I am confused about the shotgun's serial number. i have tried to look it up but get confused by the number among models. The serial falls in the gap of WWII guns so despite the wear and tear, if I read it right, mine might have been made in 64/65 but I am nowhere near confident of that assumption.
I refinished the stock with BLO, it was nearly black with grime when I got it. Since it's not, as near as I can tell, anything special by way of collectibility, I reckoned it wouldn't hurt and I am happier with it.
I believe mine has been 'to the wars.' Over all this gun has been rode hard and put up wet. There is wear on the internals that indicates it has been shot a lot. By example, the positive shell stop is worn so that more than 2 shells in the mag will cause it to let 2 shells come out. That's a heck of a jam, let me tell you. (anybody know where I can find a positive shell stop? last I looked, Numrich didn't have them.)
There are no military stamps, nothing to suggest this gun was ever officially in the service. Still, as a rule, the army in 'Nam did not issue shotguns for soldiers in the field. (Marines got them though IIRC.) But, if you had one, they would supply plenty shells for them. I do know soldiers bought sporting shotguns at the PX and cut down the barrels for carry in the field on that account. It is my belief that this may be one such. (if I got the serial date right.)
I had long thought the checkering cut by an amateur. But I just got done roaming the web and looking at Mod37 stocks and that is a standard Ithaca 37 pattern, right down to bent and crooked likes. The pattern must have been made that way. Who'd' a thunk it?
Anyway, the 73 and star carved in the stock- Home in 73? I bought the shotgun here in Texas, that might account for the star. The roll 'engraving' on the receiver is almost completely worn away. The pic is of the best side. The blue is completely worn away, only finish is patina. (I'm assuming the gun was blued and not parked.) The wear on this gun seems to me to far exceed that of a shotgun carried only for hunting, no matter how avid the hunter. The shotgun is marked 'full' so is a cut down. The barrel and receiver serials match. The serial on the receiver is on the face or front of it.
Said ser.# is 90241. The model designation on the barrel is 'Ithaca-37' hyphen is part of stamp and there are no letters like S or T there.
Thanks whatever the case.