The great model 8

[00Buck2]

Recently had the opportunity to pick up a Remington model 8 in 35 Remington. I was at a local gun shop that I frequent 1 a week. I was amazed when I seen it and had to take it home.

Serial dates to 1915. It has a barrel date code of 1946 yet the 1915 serial is stamped in the butt stock, forearm, barrel and receiver. There is no “model 8” or model 81 “woodsmaster” stamped on the receiver.

After a couple weeks of investigation I believe it was sent back to the factory for some type of repair and then the code was stamped in the barrel. From what I understand in 1915 codes were not stamped on the barrel and this one has a “3” stamped near the code on the barrel. What I have researched is a “3” stamped near near the date code is indicative of a factory repair.


I’m all new to the Model 8 but trying to learn more about it. Does anyone have knowledge of a pre model 8 with a barrel code stamp? And is what I described consistent with what the factory would do if a pre model 8 was sent back for repair?

Thanks for any info!

 

[bruce381]

I have one too I think you have what i have is a remington auto laoder the pre model 8 after a few years was named model 8 them woodsman or something like that. Google around there is a model 8 Club or info on the net.

 

[65Whelen]

Those old Model 8 trip my trigger. Nice find. And in 35 Rem. is a bonus.

 

[alwslate]

A pre model 8 sent back in for repair? To who? Remington? These days Remington is a brand name for guns made elsewhere. There is no Remington factory to send your pre model 8 to.

 

[Valmet]

According to Remington Society’s website, it doesn’t appear that the bbl code dating began until the 1921. I own a 1914 mfg Model 8 that has literally been in my family since that time and the marking on mine is simply “RP”- it is a .35 Rem also. To my knowledge it was never sent back to Remington in its lifetime.

 

[00Buck2]

A pre model 8 sent back in for repair? To who? Remington? These days Remington is a brand name for guns made elsewhere. There is no Remington factory to send your pre model 8 to.

I believe it was sent back to Remington in 1946 for repair and at that time received the date code on the barrel.


This one also has “RP” stamped on the right side of the barrel
On the left side is the date code and “3”. The roll mark on top of the barrel is
“Remington Arms - Union Metallic Cartridge Co”

 

[swagmeister]

It was a Remington Model 8, also in .35 Remington caliber, used by Deputy Prentiss Oakley in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, on May 23, 1934, in the ambush of Bonnie and Clyde. Some accounts have him firing the first shot that hit Clyde in the head, killing him instantly.

 

[Hawg Rider]

Those early autoloaders are really cool. I don't have a Remington Model 8 in .35 Remington, but I do have a Winchester 1905 in .35 Winchester Self Loading (.35 WSL). Mine is an early take-down version in VG condition, manufactured in 1905. I understand that the .35 WSL wasn't a very potent round and that's why it was basically replaced by the Model 1907 in .351 Winchester Self Loading (.351 WSL). The .351 WSL was equivalent to the .35 Remington. I wish that the .35 WSL was as popular and available as the .35 Remington, but alas it is a rare bird. Buffalo Arms sells some for $4/rd and I don't reload so my 1905 will largely remain a conversation piece.

 

[alwslate]

I believe it was sent back to Remington in 1946 for repair and at that time received the date code on the barrel.


This one also has “RP” stamped on the right side of the barrel
On the left side is the date code and “3”. The roll mark on top of the barrel is
“Remington Arms - Union Metallic Cartridge Co”

My mistake. I thought you were thinking about sending it to Remington for repair now.

 

[Drm50]

My 1st deer rifle when I was a kid was a model 8 in 35 REM. They were cheap back then. Used gun racks were full of 8,81,14 and 141s. They were traded in on the new REM & Win repeaters.
I shot my 1st rifle deer with this gun and couldn’t wait to save up enough to buy a 742 in 3006. That was the most popular deer gun at the time. Got rid of the 8 and got the 742. One of first blunders
I made. The #8 was 4 times the rifle that a 742 was.
The 35 is a deer whacker, seems like it hits like a brick with the 200gr RN bullets. My favorite killing rifle is a Rem 141 in 35cal.
We hunt heavy cover and 99% of shot are under 100yds and on the wing. The 35 folds them up.

 

[2152hq]

The Bbl date/Repair code PRR3 is for June 1946.
You are correct it is a standard marking from the Remington Service/Repair Dept.
It shows that it was Recv'd at the Remington Service Dept , that date.
There is no way to tell what was done to the rifle. Could be anything from a simple pin or screw replacement to a major repair.

There are other codes as well but not often seen.

