UPDATE see post 20 I bought it! Good buy on a S&W boat anchor

Probably will be a first year gun; I have K441478 which Roy confirmed as June 1961. Great price, gun looks terrific. Can pretty much guarantee you'll have fun with it. And I wouldn't worry too much about not having those inserts, I'm yet to put one in a gun. . . .or to use the 22LR cylinders either for that matter. Find some .223 Sierra Hornet bullets (.222 ones are really hard to find) and get to the range.

Jeff
SWCA #1457
 
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cmansguns said:
So....thanks to this Forum, chock full o' enablers:D I went back yesterday and looked this Model 53 over real good. Appear to be a first year gun (s/n K 445579), 6", 4 screw, black washer, checkered walnut diamond target grips (un-numbered), blued sights, P&R, ribbed barrel stamped 22 magnum, Model 53 (no dash) in yoke, no signs of any re-blue, no barrel erosion, squeaky clean chambers and bore.

Again...no box, docs, tools, inserts, or auxiliary cylinder...just the gun. Yesterday when I passed on it he wanted $900. Today I offered $600, we settled at $700. I did tell him that if he had the inserts I would have given him the $900. He replied "if I had the inserts..the price would be $1,800 firm." So..he did "know what he had" and was only trying to gather some interest by putting 22 WMR in his advertisement. But that is exactly what caught my attention.

Regarding my stating no way a 22WMR would go in that gun, series guy got it right in post 19 above. The back side of the cylinder shows charge holes big enough to take a 357 Magnum (diameter wise).:D

I've already posted a ship date request for Roy so hoping it is a first year issue(1961) but with diamond grips and 4 screw, it should be close.

Already scouring the net for 22 Rem Jet ammo (maybe I'll get lucky) and right after this post I'm going to post in the WTB classified sub-forum for inserts. Any of you that ever owned a gun you could not shoot for whatever reason may sympathize with this itchy "more shooter than collector" guy and sell me a set of inserts if you have any to spare.:o;):)

Some cell phone late night pics to tide you all over until I can get her a little better cleaned up and better lighting.

Drooling with anticipation of some day shooting this gun with the centerfire Rem Jet loads aboard...I remain with
Click to expand...

Smart move and congrats! Non eroded guns are getting harder to find and more expensive! I would be careful of the factory ammo, it causes the barrel erosion! I would suggest you find some reloads that are loaded lower than factory. From looking at my data base, I believe your gun was probably shipped in 1961! If you want to have some fun at the range, shoot your gun with others around and when they ask "what is that thing", open the cylinder, point the muzzle in the air and show them the muzzle and cylinder front! "It's only a 22!"
jcelect
 
mtgianni said:
Has anyone looked into a machine shop making inserts? Great find on that revolver, IMO.
Click to expand...
YES! I gave an insert to a gentleman from Canada that runs a machine shop in the arms manufacturing industry. He assigned the project to his father who had started the shop. He worked about a year on the project. and ended up producing 6 inserts.
#1 - they could not figure out what metal S&W used
#2 - no matter what process, turning center, grinding, CNC, he used to make an insert it failed on the very thin neck

I got my insert back and a promise from the shop owner he would never make any more!
jcelect
 
cmansguns said:
checkered walnut diamond target grips (un-numbered),

Some cell phone late night pics to tide you all over until I can get her a little better cleaned up and better lighting.
Click to expand...
Maybe it is the lighting, but those grips look like Goncalo. I've never seen a Jet with numbered target grips.
 
cmansguns I had a 53 a few years back and found a set of inserts at a shop here in NE Ga. At the time, the proprietor refused to sell them. Things have changed, he recently relinquished his FFL and seems to be preparing to close down his shop.

Message me for his contact info if these interest you. I am here until tomorrow evening and can run down the mountain to the shop and take you some photos if you two come to an agreement.
 
If you are not a handloader, this is one seriously good reason to give it a twirl. There are plenty of us that can help with advice. I'm a very enthusiastic handloader that totally loves the hobby but I'll admit immediately that I've never goofed with the .22 Jet.
 
Local store has a bag of used .22 Rem Jet brass.
$66.00 for 100 pieces.
PM if you want the contact information.

wyo-man
 
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If one learns to reload, you can buy more guns to shoot and never have to worry about "rare, obsolete or hard-to-find" ammo.

Plus, since -you- are the ammo supplier, you can get a leg up on everyone else who passes on a gun because they think they can't get ammo.

Learn to reload; it pisses off the government (and that should be reason enough to learn!)
 
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