Model 8 help.

tallen702 · May 6, 2021

I picked up a model 8 from GB and have encountered something I can't figure out. It doesn't seem to have the standard charging handle. Take a look and see what I mean.

Anyone have a clue how to get this one off? Already tried a crescent wrench on a square shaft gunsmithing screwdriver to no avail.

tallen702 · May 6, 2021

Nevermind, figured it out. 110 years of grime and gunk were preventing the screw head from backing out. I thought for sure that I'd bust the shaft on my Grace smithing screwdriver before it would budge, but eventually it did.

toppkatt · May 6, 2021

Kroil?

slsc98 · May 6, 2021

Here, you need to check this out!

Hamer’s Hammer: The Remington Model 8

https://www.gunsamerica.com/digest/hamers-hammer-the-remington-model-8/

tallen702 · May 7, 2021

All cleaned up:

Here's the end result. There was so much carbon, grime, and solidified oil that the area under the safety had a full millimeter of crap built up.

I ultimately used nearly half of one of the big cans of Birchwood Casey gun-scrubber on this thing. The bolt and carrier were gummed up with sludge that looked like it came out of the bottom of a used oil collection container.

She cleaned up nice in the end though. 1910 date of manufacturer along with a factory repair code for December of '46. The rifling is pristine and there aren't any major dents or dings to deal with. It's chambered in .35 Rem, so that's nice as well. There was a tang sight on it at some point, a Marbles or Lyman most likely, but that's long gone. There a big crack in the forend furniture as well, but it's an easy repair. I'll strip the wood down, make any needed repairs, properly finish it, install a new Pachmayer recoil pad, and have a good shooter and deer rifle ready to go.

mawkie · May 7, 2021

Well I for one was worried after seeing your first post in the thread. Scared that there might be gremlins deep in the works. But glad to see that it all cleaned up nicely in the end. Now I can scratch the Model 8/81 from my search list. But wait, am I now shifting focus to a Winnie 1905/07?

tallen702 · May 7, 2021

mawkie said:
Well I for one was worried after seeing your first post in the thread. Scared that there might be gremlins deep in the works.

It's actually pretty pristine on the inside, I guess the lack of cleaning the internal components let the grime act like undercoating on a car. :lol2:

I'll change the charging handle retention method back to the original setup over time. I'll likely keep my eye out for a Marbles or Lyman tang sight as well since it has already had one on it at some point.

mawkie said:
But glad to see that it all cleaned up nicely in the end. Now I can scratch the Model 8/81 from my search list. But wait, am I now shifting focus to a Winnie 1905/07?

That and/or a Winnie 95 (but that'll take some saving up to get!)

First, I need to find some 35 Rem that won't cost me an arm and a leg. I'll give Hafer's and Gun Shack a call later today, I feel like it's a caliber that most hunter-based gun stores keep in stock, but isn't heavily purchased or used around here. Looking forward to getting a deer with this thing next season!

mawkie · May 7, 2021

If it's good enough to ventilate Bonnie and Clyde it should be OK for deer. :rolleyes:

If you run across a tang sight for one of these in good shape and under $150 grab it. They've been going up and up in price. I recently found a nice Lyman tang sight for my Savage 23A Sporter but it was $250 and I paid well under that for the rifle!

Trepang · May 17, 2021

Love Model 8/81s.

I have a 1922 '8 and a 1949 81. Both in .35 Rem

The 1949 81 is pristine - spent 99.9% of it's life in a closet after the original owner died without ever having fired it.

toppkatt · Feb 26, 2023

Looks better than some I've seen. At least it hasn't been drilled and tapped (5 screws on the left side of the receiver). 35 Remington is a nice caliber (mine is 300 Savage). All in all I think you have a nice example, congrats!

Model 8 help.

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