In place of the 3, sometimes a '4'..(The 4 stamped as a Prefix instead of the usual suffix)
That will denote that the gun was recv'd on the coded date stamped however it was returned to it's owner with No Work Done.
Usually safety issues,,fire damaged guns, but lack of parts could also be a reason.

A '2' means that the bbl is a Parts Order in itself. The bbl is not the orig bbl that the gun orig left the factory with.

A '5' IIRC is an Employee Purchased firearm.

and I think a '6' notes a sale to Canadian purchaser.

Not totally sure about the 5 and 6..

The R.E.P. mark is just their Final Inspection & Proof mark

Some guns will have multiple Repair date codes on the bbl for their many trips back to the factory for repairs.
Rem started using the codes in 20 or '21.

Love those Model 8's
Still have a couple of them

 

[00Buck2]

2152hq: Thanks for the information!!!

I have grown very fond of this one in the short time I’ve owned it. It should feel right at home with my Browning A-5s.

Now I just need to find a reproduction UMC metal sign with the guy confronting the bear with a Remington 8.

That sign and then Frank Hamer was the first thing I thought of when I seen it in the gun shop.

 

[DWalt]

There is a Model 8/81 forum. You might ask there.The Great Model 8 & 81
I have two 8s and two 81s, but have no knowledge about the various numeric stampings. Frank Hamer did not use a Model 8 at the B&C ambush. Best evidence says he used a Remington Model 11 12 gauge.

 

[6string]

I don’t have a model 8 or 81, sadly.
But, I do have a reprint that Remington made of their 1909 calendar that shows the famous “Right of Way” painting featuring a model 8!
This was a limited edition they printed in 1999, when the day/dates for the two years coincided.

 

[00Buck2]

I don’t have a model 8 or 81, sadly.
But, I do have a reprint that Remington made of their 1909 calendar that shows the famous “Right of Way” painting featuring a model 8!
This was a limited edition they printed in 1999, when the day/dates for the two years coincided.

That’s is the tin I was thinking about. The calendar attached is icing on the cake to me!!

 

[00Buck2]

There is a Model 8/81 forum. You might ask there.The Great Model 8 & 81
I have two 8s and two 81s, but have no knowledge about the various numeric stampings. Frank Hamer did not use a Model 8 at the B&C ambush. Best evidence says he used a Remington Model 11 12 gauge.

I joined the forum over there, thanks to you guys telling me about it. I always heard the motto “the great model 8” but never knew there was a forum all about it. Here is the response I got from a gracious established member of that forum.

YUP YUP, You've a repair code. I've several. You'de be surprised the number of 1950 date codes I've seen on a variety of our Ladies. Think i have one on a straight stock GrD; you can check some of my earliest posts for the Pics. It developed that the barrel sleeve is a M81, with a M8 forearm mount screw, with Factory engraving on the barrel consistent with the early models. Also a box that was used to ship rifles new & repaired.
Seems many rifles were repaired in the last years they were sold.

 

[Rubone]

Not an 8, but my model 81 from 1937 in .35Rem is a joy to shoot. And pretty accurate too! It originally belonged to a neighbors father and spent it's life in a cabin in Northern Michigan, his deer gun. When he passed no one in her family was interested in it! So now it lives with me..

 

[DWalt]

My favorite caliber is the .300 Savage in one of my 81s. Mainly because it is so simple to form .300 Savage cases from .308 brass. I have formed .25, .30, and .32 Rem cases from .30-30 brass, but that is best done using a lathe to remove the .30-30 case rim and recut the extraction groove. Not a difficult job, but a little time consuming. .30-30 dies can be used to reload .30 Rem. I have nothing chambered in .35 Rem, and don’t really want anything.

 

[Valmet]

.35 Rem is an absolute jack-hammer 200 and in. At our deer camp we have a lot of timber and my .35 Rem Model 8 is what I usually grab.

 

[2152hq]

I have a Mod 8 in 30Rem in very nice condition yet. A Mod 8 in 35 in not so nice condition!.
I sold off the Mod8 in 32Rem and a Mod 81 in 35 a couple yrs ago along with a Mod 14 'C Grade' in 35Rem.

Still have a Win Mod 1910 in 401SL. Fun shooter.
Like to come upon an FN 1900 (FN's Model 8 that they sold in their part of the globe). Few around.
The last one I saw was horribly butchered, stock cut short and w/a pad, the solid rib removed and scope mt screw holes D&T's all over the gun plus other problems... and the price was still twice what a nice one in good condition would get.