Ithaca Model 37 Featherlight Deerslayer 12 Gauge Pump-Action Shotgun with Bushnell Sportview Scope
Built in 1975, this Ithaca Model 37 Featherlight Deerslayer combines the model’s classic bottom-eject action with a factory heavy-wall slug barrel and crisp, factory engraving. The shotgun retains its original slam-fire capability, features Ithaca’s proprietary Roto-Forged 26-inch barrel, and wears a period-correct Bushnell Sportview scope secured in a B-Square saddle mount that doubles as the trigger housing retaining screw. Collectors and hunters alike appreciate the Deerslayer’s fixed cylinder bore for accurate Foster slug performance and the ambidextrous bottom-eject design that keeps spent shells and debris away from the shooter.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good – showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Good – clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Specific Condition Notes: The action cycles properly and the shotgun seems to function well. There are scattered scuffs and scratches on the metal surfaces and walnut furniture. The ventilated recoil pad was not fully ground to sit flush with the buttstock. The scope’s magnification ring turns but feels stiff during adjustment.
What’s Included
- Bushnell Sportview scope mounted in B-Square one-piece saddle mount
- Flip-up scope lens covers (installed)
The Deerslayer variant distinguishes itself with a 26-inch heavy-wall barrel optimized for slug accuracy and stamped “PROOF TESTED” along the shank. Ithaca’s Roto-Forged process bonds the steel for consistent bore dimensions and long service life.
The bottom-eject action keeps the receiver sides closed, reducing debris ingress and making the shotgun naturally ambidextrous. Original to early Model 37s, the slam-fire trigger lets the shooter hold the trigger back for rapid follow-up shots as each new round is pumped into battery.
Factory engraving on the left side of the blued steel receiver features a detailed hunting scene with a dog, adding visual appeal without compromising the shotgun’s rugged utility. The bluing remains uniform, complementing the satin oil-finished walnut stock and semi-beavertail fore-end.
Period features such as the ventilated recoil pad with a white-line spacer and the four-round tubular magazine complete a configuration favored by deer hunters throughout the 1970s.