In retrospect: the .22 Jet Model 53
- Thread starter PALADIN85020
- Start date
Model 53 with "Super Jet" cylinder
I acquired this gun in the mid 1970's, and as acquired, had a 6" bbl, an extra .22lr cylinder and a .22 Super jet cylinder. I returned it to the S&W factory where a 8 3/8" and 4" bbls were fitted and numbered to the gun, and Tommy Freyburger performed a wonderful beyond Class A engraving job on all pieces. It stayed in my collection until 2010, when it was sold. Pictures of the .22Jet and .22 Super Jet cartridges are shown for comparison. RCBS made customs dies for reloading. Super Jet cartridges were fire formed by shooting .22 Jet cartridges in the Super Jet cylinder. There was a 50% success rate. The Super jet did not have a release problem.
I acquired this gun in the mid 1970's, and as acquired, had a 6" bbl, an extra .22lr cylinder and a .22 Super jet cylinder. I returned it to the S&W factory where a 8 3/8" and 4" bbls were fitted and numbered to the gun, and Tommy Freyburger performed a wonderful beyond Class A engraving job on all pieces. It stayed in my collection until 2010, when it was sold. Pictures of the .22Jet and .22 Super Jet cartridges are shown for comparison. RCBS made customs dies for reloading. Super Jet cartridges were fire formed by shooting .22 Jet cartridges in the Super Jet cylinder. There was a 50% success rate. The Super jet did not have a release problem.
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SuperMan
Member
...all I can say is WOW!
I acquired this gun in the mid 1970's, and as acquired, had a 6" bbl, an extra .22lr cylinder and a .22 Super jet cylinder. I returned it to the S&W factory where a 8 3/8" and 4" bbls were fitted and numbered to the gun, and Tommy Freyburger performed a wonderful beyond Class A engraving job on all pieces...
Beautiful!!!
nbedford
Member
I recognized the Churchill phrasing instantly, and thought, huh?, I wonder if he intentionally borrowed that, or knew of it. Delightful!Bill, this one's slated for Dillon's Blue Press.
That sentence is grammatically correct - my inspiration for it is Winston Churchill's remark on the grammatical rule of never ending a sentence with a preposition. "That is something up with which I would not put."
It was tongue in cheek, but purposeful.
John
larryofcc
Member
Do you have #K 444444? Shipped 6-30-1961. It is still NIB.
I also have a very late # 4K 83491 shipped 11-1974. It is also NIB. I am a collector basically, and have shooters and collectibles.
Big Larry
Yes, I have both in the database! Thank you!
jcelect
My Model 53 .22 Jet
Thank you for all of this info. My dad passed reciently, and he had two of these. A 6" and an 8 3/8" with scope.
We were able to locate 11 of the inserts but only one of the 22LR cylinders. Both appear to be 61's. I got the 8 3/8" my brother got the 6" He kept the 22LR cylinder I kept all of the inserts. There was about 250 rounds of ammo which we split. While not used a lot they did get carried for the occational varmint shot while deer hunting. I would guess a couple hundred rounds each. Growing up I knew they were uncommon, but never thought them rare or collectable. We had two after all.
Thanks again for all of the information here, this has been great.
I am curious if the scope was a factory option.
Thank you for all of this info. My dad passed reciently, and he had two of these. A 6" and an 8 3/8" with scope.
We were able to locate 11 of the inserts but only one of the 22LR cylinders. Both appear to be 61's. I got the 8 3/8" my brother got the 6" He kept the 22LR cylinder I kept all of the inserts. There was about 250 rounds of ammo which we split. While not used a lot they did get carried for the occational varmint shot while deer hunting. I would guess a couple hundred rounds each. Growing up I knew they were uncommon, but never thought them rare or collectable. We had two after all.
Thanks again for all of the information here, this has been great.
I am curious if the scope was a factory option.
