thegreatmodel8.remingtonsociety.com

I am sure everyone saw #20 on gunbroker. I overpaid for it but I haven’t purchased a model 81 in a while and I really wanted one in 30 rem. We have stupid laws in Washington state so I won’t be able to pick it up for 3 weeks. When I do I’ll post some photos.

Hi I didn't see that auction. Do you have the auction number still handy? Otherwise I'd love to see photos when it arrives!!!!

This one:
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/877864696

I still have not picked up the rifle. Maybe this week. Washington state has “assault rifle laws” for all semiautomatic rifles and pistols which means I had to take a test and receive a certificate before they could do the background check. now they have 3 weeks to approve the purchase and I have to pay $18 to the department of licensing. The rifle does have the original wood on it now.

That's a super find. I cross checked our database of lowest existing serial numbers and yours is now the earliest! Previously #21 & 24 we had on file. So congrats

I almost bid on that one. Glad I didn't!

I picked up #20 the other day. The outside looks good, normal wear for light hunting. The inside was a disaster. It looked like the owner was afraid to disassemble the rifle for cleaning. I bet they shot degreaser into the receiver and then WD-40 followed by gun oil until the bolt stuck open. Needless to say it was not a functioning rifle when I received it. I disassembled the rifle and put it in the ultrasonic cleaner for several cycles and still had to steam clean the inside of the receiver to get the gunk out. After almost a week of cleaning, after work, it is finally back together and seems to function properly. I have not fired the rifle yet, hopefully this week, but at least it is clean and will cycle dummy rounds. I own 4 model 81’s and 5 model 8’s, most of them were project guns bought for as little as $150, #20 is the most expensive one I have purchased and the most neglected. I am sure I will feel better about my purchase when it cycles rounds.

More photos

I like the stamped letters of the serial number on the rear stock, I have never seen that before. Great early model 81 congrats
Edit: should have wrote front stock...not enough coffee

Nice buy. I did see that one on GB. Over the last 3 months or so there has been some nice ones show up there. Not having anything that is chambered in 35 Rem and I've promised myself I wasn't going to buy anything chambered in a caliber other than what I had (didn't want to go out and buy new dies, brass, bullets, bullet mold, sizer, etc), I did bid several times on a nice 81 in 35 Rem. Was being sold for a nice price until a 'feeding frenzy' started within the last 1/2 hr or so of bid time. Nice to see 8/81's that don't have 'swiss cheese' holes all over the left receiver side.

Both my 81's in 300 Savage looked like the Russian Armies of both WW1 and WW2 marched through the action and barrel assembly. Disassembled and cleaned both thoroughly. Had some feeding and ejection problems with the first one, but fixed that. (see my posts on page 2 of the 'Troubleshooting' section: 1st time shooting probs with 81, 300 savage, posted 08/18 and Ejection (stove piping ) with 81 300 Savage posted 02/19. Between those two esp the first one, I had a fast and informative crash course of the operation and disassembly/assembly of a Rem 81. This forum, Henwoods book, and several utube video's educated me pretty fast. Was a blessing in disguise, understand em a lot more due to that first 81's problems.

I would like someone to chime in on the stamped letters on the forearm. I have never heard of any other rifle having it. I almost think it was not done at the Remington factory. I’ll see if I can get a better photo of it.

Maybe some inspector/assembler initials or ID number. Maybe some previous owners initials/code. Once upon a time I used to take wooden grips off of any handgun I bought or the butt plate on long guns and use a wood burner to carve my initials and a specific number in the wood for ID purposes, not real large figures. Figured if every stolen besides the serial number I could positively tell a officer to look in those areas what to find. Never had anything stolen or lost, still have all I ever did that to except a Winchester pump 12. Wherever that pump is now, if any one takes the butt plate off and see's what I burned into the wood, they'll probably wonder about it. I looked through Henwoods book and couldn't find any reference to a forearm having any factory marking, doesn't mean there isn't something there I missed. The chapter Henwood had on markings didn't say anything about it either, not that it isn't, I may have missed it. Someone with more knowledge than I on the 8/81's will as you penned, have to "Chime in"!