16ga.com ~ View topic - WTK: Ithaca 37 info needed... age, value, etc?

Joined: 10 Oct 2006 Posts: 2

Confused by this one, model 37, 16ga, has poly choke, SN 135659. Any ideas when it was made, any interesting facts about these, or ballpark value? Clean gun, light engraving (most likely machined) on receiver.

Thanks in advance for any info you may be able to offer!!!!!

I'm no expert, but the serial number seems to put this gun in the post WWII late 40's to early '50s I think. Putting a polychoke on these guns was common in this era. It was one way of solving the need for an all 'round gun.

Once Winchester introduced the screw in Winchoke system, the external adjustable chokes rapidly became passe. however, for speed and convenience, they still are hard to beat. There is no need for choke tubes or choke tube wrenches. all one has to do is either twist the choke tighter or more open. It only takes a second.

There are two other advantages most folks have forgotten. That big blob on the end of the barrel is easy to see in one's secondary vision, especially in less than ideal visual conditionslike early mornings, low light, or heavy cover. Some folks just shoot better, because they don't have to glance back at their barrels for a barrel to bird relationship check. the second is some guns with shorter barrels seem to swing better with the added weight of a polychoke out at the end of the barrel. So it you have a plain barrel or even a ribbed barrel thats been cut and is now a cylinder choke, adding a polychoke might solve both problems of more needed choke for more effective patterns further out and the poor balance and swing a stubby barrel can cause.

There is one more advantage for a guy like me. I am so used to ribbed barrels, that I tend to shoot high at a target with a plain barreled repeater. The Polychoke adds height to the end of the barrel similar to a rib. I can hit better with a plain barreled gun wearing one, because the usual visual image that triggers my brain to make me shoot is about the same. I rarely argue with success. So it works for me.

Member Joined: 13 Feb 2006 Posts: 110 Location: California

Walt Snyder's book on the Model 37 has this one as a 1947 model.

Joined: 10 Oct 2006 Posts: 2

thank you!