37 barrel/mag tube clamp
Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 9:27 pm
Hi folks!
Some time back a friend gave me a 1952 Ithaca Featherlite 12 ga, now that's a real friend! It's in good condition overall, 2 small wear marks at upper left front of receiver, light scratch on right side through game scene. Wood's pretty good but a refinish wouldn't hurt, no checkering. I modified a Decelerator recoil pad to fit. The barrel was crudely cut with a hacksaw to 18 3/4", I trued it up square to 18 1/2". I removed the 4+1 mag tube and installed a 7+1 tube after desoldering barrel lug for magazine nut.
Due to the interrupted thread removable barrel and original mag tube support design it now needs a barrel/magazine tube clamp to hold things tightly in place. Internet sources don't list any for 37's because of original design and none of them give accurate dimensions for spacing between cut outs or reliefs, to figure out what other model's clamp might fit. One mfgr. claims, "Fits all shotguns..." Un-huh.
The Kevin Dockery pic of 2 Navy SEAL 37's, one with magazine extension and duckbill spreader, shows a barrel/magazine clamp right behind duckbill. Another pic and description from the Dept. of Defense also shows a 37 Navy SEAL Combat with mag extension and a barrel/mag clamp right behind duckbill. Can anybody here suggest a barrel/magazine clamp that correctly fits an Ithaca 37 12ga?
One other little problem is the slide release at front of trigger guard. On all the ones I've seen pictured this part protrudes forward of trigger guard maybe 1/8" or so. On mine it's flush or slightly behind trigger guard loop, too hard to access. And ideas on how to fix that? I've done some gunsmithing and have strong mechanical skills but no expert or pro by any means.
Absolutely love this sweet little Ithaca gun! Thanks for any tips or suggestions!
Ithacan
Some time back a friend gave me a 1952 Ithaca Featherlite 12 ga, now that's a real friend! It's in good condition overall, 2 small wear marks at upper left front of receiver, light scratch on right side through game scene. Wood's pretty good but a refinish wouldn't hurt, no checkering. I modified a Decelerator recoil pad to fit. The barrel was crudely cut with a hacksaw to 18 3/4", I trued it up square to 18 1/2". I removed the 4+1 mag tube and installed a 7+1 tube after desoldering barrel lug for magazine nut.
Due to the interrupted thread removable barrel and original mag tube support design it now needs a barrel/magazine tube clamp to hold things tightly in place. Internet sources don't list any for 37's because of original design and none of them give accurate dimensions for spacing between cut outs or reliefs, to figure out what other model's clamp might fit. One mfgr. claims, "Fits all shotguns..." Un-huh.
The Kevin Dockery pic of 2 Navy SEAL 37's, one with magazine extension and duckbill spreader, shows a barrel/magazine clamp right behind duckbill. Another pic and description from the Dept. of Defense also shows a 37 Navy SEAL Combat with mag extension and a barrel/mag clamp right behind duckbill. Can anybody here suggest a barrel/magazine clamp that correctly fits an Ithaca 37 12ga?
One other little problem is the slide release at front of trigger guard. On all the ones I've seen pictured this part protrudes forward of trigger guard maybe 1/8" or so. On mine it's flush or slightly behind trigger guard loop, too hard to access. And ideas on how to fix that? I've done some gunsmithing and have strong mechanical skills but no expert or pro by any means.
Absolutely love this sweet little Ithaca gun! Thanks for any tips or suggestions!
Ithacan