Ithaca Model 37 help needed.

[chosinsteve]

My father-in-law purchased a Model 37 that is US marked but has an incorrect stock. Someone also put a huge recoil pad on it and it looks bubba'd up. I am trying to help him secure a new stock as I was under the impression that they would be fairly easy to find but I have not had much luck. I'm waiting on my father-in-law to call me back with the serial number of the shotgun as well. I don't think it's a trench shotgun, maybe a trainer or riot one? I'm not sure though. I think he paid around $650-700 for it in it's current condition. If he can send me pics I will upload those as well. Any thing to help me out would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Information

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[Col. Colt]

Try SARCO or Numrich Arms/Gunparts/eGunParts - good luck! CC

[bushmaster1313]

Buy a 1940's field gun and swap the stocks.

[scosgt]

I have a stock that will work on a VN era Ithaca. If it is US marked it is most likely not WWII.

[chosinsteve]

The serial number for the Ithaca is 69506.

[fredh46]

Serial number 69506 is a 1943 manufacture

[Tom Doniphon]

Was Ithaca making commercial shotguns during WWII? They certainly made military contract guns, but production of those stopped by the end of 1942.

[fredh46]

It is my understanding that no "civilian" shotguns were produced by Ithaca during the war. The serial number data found in Walter Claude Snyder's books on Ithaca indicate that 1941 serial numbers for standard Model 37's ran from 34401-50900, 1942: 50901-63000, 1943: 63001-69999. His records do not show any serial numbers for 1944 and 1945 production. In 1946 the serial numbers picked up at 92000 and ran to 115350. Serial numbers from 70000 to 89969 were reserved and used for solid rib, skeet, and trap models. Canfield indicates that Ithaca stopped producing shotguns after the completion of a 1941 government contract and switched over all production to the 1911A1.

[Tom Doniphon]

Yes, that's my understanding. The Ithaca Military contract shotgun shipments ended around the end of 1942 at about serial no. 62,000. If Ithaca made no more shotguns during the War (1943, 1944 & 1945), then how can there be 1943 guns with higher serial numbers than 62,000?

[scosgt]

Yes, that's my understanding. The Ithaca Military contract shotgun shipments ended around the end of 1942 at about serial no. 62,000. If Ithaca made no more shotguns during the War (1943, 1944 & 1945), then how can there be 1943 guns with higher serial numbers than 62,000?

Actually, the skeet and trap grade guns were numbered in the 80,000 range and there were a few that were military marked from 1942-43. I had one, it was marked FJA rather than RLB, indicating a little bit later manufacture than the trench guns, which are assumed to be the end of WWII Ithaca shotgun production. There were no 1943 civilian guns. Whenever 63001-69999 were made, it was after WWII and they were not sold to the military. WWII guns are NOT "US" marked, except for a small group of riot guns that do not fall into that range, and that we think were probably cut down from long barrels by a US arsenal, hence the US marks rather than the RLB.
Hope this helps.