The Ithaca Model 37 is a pump-action shotgun designed for use by civilians, law enforcement agencies and the military. Large numbers of these shotguns have been manufactured since production started in 1937. The Model 37 was designed by John Browning and John Pedersen in 1933.
After the First World War, Ithaca began to search for a shotgun to compete with the Winchester Model 12. Ithaca selected the Remington Model 17—the patents of which were to expire in 1933 and thus named the shotgun as Ithaca Model 33. However, later on it was discovered that the patents held by Pedersen didn’t expire until 1937 and thus the shotgun was re-designated as Ithaca Model 37.
There are two variants of the Model 37. These are the ‘M’ (Military) and ‘P’ (Police). Both these versions were excellent at close-range combat. Subsequently, these models were used to design the Ithaca LAPD shotgun which was designed specifically for use by law enforcement agencies.
One of the largest users of the Model 37 is the Los Angeles Police Department. The Model 37 is also used by civilians for sport and self-protection. However, the use of the Model 37 is on decline because of low availability and increasing costs. Chinese copies of the Model 37 are also becoming popular in the United States which is leading to a further decline in sales of the original gun.
