{"id":659,"date":"2011-04-25T17:49:08","date_gmt":"2011-04-25T23:49:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thegreatmodel8.net\/?page_id=659"},"modified":"2022-07-28T12:16:03","modified_gmt":"2022-07-28T18:16:03","slug":"police-model-8-and-model-81s","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thegreatmodel8.net\/?page_id=659","title":{"rendered":"Police Model 8 and Model 81’s"},"content":{"rendered":"

P<\/span>olice Gun Perfection: The Peace Officer Equipment Remington Autoloading Rifles<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

By Cameron Woodall<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Long before the concept of modern assault rifles, a company in St. Joseph, Missouri was modifying Remington Model 8’s to help law enforcement officers obtain significant firepower over criminals. \u00a0With the widely publicized use of Thompson submachine guns by gangsters in the 1930’s, many departments were forced to step up their gun arsenal to maintain fire superiority in the event of a shootout. \u00a0The Peace Officer Equipment Company brought out a product that turned a hunting and sporting rifle to the forefront of law enforcement use.\u00a0 Although the Model 8 wasn’t designed for martial service nor ideally suited for extended firefights, the modified Police versions fit a niche that few others could fill.\u00a0 Without the need to carry spare stripper clips or loose cartridges, the man behind the Peace Officer rifle could go a long way without reloading with “fifteen rapid, smashing aimed shots, plus extra range, penetration, and shock” as advertised.\u00a0 These modified Remington Autoloaders, carried three times the standard capacity, affording themselves the perfect role in a motorized pursuit.\u00a0 The officer could carry ample ammunition in a single magazine and have considerable firepower without the public liability of a machine gun.\u00a0 The advantage these Model 8’s carried over their counterparts, besides magazine capacity, was their chambering: the .35 Remington.\u00a0 This medium bore cartridge propelled a 200gr bullet at 2000fps, more than enough to punch through steel car bodies or primitive body armor.\u00a0 For the department who desired less recoil and less chance of overpenetration, the Peace Officer rifle could be ordered in .30Rem as well.\u00a0 Whether in 35Rem or 30Rem, the gun’s appearance let it be known it meant business!<\/p>\n<\/span>\n

Peace Officers’ Equipment Co. Remington Model 8<\/strong><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Police Model 8 and 81 may never have been if not for the insight of Newton S. Hillyard.\u00a0 Mr. Hillyard was the founder and president of Hillyard Chemical Company in St. Joseph, Missouri and to his credit created nearly 50 patented products before his passing.\u00a0 His company, founded in 1907, served the maintenance industry and actually continues today as a family operated business.\u00a0 Newton was into more than the maintenance industry however and being an entrepreneur founded the Peace Officer Equipment Company in the 1920’s.\u00a0 This company’s mainstay product was the “Flash Commander”, an automobile signal light that identified peace officers and aided them in apprehending suspects long before standardized emergency lights. They also sold an assortment of law enforcement products such as black jacks, handcuffs, tear gas grenades, etc.\u00a0 As early as 1929, Peace Officer Equipment Co. (or POE for short) began converting Remington Model 8’s from the factory non-detachable magazines, to single stack higher capacity detachable magazines.\u00a0 In addition, POE also did away with the factory schnabel forearm in favor of a custom made beavertail forearm that was longer and wider.\u00a0 The Peace Officer Equipment Co. modified Model 8 weighed in at approx. 9.5lbs empty and an overall length of 41 inches. It quickly became popular with large and small municipalities in and around Missouri.<\/p>\n<\/span>\n

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image courtesy of The Hillyard Companies<\/p>\n<\/span>\n

Magazine Construction<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>\n

The heart of these rifles is the magazine.\u00a0 Whether in 30Rem or 35Rem calibers, the magazines were made of steel (this includes the side walls, arcuate walls, and end plate), held together by a series of cross pins, and designed to hold cartridges single stack.\u00a0 The slightly curved magazine has dual guide ribs, one on each side, to keep the cartridges in a central position while feeding up towards the chamber.\u00a0 Perhaps one of the more remarkable aspects of this magazine is that each one had its own magazine release latch built onto the magazine.\u00a0 Other detachable magazine conversions, like the Krieger for example, had their magazine releases machined into the trigger plate.<\/p>\n

