The beauty of the Ithaca Model 37 (and some other models of shotguns) is the ability to attach different barrels for it. Leave the short barrel on for home defense and then put on a longer barrel for skeet or birds. However, barrels for older Ithacas (pre 855,000) are not interchangeable. One option is the new Ithaca Gun's option:
Ithaca Gun Company: Model 37® firearms with a serial number below 855,000 have barrels that are fixed and non-interchangeable. If your M37 was made before the 855,000 mark (which occurred in 1963), we will be able to furnish you with a replacement barrel for it, but you must send your gun to us for the barrel to be fitted. The process includes machine removal of existing threads, insertion of adapter and re-threading of receiver and re-bluing. Please note that once this is completed you will not be able to reuse your old barrel. Cost for this process is $180.00 for the adapter, plus cost of barrel. Includes re-bluing at no charge. Model 37s® with a serial number above 855,000 have interchangeable barrels (except for some Deerslayers), but often still require some custom fitting by our gunsmiths.
For me, and perhaps others, I don't like the idea of ruining the original barrel. This is another solution: First you call Ron Sharp at Sharp's Guns in Canada. You can buy a new-old-stock barrel from him, as he has many. (He purchased inventory during one of the Ithaca bankruptcies). Ron is very nice and very old school, so he only uses the phone and accepts payment via bank money order. If he doesn't have the desired barrel length in stock, he will cut the barrel to any length specified. I chose 18.5" as it matches the new self-defense guns from Ithaca (which have fixed barrels, btw.)
Ron then will ship the barrel to Les Hovencamp of Diamond Gunsmithing, who will fit the old barrel to your gun. You, of course, ship your gun, without original barrel, to Les. Les was a long time gunsmith for Ithaca. He is the go-to guy that everyone trusts.
The whole process takes about a month or so, depending on how busy everyone is. However, for the cost of ~$250, you can have an additional barrel. This is a very economical way to add flexibility to your existing shotgun. It also saves space for those of us have moderately size safes.
In comparison, the "new Ithaca option" would be $180 for the adapter, $275 to replace your existing barrel and then $250 for the new home defense barrel.
Time (all are approximate and will vary with workload):
Costs (may vary due to inflation or demand):
The whole process takes about a month or so, depending on how busy everyone is. However, for the cost of ~$250, you can have an additional barrel. This is a very economical way to add flexibility to your existing shotgun. It also saves space for those of us have moderately size safes.
In comparison, the "new Ithaca option" would be $180 for the adapter, $275 to replace your existing barrel and then $250 for the new home defense barrel.
- Receipt of Payment: 6 business days
- Barrel adjustment: 5 business days
- Barrel transit time (to Diamond Gunsmithing): 10 business days
- Fitting period: 5 business days
- Shipment home: 6 business days
- Cost of Barrel $100
- Shipment of Barrel to Les: $25
- Cost of Fitting: $75
- Cost of Shipment home: ~$45
Addresses & Phone Numbers:
Ron Sharp
RR4
Dunnville Ontario
N1A 2W3
Canada
(905) 774-6368
Les Hovencamp
Diamond
Gunsmithing
211 Dey St.
Ithaca, NY
14850
607-273-4510