Rare Nickel Model 53

[29-1]

K446353 shipped 10/17/1961 to H.H. Harris Co, Chicago, IL. This particular Jet was a special order in nickel with smooth Goncalo Alves target stocks by H.H. Harris and this one along with K446318 were to only 2 factory original Nickel Model 53s known to have been manufactured. All other nickel Jets that have surfaced were either returned to S&W for a refinish as indicated by the R-N and date stamp on their butt frames or were done after-market and will not letter as original. This one is the only one of the two that originally shipped to Harris that has been discovered so the other hopefully is still out there somewhere waiting to be found. I have owned this particular revolver for a few years now and while I concentrate on the 29-1 for collecting purposes, this one was too good to turn away from.
Regards
Chuck

Proper end label marking indicating a Nickel revolver

Pinned front sight blade as on larger N frames of that era.

All the bells and whistles that came with Jets to include the "red warning" card and tool sack with the tapered bore swab

Closeup of the warning tag

Original dealer advertisement sheet which also appeared in the June 1961 AR as a magazine advertisement

Info card showing a cut-away view of the Jet cylinder.

 

[29-1]

K446353 shipped 10/17/1961 to H.H. Harris Co, Chicago, IL. This particular Jet was a special order in nickel with smooth Goncalo Alves target stocks by H.H. Harris and this one along with K446318 were to only 2 factory original Nickel Model 53s known to have been manufactured. All other nickel Jets that have surfaced were either returned to S&W for a refinish as indicated by the R-N and date stamp on their butt frames or were done after-market and will not letter as original. This one is the only one of the two that originally shipped to Harris that has been discovered so the other hopefully is still out there somewhere waiting to be found. I have owned this particular revolver for a few years now and while I concentrate on the 29-1 for collecting purposes, this one was too good to turn away from.
Regards
Chuck

Proper end label marking indicating a Nickel revolver

Pinned front sight blade as on larger N frames of that era.

All the bells and whistles that came with Jets to include the "red warning" card and tool sack with the tapered bore swab

Closeup of the warning tag

Original dealer advertisement sheet which also appeared in the June 1961 AR as a magazine advertisement

Info card showing a cut-away view of the Jet cylinder.

 

[Culina]

Very nice, its also good to see that Doc44 has some competition.

 

[29-1]

Originally posted by Kurac:
Very nice, its also good to see that Doc44 has some competition.

Kurac, no one can compete with Bill, nor will I try, guns or photography

I did get a better camera though on his suggestion, a Nikon D100, but as you can tell, I've got a long way to go in maximising its capabilities. It is a lot smarter than me at this point.

 

[G-Mac]

Swabbing with "ligher fluid or gasoline".

I guess OSHA wasn't a huge concern back then!

Beautiful package, Chuck.

 

[Pistol Toter]

Beautiful Gun! Beautiful Presentation! I hope you don't mind; I copied the pictures and the captions and built a MicroSoft Publisher two page file. I thought about doing a PowerPoint, but stopped short. I am out of picture paper, but when I get some well print it out and include it my SCSW. Again, very tastefully done.

 

[Art Doc]

Give ya 50 bucks for it right now.

 

[M28]

~Chuck

Thanks for posting the pics....I know you've posted pics of that gun before....but I NEVER EVER get tired of looking at them.

Brian~

 

[bnewc75]

Thank you for sharing... I found some Historical Notes about the 22 jet cartridge on line:

The 22 Remington Jet, also known as the 22 Centerfire Magnum, was introduced jointly by Remington and Smith & Wesson. The former developed the cartridge, the latter the revolver. The first news of this cartridge leaked out in 1959, but production revolvers and ammunition were not available until 1961. The S&W Model 53 revolver is the only revolver even to chamber this cartridge, and it was discontinued in 1971. The .22 Jet grew out of popular wildcat handgun cartridges such as the .22 Kay-Chuk and others based on the .22 Hornet case. However, the 22 Jet is actually based on a necked down 357 Magnum case. Marlin once offered the Model 62 lever action rifle for the .22 Jet and the H&R Topper and Thompson/Center Contender also offered it for a time.

