Hi,
- Ithaca Model 51 Featherlight Serial Numbers
- Ithaca Model 51 Featherlight Serial Numbers 1
- Ithaca Model 51 Featherlight Serial Numbers Diagram
Nice web site.
Numrich Gun Parts Corporation 226 Williams Ln. Kingston, NY 12401 Phone: 866.686.7424.
- This is an Ithaca Model 51 Featherlight shotgun in 12 gauge 2¾”. This shotgun features a 28” matte-finish ventilated barrel with a fixed modified choke, glossy hardwood stocks with pressed checking, and a White Line recoil pad. It is in Nice condition with a good bore, solid lockup, strong springs, good trigger and functional safety.
- Here is a chart I recovered from the old Ithaca website. Ithaca Model 37 Repeater Serial Number Listing by Year. Year All Model Guns 1937 1 to 3,500 1938 to 10,000 1939 to 18,350 1940 to 34,400 Standard Model Solid Rib. Skeet. Trap. 1941 to 50,900 70,000-71,500 80,000-80,400 88,000-88,150 1942 to 62,900 71,501-72,199 80,401-80,899 WWII.
I’ve had a Ithaca model 51 semi auto 12 gauge for a bunch of years. Didn’t use it much. I recently gave it to my son to use for skeet and he’s doing well with it. However a it’s needed repair on 2 occasions in the past few months.
Questions:
Can you refer me to a source for parts for this gun?
As experts, how do you regard this gun?
Are the low end over-under imports any good for skeet?
Thanks for your help,
Jack
Dear Jack,
It just so happens that I spent a lot of time with an Ithaca 51. A friend and I bought Supreme Skeet 51s new in the mid-70s. We used the Ithacas for International Skeet and started to put some serious rounds through them. The guns had a lifetime guarantee, but Ithaca would only send us one part at a time when something broke. We couldn’t build up an inventory of those fragile action bars and the like. We’d break a part and then would have to wait to get a replacement. That got old fast. I remember the designer Tollinger mentioning that the gun was designed as a field gun, not a target gun. I finally gave up on the gun and sold it.
The 51 was a very soft shooting gun and I liked it a lot while it worked. It was very easy to disassemble. I ended up going to Remington 1100s. They weren’t any more reliable, but I could get parts more easily.
I don’t have a clue where to get parts for the 51. Ithaca has been in and out of business a couple of times in the past 20 years. I think that they are currently back up and running with the Model 37 pump. Track them down in King Ferry, NY and see what they know about Model 51 parts. That’s all I can suggest.
Any low end O/Us good for skeet? That’s pretty subjective. The best deal is probably a used Browning, Beretta or similar. These are not “low end”, but often can be had for a good price. They last forever and parts aren’t an issue. I wouldn’t get a true low end O/U if someone is at all serious about skeet. It will end up being a poor investment in the long run.
If you would reconsider a gas gun, the modestly priced Beretta 3901 (based on the 390 action), is excellent. It’s durable, reliable and ought to be available from a large store for around $600. A used 1100 might also make sense as you can still get all the parts you need. Of course, a used Beretta gas gun would also be a good choice and probably more reliable, but they have a different feel than the 1100s which you may or may not prefer.
Here is a chart I recovered from the old Ithaca website.Ithaca Model 37 Repeater Serial Number Listing by Year.
Year All Model Guns
1937 1 to 3,500
1938 to 10,000
1939 to 18,350
1940 to 34,400
Standard Model Solid Rib * Skeet* Trap*
1941 to 50,900 70,000-71,500 80,000-80,400 88,000-88,150
1942 to 62,900 71,501-72,199 80,401-80,899
WWII
1946 62,901 to 69,999 72,200-73,150 80,900-81,899 88,150-88,300 90,000-115,350
1947 to 157,150 73,150-74,700 81,900-82,499 88,300-88,760
1948 to 202,950 74,701-78,300 82,500-83,414 89,065-89,619
1949 to 302,500 78,301-79,999 83,415-83,964 89,620-89,969
Special serial number sequence for Solid Rib guns discontinued
310,000-310,099
1950 to 348,000 83,965-83,999 310,100-310,179
Ithaca Model 51 Featherlight Serial Numbers
1951 to 413,000 84,000-84,169 310,180-310,4041952 to 504,000 84,170-84,189 310,405-310,429
1953 to 544,000 84,190-84,399 310,430-310,619 509,600-509,649 509,650-509,699
All Model Guns 37-S discontinued after 1953
Special serial number sequence for 37-T guns discontinued
1954 to 574,000 ...1971 to 371,211,500
1955 to 602,000 ...1972 to 371,275,000
1956 to 652,000 ...1973 to 371,339,000 381,000,001-381,030,000
1957 to 704,000 ...1974 to 371,405,500
1958 to 727,000 ...1975 to 371,517,500
1959 to 759,000 ...1976 to 371,596,000
1960 to 777,000 ...1977 to 371,626,000
1961 to 797,000 ...1978 to 371,648,000
1962 to 820,000 ...1979 to 371,678,000
1963 to 867,000 ...1980 to 371,709,000
1964 to 891,000 ...1981 to 371,728,100
1965 to 927,000 ....1982 to 371,758,700
1966 to 966,000 ....1983 to 371,850,800
1967 to 999,500 ....1984 to 371,871,500
1968 to 1,042,000 ...1985 to 371,882,000
1969 to 371,091,500 ..1986 to 371,889,000
1970 to 371,150,500