Shotgun
A shotgun (also known as a scattergun, peppergun, or historically as a fowling piece) is a long gun, long-barreled firearm designed to shoot a straight-walled cartridge (firearms), cartridge known as a shotshell, which discharges numerous small ...
is an American
firearm
A firearm is any type of gun that uses an explosive charge and is designed to be readily carried and operated by an individual. The term is legally defined further in different countries (see legal definitions).
The first firearms originate ...
. It was in production from 1936 to 1963, with 1,015,554 units made. This model was developed by
Winchester
Winchester (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in Hampshire, England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government Districts of England, district, at the western end of the South Downs N ...
with a standard visible hammer action for many years. The Winchester Model 37 uses a top-cocking lever, breakdown type of action with an automatic shell ejector. The first M37 shotguns were delivered on February 10, 1936, according to factory records. M37 shotguns were not serial numbered.
Technical specifications
The M37 came in two styles, Standard and Boy's Model (introduced 1958). Modified choke or cylinder bore was furnished at no extra charge on special order only. The M37 was chambered in the following gauges and shells respectively: 12, 16, 20, 28, and 410 using -inch, -inch, 3-inch shells. The M37 unit weight was between and 6 lbs; the fluctuation was dependent on the chambered gauge.
History
During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, the
US National Guard
The National Guard is a state-based military force that becomes part of the U.S. military's reserve components of the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force when activated for federal missions.