Need Help! Remington .380 auto

[Matthew Courtney]

I need information on how to take down and clean an old Remington .380. The gun appears to be 1920’s or 1930’s manufacture. The gun was purchased used during WWII in southern Mississippi. The top of the slide has serrations running perpendicular to the bore. On the serrations, between the front and rear sights is stamped “The Remington Arms Union Metallic Cartridge Co., Inc. Remington Ilion Wks. Ilion N.Y. USA Pedersen’s Patents Pendingâ€. On the chamber is stamped “380 CALâ€. The chamber has a cut to make room for a 1911 style extractor. The pistol is a blowback and has a threaded area on the barrel which begins about 3/8th’s of an inch from the muzzle that goes back about 3/8th’s of an inch. The right side of the frame is stamped “Remington trademarkâ€. The left side is stamped “PA 27XXXâ€. There is a Remington UMC logo on both grip panels. The sights are tiny. The pistol has a grip safety, a magazine safety, and a right hand lever safety. The firing mechanism is internal.

Help!

 

[Gordon]

You have a Remington Model 51 ! These guns are real nice and yours is probable worth $300 if not rusted or worn badly , they sell for $500-600 like new. They are a little tricky to disasemble past lifting the barrel and slide off. It is not really a blow back gun , it is a retarded blow back and probably a little stonger and definitely less recoil! Old Fuff knows these, I think.

 

[mete]

I used to have one and still kick myself for parting with it .One of the best gun designs I've ever seen. The M51 is a delayed blowback of the momentum block type.Makes a great carry gun too, very slim and compact..... Pull back the slide to align the slide notch with the barrel lock pin, remove the pin. Pull the slide back and pull the barrel forward, this releases the slide and barrel from the frame. More details and sketches can be found in the NRA Firearms Assembly Handbook.... Don't ever part with it!!

 

[Route 66]

I have a Model 51 in .380 as well. My serial number is PA 17xxx and was made in 1919. The ending serial number for 1919 was 22991. So my guess is that yours was made in 1920 or 1921 at the very latest. I'll tell you one thing it is a bit of a pain in the butt to take down. Maybe that is why they were not more of a success than they were.

Actually I was told (online Remington collectors club) that the Remington could not compete with the comparable Colt because the Colt was retailing for a good bit less than the Model 51.

And if you think the small anchor on the trigger guard denotes some kind of maritime designation you would be wrong (as I was). It is actually an inspector's proof mark at Remington.

Good luck and don't give it up, it's a nifty little gun.

 

[Old Fuff]

The Old Fuff is here …..

Yes, you have a Remington model 51 pocket pistol, and it’s considered to be one of the best. To disassemble:

1. Pull back the slide far enough to align a slot in the slide with the head of the barrel lock pin. While holding the slide, push the pin part way out (going to the left) and then you can use a small screwdriver too hook it under the head and pull the pin the rest of the way out. In an emergency you can use the tip of the magazine floorplate too do this.

2. While holding the slide in approximately the same position pull the barrel forward. Doing so will allow the slide to release and you can pull it and the barrel forward and off the frame.

When reassembling, push the slide backward until it comes to the disconector. Then pull the trigger and grip safety, which will allow you to depress the disconector. After that you can move the slide to the required position to replace the barrel lock pin.

3. After removing the slide, pull the barrel forward about 5/8†and rotate it counter-clockwise until it locks into the slide. Push the breechbolt inside the slide backwards and lift up the tail end with a small screwdriver, after which you can lift it out.

5. Hold the slide in the left hand, rotate the barrel clockwise to release it, (be careful, it’s under spring tension) and ease it and the recoil spring backwards and out.

If you pull the slide backwards without depressing the grip safety the disconector will act as a slide stop. Depressing the safety will release the slide.

BE SURE THE PISTOL IS CORRECTLY REASSEMBLED. Otherwise you will likely crack the breechbolt.