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?

[fredh46]

Great question Tom, one which is beyond my level of knowledge to answer. We all know that serial number data quoted is often incorrect. Is it possible that the serial number data for 1943 (63001 - 69999) quoted by Snyder in his book is incorrect? probably. The data he used was provided by a Miss Hilda Head who was then in charge of the Ithaca service department. Snyder stated that "Miss Head added the following caution to the users of the data: This is based on shipping records, therefore some irregularities may exist." She may have incorrectly deduced production dates from shipping dates. Maybe the 63001-69999 serial numbers were also manufactured in 1942. Pure conjecture on my part.