WWII Imposter Bought an Ithaca

[scosgt]

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=463653535

I was bidding against you, but being retired I have better uses of the money.
I am not sure you even know what you bought:

There is a small run of Ithaca RIOT guns, probably less than 500. The numbers do NOT appear in the Ithaca archives retrieved from the National Archives.
They are UNIQUE. They are marked EXACTLY as shown in the auction, and are the only Ithacas so marked - with the US and NOT RLB.

It is though by collectors that these guns were bought from some distributors stock, NOT direct from Ithaca, and an arsenal someplace (NOT Springfield Armory) cut the barrels down and marked them with the hand stamped US.

All the guns that have been seen so marked fall within a narrow serial range of about 500 numbers, so the actual number is likely far lower, maybe as few as hundred or less. This is the first one I have ever seen on the loose.

Of course, the next project is to find some wood for it to restore it.

Congrats on a great purchase.

[ww2imposter]

Thanks for the encouraging words. I have recently decided to pursue riot sg's since the trench version is cost prohibitive. You are correct though, frankly I wasn't sure what exactly it was other than a WW2 Ithica riot sg and the price was certainly a no brainer. I hope it won't be too difficult to find a doner sg for the wood.

[Tom Doniphon]

The Ithaca records I have show a couple hundred riot guns, all with 22" barrels.

[SPEEDGUNNER]

What Bruce said, congrats on a great purchase...

[scosgt]

The Ithaca records I have show a couple hundred riot guns, all with 22" barrels.

I believe this is from a different lot. The ones we have observed have never been found in any records.

[Tom Doniphon]

I believe this is from a different lot. The ones we have observed have never been found in any records.

Yeah, probably so. Some records are missing, and I don't see hardly any of the Military M37s in the 52,xxx serial number range.

[scosgt]

We always just guessed that these were bought from a distributor and converted, rather than being a factory contract purchase. Narrow serial range, identical hand markings, obviously cut down. They started as 30" sporting guns and were grabbed in the general buy ups in the early part of the war.

[ww2imposter]

OK, being new to the WW2 riot 'sg' hobby I freely admit I know little at best. I have spent the last hour or so trying to find info about anything 'shotgun' on the National Archives web site. Could someone kindly enlighten me? Thanks

[scosgt]

Someone went there and found the Ithaca WWII records and then sold them. Some people have copies.

[joem]

Not a bad price and it has possibilities.

[madsenshooter]

Gun out of Canton, wonder if the electo-penciled APD might stand for Akron Police Dept.

[ww2imposter]

Got the Ithaca today and fortunately the pics did not do it justice... scosgt, you say that "All the guns that have been seen so marked fall within a narrow serial range of about 500 numbers." Could you please tell me what that "narrow serial range of about 500 numbers" is?

[SPEEDGUNNER]

Got the Ithaca today and fortunately the pics did not do it justice... scosgt, you say that "All the guns that have been seen so marked fall within a narrow serial range of about 500 numbers." Could you please tell me what that "narrow serial range of about 500 numbers" is?

If you have it in hand then we need clear, detailed pictures...glad to hear it is nicer than expected, that is always a welcome development.

[ww2imposter]

There isn't really much to see at the moment that wasn't shown in the auction pics. I have the stocks lined up from a friend here on the CSP, but until I get them, we'll have to wait to see........here are a couple pics of the ser# 52259., they match but a good sharp picture of the barrel #'s probably won't happen because of the location.
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/Ithaca%20M37%20riot/001_zpsmlpjeh3w.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/Ithaca%20M37%20riot/002_zpsusehked8.jpg

[scosgt]

You do know the barrel comes off?

[ww2imposter]

Well frankly no, I wasn't aware of that. At the time of my last post I had just received delivery of the shotgun. This is also my 1st Ithaca and have not had time to examine said gun. I am an admitted novice, I am also very eager to learn. You'll have to wait for my ability to catch up with my enthusiasm.......

[ww2imposter]

Does anyone else on this board have one of these Ithaca riots they would be willing to share pics of?

[JOHN COOK]

ww2imposter, I don't have one but I do have WAR DEPARETMENT Technical Manual (TM 9-285) dated 1945 and it covers your gun as well as several other shotguns. I found it most helpful breaking my Winchester 97 down and putting back together. There is a source for these training manuals but I can't find the site at this moment. You can probably find a copy that has been through a copy machine but they aren't as clear as the real thing. Manual states that a riot gun would have a 20" barrel cyl. bore and possibly a bayonet attachment.
Pictures or very clear as well as instructions.


If push comes to shove, send me an email and I'll try it in my copy machine and mail same to you are maybe scan it in computer and send msame.

john

[gwp]

Archive.org has a clear copy of WAR DEPARTMENT Technical Manual (TM 9-285) dated 1942.

https://archive.org/details/TM9-285

On the left side of the screen you can download the PDF to your computer if you want to keep a copy.

[ww2imposter]

You gotta love it when a plan comes together. Got the doner gun this AM and swapped over all pertinent parts. Enjoy the pics.....
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/Ithaca%20M37%20riot/016_zpsapd3sbwa.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/Ithaca%20M37%20riot/017_zpsgbhq9g3i.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/Ithaca%20M37%20riot/018_zpssrl5tmyi.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/Ithaca%20M37%20riot/020_zpsrhne48tm.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/Ithaca%20M37%20riot/031_zpsjr9vtxpv.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/Ithaca%20M37%20riot/030_zpsze6etowg.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/Ithaca%20M37%20riot/029_zpssjw2s22u.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/Ithaca%20M37%20riot/028_zps5dln1xcy.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/Ithaca%20M37%20riot/027_zps0ujhqe06.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/Ithaca%20M37%20riot/026_zpsaolujqgr.jpg

[Tom Doniphon]

Nice job. It looks great. But I suspect the number "4" on the barrel near the serial number is the mark for "FULL" choke. Can you tell if the barrel was cut down?

[scosgt]

Nice job. It looks great. But I suspect the number "4" on the barrel near the serial number is the mark for "FULL" choke. Can you tell if the barrel was cut down?

In that very small serial range they were all cut down, probably by an arsenal.

[ww2imposter]

Yes, to the best of my knowledge/research (limited at best), these were all cut down.