THE ITHACA MODEL 51 FEATHERLIGHT IS A CLASSIC AMERICAN SEMI-AUTOMATIC SHOTGUN PRODUCED BY THE ITHACA GUN COMPANY ROUGHLY BETWEEN 1970 AND 1987. DESIGNED AS A LIGHTWEIGHT SPORTING ARM, IT AIMED TO CAPTURE THE POPULARITY AND HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS. Notes: The Ithaca Model 51 Featherlight is a classic American semi-automatic shotgun produced by the Ithaca Gun Company roughly between 1970 and 1987. Designed as a lightweight sporting arm, it aimed to capture the popularity and handling characteristics of Ithaca's famous pump-action firearms (like the Model 37) while introducing a gas-operated semi-automatic action.