Need some help Ben

[Dave Grubb]

I am working on one of my daughters Model 37 Ithaca 12 ga.

It jammed with a spent shell in the chamber. When I got it the slide was partially back. I have now cleared the chamber and the slide seems to move normally but I cannot move the slide release button on the side of the trigger guard. I have to pull the trigger to return the bolt.

I have done all the "normal" things and find nothing about this on the internet nor YouTube videos. I also have the "Field Maintenance Instructions", all 20 pages and that goes through tearing down the bolt---but never a word about the release.

If you have ever had this problem, I would surely love to have your advice

I have to say---taking these down makes my Model 12s a joy in comparison.

[Dave Grubb]

Never mind Ben---but thank you anyway

When I got it apart--it didn't take long to find the problem nor to fix the problem. The catch that sticks up to block the slide when the trigger is coked got a little burr on it--just enough to catch on the side of the slot that it retreats into. A few minutes with a gunsmith's most valuable tools---a big collection of files, and life is good again

I have no idea, and can see no apparent cause, for the burr, but since this one probably took 80 years to develop someone else will have to worry about the next one

What caused the original jam---I'm not sure but the gun is very dry--a problem I will fix on reassembly.

[Truckman]

Never mind Ben---but thank you anyway

My work here is done......Ben

[Dave Grubb]

...and it was a fine job you did

[UTAH]

Reminds me of a working fail moment. I was sporting a new 9mm and a friend asked to see it. So, I unloaded it and handed it to him. He says, "Watch this!" - as he loads in a cartridge and then purposefully jams the weapon. I was pissed and told him that if he scarred the ramp he'd be buying me a new ramp. Fortunately, that was the only time my weapon jammed. And, that "friend" is long gone.

Hunter

[TriGuy]

Reminds me of a working fail moment. I was sporting a new 9mm and a friend asked to see it. So, I unloaded it and handed it to him. He says, "Watch this!" - as he loads in a cartridge and then purposefully jams the weapon. I was pissed and told him that if he scarred the ramp he'd be buying me a new ramp. Fortunately, that was the only time my weapon jammed. And, that "friend" is long gone.

Hunter

Kind of why no one gets to shoot my bow. Way too easy to have it get away on you with a 60 pound draw

[Honda]

Reminds me of a working fail moment. I was sporting a new 9mm and a friend asked to see it. So, I unloaded it and handed it to him. He says, "Watch this!" - as he loads in a cartridge and then purposefully jams the weapon. I was pissed and told him that if he scarred the ramp he'd be buying me a new ramp. Fortunately, that was the only time my weapon jammed. And, that "friend" is long gone.

Hunter

I apologize in advance for my remarks, but you lost a friend over a scarred ramp and you are totally supporting the guy who is going to take the gun away from you. Incredulous.

[Dave Grubb]

Reminds me of a working fail moment. I was sporting a new 9mm and a friend asked to see it. So, I unloaded it and handed it to him. He says, "Watch this!" - as he loads in a cartridge and then purposefully jams the weapon. I was pissed and told him that if he scarred the ramp he'd be buying me a new ramp. Fortunately, that was the only time my weapon jammed. And, that "friend" is long gone.

Hunter

At one period of time in Korea I ended up baby sitting a 2nd LT---don't ask why me---I never understood it myself In any event, one day we were in the ops building at our "base" camp. I was doing paper work and he was playing with his newly issued 45. I carried a 45 all the time and he thought that was cool so he prevailed on someone to do the same. My "charge" required full time watching, but my attention was temporarily on my paper work and unbeknownst to me he decided to disassemble his new "toy". He immediately put a hole in the roof of the ops building. The sound of a 45 unexpectedly going off in a closed building is not something you would miss!

Some pictures of both the base camp and from our work site, looking into North Korea are below. Camp Alamo was the most northern US outpost. Our work site looked down on the DMZ. We were constantly harassed by NK line crossers. I carried both the 45 and an M1 Carbine in my jeep. The road in the foreground, of the second picture, is in NK. To the left is "Pork Chop Hill"--famous for two battles during the "not a war".