The Model 53 22 Magnum (Jet)

Retired W4

Retired W4

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I did not expect this to show up at my tables at the Expo Show this weekend but wonder of wonders. Inserts and extra 22 LR cylinder included. It actually looks better than my photography shows. The special order, extra cylinder has obviously seen more use than the Jet cylinder, with a few minor scratches around the front side plate screw from swapping the cylinders out. Oh well. Also, some careless cluck messed up the ejector rod ends by tightening it without a padded vise. That is an easy fix. Stranger yet, one of the major ammo dealers had a brand new box of ammunition. It was the only one in the hall.

The one thing about this gun that has me wondering is what appears to be a factory lanyard loop (Butt Swivel in S&W terms) hole with the prefix and SN offset to the side. Once again the pic does not show it clearly but it does look original to the revolver. A letter is in order just to clarify that point.

Can't wait to shoot this bad boy.
 

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The photo clearly shows the warning about the presence of children...Whether or not there are any in your home, better to be on the safe side by sending them to me...No kids here, and I promise I won't revert to any of my childish ways and shoot them in my first year of production Model 53...Don't worry you can trust me this time...:rolleyes:...Ben
 
What a great find. I had a 4" and regret selling it a long time back. It was very accurate and still is the noisiest gun I ever fired to this day.
Shoot it in good health.
 
ruger 22 said:
What a great find. I had a 4" and regret selling it a long time back. It was very accurate and still is the noisiest gun I ever fired to this day.
Shoot it in good health.
Click to expand...

I've never been around a 22 Jet at a range, but I'd have to bet that one of the 327 Federal Magnum 100g defensive loads would give it a run if not beat it in the noisy department. Even with plugs and muffs it's loud.
 
The tapered .22 Jet swabs are pretty scarce. I suspect it is because most were used up by owners to swab out the chambers with Naptha or something similar to degrease them to prevent the cases from backing out. I have made a couple of functional equivalents just by carefully trimming regular .38 swabs with a very sharp pair of scissors.

When I bought my first year production Model 53 several years ago the seller threw in a box of ammo which I was quite grateful for. Here is what a box used to sell for about 50 or so years ago.
 

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Last edited:
Walter Rego said:
The tapered .22 Jet swabs are pretty scarce. I suspect it is because most were used up by owners to swab out the chambers with Naptha or something similar to degrease them to prevent the cases from backing out. I have made a couple of functional equivalents just by carefully trimming regular .38 swabs with a very sharp pair of scissors.

When I bought my first year production Model 53 several years ago the seller threw in a box of ammo which I was quite grateful for. Here is what a box used to sell for about 50 or so years ago.
Click to expand...

Today you are looking at 10 times that $6.50. Mine did not have the mop. Thanks for the tip.

Turns out mine is an early one. March '62.
 
Last edited:
K462779

I have posted this in the wrong section as it is a 4 screw gun, even though it shipped in March '62. Also Roy tells me it did ship with a butt swivel, which brings me to this. It must have shipped with magnas and I'm on the hunt for the magnas numbered to this gun. What a long shot that is. Letter request is out to help with my search. K462779.
 
I have one with a 2x scope on it that I bought a little over 10 years ago for $530. I seem to have accumulated over 800 rounds of ammo, a couple of the original Remington, some off brands and ten boxes of PPU. Every time I saw it at gun shows, I would pick up a box or two. I doubt I would ever shoot it all.

I have shot mine at 100 yards with pretty good success.
 
I have a friend that shoots the .22 Rem Jet all the time. He reloads for it. Also his is a rifle. Another friend gave him an H&R that had been rechambered to .22 Rem Jet. It was enough fun that he had another barrel rechambered to .22 Rem Jet, that one was for a TC Encore IIRC.
 
Many years ago I helped a friend by working Saturdays at his gun shop. He told me I could buy any gun that came in.
Well, here comes a guy with a 6" M53. I got it for $125.
Sent the gun to the factory and had a 4" and 8" bbl. fitted to it. Also had the thing nickeled along with a 22 cyl. Target hammer and trigger also installed. A thing of beauty, I traded it for a Springfield M2 22 cal. rifle. DUH !!! Both gone now, but I do have 2 blued ones in their boxes. Factory won't touch them. Big Larry
 
Retired W4 said:
I did not expect this to show up at my tables at the Expo Show this weekend but wonder of wonders. Inserts and extra 22 LR cylinder included. It actually looks better than my photography shows. The special order, extra cylinder has obviously seen more use than the Jet cylinder, with a few minor scratches around the front side plate screw from swapping the cylinders out. Oh well. Also, some careless cluck messed up the ejector rod ends by tightening it without a padded vise. That is an easy fix. Stranger yet, one of the major ammo dealers had a brand new box of ammunition. It was the only one in the hall.

The one thing about this gun that has me wondering is what appears to be a factory lanyard loop (Butt Swivel in S&W terms) hole with the prefix and SN offset to the side. Once again the pic does not show it clearly but it does look original to the revolver. A letter is in order just to clarify that point.

Can't wait to shoot this bad boy.
Click to expand...

You sound eager and excited. That's good

What a great find. Congratulations.
 
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