I am considering customizing a new (Ohio manufactured) model 37 by changing the magazine to a longer one (7+1), as well as installing a 20" barrel (I know about the defense model Ithaca offers, and I have not ruled that out yet - I am considering my options). Numrich sells some 20" barrels, but they offer hardly any information about them. For example, they list a (blued) police special barrel for $231.75, (not in stock, so I can only assume it will be restocked). Then there is another 20" barrel (blued), for $116.70. What is the difference between these two? More importantly, would they work on a new 37? Would they take 3' shells? Also, would the police special barrel possibly have provision for attaching a sling swivel?

I am hoping someone here will have some experience with these barrels and be able to give me some of the details.

Part of it depends on your gun. Guns made before (I think) 855,000 have a different thread pitch which required individual barrels be fitted to the receiver. With the new threading system, barrels became interchangeable.

I believe the Ohio production guns' barrels are all fully threaded, so I do not think this idea will work as you intend.

As far as a 3" 12ga receiver, the barrel may be able to be reamed to accept a 3" shell, but the big hurdle is whether you you have a 3" receiver, which yours will be. Unless you are hunting waterfowl, most people would prefer to have an extra 2 3/4 shell versus a 3", unless you just want the flexibility.

Numrich may not be able to get more of these barrels. They likely came from the original plant when they moved to King Ferry. They buy parts, so their stock is completely dependent on supply. You can call them to see what they have in stock that day.

razdog76 wrote:As far as a 3" 12ga receiver, the barrel may be able to be reamed to accept a 3" shell, but the big hurdle is whether you you have a 3" receiver, which yours will be. Unless you are hunting waterfowl, most people would prefer to have an extra 2 3/4 shell versus a 3", unless you just want the flexibility.

Yeah, I suppose the 7 shot mag is really only 7 shells if they are 2 3/4, so that is not much of an issue for me. 2 3/4 is good enough.

razdog76 wrote:Numrich may not be able to get more of these barrels. They likely came from the original plant when they moved to King Ferry. They buy parts, so their stock is completely dependent on supply. You can call them to see what they have in stock that day.

I was hoping some of what they listed was stuff that was still being produced, and that they were perhaps waiting on the next shipment.

Ah well, if I can't get the barrel I want, I can always buy a ready made home defense gun, albeit without sling swivel studs.

Instead of going through all that trouble (odds are you WILL have to have the barrel fit. Those Kings Ferry barrels can be quite variable in terms of their fit to a standard receiver) go find yourself a Deer Slayer I. They have a short smooth barrel, rifle sights and you can get one pretty cheaply. Whatever you want to do with it after that would be minor (magazine tube, etc) and straightforward to do.
I've converted a few of these DS I's to defense type with the most expensive part being a synthetic stock.

What did you end up doing?

The deerslayer Police Special come with Rifle sights and is a slug barrel. At least, that is how mine is.

It sounds to me like by the time you buy all of the stuff, then either spend the time to do the conversion or pay to have it done, you could just about buy one of the new defensive shotguns. Also, don't you know that you must have multiples of all your guns. this is a perfect reason to buy a new gun. That and from what I understand the Canadian long gun registry was just scrapped too, right? What better way to celebrate than buying a new shotgun! At least that's how I'd justify it.

USAFRet92 wrote:The deerslayer Police Special come with Rifle sights and is a slug barrel. At least, that is how mine is.

That's how they all are USAF. They were a converted DS I. The conversions being an 8 shot mag tube (but not on all) and a nice parkerized finish. They had the ring tail forend and some had a checkered stock and some didn't. But they were pretty much a blunderbuss

You will also find some DSPS guns that are blued with the game picture roll stamp in the past I have even seen some with the beaver tale style fore arm with pressed checkering. Also if you look hard enough find some with the nickel platting. There where also riot guns with the extended mag tube. The main difference is that it does not have a slug barrel.

1977cutcher wrote:You will also find some DSPS guns that are blued with the game picture roll stamp in the past I have even seen some with the beaver tale style fore arm with pressed checkering. Also if you look hard enough find some with the nickel platting. There where also riot guns with the extended mag tube. The main difference is that it does not have a slug barrel.

Correct me if I am wrong, 77, but isn't the nickel plated version technically a different model or is it the same? I can't remember. In any case, it is way up on the cool scale.

Have you ever seen the undercover model with the hand strap on the forend?

That is a scary little gun.