Ithaca Model 37
Ithaca Gun Company · Shotgun · Discontinued · 1937
Also known as: Model 37 Featherlight, Ithaca 37, Bataan Modelo 71
Overview
The Ithaca Model 37 is a pump-action shotgun designed by Harry Howland based on a John Browning patent, manufactured by the Ithaca Gun Company since 1937. Originally designated the Model 33, its release was delayed until the Remington Model 17 patent expired. The Model 37's most distinctive feature is its unique bottom-loading and bottom-ejection design, where the single port on the underside of the receiver serves as both the loading port and ejection port. This design makes the Model 37 truly ambidextrous and eliminates the conventional side-mounted ejection port, making the action more resistant to debris ingress. The Model 37 gained legendary status during the Vietnam War, where it was prized by Navy SEALs and Army Green Berets for its reliability in jungle conditions and its slam-fire capability, which allowed rapid follow-up shots by holding the trigger and cycling the action. The Featherlight variant was renowned for being significantly lighter than competing pump-action shotguns. Available in 12, 16, 20, and 28 gauge, the Model 37 has been in continuous production for over 85 years, making it one of the longest-produced pump-action shotguns in history.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3060 g (107.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1000 mm (39.37") |
| Barrel Length | 470 mm (18.50") |
| Action Type | Pump Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Trigger Pull | 22 N (4.9 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 4 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Tubular |
| Effective Range | 40 m (44 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 12 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Smoothbore |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 12 Gauge · primary — also known as 12 ga, 12 bore
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Tubular Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Crossbolt Safety
- Features: Bottom Ejection, Single Loading Ejection Port, Truly Ambidextrous, Lightweight Construction, Slam Fire Capable, Soldered Barrel Extension
Variants
- Ithaca 37 Featherlight — Standard
- Ithaca 37 Defense — Tactical
- Ithaca 37 Deerslayer — Hunting
- Ithaca 37 DSPS (Deerslayer Police Special) — Law Enforcement
- Ithaca 37 Stakeout — Compact
- Ithaca 37 Ultralight — Lightweight
- Ithaca 37 Trench Gun — Military
Service history
Operators
- United States Armed Forces · adopted 1941
- United States Navy SEALs
- United States Army Special Forces
- Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces
- Royal Thai Armed Forces
- Argentine Armed Forces · adopted 1971 · as Bataan Modelo 71
- Chinese Armed Forces
- New York City Police Department
- Los Angeles Police Department · adopted 1940
- Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Conflicts
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Vietnam War (1955-1975)
- Korean War (1950-1953)
Production
Estimated total produced: 2,000,000 · Production years: 1937-present
Over 2 million produced across all variants in 85+ years of continuous production.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Harry Howland
Notes
The Ithaca 37's slam-fire capability (holding the trigger down while pumping to fire as soon as the action closes) made it devastating in close-quarters combat during Vietnam, though this feature was removed from later production models for safety reasons. The NYPD's Emergency Service Unit used a specialized 13-inch barrel version with a forend hand-strap. The LAPD adopted the Model 37 in the early 1940s and used it until the late 1990s. Argentina manufactured a licensed copy called the Bataan Modelo 71 beginning in 1971. The Stakeout variant with its 13-inch barrel and pistol grip is classified under the National Firearms Act as an 'any other weapon' (AOW). The Ithaca Gun Company went through multiple bankruptcies and ownership changes but continues production in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. Modern Featherlight models feature a gold-plated trigger as a signature touch.
Background
The Ithaca 37's slam-fire capability made it devastating in Vietnam's jungle close-quarters combat -- a soldier could simply hold the trigger and pump, firing as fast as they could cycle the action. The unique bottom-ejection design was based on a John Browning patent that the company waited years to expire before production could begin.