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S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 3-Screw PINNED Barrel SWING-OUT Cylinder Hand Ejectors WITH Model Numbers


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  #1  
Old 11-18-2016, 09:28 AM
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Default S&W model 53-2

is the mod. 53-2 worth more with a 22lr cylinder and 4" barrel over a 6" barrel with the 22jet cylinder
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Old 11-18-2016, 12:34 PM
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To me it would be worth nothing without a Jet cylinder, no matter the barrel length. With both, I'd pay more than I would for one with a Jet cylinder only. I like the longer barrels for the M53.
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Old 11-18-2016, 12:46 PM
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I agree that a 53 Jet should have a longer barrel then 4"
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Old 11-18-2016, 01:25 PM
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I think the 4" is kinda scarce?

Finding a jet cylinder isn't easy and they bring real money. The last one I saw old for almost $500
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Old 11-18-2016, 06:10 PM
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In '74 I was working part time in a gun shop and heard that they were going to discontinue the M-53. I talked the owner into ordering me one. He was reluctant because at the time S&W was rationing pistols and he didn't want to end up with a hard to sell odd ball. Someone goofed because 2 revolvers came in one in 4" and one in 6" so I had my pick and with the premium I picked the 4 inch for $200.00. It was a very accurate gun but I wished I had picked the 6 inch. 25 years later in walked in to a pawnshop and they had a 6 inch .22 magnum for sale for $450.00. When I looked at it and saw it was marked 53 in the crane I hurriedly bought it. As I was about to leave the clerk asked if I wanted the extra cylinder. He handed me the .22 jet cylinder w/inserts. I'm the lucky recipient of the uninformed pawnshop personnel.
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Old 11-18-2016, 08:38 PM
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I agree that a 53 Jet should have a longer barrel then 4"
Absolutely



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Old 11-18-2016, 08:58 PM
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You fellows aren't afraid of a little fireball are you?
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Old 11-19-2016, 01:52 AM
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You fellows aren't afraid of a little fireball are you?
There's nothing little about the fireball out of a four inch Model 53 flamethrower. But it is pretty quiet, okay it's almost tolerable, when you wear ear plugs topped by ear muffs.
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Old 11-19-2016, 12:45 PM
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Loud with a huge fireball, is a Ruger Single Six, 4 3/4" in M1 Carbine caliber. Has to be the loudest revolver I have ever heard. Big Larry
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Old 11-19-2016, 04:52 PM
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Loud with a huge fireball, is a Ruger Single Six, 4 3/4" in M1 Carbine caliber. Has to be the loudest revolver I have ever heard. Big Larry
Didn't know they made a .30 carbine in the single six????
Thought they were blackhawks????
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Old 11-19-2016, 06:35 PM
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Didn't know they made a .30 carbine in the single six????
Thought they were blackhawks????
JIM......
You are probably correct. Must be my feeble 74 year old mind. Big Larry
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Old 12-21-2016, 02:16 AM
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Have a M53 6" new addition to my collection as of last month, cost to buy it $1,150 with extra cylinder ,inserts, dies and ammo. Was a no reserve that closed at $950 first time through while I was kicking tires. Really like this gun and PPU bought back the ammo. For those that just have the gun in Jet form, I use my M17 when I shoot Long Rifle, no loss either way.
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Old 12-21-2016, 01:12 PM
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FWIW, I have a M53-2 8 3/8"er that was shipped 11-1974 and must be one of the last made as they were discontinued in 1974. Inside the crane it is marked M53. No dash. Big Larry
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Old 12-21-2016, 06:23 PM
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Hey Larry,
Was in the thick of it in '74 too. The Jet at that time was so put down all the publications made it sound like after a few shots you'd needed a hammer and chisel or maybe even a hacksaw to get it working again.

Another two boxes of PPU arrived today, I'm stocking up. Going get the most out of it's potential with a Leupold scope set up. I think it's one of the coolest revolvers ever made!
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Old 12-21-2016, 07:33 PM
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Hey Larry,
Was in the thick of it in '74 too. The Jet at that time was so put down all the publications made it sound like after a few shots you'd needed a hammer and chisel or maybe even a hacksaw to get it working again.

