Ithaca Model 37 Featherlight 12 Gauge Pump Shotgun, 28 in Plain Barrel, Fixed Full Choke, 2 3/4 in Chamber, 1955 Production
This 1955 Ithaca Model 37 Featherlight is a classic bottom-loading, bottom-ejecting 12 gauge with hallmark American construction and factory roll engraving. It features a 28 inch plain steel barrel with a fixed Full choke and a 2 3/4 inch chamber, paired with a blued steel receiver and walnut furniture. Early Model 37 hand-fitting and pre-1975 fire control that allows slam-fire add collectible and mechanical interest for enthusiasts who appreciate this era of production.
Condition
Overall Condition: Poor condition.
Bore Condition: Fair - Generally clean, some residue or smudges, slight corrosion.
Specific Condition Notes: This firearm is in solid functional shape. Scratches and blemishes are present on metal and wood. Areas of rust and pitting are visible. The bore presents clean and shiny to the eye. The front sight bead is not present.
Small spots of paint are present on the exterior. The magazine tube follower is not present. The stock has a crack just behind the receiver, and a small chip is missing from the stock.
What’s Included
- Ithaca Model 37 Featherlight 12 Gauge pump-action shotgun
Made in the United States in 1955, this Model 37 Featherlight carries the roll-marked "MODEL 37 FEATHERLIGHT" designation and "PROOF TESTED" and "MADE IN U.S.A." markings. It retains the core Model 37 design with bottom loading and bottom ejection, a configuration valued for its clean lines and intuitive handling.
The 28 inch plain steel barrel is stamped "FULL" with a "-4" choke code, and the chamber is 2 3/4 inch only. This setup delivers a traditional field configuration with a fixed Full choke for classic shot patterns. The barrel and receiver wear a blued finish consistent with period production.
Factory game-scene roll engraving on the receiver depicts a pointer and flushing waterfowl, providing a distinctive visual detail associated with Featherlight models of this era. The receiver is steel, and the furniture is walnut, including a pistol-grip stock with a hard black buttplate and a walnut field forend with longitudinal grasping grooves.
The length of pull measures 13.5 inches. As an early Model 37, the barrel and receiver were hand-fitted at the factory, which limits interchangeability with later components. The pre-1975 fire control allows slam-fire operation, a characteristic feature of earlier Model 37s.
This shotgun uses a tubular magazine and is configured to a 1-round capacity per the provided information. It is a full-size Featherlight that represents mid-century Ithaca production with both mechanical and aesthetic traits that define the line.