Remington Pocket Model question

I've got a problem! I want another Remington .31 even though in the past I've bought four of them and all had problems ranging from miner to major. None of them would let the hammer nose rest in the notches between chambers like the larger Remingtons. All needed some frame fitting to allow the rammer to seat fully. One had a bent sight and one had major timing issues. All of them were steel frame Piettas. Is this usual with the little Remingtons? Or have I had a run of bad luck? Have most of you .31 Remington owners been happy with your guns? Any suggestions?

Utsutiyona

 

[Bob Riegl]

:hmm: Personally I had Cabela's send me three and one was worse than the other. From total failure to operate, couldn't fire, deep scratches and de-slotted, abused screws---non of them worked---so I gave up on them. I wouldn't even give the brass framed one a second look.They are IMHO total crap and quite typical again IMHO of most Pietta's. There are some people who like 'em and then their are many like me---wouldn't look at one. :hmm:

 

[crockett]

Why not switch to the Colt 31?

 

[pondoro]

My Pietta 1860 looks flawless and functions perfectly, but it is less than a year old. Maybe the pocket models are considered "toys" or maybe I got lucky. But in a long thread just before I bought my 1860 the opinions were about evenly divided between "Piettas are garbage" and "Piettas are good guns." I took the chance and have been happy so far.

 

[Zonie]

I don't recall who made the parts for my Remington New Model Pocket brass frame but it was one of the first kits I built many years ago.
I think CVA sold it but of course, they don't actually build anything.

Anyway, perhaps it's that I took my time with it but it works great, except the "safety notches" on the cylinder.
Watching carefully while I lowered the hammer into these, it was very obvious that the face of the hammer was hitting the rear of the cylinder and the hammer was never going to be able to enter the notches.
I guess if that feature is important, it could be fixed by filing the notch down so it actually exists in the backface of the cylinder.

Me? I'm still happy because I don't rely on those safety notches anyway and I think this model pistol is really neat. A baby clone of the big Remmie.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

Haven't tried one but always thought they looked neat and surprisingly are quite a bit lighter than the Colt style pocket models. Anyone notice the resemblance to a Ruger Bearcat .22?

 

Zonie,

I ordered another steel frame Pietta Remington Pocket Model from Cabelas and just received it. This is from a new shipment that Cabelas just got in, and it looks like maybe Pietta has improved their quality control. This one is close to perfect! Timing could'nt be better, finish is excellent, action is smooth, and rammer works properly. The only thing not perfect is that the hammer still wont fit into the notches between chambers. I can live with that!

Utsutiyona

 

[Zonie]

Hay! That's great!

Figuring that everyone who owns a Reproduction of a Original gun is interested in the guns history, I'll pass on some of Flayderman's information:


New Model Pocket Revolver. Made c.1863-1873 in percussion; subsequent production as metallic cartridge conversions. Total quantity estemated at 25,000...
.31 caliber, Five shot round cylinder; safety notches on cylinder shoulders. Octagon barrels of 3", 3 1/2", 4", 4 1/2", the latter two being quite scarce...
First Type; earliest production; percussion....all brass frame and brass sheath/spur trigger...
Second Type; Identical to above, but iron frame with brass sheath/spur trigger...
Third Type; percussion. Identical but all iron throughout includeing sheath/spur trigger.

At the Karl F. Mondenhauer Collection of Remington Arms auction in 1980 a total of 12 of these were up for bids. This included two pistols in a matched set presentation case.
Of the 12 pistols, 4 were factory conversions to the .32 rimfire cartridge.

 

[faw3]

I got one of the dirt cheap brass Palmettos and the dang little thing cant be torn up with 4f, the safe notches work, and it hits about whar ya aim at IM that this little under 100 buck gun worked at all. Now if you could get a 36 colt for this price... Fred :hatsoff: