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8 or 81? Including Pictures

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 9:34 am
by bigcat97
Hello all, so glad to find this forum about my newly purchased rifle. Was happy to see this gun has so much history. Can I please request some help identifying as there is no model number, just date, possibly repair codes and a serial number. Can someone with more knowledge then me date the rifle and give a rough idea of the value? I have fired the gun and it works fine! Here are some pictures, Thanks, Frank

Re: 8 or 81? Including Pictures

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 9:52 am
by cantgrowup
According to Henwood's book "The Great Remington 8 and Model 81 Autoloading Rifles", your rifle was made in 1907 (If I'm correct reading your serial number as 7322) and is a Model 8.

The EUU3 code is odd in that it has an extra U. EU3 would mean a factory repair in Oct 1927. I'm not sure what the extra U means. I'm sure someone else on the forum knows.

The second DA3 means a factory repair in Sep 1932.

What caliber is your 8? Can you include a pic of the right side of the receiver, to determine which style of safety lever it has?

I can't zoom in on your picture but the standard rear sight looks it has replaced with an aftermarket sight?

Re: 8 or 81? Including Pictures

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 10:07 am
by bigcat97
Thanks for your time CGU, the rifle is a .35 here's a picture, albeit not so good of the right side

Re: 8 or 81? Including Pictures

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 11:04 am
by Intellivore
My Model 8 has a sling swivel mount on the barrel shroud as well, but mine faces parallel to the bore, like a cleaning rod thimble. How does yours face?

Re: 8 or 81? Including Pictures

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 2:35 pm
by cantgrowup
The 8 and 81 rifles did not come with sling mounts. Starting in 1920, the barrel shroud had a threaded hole and screw where one can be mounted. The buttstock had no swivel mounting provided, except on the metal buttplates with the bottom tang some owners would replace the buttplate screw in the bottom tang with a swivel mount screw.

Since your rifle was a 1907, the barrel shroud swivel mount hole must have been drilled and tapped later. Maybe that was one of the factory repair codes.

If your forward sling mount hole is parallel to the bore, can you just rotate it 90 degrees to where it's perpendicular?

Re: 8 or 81? Including Pictures

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 2:39 pm
by cantgrowup
The book also says that your "round bottom" pistol grip (also called "round knob" grip) was one of the least common Model 8's.

Re: 8 or 81? Including Pictures

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:11 pm
by Bandersnatch
If memory serves, EUU is October 1949.

Re: 8 or 81? Including Pictures

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 9:06 pm
by 9.3shooter
Per the value of it, look at Gunbroker and other sites like it to get some idea of value. Generally speaking these days, value of one of these rifles in good condition with a few add on's that aren't too obnoxious is between about $700 to a $1000 or more for better samples.
.35 Rem is probably the most common caliber out there, .300 Savage next.
I just snagged a Model 81 in .30 Rem yesterday off one site, but I wont see it till next week and then have to wait 10 days to take it home, assault rifle you know.
Have fun with the new rifle!

Re: 8 or 81? Including Pictures

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2021 4:56 am
by Sarge756
9.3 Shooter......Ten days to take it home??? Would be a good time to look into obtaining a Curio&Relics license.

Joe

Re: 8 or 81? Including Pictures

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2021 5:23 am
by Roger
Sir,
I’m on the gun auction sites every day. The 35 caliber is the most desirable caliber now days. The values are keeping up with the 25 calibers and even exceeding them. But,there appears to be no rime or reason for these auction sites. Ammunition availability appears to be driving this,but with the current situation,that doesn’t make any sense either.
Your round knob is indeed scarce and desirable. From your pictures though I can’t tell if it has been reblued. The factory repair stamps may represent a ,factory redo. I would only be able to say if it was in my hands. That being said,you have a nice and highly desirable configuration. You’ll have no problem selling it if you decide to,some day.
Thanks for your time
Roger

Re: 8 or 81? Including Pictures

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2021 12:00 pm
by bigcat97
Thank you all, happily surprised for what I have learned here. I guess I did well getting it for 300!

Re: 8 or 81? Including Pictures

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2021 2:46 pm
by Intellivore
cantgrowup wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 2:35 pm The 8 and 81 rifles did not come with sling mounts. Starting in 1920, the barrel shroud had a threaded hole and screw where one can be mounted. The buttstock had no swivel mounting provided, except on the metal buttplates with the bottom tang some owners would replace the buttplate screw in the bottom tang with a swivel mount screw.

Since your rifle was a 1907, the barrel shroud swivel mount hole must have been drilled and tapped later. Maybe that was one of the factory repair codes.

If your forward sling mount hole is parallel to the bore, can you just rotate it 90 degrees to where it's perpendicular?
According to my serial number, she's a 1928, so it was already tapped, it seems quite set in the threads, and i am loathe to force it. I havent detail stripped her to clean, yet, i was going to try again then.

Re: 8 or 81? Including Pictures

Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2021 11:04 am
by cantgrowup
What is your rifle's serial number? From the pic it looks like 7322, which would be 1907. Why do you say yours was made in 1928?

Your rifle's stock also has the raised cheeks which only on the early guns before 1919.

Re: 8 or 81? Including Pictures

Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2021 12:29 pm
by Intellivore
You are conflating the OP and me.

I was asking OP about his, because I k ow some slings dont use swivels, but tie on.

My rifle and OP's are completely different guns, and I say mine is a '28 because my serial is in the 59000 range.

Re: 8 or 81? Including Pictures

Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2021 7:01 pm
by cantgrowup
Oops! My mistake!

Re: 8 or 81? Including Pictures

Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2021 7:28 pm
by Intellivore
No worry, CGU, mistakes happen.