Eventually Newton Hillyard filed for a patent on this magazine on October 8th<\/sup>, 1934.\u00a0 By May 25th<\/sup>, 1937 he was granted U.S. Patent number 2,081, 235.<\/p>\n

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Marketing<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/span>\n

In the early days of POE marketing, Newton S. Hillyard and his principal salesman, Clarence Gillis “Buckshot” Wilson, worked together to promote the rifle.\u00a0 Giving demonstrations, both men were known as excellent solicitors, and Buckshot even then was a professional exhibition shooter.\u00a0 In an interview with Buckshot Wilson from the St. Joseph News-Press July 17, 1977, an example of the team’s selling prowess is told,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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“In the drought year of 1934, the company gave a demonstration in a pasture at Kirksville for the chief of police, sheriff, city fire chief, and a banker whose bank had been robbed at gun point.\u00a0 The narrator of my demonstration, Buckshot says, was the best in the business, N.S. Hillyard, owner and director of the company.\u00a0 He called each shot with precision timing.\u00a0 “Look gentlemen, he said, how easy it is to hit the target with our super police rifle.\u00a0 Look at its devastating effect on the motor block of that car (towed in from a junk yard for the demonstration), a definite advantage when pursuing a bandit car, or a desperate criminal who might be fortified in a steel vest. Watch this, our police rifle is going to hit a target the size of a half dollar in mid-air”.\u00a0 N.S. had run out of washer targets and he asked for a half-dollar, but not one of the men would comply with his request.\u00a0 He took one of his own and I tossed it into the air and I drilled a hole through the outer edge.\u00a0 It landed near the excited group who made a mad rush for it.\u00a0 The banker, true to his profession, grabbed it and politely put it in his pocket.\u00a0 We sold the police department and the sheriff’s office, and the local hardware store sold N.S. a good supply of half-dollar sized washers just in case of another shortage in silver halves. Wilson sold police rifles in Rochester, Minn, when he proved to the police chief that they would fire at 30 degrees below zero.\u00a0 In his demonstration he shot at cans of tomato juice, which exploded into clouds of frozen red dust”<\/em><\/h6>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span>\n

Surviving POE paperwork affirms that Buckshot Wilson had exclusive sales rights to much of the central United States.\u00a0 Buckshot made many friends in the law enforcement community, among them Ted Hinton and R.F. Alcorn.\u00a0 Nearly a year after the Bonnie and Clyde Ambush, deputy Alcorn wrote a letter to Buckshot saying he was going to send in his personal Remington Model 8 to be converted by POE for a 15 round magazine.\u00a0 Alcorn wrote, “this is the gun I used in apprehending Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker”.\u00a0 On paper Buckshot’s contract with Peace Officer Equipment Co continued until August 19th<\/sup>, 1939.<\/p>\n<\/span>\n

A company by the name of Hawkeye Protective Appliance Co. also marketed the Peace Officer Model 8.\u00a0 In their advertisement they even listed a “Special Grade” complete with engraved receiver, engraved magazine and checkered stocks!<\/p>\n

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image courtesy Bob Creamer
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The Peace Officer Equipment Co. Model 81<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>\n

Prior to Remington’s announcement of their “Special Police” Model 81 in early 1940, four years had passed since one of the last known POE Model 8’s, #697XX (May, 1936).\u00a0 Evidence suggests that POE began modifying Model 81’s once production of Model 8’s ceased.\u00a0 When Remington and POE began conversing about a production Police rifle in early 1938, the Technical Director at Remington, E.C. Hadley, stated that the company currently sold rifles less magazines (presumably Model 81’s) to POE, who in turn converted them to 15 shot capacity and sold them for their own profit.<\/p>\n

