Ithaca 37 Stakeout
Ithaca Gun Company · Shotgun · In Production · 1962
Also known as: Ithaca Model 37 Stakeout, Model 37 Stakeout
Overview
The Ithaca 37 Stakeout is a compact pump-action shotgun built on the Ithaca Model 37 platform, distinguished by its shortened 13-inch (330 mm) barrel and pistol-grip-only configuration in place of a full stock. Like the parent Model 37, it retains the bottom-loading and bottom-ejection design that makes the action truly ambidextrous and resistant to debris, and many examples preserve the slam-fire capability that allows rapid follow-up shots by holding the trigger while cycling the pump. Because its barrel is under 18 inches and it lacks a shoulder stock, the Stakeout is classified under the U.S. National Firearms Act as an 'any other weapon' (AOW), requiring registration and a tax stamp. Its abbreviated dimensions made it a favorite for close-quarters roles such as police stakeouts, vehicle and boarding operations, and special-operations use, where a devastating short-range 12-gauge that could be carried or stowed discreetly was prized.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3000 g (105.8 oz) |
| Overall Length | 673 mm (26.50") |
| Barrel Length | 330 mm (12.99") |
| Action Type | Pump Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Trigger Pull | 22 N (4.9 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 4 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Tubular |
| Effective Range | 25 m (27 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 12 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Smoothbore |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Synthetic |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 12 Gauge · primary — also known as 12 ga, 12 bore
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Tubular Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Crossbolt Safety
- Features: Bottom Ejection, Single Loading Ejection Port, Truly Ambidextrous, Pistol Grip, Short Barrel, Slam Fire Capable, Nfa Any Other Weapon
Base model
Service history
Operators
- New York City Police Department
- United States Navy SEALs
- Los Angeles Police Department
Conflicts
- Vietnam War (1955-1975)
Production
Production years: 1962-present
Produced in limited numbers as a specialized law-enforcement and NFA-market variant of the Model 37.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Harry Howland
Notes
The Stakeout descends from short-barreled Model 37 patterns adopted by U.S. law enforcement; the NYPD Stakeout Unit and Emergency Service Unit used compact 12- to 13-inch-barrel Model 37s, giving the variant its name. Some sources list overall length figures inherited from the full-size Model 37; the true pistol-grip Stakeout is roughly 26-27 inches long overall. Offered in 12 and 20 gauge. As an NFA 'any other weapon,' civilian ownership requires ATF registration.
Background
Named for the police stakeout role it was built for, the short-barreled pistol-grip Ithaca 37 became an icon of 1970s-80s law enforcement and special operations -- a gun that packed a full 12-gauge punch into a package that could be hidden under a coat or swung fast in a doorway.