For what it is worth, I have a pre-war Ithaca Model 37 in 16 ga. with a hollowed-out stock. There is a space more than big enough for a pack of cigarettes. I was told that this was done at the factory to further lighten these early Model 37's. It is a very nice mortising job with no rough edges or indications that a less-than-careful stock person had a go at the stock. It does not seem to detract from the strength of the stock as near as I can tell. This helps to make a 16 g, 26" bbl., IC Ithaca Model 37 a really nice bird gun for the hills of Vermont.
Ed Pirie
West Topsham, Vermont
