Did you look? The recoil pad was very poorly fitted, and the head of the stock was pretty well oil soaked. It wasn't in bad shape, but, it needed help.
Relax, it isn't like it was a rare, or, one off collectable. Why isn't it "collectable" now, what ever the hell that means when talking guns that don't top 5 bills, generally, anyway? How many years did they build Ithaca 37s? Longer than most of us have been alive. How much does a 37 cost? Not a bunch. Might as well have some fun, and get it looking and working right-shooting an oil soaked stock doesn't improve it.
I like the redux' better, myself. Just the fitting of the pad is 10 times nicer.
Best,
Ted