One such example of a Model 81 with features unique to POE, rifle #2983 (mfg. May 1937) has a matching 15 round magazine, extended POE forearm, and no sling swivels.\u00a0 A few characteristics indicate this rifle was probably converted by Peace Officers’ Equipment Co.\u00a0 The first and most apparent is that the barrel lock assembly has been modified in a way consistent with POE Model 8’s.\u00a0 This entails recessing the barrel lock, drilling out the barrel lock screw, and installing a stainless rivet, with a \u00bc” head through the length of the assembly.\u00a0 The rivet is then peened over the barrel lock screw from the outside.\u00a0 This modification hasn’t been witnessed on any rifle other than those built by POE.\u00a0 Furthermore, the 15 round magazine is of the earlier Model 8 pattern still stamped “Pat. Pend”.\u00a0 Also the rifle’s matching serial number is in the location consistent with POE’s placement (just below the top indicator hole).\u00a0 Remington’s 1940 Peace Officer catalog illustrates the Model 81 “Special Police” with the earlier style Model 8 magazine.\u00a0 The few other known examples of POE built Model 81’s feature transitional magazines with varying characteristics.\u00a0 It should be pointed out that in accordance with contractual agreements between POE and Remington, the only POE built Model 81’s would be very early rifles.\u00a0 The latest seen during this study was #56XX (mfg. Feb. 1938).<\/p>\n<\/span>\n

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a rare Peace Officer Equipment Co. built Model 81<\/p><\/div>\n

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The Remington Model 81 “Special Police”<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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image courtesy of Bob Creamer\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/span>\n

Recognizing the extraordinary firepower of the POE built Model 8, Remington wanted in on the action with a police rifle of their own.\u00a0 In 1938 the company was gearing up to bring out a new line of modified firearms dubbed “Special Police” aimed specifically for sale to the law enforcement community. The Model 11 & 31 shotguns were included in this lineup and after work with POE, the Model 81 as well.\u00a0 The Model 81 Police rifle was a powerhouse fit for close range work just like its Model 8 predecessor.\u00a0 With a 15 round magazine, the officer didn’t have to worry about immediate reloading nor lacking fire superiority! The “Special Police” rifle, introduced in early 1940, was essentially a continuation of the Peace Officers’ Equipment Co. Model 8 but with larger marketing hopes.\u00a0 As stated, the primary market for the “Special Police” was to law enforcement agencies but during the onset of WWII, Remington Asst. Director of Mfg., E.C. Hadley, had other ideas in mind,<\/p>\n<\/span>\n

“National Guard companies could be supplied with these semiautomatics.\u00a0 They would prove to be of great value in guarding key points such as railroad stations, utility nerve centers, and bridgeheads.\u00a0 Rifles like these in the hands of trained marksmen would certainly prove their worth in dealing with parachute troops, for example.\u00a0 They could be picked off with the semiautomatic in the short time of their descent while the soldier with the bolt action rifle would lose precious seconds in reloading after each shot” (Chicago Daily Tribune, May 6th<\/sup>, 1940)<\/em><\/h5>\n<\/span>\n

Mr. Hadley went on to further explain the Special Police was not a military firearm; it was built on a sporting \/ hunting platform and was not practical for frontline troop use.\u00a0 Remington’s Model 81 police version was certainly unique in the production firearms market; it had more magazine capacity and more punch than most of its contemporaries.\u00a0 But despite its impressive attributes, the police version of the Model 81 was only produced in limited quantities.<\/p>\n<\/span>\n

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Production<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>\n

Remington was in the works with Peace Officer’s as early as March 1938 on the acquisition of rights in order to produce their own version of the 15 round magazine.\u00a0 After estimating costs of producing the magazines themselves or paying royalties, Remington ended up purchasing the magazines from POE, then fitting and bluing them at the factory.\u00a0 An interoffice memo dated Dec. 29, 1939 spills out the need for master trigger plates and receivers to test POE magazine interchangeability.\u00a0 The magazines were to be fitted to these master assemblies prior to fitting to the actual production host rifle.\u00a0 Special Police Model 81’s do not have unique serial numbers; this is because there were not enough of them manufactured to constitute Remington having specially machined trigger plates and receivers on hand.\u00a0 Instead Remington simply used standard 81’s in stock to make up Police guns.\u00a0 There is a trend however of Special Police rifles falling into certain serial number blocks.\u00a0 The most common blocks during this study were 99XX, 10XXX, 136XX, 155XX-157XX, and 187XX, 202XX.<\/p>\n

