Ithaca 37 Featherlight DS Police Special 12 GA Pump Shotgun 1975-2000
SOLD FOR: $1,180.00
LSB#: 251023KP001
Make: Ithaca
Model: 37 Featherlight (D.S. Police Special)
Serial Number: 84-137
Year of Manufacture: 1975-2000
Caliber: 12 Gauge
Action Type: Tube Fed Pump-Action Shotgun
Barrel Length: 18”
Choke: Modified, Fixed
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass bead.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece wood. The fore-arm is ribbed, and the buttstock is smooth with a semi pistol grip and serrated hard plastic Ithaca buttplate. The wood shows moderate handling and storage marks. There are no chips, cracks, or areas of finish loss. The LOP measures 13″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stocks rate in a Very Good overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright. There is mild erosion some fouling down the length. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 8/10.
Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 80% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish shows moderate operational wear on the action bar and mag tube. There are areas of blueing loss on the receiver, barrel, and at the muzzle, some of them likely consistent with riding in a weapon mount in a squad car. The screw heads are light to moderately tooled. The markings are crisp. Overall, this shotgun rates in about Very Good condition..
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this firearm. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: The Ithaca 37 Featherlight D.S. Police Special is a shotgun designed for law enforcement and home defense use. It is a variant of the Ithaca 37 shotgun, which was first introduced in 1937 and has since become a popular choice among hunters, sportsmen, and law enforcement agencies.
The D.S. in the name stands for “Deerslayer,” which is a variant of the Featherlight designed for the use of buckshot and slugs for large game like deer. The Police Special variant is designed specifically for law enforcement use and features a shorter barrel, typically around 18-20 inches, for increased maneuverability in close quarters. It also typically comes with a synthetic or wood stock and a parkerized finish.
The Ithaca 37 Featherlight D.S. Police Special is known for its reliability, durability, and ease of use. It has a pump-action mechanism, which allows for quick follow-up shots, and can hold 4+1 rounds of ammunition. It is chambered for 12-gauge shells, which are widely available and come in a variety of loads for different applications.
Ithaca 37s made prior to 1975 were configured in a manner that allowed them to be slam fired, this gun lacks such capabilities and was most likely made after that date. The gun was made specifically for police service and was used by the LAPD. The shotgun has some light wear but it remains mechanically sound and should prove a fun addition to any collection.
This Ithaca 37 Featherlight Police Special is in good shape. The stocks are in Very Good condition, the bore is bright, and the short and crisp trigger pull makes this one shotgun you want to get your hands on. Please see our photos. – C.B.
