NICE find....those old pumps are works of art..
Not sure if I had a 61 back in the 1980s or not as a lot of guns came through my hands back then...just love .22 rifles... About 4 years ago I was in a shop in Connecticut and there on the rack was a mint looking early 61...of course being mint it had been refinished...
Looked like at one point someone had D&T two holes for a scope mount just ahead of the receiver on the top of the barrel. On the receiver was a small solid steel custom made scope base with a period correct 4X weaver scope...that was surprisingly clear. The two holes had been welded up and apparently the entire rifle reblued...but whoever did the work knew what they were doing. The stock was also 100% and the butt had beautiful wood...
But being D&T in two places and having been refinished the shop felt that it had no collector value and since it wasn't a "modern" .22 was only worth $175.00....I about sprained my wrist getting my wallet out...
Thing is a joy to shoot. I had my local old timey gunsmith make a new base for it so it will take any size scope and put on a nice clear Bushnell 3/4" tube scope...but still have the original setup...
...now if I could just fine a "decent" .22 Magnum for under a grand I would really be happy...
...if I remember correctly this is a 57xxx serial number...1939 maybe...too old to be worth anything to anybody... ;-)
Bob
Last edited by SuperMan; 01-13-2020 at 01:25 PM.
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