Ithaca 37 Military & Police M&P DSPS Featherlight 12 GA Pump Shotgun C&R
SOLD FOR: $2775
LSB#: 220420RJ011
Make: Ithaca
Model: 37 Military & Police
Serial Number: 903105
Year of Manufacture: 1965 (https://ithacagun.com/serial-numbers/)
Gauge: 12 Gauge, 2 3/4” Shells
Action Type: Pump / Slide Action, Tube Magazine Fed Shotgun
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “D.S. POLICE SPECIAL / MODEL 37 – FEATHERLIGHT – 12 GA. – 2 3/4 CHAMBER – PROOF TESTED / ITHACA GUN CO., INC. ITHACA, N.Y. MADE IN USA – ROTO FORGED”, with an anvil. The right side of the receiver is marked with the serial number. The bottom of the grip is stamped with small “O H P”, the letters have been stamped individually.
Barrel Length: 20″ with heat shield/bayonet lug assembly.
Choke: Modified, Fixed
Sights / Optics: There is a brass bead in a serrated, ramped base screwed to the front of the bayonet lug assembly. The rear sight is a “V”-notch elevator sight dovetailed to a base fixed to the rear of the barrel.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are a two piece walnut with grooved slide handle, smooth pistol grip, straight comb and smooth steel buttplate. The slide handle has a couple of dings on the bottom-right, one at the rear and one near the middle. There are a few other scattered more minor nicks, scuffs and scratches. The LOP measures 14″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has some wear around the edges, most notable at the toe, some scattered minor marks and some stubborn residue. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good-plus condition.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright. There is no erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 95% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at some edges. There are some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches, most not through the finish, with a few more notable marks at the muzzle-end of the bayonet lug assembly. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun is in Very Good-plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. This shotgun will slam-fire. The shotgun ejects out the bottom of the receiver. We have not fired this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: This is an Ithaca Model 37 Military & Police. Similar to the Featherlight D.S. Police Special, the M&P model featured a durable parkerized finish and plain oil-finished walnut stocks in lieu of the commercial blue and checkered stocks found on other models. Essentially the same as the Riot guns sold to the US Military during WWII, the DSPS and M&P models could be purchased with bayonet lug/heat shield assemblies but were offered with a greater variety of chokes, while the trench/riot guns made for the Military were all Cylinder Bore. This 1965 vintage gun was made before the introduction of a new style of bayonet lug and before Ithaca limited the choke options. Its 20″ barrel is choked Modified and it uses the original bayonet lug design. The gun is in Very Good-plus condition with fairly light handling wear considering its age and intended use. The bottom of the grip is stamped with “O H P”, though we have not been able to find comparable examples or documentation to conclude whether this is a personalization from a previous owner or the marking from some law enforcement agency such as the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. This is a nice example of one of the more desirable Featherlight models, great to add to an Ithaca collection. It wouldn’t be too shabby for home defense either, especially with a bayonet hanging off the front of it! Please see our pictures and good luck!