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July 27, 2017
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picked up a model 37 shotgun in 28 gauge red letter used great shape.
how rare are these 1st one i every came across in wyoming.thanks. the millbilly.
July 8, 2012
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James,
I don’t know how many model 37’s were made in 28 gauge but from what I understand, it’s very rare. Maybe Bert, or someone here will have an idea or estimate as to how many 28 gauges were made compared to other gauges. We’d love to see pictures of it.
Al
April 15, 2005
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tionesta1 said
James,
I don’t know how many model 37’s were made in 28 gauge but from what I understand, it’s very rare. Maybe Bert, or someone here will have an idea or estimate as to how many 28 gauges were made compared to other gauges. We’d love to see pictures of it.
Al
Because the Model 37 was never serialized, and there are zero production records for it, there is no way to even estimate how many 28-ga Model 37 shotguns were manufactured. All that can be stated with any assurity, is that the production was significantly less than the garden variety 12-ga.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015
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James Hollander said
picked up a model 37 shotgun in 28 gauge red letter used great shape.
how rare are these 1st one i every came across in wyoming.thanks. the millbilly.
I know very little about these sturdy little shotguns and suspect the low value may have an effect on collector interest. The single shot shotgun was the unsung hero of the American frontier but the Model 37 missed that by a few decades. I think the Model 37 may have been used to put a few rabbits and game birds on the table or may have defended garden plots. I think they were competing with “hardware store” shotguns and then as now, the price tag influenced most decisions during this time period.
Mike
January 20, 2023
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The Model 37 was, in my youth, the Cadillac of single barrel shotguns – unless you want to include the Ithaca trap gun of which we were ignorant.
I was recently given a postwar Model 37 16 gauge by a declining friend. I have no immediate need for it but it has been very well cared for and will make a fine teaching tool for somebody some day.
The original plastic buttplate is gone and a deteriorated aftermarket pad had been screwed on. The stock was never cut square and I have the correct buttplate that I need to install and sand to size.
On the other hand, it would make a better teaching tool if it had a modest soft pad.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
December 9, 2002
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A late friend of mine had over a dozen of them and would get excited talking about a “Red lettered one”. Didn’t do anything for me as I listened as friends do. I found it funny, because we used to travel everywhere buying up collections or individual pieces, as we had some great times doing it, and his famous line was that he didn’t do shotguns! LOL! Then some later years as we kinda both slowed down and things changed in the market as far as buying things. He wound up with several of those darn things, that never grew on me.
Once again, “Different Strokes”!
Tony
August 8, 2024
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I read that the Model 37 kept Winchester afloat financially. So, I believe that it was a very important gun for them. It is a very well made single shot shotgun that has a nice look to it. The modified hammer is very quick to use, and it even ejects its empties!
A collection of these can be had for a very modest cost, with the exception of the 28 gauge Model. Which should always be a Red Letter. Even the rarer beginners 20 gauge model can be bought cheaply when found. The 32” barrel guns are kinda neat, and they too won’t put the collector back very much. The .410 Model can also be found very affordable. Even high condition models can be found today modestly priced. Maybe, not for everybody. But, if a collector wanted to keep his cost down, and still have a nice collection of Winchesters. I can see that this might be appealing.
July 8, 2012
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Bo Rich said
I read that the Model 37 kept Winchester afloat financially. So, I believe that it was a very important gun for them. It is a very well made single shot shotgun that has a nice look to it. The modified hammer is very quick to use, and it even ejects its empties!
A collection of these can be had for a very modest cost, with the exception of the 28 gauge Model. Which should always be a Red Letter. Even the rarer beginners 20 gauge model can be bought cheaply when found. The 32” barrel guns are kinda neat, and they too won’t put the collector back very much. The .410 Model can also be found very affordable. Even high condition models can be found today modestly priced. Maybe, not for everybody. But, if a collector wanted to keep his cost down, and still have a nice collection of Winchesters. I can see that this might be appealing.
I agree Bo
December 25, 2016
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Single barrel guns suffer the old red headed stepchild syndrome. don’t overlook the truly great single barrel guns on which ALL the manufacturer’s lavished their attention. As a shooting sport trap has been supplanted by other shotgun games. Esp. the 1900’s the game of trap was THE shotgun game. I believe Winchester never offered a bespoke single barrel trap gun. Not to the extent of LC Smith, Ithaca, and Parker, the shotgun makers back then were very much win on Sunday and sell on Monday. They also lavished their engineering attention on the trap guns. Choking especially. The floating rib of my 1918 Smith SBT does not rattle after over a hundred years and who knows how many rounds. It also has he finest trigger of any gun I own. A previous owner screwed a walnut strip on top anything for another bird or two.
January 20, 2023
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I didn’t know Winchester offered a single barrel trap assembly for the Model 101 until.friend MidwestCrisis bought one. When he sees this post maybe he will put up a photo.
I do remember that in the mid-Fifties Ithaca still made a very expensive single barrel trap gun. Very handsome it was, too and available in ascending orders of splenditude for those unconcerned with price.
