I need the help of a few experts

[sgtgeorge]

I have the opportunity to purchase two Ithaca riot gun that appear to be "US" marked. I have pictures of one at the bottom of this post. I searched the web for information about Ithaca riot gun serial numbers, but got very ambiguous info. I'd like to know if these shotguns are legit and worth purchasing if they are truly military collectibles. I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking.

 

[ronn47]

Here is some info:

An Official Journal Of The NRA | The Ithaca Model 37 In U.S. Military Service

While eclipsed by the far-better-known Winchester Model 97 and Model 12 “trench” and “riot” shotguns, the Model 37 Ithaca served from World War II all the way through Vietnam.

www.americanrifleman.org

An Official Journal Of The NRA | Combat Shotguns Of The Vietnam War

Shotguns with familiar names—Ithaca, Remington, Winchester, Savage and Stevens—served American troops with distinction in the steaming jungles of Vietnam.

www.americanrifleman.org

From Wikipedia:

The Model 37 was used by the United States Armed Forces in World War II,[5] the Korean War, and especially the Vietnam War, where it gained a great reputation for reliability in the jungles of Vietnam when generally used by special and special operations forces like the Navy SEALs[6] and Army Green Berets.[7]

Ithaca M37 WWII US TRENCH GUN Model 37 12 Ga Shotgun : 998034096

Buy a This ad features the pictured WWII Ithaca M37 US Trench Shotgun. This is a very rare and desirable for sale by Albrights Gun Shop on GunsAmerica.com the best online marketplace for buying and selling semi auto pistols, firearms, accessories, and collectibles : 998034096

www.gunsamerica.com

Hope this helps.

 

[Etruett]

Not sure how collectible military collectors would consOder the m37 but they are fantastic guns and I would buy it in a minute if the price was reasonable

 

[ronn47]

Not sure how collectible military collectors would consOder the m37 but they are fantastic guns and I would buy it in a minute if the price was reasonable

They are no longer "reasonable" to me.
The one in my post above ended at $2500.

 

[Dan0311]

Interesting.

The serial number puts it at 1942.

"Trench Guns" were serial numbers 57,820 to 61,450. But I haven't seen SN's on "Riot Guns".

"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."

 

[Etruett]

They are no longer "reasonable" to me.
The one in my post above ended at $2500.

I would consider $400-500 reasonable for that one. I guess the collectors find these more attractive than I would have ever guessed

 

[sgtgeorge]

Real WWII Ithaca trench guns command selling prices in the thousands. These two shotguns appear to have been sold to the government before the "formal" order for the trench guns was made. The initial order for Riot Guns from Ithaca was sent to the coast guard prior to Trench gun manufacture.