Smith & Wesson Jet

[Rick Bowles]

I've owned several Jets and enjoyed shooting them once I realized that when they say clean and dry they mean VREY clean and dry.

One day my buddy and I found an AC compressor back in the woods. We first shot it with a 6-1/2" model 29 with 240 gr. JSP. It made an impressive dent. We then shot it with a 6" model 57 with factory ammo. It dented and cracked the heavy steel. I then pulled out my 6" M-53. Fire shot out of the barrel about three feet and the sound is still with me today in the form of tennitus. There was a small hole in the compressor that went through and through.

In one of the collections I'm handling there are for or five boxes of Remington factory Jet ammo and an equal amount of once fired brass.

 

[Hondo44]

DWalt:

I have never seen a Jet auxiliary .22LR cylinder with the crane. Since the cylinder can just slip out of the gun's original crane (unlike a Colt double action revolver), why would there be a need for an extra crane?

My Jets with the auxiliary cylinder have a cutout in the original box for the cylinder, but no place for a crane.

Are you sure about the crane?

No - I was thinking it had a crane, but it may not have.

I too have seen auxiliary cylinders with yoke (crane = Colt term). It may have been a model 51 w/22 LR cyl. But my understanding is that S&W did not normally supply the yoke on regular production guns with extra cyl.

However, if the gun was sent back to the factory for an auxiliary cyl, as many were, and an extra yoke was requested, it would be supplied.

 

[Hondo44]

Sure would like to find a auxiliary cylinder for mine but I wont pay a fortune. I haven't shot this one in ages. I have the dyes and some ammo stashed, have the inserts. Reading about it has got me interested again.

I wonder if you sent it to Smith, would they supply one?

 

[Walter Rego]

For comparison sake, there were two Model 53 Jets at a large gun show here in CA last weekend. A late 1960's 6" Model 53-2, with box and inserts but no tapered swab, seller was asking $1050 and an earlier 8 3/8" 4 screw Model 53 also with box (although tattered) and inserts that the same seller was asking $1350 for. I thought he could get more but he told me that he had them a long time and brought them to the show to sell, not show.

 

[Hondo44]

A Jet auxiliary .22LR cylinder would not be heat-treated to Magnum specifications so I would not want to risk a blowup by re-chambering one to Super Jet dimensions. Re-chambering the original Jet cylinder would seem to be the only safe way to go.

Really though, isn't that overkill for solving the overblown setback problem? Wouldn't it be easier to just swab the chambers with naphtha now and then and make sure there is no case lube left on the cartridge cases?

Good point on the 22 mag cyl!

I don't have a Jet so haven't experienced the setback issue. My motivation is more the novelty of the Super Jet and the increased performance since I'll be making my own ammo anyway.

 

[Hondo44]

While having a Model 19 look alike in .22lr is a grail gun isnt the Jet barrel actually tapered with a narrow rib more like the Model 27 than the wide rib non tapered Model 19 barrel ?

The earlier Jets may have had the tapered barrel, but I think they were all made in the heavy barrel era. The 4" barrel I have is the heavy untapered barrel w/wide rib matching the 19.

 

[DWalt]

I ran across a complete Jet set at the gun show this morning, in the box. It had 6 aux .22 LR chambers, a .22 LR cylinder (no crane) and the Model 53. The dealer had it priced at $1900. Not anything I am interested in so I did not attempt any negotiation. To me that price seems excessive, but as I know nothing about these, maybe it was OK. So now, I have seen three this year.

 

[JudgeColt]

I too have seen auxiliary cylinders with yoke (crane = Colt term). It may have been a model 51 w/22 LR cyl. But my understanding is that S&W did not normally supply the yoke on regular production guns with extra cyl. way.

However, if the gun was sent back to the factory for an auxiliary cyl, as many were, and an extra yoke was requested, it would be supplied.

With apologies for more thread drift, I cannot understand the need for a crane (yoke in Smith talk!) since the cylinder assembly just slides out of the crane. What would be the point of the extra expense, especially since the contour and finish of the crane/yoke likely would not match the parent gun?

 

[jsfricks]

I recently came across a 6" 53 in the box with an extra cylinder but that cylinder was 22 WMR. Did these come from the factory like this or possibly sent back and requested a 22 WMR?

