The rifle with no respect. The Remington 81 (and model 8)

NE450No2 · Oct 30, 2010

That engraved gun is awsome...
Frank Hamer had 20 round mags for his gun.

A buddy of mine had one in 35 Rem. It was a hoot to shoot.
Look at the safety and then look at the safety of an AK 47...

Those Remingtons are classy guns. You just feel good when you take one of them hunting...

Ken NC · Nov 17, 2010

Great looking guns! I just got a 1946 Remington 141 pump in 35 Rem. Seems to be a "companion" to the model 81--both went out of production in 1950. Interesting that the 8/81 was a Browning design and the 14/141 was a Pedersen design. Am still cleaning mine up and looking forward to shooting. it.

NKJ nut · Nov 17, 2010

I only have one. A model 8 in .30 Rem. It is very pleasant to shoot and accurate.

Old 44 Guy · Nov 18, 2010

Never had a Model 8 or 81 but hunted in idaho back inthe '50's with Earl Harris, he shot a 81 .300 Savage caliber. He was deadly on deer & elk in the timber. Saw him once put 3 deer in a pile not much bigger than my living room with 3 shots. We skidded 'em down the mountain to the horses without much trouble in the snow. Earl was a big man, 6ft. 4 & 218 lbs. Strong as an ox. He put half of my elk on his horse without any help. I couldn't even pick up a hind leg. Yeah, the 81 Remington was a fine rifle.

Centenniel · Nov 18, 2010

I have a Model 81 in 300 Savage that I bought about 5 years ago. Mine was made in 1948. I think the 8/81 rifles are interesting and make good hunting rifles.

Duffy · Nov 20, 2010

FBI issue

When the P.D. I retired from sold all their 81s in 30R caliber around 1973 to Interarms I picked out a FBI issue(1942),tagged it and picked it up at Interarms. No rear sight on the barrel and had a receiver sight installed. The lettering had to be changed on the receiver so it was not covered by the sight....Also for some reason they used a lighter load in .30R....

Joe Kent · Nov 21, 2010

I have several 8's and 81's and have found them to be an interesting rifle to collect. If I can figure out how to move pictures from one post to another I'll post a picture of a couple of my Police Rifles.

reerc · Nov 21, 2010

Very "solid" looking guns, would be welcome in anyone's gun safe/rack or wish list (like mine

)

sheriffoconee · Nov 23, 2010

I need to get some pics of my Model 8 in .32 Fun to shoot, it is a family hand me down....
Finding ammo ain't easy, but I have a little hoard of it I keep for special occasions..
It's a fine rifle

DavidFagan · Jul 10, 2011

s&wchad said:
This Model 8 was a recent find (one of my best). It’s a factory grade 6 (F) from around 1912 in .25 Remington and it came with seven boxes of factory ammo (that I won‘t be shooting up anytime soon). I don't think the engraver ever saw a real buck in his life. Anyone have a spare Lyman #6 leaf sight?

Actually isn't that serial in the 22K, that's 1911 I believe.

s&wchad · Jul 11, 2011

DavidFagan said:
Actually isn't that serial in the 22K, that's 1911 I believe.

David,
Welcome to the forum.

Remington records are not available and 1912 is just a guess. The barrel jacket is marked "THE REMINGTON ARMS UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE COMPANY INC.", which didn't start until 1912 (according to Henwood). I know from lettering Winchesters that high grade guns often shipped latter than the serial number would indicate.

Joe Kent · Jul 11, 2011

The 8's and 81's are neat guns to collect. As was said earlier some of our more senior forum members who were LE carried and used them in the "popular and new" term as patrol rifles. It's interesting to hear the new younger police talk about the advantages of rifles/carbines in the cars as if it is something brand spankin' new. When I spent my youth in the squad car, 8's and Winchester 351's were common. Soon to be replaced by the more modern M1 and M2 Carbines{late 60's}. None the less those old Remingtons and Winchesters are a lot of fun to collect and even more fun to shoot on special occassions when you are shooting with people that appreciate them.

Diamondtreo · Jul 11, 2011

s&wchad said:
This Model 8 was a recent find (one of my best). It’s a factory grade 6 (F) from around 1912 in .25 Remington and it came with seven boxes of factory ammo (that I won‘t be shooting up anytime soon). I don't think the engraver ever saw a real buck in his life. Anyone have a spare Lyman #6 leaf sight?

s&wchad, In my humble opinion (FWIW) that engraving style looks to be European, possibly Eastern Bloc. I was taught by a master engraver from Austria who insisted on linear scribing to the background versus stippling favored by many "Western" engravers. This engraving was done by hand, using a chasing hammer and chisel as evidenced by the uneven cuts in the base metal. The deer in Europe are smaller and sometimes fatter than those we see here in the US, & I believe that is why this engraving looks so different. Also, to me the stock exhibits a European flair in the shape and checkering pattern.

All in all, it is a beautiful piece that I would be proud to have in my safe. Lucky you! John

2152hq · Jul 11, 2011

Beautiful graded Model 8 there S&WChad..

Looks like a standard factory layout & cutting to me. The checkering pattern as well.
Remington did some beautiful work on their pump & auto shotguns and rifles in the first half of the 20th century.

mod34 · Jul 11, 2011

Alpo said:
That's kinda depressing, actually. Did that nice engraving, and then the screw slots aren't lined up.

Is it just me, or does it look like that bear is about to have his way with that buck, to other people too?

That's all you have to say!? The guy shows us some nice pictures of a REALLY nice rifle, and these are your only observations!?

s&wchad · Jul 12, 2011

2152hq said:
Beautiful graded Model 8 there S&WChad..
Looks like a standard factory layout & cutting to me. The checkering pattern as well.
Remington did some beautiful work on their pump & auto shotguns and rifles in the first half of the 20th century.

Thank you. I’m sure it is factory work, the top and bottom tang are marked "6" (grade) and the gun is virtually identical to #22130 which is shown in Henwood's book (only 13 off mine).

The comments Diamondtreo made about the styling are true, most of the early gunmakers and engravers immigrated from Europe. I still maintain the engraver never saw a buck, antler tines generally don't come off the bottom of the main beam.

Alpo said:
That's kinda depressing, actually. Did that nice engraving, and then the screw slots aren't lined up.
Is it just me, or does it look like that bear is about to have his way with that buck, to other people too?

I’ve looked at quite a few photos of engraved Model 8’s and none of them have timed receiver screws. I can’t believe they did it like that either.
As to the deer/bear encounter… well, it’s not very lifelike!

35Rem · Jul 12, 2011

No doubt that Chad's is an original Remington Grade 6.

For the new guys, check out The Remington Society and The Great Model 8 and 81 forum. There have been several updates since the original post.
The Great Model 8 & 81

olskool · Dec 21, 2012

i know this is very late to post but i wanted to show off my model 8 in 32 rem. this is a small buck i shot this year. i read in a old loading book that this was a sorry round. i have killed 3 deer with it and all fell stone dead with one shot, yea what a sorry round. i love my 8 and 81s

35Rem · Dec 21, 2012

Not sure that the 32 is a sorry round. It's the ballistic twin to the 32 Special that Winchester made, which is a necked up 30-30. Good rounds, all.

But it's no 35 Remington...

olskool · Dec 21, 2012

you are correct mr. 35rem i also shoot a 32 special. but i assure you the deer can't tell the differents from 35 to 32 when hit in the right spot.

The rifle with no respect. The Remington 81 (and model 8)

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