Just got another Model 8 and I've got to share

[Levallois]

I've had Model 8s before but sold the last one about 10 years ago. This one is a 30 Rem serial 369XX and all the numbers that I can find on the stock and metal seem to match. The only "different" thing about this one is that I'm sure I can see a 25 under the 30 marking on the barrel (see the closeup of this). It looks like it went back twice for repairs based on the letter date codes - thankfully I finally found my old copy of Henwood (second edition - signed). Maybe the factory rechambered it for 30 Rem.? If so, thats a darn shame given the rarity of the 25 cal Model 8s.

Going to take her out ASAP - I still have about 200 rounds from my last go round with these things. I apologize for the photos - a photographer, I am not.

Thanks for looking.

John

[remington600]

My guess I dont think the factory restamped that. It has definatly been stamped over though.

[John Gyde]

The AP 3 means it did have factory work done on it in March 1923. Who knows what was done at that time. The overstamp doesn't look like factory work to me, but???

[Levallois]

Well, whomever (factory or independent) did the rebore/rechamber, they did it right. Thanks to a suggestion by someone on another forum, I checked the barrel twist. It measures out to 1 to 12 as it should for a 30 Rem. rather than 1 to 10 for a 25 rem. I wonder how difficult it was for most independent gunsmiths to do a rebore like this?

John

[remington600]

It is possible that they just put a 30 Rem barrel on it. Our they replaced the slide that may have been a 25 rem.

[Levallois]

I don't think so - see the photos above - the "30" in the "30 rem" designation on the barrel is stamped over a "25" - you can clearly see it in the photo. Also, the serial number is stamped in the edge of the bottom of the barrel sleeve - this looks exactly like other serial numbers that I've seen in this location on other M8s and matches all the other serial numbers on the rifle. Somebody rebored/rechambered the original barrel.

[remington600]

Well the barrel can be changed without changing the sleeve. Most likely thats the way someone would do it. I guess it really does'nt matter to me, but I would rather believe it was a replaced original 30 rem barrel then a drilled out one if I owned it.

[Levallois]

Ok, I can see how that would be both easier on their part and better for me.