Originally Posted By: Joe Wood
You'll find the 17 to be the smoothest operating pump ever built. And they seem to have a lot of hand fitting and fitting of internal parts. The rib and barrel are one piece machined from a single blank. The metal is all rust blued. If possible I'd try to add a wood butt extension and keep the original.


I have had: M12s, Wingmasters, 31s, 37s and lone 500. From those a minty 20ga Ithaca 37 was smoothest pump I have ever used. That was one from late 70s made during time when they put spurs on carrier prongs. When worked it left like there was some king of pump assist mechanism. Never experienced action like that before or since.