Another two boxes of PPU arrived today, I'm stocking up. Going get the most out of it's potential with a Leupold scope set up. I think it's one of the coolest revolvers ever made!
I have two. One is a 1961 vintage N.I.B.6" # K 444444. Yep, I bought it for the serial number, but it lettered as nothing special.
I bought the other as a shooter. It is a 98% revolver and I have never fired it. I bought it in hopes of finding a 22LR cylinder for it. I did, and sent it back to S&W only to find out that the extractor was too beat up to fix. No parts for these cylinders anywhere. So, I have never shot it. I bought an 8" M17-3 to shoot and when the gun came, it was minty and unfired, so I never shot it either. I shoot one of my 3 M617's instead. Actually, my 4 wheeler gun is one of those new M&P 22's. It is super accurate right out of the box. I am more of a collector than a shooter. I have over 75 22's. Big Larry
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Old 12-21-2016, 08:14 PM
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S&W because of the 53's problem probably should have offered a send the gun in and they'll fit with a .22LR cylinder even up till now (fair is fair). Last 53 / .22 cylinder went for $445 (plus the cost of fitting it to your gun) two hundred more and you have a complete M17 ?
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Old 12-22-2016, 12:23 PM
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I am not quite sure of that. A NIB M17-3 with 3 T's is closer to $1,000 from what I see. I have a minty 17-3 8 3/8" with 3 T's and I traded it for a beater Python. I paid $800 for the Python. It would have had to go back to Colt for numerous problems and would have cost a bundle. So, I traded it away, No problem, as I have 2 other 60's Pythons. Big Larry

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Old 12-22-2016, 12:29 PM
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I've never shot a 53, though I'd love to run across one of the 8-3/8" guns. However, I can attest that the Ruger in .30 Carbine is VERY loud. Probably louder than the NAA .22 Mag I've also shot.
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Old 12-22-2016, 07:03 PM
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The $1,000 M17s only sell at that price in pristine or unshot condition, that's where the market is for them, but, you have one that has a little barrel or cylinder bluing ware with a few scratches price falls right on down.

The 53 is loud, 50% louder than the .22 mag it seems. Regular ear protector handles it fine, if you think you can get away with firing off a cylinder full of Jets without them, you will damage your hearing for sure.

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Old 12-22-2016, 07:16 PM
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I've had a few Model 53's, 2 of them 4 inchers. Current one is a 6 incher. One of the oddest traits of the Jet is the combination of near lack of recoil while making a horrendous report. It's a high-pitched screech of a boom. I wear plugs and ear muffs when shooting them and won't shoot them on indoor ranges. I have a 10 inch Thompson/Center Contender barrel in .22 Jet, and it is still loud.
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Old 12-22-2016, 11:01 PM
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I'm interested to see what the difference in the impact group is going from L.R. to Jet? I have to shoot scooped so also wondering what degree of a Classic Gun Sacrilege I'll be committing drilling my 53 for a Leupold mount?

Last edited by Jersey Doug; 12-22-2016 at 11:02 PM.
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Old 12-23-2016, 12:08 PM
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Quote:
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I'm interested to see what the difference in the impact group is going from L.R. to Jet? I have to shoot scooped so also wondering what degree of a Classic Gun Sacrilege I'll be committing drilling my 53 for a Leupold mount?
I and many others would advise against that. You would devalue the gun by 1/2 and if you should ever want to sell it, you would have a very hard time. These M53's are fairly common but they can be very expensive. $1,000 and up, especially with the original box. You are not going to gain much by scoping and Swiss Cheesing a great revolver. I vote against it. Big Larry

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Old 12-23-2016, 12:41 PM
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I have both the 6" and the 4". I am experimenting with reloading at a moderate pressure heavier .223" bullets in the 4". So far, it is working like a charm. Normal Peltor Electronic ear muffs are all that I need and the night flash is manageable.........
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Old 12-23-2016, 01:14 PM
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I have 4", 6", & 8 3/8"
Here's the FLASH from my 8 3/8"......H110 load...Very accurate.
The 6" is NIB, unfired and for sale...Email me if interested.

