Rem Model 51

[imfuncity]

He's right in that these don't show up very often, especially as a Model 5. And he is a dealer too! (I just stumbled on it and yes I think his price is high but....)
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =283444387

Not to hi-jack our rifle forum but this is another one of those "if you are going to be an old Remington guy then you need...." Love mine for all the old reasons, plus to me its fit fits and it shoots better then my Colts. And thin, it is thinner then a lot of wallets, no wonder Patton like it in his back pocket.

[Forty Rod]

I picked one up in .32. (One-upped myfriends with Colt 1903s. ) It looks great but won't feed from the magazine...and spare mags are as scarce as eyebrows on eggs.

Who works on these, preferably someone close to Pomona / Montclair /Ontario, California?

[imfuncity]

Showed mine to a 70 year old friend/smithy who has been working on guns since he was 11, said, "Heard of them but never seen one." (He is now gone. ) Still haven't found anyone else who has ever seen one, let alone worked on one.

Suggest either finding someone online - chancy... or go to a smithy you know and trust that likes unusual items, see if he'll look at it or take it on as a rainy day/some day kindof thing.

But then, maybe soneone on here knows about them?

[DWalt]

I know a lot about them - I have 4 - one of each variation known. I have never had any problems, but I fire them very little. Not too difficult to tear down, but I imagine parts are very difficult to find. I have understood (but not experienced) the most common parts breakage is the locking breech face, which is very intricately machined. The design of the Model 51 locking system is unique - part blowback, part locked breech. It took some graduate-level design skills to come up with it.

I agree - the Model 51 is my favorite of all pocket pistols, then or now. Next on my list is the FN-Browning 1900 in .32 ACP, as it was the first of the breed, and is a masterpiece of design and engineering. To see one in 99% condition is a memorable experience, but I have one. Third is the Savage pocket pistol line, built like the proverbial Swiss watches. They are not made that way any longer, and haven't been for some time.

Donald Simmons has written a couple of good articles about the Model 51 in some of the older editions of Gun Digest.

[Forty Rod]

I knew a man who was pretty much an expert on anything Remington. I am confident that he could have fixed it but he died about 3 years ago and I'm left with one very good smith who might be able to do it, but is nearly impossible to reach.

Still looking for help if anyone has any to give.

Thanks.

[Forty Rod]

I finally got ahold of the smith I mentioned and he says he won't work on pocket pistols.

Back to my original dilemma: does anyone repair these things...preferably in my part of southern California? (ZIP 91764)