The Model 37 was used by the United States Armed Forces in World War II, the Korean War, and especially the Vietnam War, where it gained a great reputation for reliability in the jungles of Vietnam when generally used by special forces/ special operations forces like the Navy SEALs and Army Green Berets. ( July 2009) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. This section needs additional citations for verification. The Ithaca 37 is the only pre–World War II shotgun still in production. Production has resumed in Upper Sandusky, Ohio.Īccording to an article by the Ithaca Times dated June 11, 2003, the one-millionth Model 37 was produced in 1968 and as of 2003, more than 2,000,000 Model 37s have been produced. Production paused in 2005 when Ithaca once again changed hands.
![ithaca 37 shotgun value ithaca 37 shotgun value](https://cdn.rockislandauction.com/dev_cdn/74/3543.jpg)
At one time, the Ithaca 37 was renamed the Model 87, although it was soon changed back in one of many ownership changes. Ithaca has suffered many setbacks in its history and changed hands numerous times.
![ithaca 37 shotgun value ithaca 37 shotgun value](https://gundigest.com/wp-content/uploads/Ithaca-Model-37-Shotgun-1.jpg)
Made in many different models, the Ithaca 37 has the longest production run for a pump-action shotgun in history, surpassing that of the Winchester Model 12, the original inspiration for Ithaca's entry into the market.
![ithaca 37 shotgun value ithaca 37 shotgun value](https://greatnorthgunco.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/IMG_0608-scaled.jpg)
While Ithaca did produce some shotguns for military use during the war, they also produced M1911 pistols and M3 submachine guns.Īfter World War II, Ithaca resumed production of the Model 37. Many sporting arms ceased production entirely during the same period. With the depression dragging on and another war looming on the horizon, it was possibly the worst time to introduce a sporting arm. In 1937, it was released as the Ithaca 37. After gearing for production of their new shotgun as the Ithaca Model 33 in 1933, Ithaca discovered a Pedersen patent that would not expire until 1937, and production had to be delayed. They used the Remington Model 17 as their model and made modifications-such as simplifying and cost-saving alterations of the firing pin and ejection mechanism, the work of Ithaca designer Harry Howland in 1931 -while waiting for related patents to expire. Shopīrowse our online store for new and used 37 Featherlight shotguns for sale.Following the First World War, the Ithaca Gun Company sought to produce a pump-action shotgun to compete with the ubiquitous Winchester Model 1912.
![ithaca 37 shotgun value ithaca 37 shotgun value](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0554/3238/0582/articles/IMG_0811_800x.jpg)
Ithaca recommends the Featherlight for hunting upland game. The Model 37 is widely used by the Los Angeles Police Department and Sheriff’s Department. Other features include a beautiful walnut stock with a checkered grip and fore-end, a 4- to 6-pound single-stage trigger, a Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad, Truglo fiber optic sights that are brightly colored and easy to see, and it is available with a vent rib barrel. And the receiver was milled from a single piece of steel. It is ambidextrous because it ejects spent shells downward instead of to the side. Ithaca says this system prevents the metal from warping, which could happen during the soldering process. It has Ithaca’s patented Solderless Barrel System where the steel barrel is fastened with lugs instead of being soldered together. The Featherlight is basically Ithaca’s standard shotgun or standard M37. The Ithaca Featherlight Model 37 is a pump-action shotgun chambered for 12 gauge, 16 gauge, 20 gauge and 28 gauge.