Mod 51, DOB, Value?

[shotgun-2]

I have a Mod 51, ser. no.1123xx (no letter prefix)that I'd like to find out DOB and approx. value.

It is a 3 1/2" barrel, .22 MRF Ctg. with a square butt and diamond grips.

About 95-98% condition, no box or papers. Only blueing missing is small area near muzzle on one side of barrel.

I also have a like new cylinder, swing frame, and ejector, that measures the same as mag. cyl.,in 22lr from a Mod 34. Would that be hard to fit as an interchangeable cylinder or would that be too costly?

Help me make up my mind if I should convert for 22lr and use gun for a shooter of consider selling and buying a another 22lr.

Thanks for any info or thoughts about this gun.

 

[laytonj1]

Can't help you on the other questions but serial numbers ran from 108087 in 1965 to 135464 in 1969.
Since yours has the diamond grips it's likely 65/66.

Jim

 

[ischia]

I would keep the 51 FOR SURE! Not many around, so if you sell the chances of finding another are slim. I have the same and a mod 34 cyl.,22lr as well. I would like to do the same as you stated. I would guess sending the 51 and your 34 parts to S&W for a fitting is the way to go This set-up was offered by S&W, so it is possible I would guess. I had GREAT service from S&W on a mod 35 with an ejector rod replacement last year. Their repair shop keeps the few remaining N.O.S. parts for their use in repair of older models. I would appreciate members input on this project as well. Again,KEEP the 51!

Ischia

Ischia

 

[smith48]

Some M-51 info

I bought my M-51 22 years ago unfired in the box from Pachmayr in Pasadena, CA. I recently called S&W to ask them to fit the .22lr auxiliary cylinder to my frame; they said they haven't done that for ten years. Talk about kicking myself in the butt. That doesn't necessarily mean they won't do the work for you with your parts. Don't get clever and think of putting your MRF cylinder in the 34 frame (if it fits)… the 34's bore diameter is .222 while the 51's is .224. It is for this reason that many prefer a dedicated .22lr revolver over the convertibles. They feel the .222 diameter LR bullet just isn't going to be accurate in the .224 bores of the convertible revolvers. I have a M-53 .22 Jet that has the .222 bore that I did get the extra cylinder fitted to way back. It is very accurate with the .22lr round.
If you should find down the road that you just aren't going to do anything with that M-34 .22lr cylinder, I would love to give it a try with in my M-51… I'll never know how well it will work until I try it!
FYI: I took my 51 to a range shortly after I got it and from a rest it shot cylinders-full into 3/8" at 50ft with one or two rounds opening the group to 1/2" using Win/Western 40 grain HPs.
I bought a box of Federal's 50 grainers when they came out and was getting frustrated when I couldn't get the impact point adjusted down anywhere near to point of aim… until I realized it was because the heavier, slower bullet was leaving the muzzle a lot later during recoil. There was nothing wrong with the gun, sights or ammo! I haven't tried any of the newer hypervelocity 33 and 37 grain loads but suspect there could possibly be a similar problem in the reverse direction.
The J-frame Smiths can be slicked up very nicely with a good internal polish job and aftermarket, lighter springs.
I paid $425 for my 51 and the blue book value was $400 just before the Obama-driven price rise of all firearms. I haven't checked lately.

 

[H Richard]

If the .22 cylinder is sufficiently sized to fit the mod 51, I would think that Cylinder & Slide or other quality gunsmith could do it for you.

 

[feralmerril]

I bought this 51 new in the early 70s. First thing I did was order a 34 clyinder from smith and had jack first fit it up when he was in lancaster california. A few months later smith had it for awhile in their new catalog. I would like to fantise that I gave them the idea.