when I after birds with my Duck Unlimited 12 ga Model 37 which has a rib and the small foreend. I'd get the 20 & 16 if I run across one, but one rarely sees these with a rib. For whatever reason I can't seem to connect with shotguns that don't have a rib anymore.

Of course, it does need a certain amount of Accessorizin'.

Not that I don't have a fondness for the Ithaca 37; I do. During my teen years, I had the privilege of using my Uncle's 16-Ga for a few months. I hadn't learned the art of the shotgun yet, so I didn't hit much, but it was nontheless a grand experience.

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I know I've told this story before, but here we go again- some years ago I was looking for a cheap 12 gauge pump to saw off for a home defense gun. A friend of mine had an Ithaca 37 that he had picked up as boot in a trade, and offered it to me for $100. Almost no finish left, stock chipped at the top of the grip from recoil, and a PolyChoke. Ideal candidate for a sawed-off.

Long story short, I took the thing dove hunting before I got around to sawing it off. Local TV Outdoors guy was there and wound up standing a few yards from me filming me shooting. Doves were swarming into the field, and one couldn't get past me for love nor money. I have never had a deadlier bird gun in my hands, and the beat-up old Ithaca now sits in an honored place in my rack, just like I got it. I've since bought a couple of other 12 gauge pumps, in much better condition, and mercilessly sawed them off, but ain't no hacksaw gonna get near that old 37.