Restoration of an Ithaca Model 37- 12gauge

[tacticaladv]

Over the past few weekends I have been starting a restoration project on a what I can guess is a mid 60's to 70's Ithaca model 37.
The gun was found in an attic and is in a pretty nasty state of disrepair.

Ive been making shooting videos for quite awhile for youtube and decided this may be a good project to try to video
The vids so far cover some basic disassembly and a broken stock repair.
I plan on making vids to cover the refinishing of the furniture, refinishing the barrell as well as tuning the action.
I thought some of the guys here may find it interesting or even helpful if they aregetting their feet wet in a project like this.

Anyhoo, heres a couple of links to the first set of videos.

explanation of the project and the donor gun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3sbhN8w9yM

Barrel removal and magazine disassembly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfbzkjcK1ls

Foreend and buttstock removal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLqW-Zbv51I

Repairing a cracked buttstock with epoxy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPXMc3RIBzM




My only goal for these vids is to help people in learning more about their guns and maybe become self sufficient in simple repair work......Hope its recieved well. Any comments are welcome

[tacticaladv]

refinishing the stock
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFcfbWvSnPY

[den9]

i havent watched your videos yet but i can say these are my favorite pumps, my dad has one and i fell in love. something about the bottom ejection is just so cool, and should be used more often.

i recently bought a 16 gauge in terrible shape, because it was rust free, it seems like they go for insane money and every single one is still beat up badly.

i found one a while ago in good condition for a good price and regret not buying it, i never touch a gun with a smoother action an ithaca m37, not even the browning bps are as smooth.

the 12 gauge kicks the hell out of me though, im thinking about buying a new 20 gauge ultralight, its a shame they go for up to a 1000 dollars now, and dont offer the corn cob pump handle.

thank you for restoring your gun, i hate seeing these guns rust away.

oh yeah if you want to date your gun check out shotgun world, i found out mine was made in 1948

[tacticaladv]

Thanks for the reference to SG world.

Ive dated this gun to 1972 which is right in there where i guessed it was.
I appreciate it!

[den9]

no problem, feel free to hit that rep button up top

would you agree that the ithaca is one of the smoothest pumps out there?

the only gun that i felt was slightly smoother was a high standard, and they seem impossible to find, or even get info on them.

oh yeah welcome to pafoa, i see your new here. hopefully you dont run off the sg world lol.

[tacticaladv]

rep added

Well to be honest this is one of the first model 37's ive handled and it was far from smooth in the condition its in right now. I will let you know once I get her resto'd up.

I do think its going to be a very very nice gin

[flabbydan]

I had to go to the basement and make sure my house wasn't broken into! Just kidding, but talk about a coincidence. . .

Just before my grandmother moved to the nursing home, we were cleaning out her attic. Wouldn't you know it--there lay an Ithaca Model 37 Featherlight 12 gauge shotgun in the corner. It was (is) covered in rust. It had probably been there since the 70s or early 80s. Since nobody else in my family is much into guns, I became its new owner. My intention was to refinish it and replace any internal parts as necessary, but I just haven't gotten around to it. It's really beyond my (non-existent) "gunsmithing" abilities anyway.

I've been thinking about selling it, but I don't have any idea what it would be worth, or even if it's still safe to shoot.

I haven't watched your videos yet, but I'm hoping the condition of yours before the restoration is similar to how mine is. Maybe there is hope for it.

[tacticaladv]

take a peek at the first video and youll see the before condition or starting point.
It was in a pretty bad way

Theres always hope for old guns....lol
If this one comes out ok I may be willing to take it off you hands

[den9]

I've been thinking about selling it, but I don't have any idea what it would be worth, or even if it's still safe to shoot.

post up a picture, see if the barrel is scratched, and see how smooth it pumps, or show a video of you racking the action. I seen alot of these and still check every one i see when i see them used at the gun store. i could give you a ball park range. its better it was sitting in an attic, better than the basement i suppose. is it rusty?

[tacticaladv]

quick update
stock is complete and barrel coated

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsROGhTidao