Author Topic: Another JMB-Designed Gun for Me: Ithaca 37 12ga DS Police Special (Read 7610 times)

roo_ster · « **on:** October 06, 2010, 05:21:20 PM »

Just took possession of one of these puppies.

It is marked "DPD" but I have no idea which "PD that starts with D" it was from:
D-troit
D-allas
D-ayton
D-idunno

It is an older shotgun and I was pleasantly surprised to find that it had the lightweight aluminum alloy receiver. It has a 20" bbl and a full-length mag tube, but swings really fast & handy. Better than any 20" bbl Mosy or Rem 870. I'll post photos later, but here is the seller's photo until then:

It has a few scratches on the stock & metal, but is in much better than described condition. It was neither shot nor carried much.

I intend to clean up up and maybe do minimal cosmetic work on the wood & metal, if I can do so without destroying what is already there.

Also, I'll replace the recoil pad. Not sure if I'll go with a plastic plate or one of them fancy new pads: Limbsaver, Sqiushmaster, Kickk-Eeze, whatever.

BTW, this joker is still trying to sell his Ithaca 37 frankenshotty:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=194346547

I'd take it off his hands for $150 (heck, I bid $180 in a previous auction of his), but I can't bring myself to go higher since my local FFL periodically gets police trade-in 870 WMs for under $200 OTD.

MillCreek · « **Reply #1 on:** October 06, 2010, 05:37:59 PM »

I envy you. I have two Ithaca 37 police shotguns, and I am always looking for another.

TommyGunn · « **Reply #2 on:** October 06, 2010, 06:18:12 PM »

First shottie I had was my father's; a Remington Model 17 in 20 gauage with a Cutt's Compensator. That was the same design as the Ithaca 37. Ithaca just upped the gauge to 12.
Interesting mechanism; loads & ejects from the bottom of the receiver. JMB was a clever critter ....

MillCreek · « **Reply #3 on:** October 06, 2010, 06:41:58 PM »

Bottom ejection is one of the reasons I am so fond of the Ithacas. I am right-handed but my right eye is useless for shooting due to amblyopia. So I shoot long guns left handed. The Ithacas do not eject hot shells right into my face.

Jamisjockey · « **Reply #4 on:** October 06, 2010, 07:31:53 PM »

Great find! How much did you score it for, if you don't mind me askin?
I'm thinking I might buy a few more shotguns over the next few years.

I'm very sad that I had to drop my Mossberg 500 off at the gunsmith today. Safety was engaging with the recoil after each shot.

roo_ster · « **Reply #5 on:** October 06, 2010, 11:25:03 PM »

$305 before shipping & FFL xfer.

$40 shipping

but it included a cheap plastic case gay-run-teed to get the shotgun via shipping unscathed. Say, worth $15 for that.

$20 FFL xfer on my end

So, $365.

Not a great deal, but it sure seems a better weapon than a ~~similarly-priced~~ Rem 870 Express Tactical that goes for $100 more at Bud's Gun Shop (before shipping & FFL).

Actually, now that I think about it, I feel better about it.

The seller had another like it for sale, but it is gone, now.

There is still frankenshotty for sale. Maybe his reserve is $200. I wasn't kidding about how it felt, relative to Rem & Mossy 20" pumps I have held.

My FFL gal said she comes across police/Brinks 870P trade-ins purty regular and will give me a heads-up. She says they are pretty ugly, cosmetically and go for ~$200OTD (from her place in DFW).

She also has a lot of former Brinks S&W M64 .38spl revos for $200OTD.

I am also going to get a few used social shotguns ready for use. I told my wife how cheaply they can be had and she said to take my time and get one for each family member.

Headless Thompson Gunner · « **Reply #6 on:** October 06, 2010, 11:27:29 PM »

My wife has an old Ithaca 20 gauge she inherited from her grandfather. We've been out shooting with it once or twice and it's the only shotgun I've every truly liked. It just feels good to me, no other shotty has.

Zardozimo Oprah Bannedalas · « **Reply #7 on:** October 06, 2010, 11:44:46 PM »

Does it have the trigger disconnect?

roo_ster · « **Reply #8 on:** October 15, 2010, 02:23:34 PM »

Quote from: Zardozimo Oprah Bannedalas on October 06, 2010, 11:44:46 PM

Does it have the trigger disconnect?