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Old 12-23-2016, 04:00 PM
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When your eyes get to the age you use "readers" open sights can be difficult. I like long range revolver scope shooting, was at the range this morning.
My magnums are drilled for scope as were already modified decades ago from M-28 cores. On my M-17 8 3/8 I removed the rear sight, ran a bead of J.B. weld there and have been shooting it every weekend with the leupold set up. The mount this way is so solid would have to use strong force to release back off holds that well. IF I want to put in back to original only have to mask off the top strap fragile bluing and clean out the channel. Whether or not this Technic will hold to up the Jet, will find out next week.

Last edited by Jersey Doug; 01-31-2017 at 01:22 PM.
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Old 12-23-2016, 11:29 PM
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Shooting full house loads with your Jet will burn up the barrel
throat very quickly. Seen a lot of used 53s with this problem.
Have to say ,that never really saw any appreciable loss
of accuracy with 22 rimfire but I'm sure velocity will suffer.
Could never get Jet rds to be as accurate as regular 22LR
but that could be just me.







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Old 12-24-2016, 12:09 AM
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Thanks to the good advice I found here asked that question of the seller about the barrel area condition of the 53. The six inch that's on it now is fine but want to put my N.O.S. 8 3/8 on. From what I read can be sent to S&W to do that job?

Haven't looked into the fps on the now available PPU ammo surely less than reloaders are doing, but still will eat the barrel. Like .357 or .44 mag doesn't take too many rounds before ready to ease down to something lighter. I see at the range, two clips in their 1911's and even the auto guys drop down to 9 mm or .22 most times.

When my 53 is set up the way I need it will try to keep usage down to two cylinders full and switch to my M48 often. Long distance shots (for me to group well) are at such a slow rate similar to single shot (that will help) , looking to see how flat the Jet travels.

Last edited by Jersey Doug; 12-24-2016 at 12:40 AM.
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Old 12-24-2016, 02:46 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BUFF View Post
I've had a few Model 53's, 2 of them 4 inchers. Current one is a 6 incher. One of the oddest traits of the Jet is the combination of near lack of recoil while making a horrendous report. It's a high-pitched screech of a boom. I wear plugs and ear muffs when shooting them and won't shoot them on indoor ranges. I have a 10 inch Thompson/Center Contender barrel in .22 Jet, and it is still loud.
I have to agree that the T/C Contender 10" barrel in 22 Jet is also loud. Not as loud as the 4" M53 I have, but still very loud.

I was shooting my 4" M53 at an indoor range many years ago an the person in the booth next to me leaned in and asked what I was shooting. He said "It sounds like a .357, but the holes in the paper are so small!"

22 Jets are fun to shoot!
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Old 12-24-2016, 11:45 AM
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To answer the original question as I see it, "the worth of a M53 in four inch with just the .22 cylinder". Cylinders for a 53 go both ways,, have been bought for $450 for the Jet, and $450 for .22 L.R. I can't go $450 (just had the chance) for a Jet cylinder when I've seen the whole gun go at auction (if you wait long enough) with no reserve, priced to sell at $750 (not the 8 3/8) .

A four inch 53 in L.R. would be much like a M18 but with a shrouded ejector (and the infamous longer cylinder) and would buy it over the M18 if a four inch .22 L.R. was what I was after. As far as looks of the gun,, a 53 looks way more like a magnum with its ramp sight and shrouded ejector than even the M48 .22 mag as the 48 has the look of a "Masterpiece".

The bottom line answer it's "worth", the long rifle cylinder is so rare that,,,, a buyer that has a 53 (and loves it) and has just a Jet cylinder gun may well jump on this gun for a pair to obtain the missing .22 cylinder ingredient (in some cases the "needed to be fitted" will reveal it's self later although have switched barrels and cylinder that matched up perfect straight across)

And as I've been saying would be nice if S&W offered the .22 L.R.cylinder and for sure new replacement barrels. I'm sure the obligation or "warranty factor" (or lack of it) has already been discussed here.

Last edited by Jersey Doug; 12-24-2016 at 05:22 PM.
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Old 01-13-2017, 04:08 PM
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Thank you guys for all your reply
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Old 01-13-2017, 06:43 PM
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Did you get the jet??

Inquiring minds and all that...
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