The answer is both. A picture would clear this up.

 

You bet. Here are pics of the gun. Deerslayer barrel and model 37 barrel.

 

That's a fixed barrel 87, it is fit, timed, and torqued into the receiver like a rifle barrel, and is not removable like a 37.

Also, if the 37 barrel came off of a pre 855000 serial number gun, it won't fit anyways as the threads are different than the later 37s and all 87s. It appears there is a serial number on the chamber end of the barrels, which I believe was only done to the pre-855000 barrels.

 

Well I'm glad to find that out although it's not the answer I wanted. Even Ithaca service steered me wrong. Appreciate all your help!

 

Even Ithaca service steered me wrong.

Ithaca has been through a myriad of owners and locations in the last few decades, so it's understandable if whoever you talked to didn't quite understand what you were talking about. They made the 87 with both fixed and removable barrels as well, and I don't believe the fixed barrel guns were made in particularly high numbers, so it's something easily slipped through the cracks.

 

I do believe that's a rifled barrel in that configuration.

 

Well I guess it's back to the drawing board. Might have to sell it and purchase a different gun for pheasant hunting. I don't think I'll ever go deer hunting again. Once again, thank you for all your help and knowledge. I should have brought this to this forum before I ever talked to anyone else.

 

From what I recall about the Ithaca Deerslayers (model 37), they were highly sought after as deer hunting rigs AND they were dedicated to the Deerslayer configuration.
Sell it but don’t give it away. A nice Model 37 would make a great pheasant gun.

 

I know a guy that buys and sells guns. I'll talk with him and see if he has a 37 to sell. Good idea!

 

In my area they still are using slugs but I would be you're right that many other areas now allow rifle and is the preferred method used for deer hunting.

 

Probably worth advertising locally if you can then.

 

Show us the threaded end of the field barrel. I see some numbers stamped on it. We need to see what else is there and if the threads are straight vees and not helical. There were a few barrels made during that time frame for the old style threads. I own one of them, fitted to a 1949 solid rib gun.

Also you are going to look for a 2 3/4 inch receiver gun.

Additionally if you purchase one of the smoothbore DS's, you will have a superb home defense shotgun, as well as the pheasant gun you are after.

Such as this one

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1046871353

 

I have a 37 Deerslayer with a 20 inch barrel. I patterned it years ago to find that it throws a pretty nice IC pattern. Try your gun on the pattern board, you may be surprised.

 

Take a look at the end of your magazine tube, at the round threaded "nut."

See how there is no "finger" welded on the barrel?
To secure the take-down barrel of a Model 37, you twist that nut into a "finger" that is "welded" (it's actually machined )

Without that feature, your barrel must be screwed tight into the receiver, like a rifle barrel.

Here is a picture of my 1984 era Model 12

Don't Despair!
1. You can buy a used 12 gauge Ithaca Model 37 field shotgun on Gunbroker for under $300 after shipping, fees, taxes and FFL fees if you are patient. They are a screaming bargain. I would urge anyone to buy a whole shotgun rather than a replacement barrel. It's not 100% sure all barrels can be swapped, some will need 'minor' gunsmithing which is not 'minor' money and inconvenience.

1b. If you had a second shotgun, you could see if the barrel you purchased fit. If it did, you have two barrels. If not, you have two nice shotguns and can Ebay your extra barrel back for a small loss.

2. Your Deerslayer is worth a lot on the market, because I don't know why. But it is! The 'home defense' crowd loves them, because they are smooth as silk and tough as nails. As said, I would pattern the gun! I'd keep it, even though it's not my thing. If you must sell it, be sure to sell it on consignment through a reputable gun shop. If they buy it, they must give you less than 50% of what they can sell it for. Consignment... you keep 80%. With more posts in the Shotgun World community, you'll soon be able to post that gun for sale on the equipment board here. It's a real nice shotgun, I expect someone wants it.

3. For a field gun, I much prefer a barrel without the rib. The Model 37 Ultralight is different from the other fine Classic American Pumps because it's lighter to carry in the field. The rib takes away some of that distinctiveness.

Thanks for your post! I learned something new about Model 37s today!

 

A rifled barrel Deerslayer is not the best home defense gun. A smooth barrel DS yes, rifled no. I have a smooth barreled DS leaning against the refrigerator right now with 4 00 buck shells in the magazine. Not one in the chamber, if I have to get it, I want the person to hear the slide rack and I can rack a slide all but as fast as an auto.