 

[JudgeColt]

In my opinion, someone rechambered the .22LR auxiliary cylinder to .22WMR. Since the Model 53 uses .222-inch bullets, and the .22WMR uses .224-inch bullets, that seems like a bad combination to me, and I cannot see Smith & Wesson doing such a thing. It is also silly economically, since a Model 53 .22LR cylinder is probably worth about the same as a shooter-grade Model 48.

 

[perrazi]

I have used sierra .223 diameter bullets for many years now and they shoot fine. I use the 40gr. but they make a 45gr. also.

 

[DWalt]

That slight diameter difference would not hurt anything.

 

[bigl1911]

Since I seem to be the one here in the buying mode I'll throw in two cents (or maybe lack of sense who knows). First, I own a Jet 8" very early I think first year if memory serves me. It sits in occupied Cali territory gun jail (very funny Walter) so I haven't had a chance to shoot it as of yet. This was an impulse buy before I fully understood what it is. Thanks again to the Forum members I am learning. First, yes Jet owners are cult (not colt) like. They understand the limitations of the revolver and work around them for the pleasure of shooting from what I understand is a great experience with this fine unusual revolver. To the question: Is it a safe queen or a shooter? If it is a safe queen you better have a original box with number to gun not a fake, the inserts and a cylinder is preferred.. A like new in box complete I would pay $1500 plus minus depending on my need and of course the gun. From what I understand there is a nickel version or some that were sent to factory for refinishing in nickel. This is a whole different deal so we are not talking about those.. I don't know enough about them to even make a comment. If it is lightly fired and not a perfect time capsule I think Jim is correct 1000 to 1200 for a near perfect gun complete is about right… There is one on GB right now.. If this is the one you are looking at get better pictures, good luck and keep us posted... and NO!!! don't pay two grand for it!!

 

[bigl1911]

BTW - In my opinion if someone is a SW collector and has no Jet they have a hole in the toy box...

 

[Mike McLellan]

As a K frame collector, I'd love to have a Jet. The tales I've heard about their bark and lightshow are the stuff of legends. I haven't seen one for under a thousand dollars, but if there was even a remote chance that I could get some ammo for one up here in Fairbanks, I'd hand over the money in a minute. And bigl1911 is right. A pile of K frames isn't complete without a model 53.

 

[larryofcc]

Since I seem to be the one here in the buying mode I'll throw in two cents (or maybe lack of sense who knows). First, I own a Jet 8" very early I think first year if memory serves me. It sits in occupied Cali territory gun jail (very funny Walter) so I haven't had a chance to shoot it as of yet. This was an impulse buy before I fully understood what it is. Thanks again to the Forum members I am learning. First, yes Jet owners are cult (not colt) like. They understand the limitations of the revolver and work around them for the pleasure of shooting from what I understand is a great experience with this fine unusual revolver. To the question: Is it a safe queen or a shooter? If it is a safe queen you better have a original box with number to gun not a fake, the inserts and a cylinder is preferred.. A like new in box complete I would pay $1500 plus minus depending on my need and of course the gun. From what I understand there is a nickel version or some that were sent to factory for refinishing in nickel. This is a whole different deal so we are not talking about those.. I don't know enough about them to even make a comment. If it is lightly fired and not a perfect time capsule I think Jim is correct 1000 to 1200 for a near perfect gun complete is about right… There is one on GB right now.. If this is the one you are looking at get better pictures, good luck and keep us posted... and NO!!! don't pay two grand for it!!

Original box not a fake? I have never seen a fake M53 box. I know there are at least two versions, one pre Bangor Punta and the later Bangor Punta. I have both. Big Larry

 

[perrazi]

since this is a jet discussion with not may pics. here is a pic of some of mine along with some ammo posted on another thread.

 

[Gunhacker]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned that Hamilton Bowen is making his own K-Frame cylinders for conversions and chambering as a .22 LR aux cylinder for a M53. They can be also chambered in one of the other .22 wildcat cartridges.

A bit pricey... but it's an option: Cylinders : + Bowen Classic Arms +, Parts Store

 

[Engine49guy]

Beautiful collection !
Any chance you can post a picture showing their muzzles and barrel ribs especially the 4" guns ?

 

[kozmic]

Battle....There is one currently for sale at a LGS. It is a complete pkg. for $895.00.

PM me if you're interested. There are photos on their website but I'm not sure if posting that info violates forum rules.