Ithaca M37 finish?

[ziomanno]

Hello to you all; could you please tell me which is the proper finish on a M37 riot, s/n 68.000 circa? It has been used/reissued during V N campaign, since it bears also another s/n with "S" prefix on barrel and frame.

Thanks in advance.

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[Tom Doniphon]

Your description sounds like it is one of the early 60s Model 37 riot guns made specifically for the Viet Nam Govt'. They are not "US" marked, and many were founds with S prefix serial number added to the reciever and barrel. These S prefix numbers look more hand stamped than neatly machine stamped. Most, if not all, of these shotguns went to Vietnam. From what I remember, these Vietnam guns had a parkerized finish.

The only other Ithaca I can think of you might have would be an early post WW2 commercial gun. They had a blued finish. But you won't find any S prefix numbers on these guns.

By the way, does your gun have sling swivels?

[ziomanno]

Thank you Tom; maybe it's better if I add some pics: as you can see, probably she has been reblued, so I'm curious about the original finish. According with the Ithaca Co. database, this shotgun should be made in 1943.

[Tom Doniphon]

Thanks for the photos. Your shotguns has the "US" and S prefix serial numbers (although the S numbers are mismatched) like the Vietnam era US contract M37 riot guns. But it also has sling swivels and the second serial number on the side of the receiver like the South Vietnam contract riot guns. I'm not sure what you really have there.

[ziomanno]

Thanks Tom, excuse the late. Actually, my shotgun is quite unusual... If the rifle has be made in 1943, what do you think about a weapon in US inventory during 40/60's, sent after this period to VN?