For your perusal my first spring pole, a first year model 81, #638 in 35 remington. It is unmodified with a buckhorn rear sight and up front a Lyman #5 sight. My smith rates the bluing at ~90% and the furniture a little less.
I had wanted to have him mount a NIB Williams fp-81 sight on it as I find I shoot a peep far better than a buckhorn sight.
He convinced me not to molest it by drilling extra holes in it and keep it stock. It's going to be a safe queen for now.
I still might add either a Lyman or Marbles tang sight if I find one with mounting screw at a fair price.
In the meantime I have the very nice model 8 I purchased from Sarge756 arriving this week.
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...the right of citizens to bear arms is just one more guarantee against arbitrary government, one more safeguard against the tyranny which now appears remote in America..."
- Hubert H. Humphrey, "Gun" magazine, Feb. '60
It looks to me like you do not have serial number 638. Upon enlarging the serial number, I can see you have serial number “63 B”, which makes this a fairly rare model 81. There were not that many 81 B’s produced and to have a low serial number would make this a 1936 year of issue. It would be my suggestion to not do anything to alter your rifle.
Jack,
Alas, I was correct it is SN 638, wish I wasn't. Not rare but still it is a three digit Model 81 in very nice condition. So I will tuck it away for now.
BP-1
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I don’t want to be argumentative, but the last picture you posted regarding my first reply is not the same as the first picture you posted. There are inconsistencies between the two pictures. Make a close examination of the “8” in the last picture to the straight line on the “ B” in the first picture. Also, I cannot see the numbers in the second picture that are on the trigger guard in the last picture. There is also a visible ring near the bottom of the receiver near the removable screw. Maybe a picture problem.
I do not have any suggestions for high resolution pictures. It isn’t necessary to post additional pictures. My only reason for questioning the serial number was to alert you to the fact that if it were a 81-B, you had a very unique rifle.
Remington was not consistent on how they put the “B” on the receiver. I have six of the 81-B rifles and there are differences In 4 of the 6 rifles. Some had factory checkering and some did not. I have one that has the “B” in front of the serial number. The only one known to exist. There were even different locations on the receiver.
Some had hyphens between the serial numbers and the “B”. The other inconsistency was the size of the letter “B”. I am sure the value on the 81-B’s have increased. I just wanted to make you aware of what you may have and that making modifications would affect the value. The rifle appears to be in great condition and is a good addition to any collection.
jack1653 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 31, 2021 4:14 pm
Hey Bullpupone,
I don’t want to be argumentative, but the last picture you posted regarding my first reply is not the same as the first picture you posted. There are inconsistencies between the two pictures. Make a close examination of the “8” in the last picture to the straight line on the “ B” in the first picture. Also, I cannot see the numbers in the second picture that are on the trigger guard in the last picture. There is also a visible ring near the bottom of the receiver near the removable screw. Maybe a picture problem.
Regards,
jack1653
Hello Jack.
If you look very closely “and under good lighting” at the left side of the receiver on 8’s & 81’s you’ll see that there is a total of 4 visible “ghost” rings present. It may not be visible on all examples due to condition of the finish.
Last edited by Hibby83 on Mon Nov 01, 2021 5:27 am, edited 1 time in total.