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POE Magazine Capacities<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

15 Rounds<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The predominant POE magazine is the 15 round version.\u00a0 These are found on the majority of both the POE 8’s and Special Police 81’s.\u00a0 In an overwhelming majority of POE 8 & 81’s studied (this includes solitary magazines), 82 out of 91 were 15 round versions.\u00a0 This capacity is also depicted in the 1937 U.S. Patent filed by Newton S. Hillyard.\u00a0 There are some slight differences between Police 8 & 81 magazines.\u00a0 Model 8 magazines can be identified by the markings “Pat. Pend” underneath the company name, and the number “15” between the bottom two indicator holes.\u00a0 The Model 8 magazines will have 3 indicator holes, one on top, two on bottom.\u00a0 Model 81 magazines will only have 2 round indicator holes, one on bottom, one on top.\u00a0 On Model 81 magazines, the number “15” was omitted and “Pat. Pend” was replaced with “Patent No. 2, 081, 235”.\u00a0 Per Remington’s instruction, most model 81 magazines will be hand marked by caliber.\u00a0 Due to the nature of their manufacture, POE magazines will vary slightly in certain areas with evidence of hand filing.\u00a0 A number of different followers have been noticed.\u00a0 Occasionally the inside of the magazine release lever (called the depending lever) will have the last two digits of the serial number stamped or the magazine number if more than one were made for a rifle.\u00a0 This evidently is there because these magazines were handmade and individual parts were matched to the corresponding magazine box.\u00a0 In the photograph note the different indicator holes, serial number location, and Patent markings.<\/p>\n

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10 Rounds<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>\n

Peace Officer Equip. Co. also produced a 10 round magazine.\u00a0 Their prevalence is substantially less than that of the 15 round versions; in fact only 3 examples out of the 74 rifles studied was found.\u00a0 These magazines are not aftermarket jobs but were produced by POE in limited numbers and have only been found on Model 8’s.\u00a0 They only have 1 indicator hole located at the top of the magazine. Pictured below is rifle # 697XX (May, 1936) marked, “Sheriff’s Office Fulton MO”, and equipped with a 10 round magazine.<\/p>\n<\/span>\n

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photograph courtesy of Doug Baier<\/p>\n<\/span>\n

An advertisement below, from the 1934 Peace Officers’ Equipment catalog, shows a two specialty law enforcement firearms.\u00a0 Although the Model 8 is advertised as a “15 Shot High Power Autoloading Rifle”, the magazine in the photograph is of considerable shorter length than the more common 15 round version.\u00a0 Its length is consistent with rifle # 697XX.<\/p>\n<\/span>\n

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image courtesy of The Hillyard Companies<\/p>\n<\/span>\n

Further evidence for the factory manufacture of the 10 round magazine, is a letter from Robert S. Hillyard (Newton’s son) to C.G. “Buckshot” Wilson stating,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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“Dear Buckshot, we are pleased to offer you the exclusive rights on the Model 8 Remington gun 30 and 35 calibre, equipped with 10 shot magazine at a price of $56.00” (July 7th<\/sup>, 1936).<\/em><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span>\n

It’s worth mentioning that the 10 round magazine listed for $1 more than the 15 round magazine.\u00a0 The likelihood of this is that they were made from existing 15 round versions and some additional labor was involved.<\/p>\n

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5 Rounds<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>\n

