Ithaca 37 - Quick Question

[Brett Trimble]

I’ve always wanted a 16ga Ithaca 37 Featherlight. One of my Dad’s friends did all his upland shooting with one and he was a masterful shot.

One popped up at my LGS, 1952 vintage 16ga Featherlight. It’s in “well loved and used” but not abused condition, screws never turned. Love the fit and feel and the silky smooth action. It followed me home..

There is one long scratch in the buttock, it appears it’s scraped the varnish off but isn’t into the wood.

Is it possible to “move around” and add varnish to the 37 like you can with a Parker? If not, is there a good way to fix this kind of scrape?

[Alfred Houde]

They are great shotguns. I bought a used one way back in 1976 from the old Butternut Sports in Syracuse, New York. Mine has a plain stock, with a 28" Modified choke barrel.

I took it to Maine and Florida during my Navy days. I don't know how many ducks, geese, woodcock, etc. I have taken with it. The bluing was just about worn off and in 2011, I sent it back to the new Ithaca Gun Company to have them re-blue it. I told them to leave the RayBar sight on it and leave the wood alone. They did a great job on it.

I always liked the stocks with the checkered wrist like yours.

As to that scratch, I would think that a tiny bit of Tru-Oil or similar product rubbed into the scratch would cover it up nicely.

[Brett Trimble]

Alfred,

Thanks for the advice, and especially the story. Hope you enjoy that gun for many years to come.

Best,
Brett

[Dean Romig]

Try some denatured alcohol to loosen and spread around the existing finish around the scratch.





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[Daniel Carter]

As Dean said. I experimented with french polish and you can go back at any time and patch it up. Use alcohol and varnish on a balled cloth. Google has many tutorials on it. If you have an old stock try it first. alcohol is the carrier and solvent for varnish.

[Brett Trimble]

Thanks so much, guys. Great to hear that. I’ve used that method on Parker’s and it worked very well indeed!

[Steven Groh]

Looks like a nice one.
I have been looking for one of those too. Congratulations!

[Brett Trimble]

I’ll keep my eye open for another one. ��

[Alfred Houde]

Pat McKune has a few for sale on GI.

[Steven Groh]

The only 16 I see there from him is a 20" Deerslayer.
I would prefer a 28" grouse slayer.
But thanks for the heads-up.
There seem to be lots of them out there, but as always, it's all about condition.
So many have just been abused.
There are a few on Gunbroker that look reasonable. We'll see.

[Kevin McCormack]

Go for it! I found a M37 SKEET (so marked) 16 ga, on a "poutpourri" gun show table with a lot worse wood that had the BTFE and wide target rib (same as on their SBT guns). I refinished the wood and added some new action screws. You find out how rare they are in designated grades per gauge, then you appreciate how well made and what great shooters they are. Later bought a M37 Trap Grade all original with the epic Ithaca 'Sunburst" pad; gun had some of he most beautiful wood on a repeater I ever owned. They are great guns!

[Brian Dudley]

They were finished with lacquer. There is no way to rework it. It can just be touched up to look better. Or refinished.

[Brett Trimble]

Thanks as always, Brian!

[Steve McCarty]

When I have a gun with stock damage like that, I hit it with some paint remover. That's easy to do. Then I hit it with a little four ought steel wool or fine grain sand paper. A little tru oil or really any kind of wood stain will bring a nice finish. Then some beeswax or other finish. You can get it done in an afternoon. Maybe two days with drying time. It is not difficult to do. But the Ithaca Model 37 is a wonderful gun and well worth the effort to clean it up a bit.

[Chris Robenalt]

Brett, I've fixed many stocks with similar scratches. I use a little 320 or 400 and wet sand the scratched area with Dembarts checkering oil. Scratch will disappear. May take a couple times. Let dry in between coats. Smooth area with 0000 steel wool or pad, tack rag it, then rub in several coats of Dembarts oil over the next few days. It will look nice again. I know there are many different ways to fix, but this always works for me.

[Brett Trimble]

Chris,

Thanks so much for sharing that. I’ll give it a try!

Best,
Brett

[Mike Franzen]

An old furniture movers trick works like magic. Spit some tobacco juice on it and rub it in with your thumb. That scratch will disappear.