POTD: The Other Other Trench Gun – Ithaca Model 37 Trench Gun
Sam.S 09.30.23
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have the classic Ithaca Model 37 Trench gun. Among American combat shotguns, the Ithaca Model 37 trench gun remains one of the most recognizable. Its distinctive silhouette with bayonet lug conjures images of Vietnam patrols. But the M37 trench gun’s origins traced to WWII, though less than 1500 saw use then. Its strengths emerged in the Vietnam jungle where high volume 00 buckshot at short range helped point men sweep foliage and stop ambushes. Five rapid shots bought time to react, making the M37 trench gun invaluable for door gunners and ground units alike.
“This is one of the rarest version of any of the various military trench shotguns that were manufactured for the U.S. Military during World War II. There was only a very small number of original Ithaca trench shotguns manufactured during WWII in a documented serial number range of 61038 to 61856. There was an additionally Ithaca contract let during Vietnam, but they are found in a very high serial number range consistent with the commercial shotguns produced in the 1960s. These WWII shotguns were originally manufactured for use as military guard guns and eventually were used in the Far East as effective weapons during the jungle fighting. This example was probably manufactured circa 1943/44.”
Lot 414: WWII U.S. Army Ithaca Model 37 Trench Shotgun – Rare World War II U.S. Army Contract Ithaca Model 37 Slide Action Trench Shotgun. (n.d.-g). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved September 28, 2023, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/78/414/wwii-u.s.-army-ithaca-model-37-trench-shotgun.