The 5 round version has only been found on 30cal. Special Police 81’s associated with the Connecticut State Police.\u00a0 The magazines appear to be converted from 15 rounders and barely protrude below the trigger guard.\u00a0 It is very likely these were factory shortened magazines.\u00a0 The only foreseeable advantage of this setup is quick changing of the magazine, as with the shortened length, there is no gain in cartridge capacity over a standard Model 81 magazine.\u00a0 Only four examples of this type were observed during this study, two such rifles # 155XX, and # 100XX are pictured below.\u00a0 Notice that rifle # 155XX is lacking Police Gun markings entirely which is unusual but not alarming.\u00a0 All other aspects of this rifle correspond to original Special Police rifles.<\/p>\n<\/span>\n

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photograph courtesy of Joe Homberger<\/p>\n<\/span>\n

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Connecticut State Police 81 #100XX. This rifle was manufactured in Jan. 1940 and is among the first of Special Police rifles built. After a decade of department service, it was sold by the State Police in November 1950.<\/p><\/div>\n

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photograph courtesy of Bob and Jeff Pajtas<\/p>\n

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Authenticating Peace Officer Model 8 & 81’s<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>\n

Aside from the detachable magazines, a few other characteristics make Police 8 & 81’s stand out.\u00a0 External and internal modifications were done on both models to ensure reliable function.\u00a0 These aren’t guns one can easily reproduce; the magazines would cost a smooth fortune to duplicate.\u00a0 Once in a while solitary magazines turn up in auctions, sometimes selling as high as $1100 each.\u00a0 Fitting a standard 8\/81 with an original POE magazine isn’t just a matter of dropping the trigger plate and swapping boxes.\u00a0 The following information is to help the collector determine the authenticity of a Police 8 or 81 should one be in question.<\/p>\n<\/span>\n

The Peace Officers’ Equipment Co. Model 8<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>\n

The distinctive characteristics of the Police 8’s are their extended magazines, and beefier, longer forearms.\u00a0 In regards to the magazines themselves, the rifles’ matching serial number should be engraved on the left side just below the first indicator hole.\u00a0 If serial numbers do not match the rifle may be suspect, although it was not uncommon for a department that owned several rifles to mismatch magazines.\u00a0 The author has even witnessed mismatched barrel assemblies but from the same batch of department rifles.\u00a0 Some rifles are found inscribed with a department name; this was most likely done by the individual department and not the Peace Officer Equipment Co.<\/p>\n<\/span>\n

There are two variations of POE Model 8 forearms.\u00a0 Both are of the same overall length, 10 \u00bc”, but differ in the angle of the wood where it meets the receiver.\u00a0 The two versions are compared below; the forearm at top is less common and seldom encountered.<\/p>\n

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Internally there are a few changes that show the expertise of POE in engineering the Police conversion.\u00a0 The first is the removal of the entire magazine indicator assembly.\u00a0 This means after emptying the magazine, the bolt will not lock back on the last round as on standard Model 8 & 81’s.\u00a0 Another modification is to the barrel lock and barrel lock screw.\u00a0 This assembly, without a fixed magazine, can potentially fall out with the magazine removed.\u00a0 POE’s method to prevent this was to inlet the barrel lock for space to install a metal rivet-like pin through the body of the barrel lock screw.\u00a0 This small stainless pin kept the barrel lock pressed against the inside of the receiver with no concern of falling out when the magazine was removed.\u00a0 The barrel lock screw was drilled out, and the pin ran through the length of the screw.\u00a0 This is a great way of telling an original POE modification from others just by looking at the barrel lock screw head from the outside and at the barrel lock from the inside (pictured below).\u00a0 Looking inside the action of a POE Model 8, the head of this rivet is about \u00bc” in diameter and flush with the barrel lock.<\/p>\n<\/span>\n

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Common to both POE 8’s and Special Police 81’s are tool marks on the inside edges of the trigger plate.\u00a0 These marks are from hand files where the assembler had to remove material from the trigger plate to individually fit the magazine to the gun.\u00a0 At first glance the work may look crude but this is customary for Police 8 & 81’s.\u00a0 Guns with matching serial numbers will typically have a magazine with a tight fit and lockup.<\/p>\n<\/span>\n

