Rem. rifle Fieldmaster Model 121SB 22 cal.
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Janis
Rem. rifle Fieldmaster Model 121SB 22 cal.
I'm looking for info and value for my Model 121SB. The serial no. is 34380 and the date of manufacture code is XH which I believe translates to Dec. 1939. This rifle is in excellent condition.
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Mike Strietbeck
Re: Rem. rifle Fieldmaster Model 121SB 22 cal.
Janis
A quick look in "Remington 22 Rimfire Rifles by John Gyde and Roy Marcot reveals the following information.
Model 121 smooth bore rifles have become a sub-collecting field of their own. They can be easily identified by a
shotgun-type metal bead front sight and no rear sight. A few have the same diameter smooth bore the entire length of the barrel, but most have the Routledge configuration: .22 caliber smooth bore with the last 12 inches to 13½ inches bored out to 0.40 inches. The muzzle end looks very much like a .410 shotgun. The magazine capacity of these rifles was 14 Long Rifle shot cartridges. After those similarities, the differences start to surface.
Remington engineers began evaluating the unique smooth bore design of Fred Routledge in July 1938, and shipments of Model121 Routledge rifles started in February 1939. There are at least five different caliber stamps that were used on the Model 121SB: SMOOTH BORE, .22 CAL. SMOOTH BORE, .22 CAL. MO-SKEET-O BORE. ROUTLEDGE BORE FOR .22 LONG RIFLE SHOT CARTRIDGE and .22 SKEETRAP
The length of the smooth bore rifle barrels was 23½ inches until 1947 when it was increased a full inch to 24½ inches. This was done so one barrel could be used for both the 500 Series and the Model 121. This was a general rule, since a 1949 production Model 121SB was observed with a 23½ inch barrel. Production of the various Model 121 smooth bore rifles was limited. Surviving factory records are not clear, but production of all types was probably 2,500 rifles or less. Examples of smooth bore Model 121s were found from 1939 to 1953, and most years in between.
We do not attempt to place a value on any firearm on this site, so this is as much help as I can offer.
Good luck in your search and thanks for writing.
Mike Strietbeck
RemShots
A quick look in "Remington 22 Rimfire Rifles by John Gyde and Roy Marcot reveals the following information.
Model 121 smooth bore rifles have become a sub-collecting field of their own. They can be easily identified by a
shotgun-type metal bead front sight and no rear sight. A few have the same diameter smooth bore the entire length of the barrel, but most have the Routledge configuration: .22 caliber smooth bore with the last 12 inches to 13½ inches bored out to 0.40 inches. The muzzle end looks very much like a .410 shotgun. The magazine capacity of these rifles was 14 Long Rifle shot cartridges. After those similarities, the differences start to surface.
Remington engineers began evaluating the unique smooth bore design of Fred Routledge in July 1938, and shipments of Model121 Routledge rifles started in February 1939. There are at least five different caliber stamps that were used on the Model 121SB: SMOOTH BORE, .22 CAL. SMOOTH BORE, .22 CAL. MO-SKEET-O BORE. ROUTLEDGE BORE FOR .22 LONG RIFLE SHOT CARTRIDGE and .22 SKEETRAP
The length of the smooth bore rifle barrels was 23½ inches until 1947 when it was increased a full inch to 24½ inches. This was done so one barrel could be used for both the 500 Series and the Model 121. This was a general rule, since a 1949 production Model 121SB was observed with a 23½ inch barrel. Production of the various Model 121 smooth bore rifles was limited. Surviving factory records are not clear, but production of all types was probably 2,500 rifles or less. Examples of smooth bore Model 121s were found from 1939 to 1953, and most years in between.
We do not attempt to place a value on any firearm on this site, so this is as much help as I can offer.
Good luck in your search and thanks for writing.
Mike Strietbeck
RemShots