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| Ithaca Model 37 | |
|---|---|
 Riot model with blackpistol grip and greensling | |
| Type | Shotgun |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| Used by | SeeUsers |
| Wars | World War II Korean War Vietnam War Cambodian Civil War Rhodesian Bush War 1989 attack on La Tablada barracks 1992 Los Angeles riots |
| Production history | |
| Designer | John Browning, Harry Howland |
| Designed | 1933 |
| Manufacturer | Ithaca Gun Company Industrias Marcati |
| Produced | 1937–present |
| Variants | Bataan Modelo 71[1] Ithaca Model 87 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | Varies |
| Length | 29.9 to 39.6 inches (760 to 1,010 mm) |
| Barrel length | 13 to 30 inches (330 to 760 mm) |
| Cartridge | 12, 16, 20, or 28 gauge |
| Action | Manually operated,pump-action |
| Feed system | 4, 5, or 7-roundtubular magazine (riot, standard, and extended tube versions) |
TheIthaca 37, also known as theIthaca Model 37, is apump-action shotgun made in large numbers for the civilian, law enforcement and military markets. Based on a 1915 patent by firearms designer John Browning for a shotgun initially marketed as theRemington Model 17, it utilizes a novel combination ejection/loading porton the bottom of the gun which leaves the sides closed to the elements.
Following theFirst World War, theIthaca Gun Company sought to produce a pump-action shotgun to compete with the ubiquitousWinchester Model 1912. They used the Remington Model 17 as their model and made modifications—such as simplifying and cost-saving alterations of the firing pin and ejection mechanism, the work of Ithaca designer Harry Howland in 1931[2]—while waiting for related patents to expire. After gearing for production of their new shotgun as the Ithaca Model 33 in 1933, Ithaca discovered a Pedersen patent that would not expire until 1937, and production had to be delayed. In 1937, it was released as the Ithaca 37.
Withthe depression dragging on andanother war looming on the horizon, the Ithaca M37 suffered the fate as other sporting arms within that period, ceasing production entirely. While Ithaca did produce some shotguns for military use during the war, they also producedM1911 pistols andM3 submachine guns.
After World War II, Ithaca resumed production of the Model 37. Made in many different models, the Ithaca 37 has the longest production run for a pump-action shotgun in history, surpassing that of the Winchester Model 12, the original inspiration for Ithaca's entry into the market. Ithaca has suffered many setbacks in its history and changed hands numerous times. At one time, the Ithaca 37 was renamed the Model 87, although it was soon changed back in one of many ownership changes. Production paused in 2005 when Ithaca once again changed hands. Production has resumed inUpper Sandusky, Ohio.
According to an article by the Ithaca Times dated June 11, 2003, the one-millionth Model 37 was produced in 1968; and as of 2003, more than 2,000,000 Model 37s have been produced. The Ithaca 37 is the only pre–World War II shotgun still in production.
Loading the Ithaca 37 involves inserting shotshells of the proper gauge through the loading/ejection port in the bottom of the receiver and pushing them forward into the magazine until retained by the shell stop. The slide release is pressed and the slide retracted completely then pushed forward. Pulling the trigger fires the gun and releases the slide for reloading. On most models up to 1975, a second sear was installed that would drop the hammer as soon as the gun went into battery if the trigger was in a depressed condition. Thus, holding the trigger down allowed the gun to fire the instant a new round is cycled into the chamber without requiring the trigger to be released; this feature was called "slam-fire". Otherwise, the Model 37 operates in much the same way as other pump-action shotguns; with the exception that, unlike most pump-action (and semi-automatic) long arms – which usually eject expended shells to one side, usually the right – the Model 37 ejects them downward, through the aforementioned loading/ejection port. This has made the Ithaca popular with left-handed users, who may fear hot shells being thrown at them by other guns.
The Model 37 was used by theUnited States Armed Forces inWorld War II,[5] theKorean War, and especially theVietnam War, where it gained a great reputation for reliability in the jungles of Vietnam when generally used byspecial and special operations forces like theNavy SEALs[6] andArmy Green Berets.[7]The largest single users outside the US Military were theNew York City Police Department and theLos Angeles Police Department. The NYPD used 2 versions of the Model 37: one with a 13-inch (33 cm) barrel with forend hand-strap for itsEmergency Service Unit and one with an 18-inch (46 cm) barrel for itsHighway Patrol and solo patrol officers of designated low-crime precincts through a short-lived program spanning from the late 1970s to early 1980s. The Model 37 was issued by the LAPD beginning in the early 1940s and remained in service until the late 1990s. Other users include theLos Angeles County Sheriff's Department and various military, police, and security agencies and prisons around the world. The Ithaca 37 remains a popular choice among civilians for both sport and personal protection. The Model 37 Featherlight has commonly been seen in the hands of farmers and hunters in the midwestern United States.
Argentina: Unlicensed domestic manufacture under the "Bataan 71" moniker[1]
Bolivia.[8]
Brazil[8] 50 delivered through US FMS in 1964.
South Vietnam[9][10][11]
United States: