Say hello to my new little friend

[scosgt]

3405434055

VietNam issue. Impossible to fake. Solid frame (no 1/4 turn and off, barrel is fully threaded), full choke (and not marked) s/n on the face of receiver and barrel, no anvil.

[Tom Doniphon]

Great find!

Are the P proof marks on the receiver and barrel serifed or plain? And if you care to divulge, what serial number is it?

[scosgt]

They are plain. S/N S229XX

[John Sukey]

Just curious, Does anyone else have a M87 Winchester lever action 12 ga shotgun?

[scosgt]

Seriously Dude what does this have to do with my post?

[Bt Doctur]

cannot find an "S" series during that year, you sure about the SN?

[scosgt]

Yes of course. The contract guns were specially numbered, and can not be faked.

There is a chart here:

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=278648

[SPEEDGUNNER]

Bruce,

Nice shotgun. Hard to find. I have S227XX.

[Hecklerusp45]

looks nice, great find. congrats!!

[PhillipM]

Just curious, Does anyone else have a M87 Winchester lever action 12 ga shotgun?

A friend has an Italian reproduction. It takes some getting used to at our informal clay pigeon shoots.

[Bt Doctur]

The World War II Ithaca Model 37 trench guns were finished in Ithaca’s attractive commercial-grade blue. The receivers did not have the engraved “game scenes” as found on most of the earlier riot guns procured under government contract. Some of the initial-production World War II Model 37 trench guns’ stocks were checkered on the grip area and the slide handle, but most guns had unadorned (not checkered) wood.

Unlike the other manufacturers, the World War II (and most post-war) Ithaca military shotgun production records survived intact, thus exact serial numbers are known. Although the guns were not consecutively serial numbered, the World War II-production Model 37 trench gun serial numbers ranged from 57,820 to 61,450. If a gun found today is not in this serial number range, it is not a genuine World War II-production Model 37 trench gun. The wartime Ithaca trench guns were marked on the left side of the receiver with the Ordnance “flaming bomb” insignia, “R.L.B” (initials of Col. Roy L. Bowlin, head of the Rochester Ordnance District), and a small “P” (proof) stamp. Unlike some military shotguns made by other contractors, the Ithaca Model 37 stocks were not marked with inspection or proof stamps.
In addition to the 1,422 trench guns, Ithaca also delivered a number of Model 37 riot guns to Uncle Sam. To fulfill the initial contracts, many of these 20" plain-barrel shotguns were taken directly from civilian production inventory and stamped with martial markings—generally a “U.S.” stamp, the Ordnance “flaming bomb” insignia and a “P” proofmark on the receiver or barrel. Many of these early riot guns had highly polished blued metal with commercial-type engraved “game scenes” on the receiver and finely checkered high-grade wood. Ithaca factory records also indicate that the State of New York acquired a couple hundred Model 37 riot guns with 22" barrels in late 1941 and early 1942 as well. In addition to the riot guns and trench guns, the government procured 4,534 long-barrel Model 37 training shotguns between June 1941 and September 1942.
But, in early 1962, the need arose for additional quantities of military combat shotguns with which to arm our South Vietnamese allies as the war in Southeast Asia began to grow exponentially. Beginning in November 1962, Ithaca received the first of a series of government contracts for (Model 37) “Shotgun, 12 Ga. Riot Type, Slide Action, 20" Barrel, in accordance with Military Specifications MIL-S3443, Type IIIA.” The per-unit cost was $36.61, which included a cleaning rod and web sling. A total of 22,000 of these Model 37 shotguns was delivered to the Saigon government between Nov. 14, 1962 and Jan. 31, 1963. Serial numbers ranged between 50,000 and 71,999. Since the guns were not made for the U.S. military, they were not marked with American martial markings. They were plain-barrel riot gun


As the United States’ involvement in Vietnam began to escalate further, the supply of World War II-production shotguns became depleted as the guns, once again, proved their value to our troops. Beginning in 1963, the U.S. government placed orders with Ithaca for Model 37 riot guns for issue to our armed forces. They were mechanically identical to the guns previously made for the South Vietnamese government but were not equipped with sling swivels. The serial numbers had an “S” prefix and were in a lower range (S1000-S23000) than the guns made previously. The guns were marked “U.S.” on the right side of the receiver with “P” proofmarks on the receiver and barrel. The stocks were unmarked. Like the South Vietnamese riot guns, these “S-prefix” U.S. military Model 37s were not fitted with bayonet adapters. One exception was a later (1963) U.S. Air Force order for 206 guns of this type fitted with the same general type of handguard/bayonet adapter used with the World War II Model 37 trench guns.

[scosgt]

Well there is information that we already know, and you failed to attribute the author.
Of course, you forgot to mention (because you don't know) the WWII trench guns and VietNam guns are SOLID FRAME. The barrels screw all the way in, not 1/4 turn and off.
Like I said, impossible to fake.

[colt thompson]

I own an Ithaca WW2 trench.
Serial number 6130x.
Shipped July of 1942 to Augusta Depot

[amac]

very nice, congrats on your super acquisition :)

[SPEEDGUNNER]

I own an Ithaca WW2 trench.
Serial number 6130x.
Shipped July of 1942 to Augusta Depot

Oh we need pictures...