Gunsmith Expertise on Ithaca 37 barrel new vs old

makindu

I have an older Ithaca 37 20ga shotgun. Serial number 773,xxx. I am aware that the barrel threading was changed to 'roto forging' for guns beginning with 855,000 and newer.

My question is this:

I found a newer style Ithaca 37 barrel up for auction. Seller clearly states his barrel is for 'Post-1963 M37's with a serial number above 855,000. But then he also says 'Note: Barrel may require minor fitting in some of the older guns.'

Is this true? I have never heard or read that the newer style barrel could be re-fitted back to the older receivers and that the process only involves 'minor fitting' issues. Could some gunsmith please clarify or comment on this. I'm confused. Thanks.

tsr1965

Since the interface of the barrel and reciever is threaded(interrupted threads at that), and they are most likely not matching threads(meaning they are the same thread, just in a different configuration), the well versed gunsmith might be able to change the threads on either the barrel, or reciever to make the fit happen. Most likely, the barrel, so any other barrels of the older persuasion, will still work too.

This is not a feat for the home hobbyist/wannabe gunsmith.

Best

charliemeyer007

In my early Bubba days I scored a nice 12 gauge 37 bbl. It didn't fit my early 37. Looked to me to be more than minor work required. I sold that bbl un-altered to guy that a 37 it would fit on.

Ambrose

The newer Ithaca 37 barrels and receivers are NOT threaded. They do look like they are threaded but they have interupted annular rings and not threads. The older guns have interupted threads. Knowing that, you can see there is no compatability there.

makindu

Thanks to all responders. I kind of thought that the Seller's statement of 'requiring minor fitting' was blatantly false. Now I will never need to wonder (or ask again) about this in the future.

mrbruce

That absolutely is a false statement that the newer than 855,000 barrels can not be fitted..
The factory did them all the time back when, I've done a few myself, but it is a bit more than minor fitting...