back in the day, It was just a simple double pointed strip each side and some more complicated depending on model. Forend as well. They are smooth as glass. The 16G I have is a skeet model with vented rib, fixed choke, and i love it except for the ammo and lack of availability.
I have a few old, very old pump and semiauto shotguns. I have a 12ga Win Model 12, 12ga Remington 31 and a 16ga Ithaca 37.
Love the three of them. Can't say which one is the best or the one I love the most. The Model 12 was made in 1925, Ithaca was made in 1941 and the 31, I can't remember.
Had a 1948 12ga Ithaca 37, but I gave it to my oldest son, with another Winchester Model 12 I had.
I have a Ithaca model 37 lightweight 16 gauge with the poly choke and I just love that shotgun, It’s just a great shooting and handling shotgun, I personally really love 16 gauges in general as well
I am glad you got the 16 gauge gun. They no longer make them in 16 gauge, unfortunately, despite 16 gauge rising in popularity significantly in the last 7 years.
Thank you guys for saying the truth about the gun, ITS SMOOTH, it's unlike any other gun, it works well and it's impressive.
This is my personal favourite pump action shotgun ever made, and I have played with all but a 28 gauge variant. They are superbly accurate, smooth, flawless functioning, ZERO HEAT used to manufacture the gun, and the gun is not an assembly line mass production gun like a Mossberg 500 or Remington 870. The only fault, terrible production between the 80s and 2006, leading to the company closing down three times, and the stock tends to crack due to it being thin around the sides connecting to the receiver.
I am glad you got to finally try one and that you enjoyed it. I knew you would enjoy this shotgun, especially in the misunderstood 16 gauge, that yes, will out pattern 12 and 20 gauge. Never underestimate the 16 gauge, it's the perfected gauge.
From a $100,000 shotgun to a pump shotgun-what a range! I have only Remington 870s but have shot a 37, and they are incredible! Perry P., SoCal, USA
They are all fun to learn about
I’m in the UK and have a mid 80s DSPS and love that gun. Wish I knew how many of that specific gun were in ownership here.
I have a Ithaca 37 featherlight 12ga an my baby Ithaca 16ga 37R imp mod cylinder. love em.
The old pump guns are special indeed.
I've been a big fan of the pump action, mostly since it is fun to pump to shoot. I've owned a 20 and 12 ga Remington 870 and then I got a Benelli Super Nova Pump a little over 20 years ago. It has been my favorite shotgun since. I was going to get a Super Black Eagle but liked the Pump action over a semi auto. A friend of mine had a Ithica and I really liked how it looked.
Love this shotgun. Bought one of the last made in the mid 1980's. The bottom ejection and smooth action is a dream to use bird hunting.
Im going to be picking up a really nice 1970 12ga this weekend. I cant wait!
Thank you for mentioning the great Gerry Miculek.
I own 2 12 ga. I also had a 20 ga at one time. I absolutely love them
Being 75 years old I first experienced the 37 when I was 16 years old prior to that I had my Grandfathers 16 ga double barrel. I fell in love with the 37 . I personally wasn’t brought in to the Winchester Model 12 until I bought a used trap gun that an old guy sold- it had a custom stock with a thumb hole which the gunsmith adjusted for me- my trap average was 25 out of 25 and my Love affair with Model 12 began- currently owning 6 of them that I have refinished the wood and used a cylinder honing tool to develop chokes for the ammo I was using- while migratory ducks and geese have become my birds of choice I did purchase the Beretta semi automatic 12 and 20 gauge basically because the day bag limit is 20 snows and 10 specks in California. The Older Gentleman I hunt with bring them geese for their kids and grandchildren and being I’ve hunted with these Old guys and have been shooting shotguns since I was 10 they buy me shells to fill there limits: God Bless The Life I’ve Been Given
You’re mentioning of the 31 helped me remember and I would like to personally Thank you, as I said at 74 years old I am recovering from a medical emergency 5 years ago and memory is the issue. I began shooting the 16 ga Model 31 while I was training my dog and would buy Pheasants or Chucker for the trials. Probably the Smoothest of All Pumps ever made . My Son was 14 years old and he cut his teeth on the 31 .Thank You for Being My Some Beautiful Memories
The 37 is the most overlooked shotgun to date. The featherlights are phenomenal shooters. Best place to find them are the guys who are in their 70s who bought theirs new 50yrs ago.
Dallas PD used these back in the sixties , There was always one in the gun rack! When getting tickets back in those days they'd put you in front seat. Every officer told me the samething, Best shotgun made!
That's because it's a John Moses Browning design. The Browning BPS is the same but without the interrupted thread barrel removal. The Ithaca is definitely a wonderful Shotgun in the woods hunting.
I have two and love them never cared for any other pump actions.
Jonny - very nice episode. Glad to see you experiencing even more variety. I’m fortunate to own what I consider the the best two pump action shotguns ever made, namely the Remington Model 17, which became the Ithaca Model 37, and the Winchester Model 12. The Ithaca you shot is also a wonderful gun and continues to put game in the bag. Should you be inclined, episodes on all the classic American side x side’s, such as Parker, Ithaca, A.H. Fox, Baker, L.C. Smith, and Winchester Model 21 would be well received. Keep up the good work!
Love the old Ithaca 37's. My first one was a 20ga Ultra-Featherlite with the aluminum receiver rather than steel. Nice to carry, but kicked worse than the 12ga steel version I picked up a few years later. Being a lefty the Ithaca was just a natural choice for me, though I still tend to favor the 20ga Remington 870 Wingmaster which was my first shotgun. Also have a couple of the Browning BPS's (12 and 16ga), but both of them suffer from an inability to shoot low-brass shells as doing so locks them up something fierce (shell head expansion issue with today's cheap shell construction). High brass shells shoot fine in them, but I honestly don't shoot any of my pump guns much anymore as I've shifted to and prefer shooting side-by-sides now.
One of the first changes Ithaca did to the Remington model 17 was add a top extractor because the model 17 had extraction problems after being fired. I’ve had many 37’s and they are very smooth and fun to shoot. My favorite is a 1948 37 in 16ga. Walter Snyder wrote a book and the history of the mod 37 Ithaca and one on the history of Ithaca Gun Company bot in hard cover. I have both books and suggest anyone interested in Ithaca Guns should try to locate these two books, very informative on Ithaca. Thanks for the video from a guy who believes like Walter Snyder put it “ Ithaca 37 best gun going”
I have a Model 37 Featherlight in 20ga. My uncle gave it to me when I was 12, I'm now 50. Mine is slightly newer than that, but I believe it is from the the 60's. The fore end is different, and it's a fixed choke. It's still the only shotgun I own.