Another common feature of POE built Model 8’s is the bottom tang metal butt-plate.\u00a0 Although not a requirement for authenticity, the bottom tang metal butt-plate was found, in this study, on over 90% of the specimens.\u00a0 In their heyday, POE purchased rifles from Remington, converted them, and then sold them.\u00a0 The most common butt-plate of that era (1930-1936) was the bottom tang metal butt-plate.\u00a0 POE, on occasion, also offered their services on rifles that were already in law enforcement use.\u00a0 Because of this there are a few rifles that may have characteristics outside the norm (though they should still have a matching serial number on the magazine!).<\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/strong>The Special Police Model 81<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>\n

In similar fashion to the Model 8, the Special Police Model 81’s most distinguishing characteristics is the extended magazine and special forearm.\u00a0 The forearm on the Model 81 is even longer than the POE Model 8, measuring 11 \u00bc” in length (see below). In addition to the extended forearm, Remington also manufactured extended forearm screws for the Special Police 81. These screws are about 1\/8″ longer than the standard Model 81 forearm screw. A standard Model 81 forearm screw will not secure the Special Police forearm against the barrel jacket.<\/p>\n<\/span>\n

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Serial numbers are not in the same location on Police 81 magazines as they are on 8’s.\u00a0 \u00a0When present, serial numbers are stamped on the front shoulder of the magazine.\u00a0 Occasionally beside the serial number will be another number, either a 1, 2, or 3.\u00a0 Some departments (such as Nashville, TN Police Dept.) ordered each of their Special Police rifles with 3 matching magazines.\u00a0 This number signifies that magazine.\u00a0 It should be known that not all Special Police magazines have a serial number.<\/p>\n

A Remington memo dated January 30, 1940 lists the exact specifications of the Special Police.<\/p>\n

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Special Police rifles came with factory installed sling swivel eyelets.\u00a0 The front eyelet is mounted in the barrel jacket swivel hole, the rear is mounted approx. 3 inches from the toe.<\/p>\n<\/span>\n

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Remington’s “Special Police” lineup (including the Model 11 & 31 shotguns) was roll marked with a Police Gun inscription.\u00a0 Pictured below is a representative “Special Police” receiver marking on a Model 81.\u00a0 Notice the department markings are not of the same quality as the Police gun markings; this is customary as the department name was hand engraved and often times the witness lines are visible. At the time, the cost of adding a hand engraved department name on the receiver cost $1.50 for any inscription up to 20 letters and 5 cents each additional letter beyond 20.\u00a0 Perhaps for this reason, a few Special Police rifles have been found without a department name, one such rifle is in the NRA museum # 188XX.<\/p>\n<\/span>\n

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Keeping with Peace Officer Equipment’s innovation, Remington also modified their Special Police rifles internally.\u00a0 The magazine indicator assembly was removed and the barrel lock modified.\u00a0 Remington’s method of securing the barrel lock differed from POE’s.\u00a0 Whereas POE used a rivet-like pin through the body of the barrel lock screw, Remington used a small, blued flathead retainer screw.\u00a0 Remington part #165, 166, & 167 as listed in the 1950 Component Parts List shown below are unique to Special Police 81’s.<\/p>\n<\/span>\n

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Using this method meant the barrel lock screw was drilled, tapped, and the retainer screw installed keeping the barrel lock firmly against the inside of the receiver wall.\u00a0 The barrel lock itself was recessed to allow seating of the barrel lock retainer screw without rubbing against the magazine. This method was probably not engineered until just before production as an August, 1939 Remington parts list titled “Model 81, 30 & 35 Rem. Ca. Autoloading Police Rifle” does not include the retainer screw and barrel lock modifications.\u00a0 It does however omit the magazine indicator assembly.<\/p>\n<\/span>\n

By using the retainer screw instead of the pin, Special Police 81’s will resemble a standard 81 externally (apart from the missing magazine indicator assembly).\u00a0 A notice to any collector or shooter of authentic Police 8 or 81’s, there is no safety stop screw as there are in standard 8\/81’s.\u00a0 This means should one disengage the safety with too much force the safety can overtravel down beyond the fire position and mar the side of the receiver.\u00a0 Be cautious!<\/p>\n<\/span>\n