countrygun

Take a look at this beauty and I will give you a history lesson.



This is the Remington 51. This particular model is a .380.
You will notice the very modern grip shape and barrel angle, The story goes that the designer, Irwin Pederson, carried wooden models around the factory to have random people try them before settling on this shape. Among its salient feature are a grip safety a thimb safety and a magazine safety (like it or not)To highlight the designer's genius you will note that it lacks a "slide stop/release" or does it? No the safety does this job in the manual mode, as when cleaning, and yes, when the magazine runs dry the slide locks back. "How do you release it?" you ask. "Squeeze the grip safety". Now that is a heck of an innovation don't you think? The grip safety is also a "cocked indicator" Not popping out unless the gun is cocked.
The depression caused the sales to lag and Remington dropped the fine pistol, not to make another "pistol" until the XP-100 bolt action.

Remington did get their moneys worth out of the design after all the very first ones were much larger an in .45 caliber. They competed with the 1911 for the Government contract. Irwin Pederson was to develop the "Pederson device" which modified the 1903 Springfield to a semi automatic firing a reuced .30 cal cartridge (some say the precursor of the .30 carbine). When Remington was not awarded the contract for the .45 the asked Pederson to down size it for the civillian market, Savage also did this with their design, to recoup the design and development costs.

Some have said that Walther was influence by the grip when the designed the P-38. S&W admitted it influenced the 39 series (and then by extesion it influenced the CZ-75)

Pederson may not have had polymer to work with but he still created a design that wouldn't be out of place if it were to be brought back---over a hundred years after he designed it!


(I just found out you can't edit the &*_&&% thread titles...GRRRR)

tx gun runner

Nice looking gun and thanks for the infor .

Pathfinder06

Good post..... I like the old esigns. Thanks!

countrygun

Well I don't like it when my wife eats her breakfast while she is using my computer and gets crumbs unDer some of my keys

303Lithgow

Sometimes it is a bummer not to be able to edit the title.

But I sure enjoyed reading the thread.

james

Still a fine looking handgun even now, thanks for sharing CG.
We knew what you meant.....

303Lithgow

Ya, speeling and gramar dan't mattar hear.

Nutty Ned

I read the title and did not notice until someone made issue.

So we have English/grammar police here, too, hey.

303Lithgow

Which only goes to prove we are all bad at reading and spelling.
I can't remember the thread but I also made a spelling error in the title and couldn't change it. Bet I did it more than once and never even caught it.

deputy125

good read..............

Beerman

Very good read CG.

james

Speek four yoorself 303, sum orf us no how too, und use spelchek.....
And sum off us no how too puctuate too, you no, commas and stuf.....

303Lithgow

you diggers talk right down funny

Gunny G

So, you think all of the best designs are new???
Heck no, The 1911 is a great example.
Too bad there are not many of those around. (Rem. Model 51)
When I am out snoopin and poopin, looking around, I will be on the watch for one.
Good Thread, Good Post, Great info.
Thanks

Terry_P

That's a Mod function.

Terry_P

Many of the old firearms were built when quality counted and even some of the cheaper firearms worked flawlessly. I have an old Sterling 22 LR semi auto belly gun that didn't cost me over $50 new and it is reliable. The trigger is like pulling a concrete block over a gravel driveway with your finger and the bluing has about three different tones to it but it goes bang everytime, loads a round and back into battery. The sights are two parallel ridges and beyond 6' hitting something is problematic. Point for the chest and hit the groin. A one shot stopper.

Ruger Redhawk

Good topic, Thanks for sharing that.

countrygun

Do we know anyone who is buddies with a mod around here to clear up my embarrasment? Hmmm.

BTW: I have a Stainless Sterling .22 that I bought my Mom years ago, It keeps on ticking. There has been one in the corner of the case at my LGS for about a years because it lacks the mag. I may pick it up because there is no hurry getting the mag and it''s cheap.

A further BTW; back about 1980 when "Combat Handguns" magazine was starting, one of their writers, Mark Moritz I think, had a set of real sights grafted on a Sterling and wrote an article about it.

Terry_P

PM Lash and ask him to change it as he's the one right now.

countrygun

Thanks