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Very glad this thread showed up! I’ve been interested in the 53’s for many years. I’m lucky to have examples in all 3 barrel lengths. Thanks!
Very nice, great that you and your brother have them. No, I'm quite sure the factory never offered a scoped option, at least not in 1961. That looks like a Bushnell Phantom or perhaps another Bushnell model perhaps from the 1960s; someone here may know for sure.
If you use the research option at the top of the page you can find quite a bit of information on the Model 53 and some recent posts about the barrel erosion that is likely if many rounds of the original factory 22 Jet ammo are used. I load mine down a few hundred fps less than the originals which seems to work well. Enjoy.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
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Here is my Jet. 4 screw shipped May 1961, smooth rosewood, SN K441135. See some numbers on the toe, do y'all think my gun went back to the factory in 8/74?
Got it from my dad. He has been gone 30 years now. My guess is he got it in the 70's or 80's.
Box has the cut out for the .22 LR cylinder, so probably not the original box.
Have several boxes of the Remington factory ammo.
Excellent article, PALADIN85020.
Got it from my dad. He has been gone 30 years now. My guess is he got it in the 70's or 80's.
Box has the cut out for the .22 LR cylinder, so probably not the original box.
Have several boxes of the Remington factory ammo.
Excellent article, PALADIN85020.
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Rpg
Member
Great article!
I’m old enough to remember the introduction of the M53 and its iterations.
They never interested me enough to invest in one (I couldn’t imagine what they were for), but they were fascinating.
I’m old enough to remember the introduction of the M53 and its iterations.
They never interested me enough to invest in one (I couldn’t imagine what they were for), but they were fascinating.
A bit of extraneous information!
Winchester, not to be out done by Remington, brought out the .256 Win Mag about the same time as the Jet. This cartridge was also a necked down, to 25 cal, 357 Mag case. The cartridge was chambered in the Ruger Hawkeye single shot, the Marlin 62 Levermatic, and TC barrels! Also, there was ONE mod 53 chambered in the .256 Win Mag! What's the value of that mod 53?
jcelect
Winchester, not to be out done by Remington, brought out the .256 Win Mag about the same time as the Jet. This cartridge was also a necked down, to 25 cal, 357 Mag case. The cartridge was chambered in the Ruger Hawkeye single shot, the Marlin 62 Levermatic, and TC barrels! Also, there was ONE mod 53 chambered in the .256 Win Mag! What's the value of that mod 53?
jcelect
The 22 Magnum chambered in .256 Winchester Magnum is part of the S&W Collection at the museum in Springfield.
Bill
Bill
Walter Rego
Member
The scope appears to be an early Bushnell Phantom and Bushnell No. 912 mount. The scopes were offered in 1.3X and 2.6X magnification. The later Bushnell Magnum Phantoms are identified by a slotted rail that is formed to the underside of the scope tube and I assume some type of mounts were available to mate up with a Weaver type scope rail on whatever firearm you wanted to mount it on.
I believe the No. 912 mount didn't require drilling and tapping the top strap should you ever want to remove it and restore the gun to the original configuration.
I believe the No. 912 mount didn't require drilling and tapping the top strap should you ever want to remove it and restore the gun to the original configuration.
gfors
Member
Great article!
I've only seen one M53, in my life. Here it is. SN 447409, probably 1961. No box, dox, or extra cylinder. Mine came with 6 inserts, for .22LR, but I never use them. I've got a few boxes of PPU, bought locally, along with the gun, a couple of years ago. Love the flash and bang. I always double-up on the ear protection, with this one.
I've only seen one M53, in my life. Here it is. SN 447409, probably 1961. No box, dox, or extra cylinder. Mine came with 6 inserts, for .22LR, but I never use them. I've got a few boxes of PPU, bought locally, along with the gun, a couple of years ago. Love the flash and bang. I always double-up on the ear protection, with this one.
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Iadwm
Member
I have sn#4754xx 1962 4 screw 83/8 in my possession. FYI thanks
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