Remington Model 51

[lihpster]

A friend of a friend let me shoot his .32 once. I tried to buy it from him, but he wouldn't sell. That was 20 years ago and he still won't let go of it!

 

[DWalt]

I bought the modern R51 just to have an example of the Pederson action. It has quite a harsh recoil impulse that goes straight back into your wrist bones with minimal muzzle flip. Suggests to me that Pederson's design is at the hairy limit with 9mm.

I had a friend who had an R51. Early production had many problems which were never entirely fixed. It was designed much like the original 51 but was somewhat more difficult to disassemble and re-assemble. Has been off the market for quite awhile, probably has some collectible value today as not too many were made and sold.

 

[bigmoose]

The original model 51 is a joy to hold AND behold. I’ve been into them since is was 20 years old. Now 60. A very clever and brilliant design. The entire gun can be disassembled without tools. Just the firing pin is needed to pop out the pins. No screws in this gun. Forget the sights. This is a belly gun and was always meant to be. Have you ever seen Bogart fire a pistol at Robinson using sights. Cmon now… draw and pow pow pow! Don’t pass one up, they are out there in high condition as most were nightstand guns. Just my opinion. I have one in .380 and one in .32. One is unfired… the other 98%.

 

[bigmoose]

Here are some pics. I bought this pair for $550 30 years ago. I wouldn’t hesitate to spend $1000 each today.

 

[DWalt]

I once had all four variations.

 

[Ameshawki]

I had a friend who had an R51. Early production had many problems which were never entirely fixed. It was designed much like the original 51 but was somewhat more difficult to disassemble and re-assemble. Has been off the market for quite awhile, probably has some collectible value today as not too many were made and sold.

Still quite a few on Gunbroker. Don't think it's made collector status yet.

 

[Old Corp]

Picked this one up when it came in to be put on consignment at a LGS where I worked p/t. S/N puts it at c.1919.
Even though the sights are miniscule, it is a very accurate .380.
No, I don't carry it. Just enjoy the feel and design elements of it.

 

[LVSteve]

Still quite a few on Gunbroker. Don't think it's made collector status yet.

Only consider the Mk2 guns, preferably made in Huntsville AL. The Mk2 has the "R51" stamp right up close to the ejection port.

If you do buy one, take 1/8" off the mag follower legs. As standard the top round is tight in a fully loaded mag and barely moves if you press down. I suspect his coupled with a bad tolerance stack between the slide, the breechblock, and the mag catch is what gives rise to the malfunctions this gun suffers when you try to run +1.

 

[Waldo]

Many thanks to everyone that responded. I just bought it.