The Ithaca 37 vs the TPAS — Old School Cool Remade

In the shotgun conversation, the American pump action has a rich history of service. Models like the M97, the M12, and of course, the M37 served in multiple wars, armed thousands of sportsmen, and sat at the bedside of many a home defender. The Ithaca 37, or M37, is an excellent example of the American pump action shotgun. These days the classic guns have somewhat dried up and risen steeply in price. Rock Island Armory has begun importing a shotgun known as the TPAS.

The TPAS is an Ithaca 37 clone built in Turkey. The gun has an MSRP of $599, and that’s a fairly affordable option compared to the modern Ithaca 37 guns or the retro classics. These days a Deerslayer starts at almost $1,400 dollars from Ithaca, and older used models are reaching the $700 price point for one in good shape. I’ve reviewed the TPAS before and found it to be a solid alternative option for those wanting an Ithaca 37 without breaking the bank.

I also recently came across a retro Ithaca 37 Deerslayer, and with both in hand, it seemed like an interesting idea to compare the two and see how the Turkish-made TPAS stacks up to the Ithaca-made Deerslayer.

The Ithaca 37 History

The Ithaca 37 wasn’t an original design. Remington designed the Model 17 in 1917, and it was a John Browning design. When the patents expired on the Model 17, Ithaca tooled up to produce the Model 37. The Ithaca 37 wasn’t just a clone. A designer named Harry Howland made numerous improvements to the design, including simplified production.

The shotgun went on to serve with the United States military during World War 2 and continued up into Vietnam. One of the gun’s more interesting features is its downward ejection which eliminated the traditional side ejection port. This made the gun friendly for left-handed shooters and eliminated an entryway for dirt and debris to make entry into the gun.

The gun’s design also evolved over those years, and numerous models were released. These guns often had different barrel lengths, sighting configurations, and other features. The Deerslayer here features a shorter barrel and rifle sights. The Ithaca 37 has remained in production since 1937, and over two million have been produced. It’s the only shotgun from before World War 2 to still be in production.

The TPAS

The TPAS, which stands for Trench Pump Action Shotgun, doesn’t resemble any Ithaca 37 produced by Ithaca. It somewhat resembles an M37 Trench gun, but the M37 only had a bead sight, and this gun lacks a bayonet lug. It’s certainly its own thing, and that’s okay. Rock Island Armory seems to be a bit confused by their own gun.

Their website talks about it being a Trench 1897 shotgun, which it very clearly is not. The TPAS is an Ithaca 37 through and through. Much like a classic trench gun, it does have wood furniture and a heat shield. The gun holds five rounds and features a large front sight that’s rifle-like.

The TPAS vs. a Real Ithaca

Hows does the Turkish clone stand up to the New York-made Ithaca 37? That’s what we intend to find out today. We’ll compare the features, performance, and ergonomics of the two guns and see if the TPAS got it right.

Ergonomics

The Ithaca 37 Deerlsayer and TPAS feature very similar ergonomics. The guns use identical controls that are very friendly and easy to use to manipulate the shotgun. Loading both guns is easy, but the shells flow into the real Ithaca 37 in a much smoother fashion. There is some noticeable grit to the TPAS.

The Ithaca 37 features a length of pull that’s about a half-inch shorter than the TPAS. On top of that, the Ithaca 37 features an inch-long recoil pad to help eat up that 12 gauge recoil. I could drop the recoil pad and use a plastic butt plate to make the length of pull a comfy 12.75 inches. The TPAS has a14.25 inch length of pull with a rubber butt plate. It’s fairly long, and there isn’t much you can do about it short of a saw and sandpaper.

The TPAS has a remarkably smooth action for a Turkish shotgun, but holy crap is the Ithaca 37 smooth. It offers seemingly no resistance as it travels rearward. It’s the holy grail of smooth-pump action shotguns.

Finish and Looks

The Deerslayer seems to wear a parkerized finish, so this gun could have been part of a police contract. Either way, it’s a tough finish. The receiver features the famed flying ducks and dog on both sides. The wood is a brilliant dark finish, and the stock features some interesting and beautiful checkering. The forward grip is a corncob type and was quite standard for this time period.

The TPAS features a finish labeled as ‘shiny black.’ Whatever that means is beyond me. I’m assuming it’s supposed to try and replicate bluing without the cost associated with bluing. It’s tough enough and resists rust. The stock and corncob grip are a light grain of wood, and both look nice, although the checkering is a bit simpler.

Where the TPAS goes wrong is the massive silver lettering that says RIA, the chambering, serial number, and made-in-Turkey design. It’s a billboard that is just plain ugly. It makes a pretty gun ugly.

Reliability

I shot the TPAS a lot for my initial review, and I dry-fired it even more. I have a hard time trusting Turkish shotguns without plenty of testing. It surprised me and delivered a very reliable shotgun. Unsurprisingly the Ithaca 37 delivered the same results. Both guns are made from steel and will likely eat up tons of rounds before a problem appears. Both guns are only rated for 2.75-inch rounds, so don’t get too excited for 3-inch rounds.

I’m willing to bet the Turkish gun would fall apart first, but you’d have probably spent the gun’s cost in ammo before that happened.

An Affordable Alternative

If you want a plinking shotgun that’s just plain fun, then the TPAS is for you. If you want a defensive shotgun, I’d likely point you toward a Mossberg 500 on the affordable side for your ability to outfit it with a white light, a red dot, a side saddle, and more.

If you want to experience the Ithaca 37 without spending Ithaca money, I’m happy to suggest the TPAS. If you want a real Ithaca, there is no replacement for American quality.