After posting the video on the Remington Model 8 last week, we received an email from reader Rod, whose grandfather was an auxiliary police officer and something of a gun nut. One of his rifles that Rod inherited was a Model 81 modified by Remington to use extended (15-round) detachable magazines. We have a few photos of it and the magazines here:
Not very any of these police model guns were made; they just didn’t sell well. The distinguishing features that identify this as a legit period conversion are the heavier-than-normal foreend, the sling swivels, and the lack of a bolt release catch. In fact, one of the folks from the Remington Society page on the Model 8/81 has put together a page and a YouTube video explaining these variants of the 8 and 81 in excellent detail:
You can see the full written page here: Police Model 8 and Model 81.
Thanks to Rod for the photos!
I believe that these fifteen shot magazines and the associated hardware were actually aftermarket conversions made by PECO (Police [Officer’s] Equipment Company) of St. Joseph, Missouri. A firm called R. Krieger of Mt. Clemens, Michigan made a five shot detachable magazine system somewhat later. More information here:
http://thegreatmodel8.remingtonsociety.com/?page_id=659
Those are very sturdy looking magazines.
I had a lifelong fascination with the Model 8 and Model 81… until Ian took one apart. If it is more complicated than a Mini-14 or a 1911, I lose a lot of my curiosity. (Sorry, I’m a klutz and a mechanical nincompoop, and I know it!) Time for a review and disassembly of the Winchester 1907, to see if my other favorite .35 caliber rifle of the era is any easier to take apart. (And more importantly, put back together.) I’ve shot but never disassembled the .22 LR version (think it was a Model 61) but I have never shot a 1905/ 1905/ 1910 so I have no idea how complicated they are inside.
I would bet that the gunsmith craftsmen at Peace Officers’ Equipment Company had a more than nodding acquaintance with the guys who worked at the old Pearl brewery in St. Joseph, MO though. Blue-collar artists tend to know each other. I’ve lived most of my adult life in Texas, but I grew up in Missouri and I hold to the truth/ heresy that the Pearl that was made in St. Joe was much, much better than the swill that was made in San Antonio*, and I can see the smiths from POEC winding down from a hard day making extended forearms and 15 round magazines tossing back a couple of longnecks with the malt-masters from Pearl. I might be on to something here… are there any famous German, British or Belgian gunmakers located close to famous breweries?
*the Pearl they sell now is made by Miller/ Pabst and not worth your money.
“think it was a Model 61”
I don’t want to be malicious but it was Model 63 – the Winchester Model 61 is too .22 rimfire but it is pump-action rifle (the hammerless version of Model 62).
If you like simple firearms you should appreciate Russian firearms for example SKS-45 – it was designed as a successor of Mosin rifle.
I had a Chinese SKS for a while in the early 90s when they were so incredibly cheap. Mechanically it was pretty neat – the anti-tank rifle heritage is obvious in that massive receiver. But it (along with every AK I’ve ever shot, which is why I’ve never owned one) was incredibly inaccurate. My basic rule of thumb for a hunting rifle is being able to stay on a piece of typing paper (or 10″ gong) offhand at 100 yards. The SKS could barely do that from a sandbag. 10 minutes of angle from a rest; it was more like “minute of barn door” offhand. Taking a nice clean spine shot at a deer and winding up tracking a gut-shot Bambi is not my idea of fun, so I swapped it for something. I’m taking a long look at the moment at the bolt-action CZ 527 in 7.62 x 39… that looks like a fun way to burn up a bunch of cheap ammo and a pretty decent Southeast Texas and Hill Country deer and hog rifle.
Good call on the Winchester. About 30 years ago I had a Rossi clone of the outside-hammer Model 62 Winchester. It was a great, lightweight walking-around-in-the-woods gun.
Speaking of fun pump rifles… a “forgotten weapon” I’d love to see a video on is the Israeli Timber Wolf .357. That was such a great little all-around gun that proved once again that the Americans (and everyone else) do not like pump-action rifles.
“Israeli Timber Wolf .357”
For me this gun is very similar (at least externally) to much earlier Remington Model 25 especially the carbine version (Model 25R). Obviously the Timber Wolf receiver is bigger and sturdier because it is designed for .357 Magnum when the Remington Model 25 is designed for .32-20 and .25-20. If you looks on the left side of receiver of both gun you will see very similar take-down screw. The vintage Remington catalog:
http://www.remington.com/~/media/Files/Owners-Manuals/Model%2025.ashx
Described model 25R as: “This carbine makes an excellent arm for saddle and automobile use. Light, compact – quick and easy to use”
When the Timber Wolf .357 and Remington Model 25R are very similar externally I don’t know how similar (or different) are mechanisms of these gun? The cross-section of Remington Model 25 is inside above-mentioned link, but I don’t know nothing about internal parts of Timber Wolf.
And add the safety: both Timber Wolf and Model 25 have the safety located in back of the trigger-guard, both are activated by pushing to the right (however this is only detail)
I’ve owned three Rooskie SKS rifles, all made in 1953, new in cosmoline when I got them. One was stock, one with a Rooskie 4x scope, one with a Williams rear peep sight (which is awesome and child’s play to install.) All three would hold 4″ at 100 yards off sandbags using my handloads and jacketed bullets.
Actually, I used the term “gun crank.” 🙂
I was very young when my grandfather died and didn’t know him well, so all information is second-hand at best.
Those magazines are, indeed, very heavy. The few times I used them they were completely reliable.
I have only fired the rifle a few times, and not for over twenty years. I recently re-lubed it and found no rust, and patches run through the bore came out clean, so it is in very good shape. This was the first time I took the stock off or opened the receiver. The lack was a definite problem with the latter. I do not plan to ever take the barrel sheath and recoil mechanism apart!
I have never taken this rifle down. The connection is so tight I worry about bending the lever.
“…lack of a bolt hold-open…”
I swear that was in there at one point.
Well, if all else fail you can always chuck the magazine after the target. They look like they back a serious wallop.
If the target is too close, try butt-stroking him. I mean to say whack the bad guy with the rifle butt. In any case, I don’t like the taste of magazine steel or walnut wood in the morning (or at any time of day).
GUNS ILLUSTRATED 1982 has an article on these rifles. When I was a boy I used to think “why were WWII rifle magazines so small?”. I, like any other boy, was impressed only by firepower.
Ah, what big, beautiful rifles. Shooting one of these classics is on my bucket list. What I would give to have been able to own a gun shop between 1890-1929… Oh the crap I could have played with!!!
Excuse me but when we’re the extended magazines first offered for actual use?
I have a Remington model 8 passed down to me from my grandfather. I know the Peace Officer Equipment co. of St Joseph, Mo had a 15 round magazine for that rifle. Any suggestion on how I could procure one today?
Doesn’t it also require a mod to the receiver?