Good morning all,

The M37 my dad just gave me for Christmas he described as a Stainless Steel model made in a short run as a boat gun (A Mariner?). I'll post serial number later, maybe get a picture up, but does this ring a bell for any of you? I can't find a reference to such a model. It looks pretty nice, though the finish looks a bit more matte than regular Stainless finish appears.

M37's were finished in matte electroless nickel, chrome, parkerized, and of course the standard bluing.

I don't believe there was a stainless model though, since stainless is much more difficult to machine than carbon steel. Sounds like you were a very good boy this last year.

I found a nickel finish DS Police Special spray painted black in a pawn shop right before Christmas. Now I am trying to find a place that will plate some parts, so I can finish the restoration.

I had heard about the matte nickel finish, and this looks more like that. My dad got all this info from the guns & ammo shop he bought the gun from about 10-15 years ago. He walked in to buy something minor and saw it on the wall behind the counter, it wasn't for sale but business was slow and my dad had some cash on him. The owner of the store bought it for a personal / display piece for the shop, so I suppose it could be custom. But the price my dad paid ($500 cash, the owner asked $700) doesn't quite reach "custom made" territory.

I really like that finish, really durable... 30+ years old, spray painted, and not a chip in it. Plus, it doesn't look over the top like some other plated finishes.

Here is a (bad) picture and some info. Turns out it is a Model 87 Featherlight.

Serial No: MAG 870038730
Made in King Ferry, NY by Ithaca Gun. Chambered for 2.75 & 3.00"



UPDATE: According to the Serial Numbers .pdf on the board, mine was made in 1994. But what does that prefix MAG mean? There is also a stamping on the barrel and receiver that looks like a lamp from Aladdin with an "S" in the middle.

What you have there looks like a nickel finish DSPS (Deerslayer Police Special) The nickel finish was an extra cost item in 94. MSRP for a smoothbore DSPS was $428.75.

The MAG prefix means it will take a 3" shell

Hope this helps

CF

Thanks! Glad to have this cleared up, though my dreams of owning some one-off treasure have been dashed

It is absolutely lovely, I can't wait to get it home to Michigan and put some rounds through it.

Wow, that's a beaut! Anyone know if that finish is an option with today's Ithaca 37s?

Hope all's well.

SWPG

That really does look nice...good luck and let us know how it shoots !

I FINALLY got out to the gun club this weekend to shoot this beauty. I started out with a (terrible) round of sporting clays with my Stoeger Condor 20ga (19/50), admittedly using improper choke tubes and with half my rounds store-bought on a course with some very long shots (I usually use heavy reloaded shells), but mostly due to my ineptitude. Then I took out the DSPS and did a round of skeet, and even though I haven't been shooting since September I did a personal best my first time out, 19/25. I think the more open stance/grip on the pump suits me better than the rather compact grip/stance I need for the Over/Under Condor. It just felt effortless, the only ones I missed were at the center station and a couple flukes from forgetting to rack another round on the doubles