I didn’t know anything about trap and wondered what an owner would do about doubles.
I have a Model 37 16 gauge that a declining friend gave me last year. I think it is a neat little gun and plan to keep it for a future young shooter.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
August 8, 2024
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I know of some who back in the 1970s added a vent rib to there Model 37 to use as there trap gun. They still do very well at our local turkey shoots. I get a kick out of it, when my buddy wins a turkey shoot using his Model 37. Knocking out them with there more expensive modern shotguns.
December 25, 2016
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Zeb thanks for the reminder on the old Winchester 101 trap guns. I reckon their heyday was the 1970’s. I had a field 101 for about a year that I shot trap with, in fact shot my very first 25 with that 101. Developed a nasty flinch, those old 101’s were both too light and while the pitch was apparently right for someone, that someone was not me.
Had a perpetual bruise under my right eye until I sent that one down the road.
If I had to shoot an old Win model 37 for trap? I would conjure up a method to add weight. I like about 9 lbs. for trap. Maybe a big hunk of Wolfram? The simplicity makes adding weight a challenge.
Super light weight 12 gauge guns are great for a lot of carrying, and a little shooting. Right around the third or 4th trap round you will likely learn why weight is your friend. Trust me on this, it is a lot easier to develop a flinch than it is to UNdevelop a flinch. We can’t argue with our subconscious mind.
My old Smith is as good as it ever was, I like it’s straight grip. It only comes out to play on nice days. I’m sure no expert on the game of trap, my take on the popularity of the SBT’s is very simple. No more than half of regular trap shooters shoot doubles. I recently sold a cool old Beretta SBT, I picked it up cheap, repaired it and flipped it. I really liked the gun, an old TR 1 from the 70’s or late 60’s. The Browning SBT is pretty much the gold standard of SBT’s today.
One day I may get back to shooting trap regular, it is a costly game. Being totally out of practice I still break 20+ actually 25 if you count the ones that break when they hit the ground. Depends on when we last mowed the grass.
February 17, 2022
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I always love those “golden BB” late breaks.
November 7, 2015
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oldcrankyyankee said
I always love those “golden BB” late breaks.
Have been a benefactor of the “golden BB” but a fixed Winchester full choke won’t give you many. The ones I’ve tried pattern beautifully with few potential “golden BB’s”. Seems there’s a hole in my modest collection were a Model 37 should be.
Mike
December 25, 2016
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oldcrankyyankee said
I always love those “golden BB” late breaks.
Any break is a good break. That long grass is your friend at the traps. I’d put the grandson’s to work finding enough clays and drag the manual trap out from under the clubhouse. I think they liked clay hunting better than clay shooting did manage to get both of them a break. A lot of those clays would have one two and rarely three holes in the dome. Do bear in mind trap targets are shot edge on for the most part. I’m a big fan of a black dust cloud where the clay used to be, but every break looks the same on the scorecard. An X is an X.
January 20, 2023
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Maybe one of you can explain to me the attraction of a single barrel break-open gun for trap shooting. I know there’s a lot of trap shooters who favor them. But I don’t understand why.
I do understand the advantage of weight in a gun used for competitive clay target shooting.
But an over/under gun can be heavier unless the single is especially weighted for the purpose.
I would think a higjh shooting 12 gauge Superposed with 32″ barrels choked Improved Modified and Full and with a heavy rib to incresse weight to 9 pounds, an ideal trap gun.
What does such a gun lack that a single barrel trap gun can offer?
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
November 7, 2015
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Zebulon said
Maybe one of you can explain to me the attraction of a single barrel break-open gun for trap shooting. I know there’s a lot of trap shooters who favor them. But I don’t understand why.
I do understand the advantage of weight in a gun used for competitive clay target shooting.
But an over/under gun can be heavier unless the single is especially weighted for the purpose.
I would think a higjh shooting 12 gauge Superposed with 32″ barrels choked Improved Modified and Full and with a heavy rib to incresse weight to 9 pounds, an ideal trap gun.
What does such a gun lack that a single barrel trap gun can offer?
Zeb-
Only thing I can think of is personal preference. I’ve tried a few BT-99’s and they just don’t feel right. I like the way a 37 feels but have never fired one.
Mike
January 20, 2023
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As soon as I can fit the buttplate on this little 16 gauge, we can provide you that experience.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
I occasionally shoot a round of trap with a full choke Model 1885 20 gauge. I shoots well as long as you cover the bird with the barrel. It also gets a little hot making it more difficult to extract empties the last stations.
April 15, 2005
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[email protected] said
I occasionally shoot a round of trap with a full choke Model 1885 20 gauge. I shoots well as long as you cover the bird with the barrel. It also gets a little hot making it more difficult to extract empties the last stations.
You must be a glutton for punishment! My Single Shot high-wall (Solid frame) 20-ga shotgun kicks like a proverbial Mule, even with light Skeet loads. At just over 5-lbs it is too light of a gun to shoot a round of trap with it.
Have you provided me with the serial number on your Single Shot high-wall shotgun? Currently, I have (109) of them documented (nearly all is the 113462 – 114855 serial range).
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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