Hello All,

Thanks to everyone who has helped me with this effort over the years.  I currently have just over 3700 rifles in the data set.  This is not possible without the help and enthusiasm of many more people than just myself.  This is a survey for all of us.  When I set out to do this work my intention was to try to determine the percentages of the various chamber and barrel configurations that were offered for this rifle.  Of course it began to grow over to time to include a few other configuration details.  And now, as “late in the game” as it is I am going to attempt to add when the slide length changed from the early short version to the longer style.  So if you have given me information on your rifle and it is below SN 75000 please send me an email or post here the serial number and the style of slide that you have on the rifle.

Thanks so much

Michael

carl eliseo said
Hi,

I was gifted with an old friend’s 61 when he passed away. s/n 258741, round barrel, stamped ’22 SL OR LR.’, no drilling on the tang, no W or a under the serial number, checkered steel buttpad, grooved reciver with a nice Weaver V22-4 mounted. Thanks for the info on the history.  

Hello carl,

Thanks so much for the information on the rifle.  The rifle was manufactured during 1958.  The checkered steel butt plate started to be replaced by the black plastic version during 1958 and by late 1959 almost all butt plate were plastic.  The rest of the rifle is typical for the serial number range.

Michael

Hello Guys,

I was asked by someone what the total number of Model 61 magnums produced was so I did a little calculating and thought I might also post the information here for everyone else to use.

The magnum version of the Model 61 was introduced during 1960 and therefore made for the last 4 years of production. Based on the data I have collected the production range is from SN 284081 (the earliest magnum chambered SN I have catalogued) to SN 349288, ( the last magnum recorded and also the highest serial number I have) for a total production range stretching over of 65,207 rifles. In this range I have catalogued a total of 969 representative rifles of which 653, or 67.4% are magnums. That percentage of the total 65207 would result in 42,189 magnums having been produced between mid 1960 and the end of production in 1963.

Michael

James Williams said
1. #334377

2. Round Barrel

3. Model 61

   22 S.L. Or L.R.

4. Not taped

5. No W

6. No A

7. Black Plastic

8. Yes it is grooved.  

Thank you very much James!  

Every rifle entered is another little piece of the puzzle.  I will never get all +/- 350,000 pieces, but I hope to at least be able to tell others “what the picture is” and describe some details based on the work.  Your rifle was produced during 1962.  Only the Magnums at this time had the suscript A at the SN.  All rifles at this time had grooved receiver tops.

Michael

pdog72 said
Michael

I had a good day at the gun show today. Picked up a couple pre-war M61’s, one of them quite early. Also, I think you already have my octagon #13650?

New today……

1. 695

2. round

3. .22 S.L .& LR.

4. upper tang drilled & tapped

5. No “W”

6. N/A

7. butt plate checkered steel 

8. N/A

Extras – Lyman #2 tang sight, W61 style

 

1. 26716

2. round

3. .22 S.L .& LR.

4. upper tang drilled & tapped

5. No “W”

6. N/A

7. butt plate checkered steel 

8. N/A  

Good morning Gary,

Yes, you did have a good day!!   Congratulations.  Yes I do have the OB rifle in my data.  The other two are both new additions.  Thanks.  Both rifle should have 11 groove slide handles and a perfectly flat muzzle face.  Is that true?

Thanks again.  This work would never happen without the help of others.

Michael

Hello,

Sorry for the lag time for the reply.  I went fishing!  The gun would have to be REALLY PERFECT and the sight will combine to justify a $2000 price tag.  Otherwise I would tend to say about 10 to 15% less than that.  But, you also have to ask yourself when will get another chance for this sort of gun and “it’s only money”

Michael