General Comments

The .22 Jet is strictly a hunting number intended to provide high velocity and flat trajectory in the field. The M53 revolver will also fire regular .22 long rifle ammunition by use of a supplemental steel cartridge chamber inserts and an adjustable firing pin. This cartridge has ample performance for small game at ranges out to 100 yards, for those who can shoot a revolver that well.

When first announced, most gun writers praised the fantastic performance. A muzzle velocity of 2460 fps was supposed to be developed in an 8-1/2 inch barrel. Chronographed tests by various individuals indicated an actual velocity of only 2000 fps in this length barrel. Quite a come down, but it is still a good cartridge. The S&W Model 53 in .22 Jet was discontinued due to problems with the cylinder locking up when firing full powered loads. The 22 Jet is no longer manufactured by Remington or other commercial manufacturers.

 

[animalmother]

Wow! Very nice indeed, sir.

 

[feralmerril]

Nice. Thanks for posting the number and date as it helped me date mine. Mine is about 300 up from yours. I since this picture put the original grips back on mine. Wish I could get the .22 LR clyinder for mine.

 

[29-1]

Originally posted by bnewc75:
Thank you for sharing... I found some Historical Notes about the 22 jet cartridge on line:

The 22 Remington Jet, also known as the 22 Centerfire Magnum, was introduced jointly by Remington and Smith & Wesson. The former developed the cartridge, the latter the revolver. The first news of this cartridge leaked out in 1959, but production revolvers and ammunition were not available until 1961. The S&W Model 53 revolver is the only revolver even to chamber this cartridge, and it was discontinued in 1971. The .22 Jet grew out of popular wildcat handgun cartridges such as the .22 Kay-Chuk and others based on the .22 Hornet case. However, the 22 Jet is actually based on a necked down 357 Magnum case. Marlin once offered the Model 62 lever action rifle for the .22 Jet and the H&R Topper and Thompson/Center Contender also offered it for a time.

General Comments

The .22 Jet is strictly a hunting number intended to provide high velocity and flat trajectory in the field. The M53 revolver will also fire regular .22 long rifle ammunition by use of a supplemental steel cartridge chamber inserts and an adjustable firing pin. This cartridge has ample performance for small game at ranges out to 100 yards, for those who can shoot a revolver that well.

When first announced, most gun writers praised the fantastic performance. A muzzle velocity of 2460 fps was supposed to be developed in an 8-1/2 inch barrel. Chronographed tests by various individuals indicated an actual velocity of only 2000 fps in this length barrel. Quite a come down, but it is still a good cartridge. The S&W Model 53 in .22 Jet was discontinued due to problems with the cylinder locking up when firing full powered loads. The 22 Jet is no longer manufactured by Remington or other commercial manufacturers.

bnewc75, thanks for posting this information. The .22 Jet has always been an interesting caliber/load, and they really are a lot of fun to shoot, especially in the shorter 4" barrel length; what a light show!
Chuck

 

[Mule88]

Chuck , thats may be the nicest Jet Ive ever seen. Beautiful gun, thanx for sharing.

 

[bnewc75]

Chuck,
Thanks for the original post. I love to see the out of the ordinary firearms and doing a little investigating about them. I had heard of the .22 Jet but never knew what it was. It is amazing how much information we access to with the internet.

 

[NT430]

Chuck, Thanks again for the super photos of a truly rare & unique handgun....
Hummm... Nikon D100 ? - there goes my gun money!
(I did like your outside photos though

)

 

[Geronimo Jim]

Beautiful gun and photo's. Thanks!

 

[Allen-frame]

Incredible. Chuck ,being nickel, do you shoot it? Is it a 4 screw gun? Are the presentation stocks black washer?

Congratulations on owning a true one-of-a- kind.

Best ,,Al

 

[Jazman]

Wow, that's a beauty.

 

[29-1]

Originally posted by Allen-frame:
Incredible. Chuck ,being nickel, do you shoot it? Is it a 4 screw gun? Are the presentation stocks black washer?

Congratulations on owning a true one-of-a- kind.

Best ,,Al

Al, no, I don't shoot this one but I do have a Jet that is shooter grade that I drag to the range ever so often. Yes this is a 4 screw first year 1961 production revolver with the original era stocks with the black washer.
Chuck

 

[narc766]

WOW, what a beauty, thanks for sharing.