~~Yes. Yes it does.~~

D'oh.

I meant to say "No trigger disconnect." Hold down hte trigger and pump away until the mag is empty.

Will have to try that some time.

roo_ster · « **Reply #9 on:** October 15, 2010, 02:36:03 PM »

Photos I took the other night. I haven't touched it yet, not even to clean it.

Second impressions:

Most the scratches look like they are from being stored improperly rather than from use. The action echoes that, in that it is smooth but still tight. I don't think this saw many rounds down range. Once I tear it down, clean it, and lube it, I bet it will be slickslickslick.

I need to figure out if the stock is an oil finish or something else. If an oil finish, I'll hit it with lemon oil repeatedly and call it good.

Left Side

Right Side

Scratches on PG

Scratches Left Side Receiver

BBL Stamp

Harold Tuttle · « **Reply #10 on:** October 15, 2010, 04:31:59 PM »

I would be tempted to duracoat it in FDE

Jamisjockey · « **Reply #11 on:** October 15, 2010, 06:43:41 PM »

Dropped off my mossberg to get ghost rings and a duracoat on the barrel this week. Probably take two weeks to complete. Probably oughta put the Winchester 1300 back in my bedroom...

I'm thinking one of my next purchases will be something like what you nabbed. Mossberg, Ith or Rem trade in, rough cosmetics. I'd like to have another defensive shotgun around. Started stocking up on buckshot, I'll stop when I reach a couple hundred rounds

Headless Thompson Gunner · « **Reply #12 on:** October 15, 2010, 06:52:47 PM »

Say, does anyone know how to crack open an Ithaca 37 for a thorough cleaning? I can't seem to get the screws on the receiver to budge, and I wonder if there's something internal capturing them that I have to remove first.

roo_ster · « **Reply #13 on:** October 15, 2010, 10:31:47 PM »

Quote from: Headless Thompson Gunner on October 15, 2010, 06:52:47 PM

Say, does anyone know how to crack open an Ithaca 37 for a thorough cleaning? I can't seem to get the screws on the receiver to budge, and I wonder if there's something internal capturing them that I have to remove first.

Steve's Pages has an old-school tear-down .pdf, much better than the current one at the company site.

If you can't find it, PM me with an email addy and I'll send it to you.

One of the first things I do with a new-to-me gun: tear it down as far as practical, clean, and lube it.

Quote from: Harold Tuttle on October 15, 2010, 04:31:59 PM

I would be tempted to duracoat it in FDE

I wouldn't. Not a big fan of the paint-on finishes. Give me blue, park, or nickel.

Armed Polite Society

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Author Topic: Another JMB-Designed Gun for Me: Ithaca 37 12ga DS Police Special (Read 7610 times)

roo_ster

Another JMB-Designed Gun for Me: Ithaca 37 12ga DS Police Special

MillCreek

Re: Another JMB-Designed Gun for Me: Ithaca 37 12ga DS Police Special

TommyGunn

Re: Another JMB-Designed Gun for Me: Ithaca 37 12ga DS Police Special

MillCreek

Re: Another JMB-Designed Gun for Me: Ithaca 37 12ga DS Police Special

Jamisjockey

Re: Another JMB-Designed Gun for Me: Ithaca 37 12ga DS Police Special

roo_ster

Re: Another JMB-Designed Gun for Me: Ithaca 37 12ga DS Police Special

Headless Thompson Gunner

Re: Another JMB-Designed Gun for Me: Ithaca 37 12ga DS Police Special

Zardozimo Oprah Bannedalas

Re: Another JMB-Designed Gun for Me: Ithaca 37 12ga DS Police Special

roo_ster

Re: Another JMB-Designed Gun for Me: Ithaca 37 12ga DS Police Special

roo_ster

Re: Another JMB-Designed Gun for Me: Ithaca 37 12ga DS Police Special

Harold Tuttle

Re: Another JMB-Designed Gun for Me: Ithaca 37 12ga DS Police Special

Jamisjockey

Re: Another JMB-Designed Gun for Me: Ithaca 37 12ga DS Police Special

Headless Thompson Gunner

Re: Another JMB-Designed Gun for Me: Ithaca 37 12ga DS Police Special

roo_ster

Re: Another JMB-Designed Gun for Me: Ithaca 37 12ga DS Police Special