Very Nice!! I also have a Remington Model 81 in 35 Remington (as well as a Marlin 336 in that caliber), but I believe that mine is a later model than yours. Around 1948 seems right to me, although I can't recall the exact date at the moment. Mine doesn't have the checkering, or the tang sight like yours. It does shoot nice, though.

Congrats, I'm sure you will love it.

 

This makes my third rifle in 35 Remington. A Sears Model 45, Marlin 336RC, and the Model 81.

 

Congrats good sir. Really digging the checkering.

 

That looks very nice, looking forward to a range report.

 

Steel, wood and craftsmanship. Nothing better.

 

Beautiful rifle congratulations. I'm looking for one myself. So you guys let me know if you know of one! Was this a GunBroker purchase? I've been watching quite a few of them lately

 

It was. I seem to be going there more often since I have gotten into rifles that arn’t a dime a dozen. Pistols and ARs I could always find locally and avoid shipping, tax, and FFL fees. I looked for a little while but this one popped up and the checkering and peep sight sold it for me.

I have always had good luck on GB. However I and in a situation at the moment with a seller who won’t send me a Marlin 1894 in 44mag that I paid for 3-weeks ago. It’s frustrating. I figured out after bidding (my fault) that he has a record of poor communication and slow shipping. I just don’t want to have to go a legal route. However, since it is more than $1000 and includes payment through the US mail, he is potentially in a lot of trouble if he won’t send the rifle.

 

I have one from 1908 in 35 Remington. They are nice rifles and good shooters. You don't see a lot of the pistol grip stocks it seems most are the straight butt stocks.

Here is mine.

 

I have one from 1908 in 35 Remington. They are nice rifles and good shooters. You don't see a lot of the pistol grip stocks it seems most are the straight butt stocks.

I believe all the Model 81s had/have pistol grips. It was one of the changes they made from the Model 8 when the introduced the Model 81 in the 1930s. The foregrip on the 81 is different too if you look close.

Yours is a very nice one. I think it might be early enough to pre-date being called "Model 8". Does it just say "Auto-Loader" or similar on the side?

FWIW, I have my father's Model 8 in .35 Rem. It originally belonged to his father who bought it circa 1930.

 

That is one of my grail guns. Congratulations on finding such a nice one.

 

I watched a YouTube video on taking down the barrel. You can use a Swiss Army knife bottle opener to remove the barrel nut. Once it was off I was able to tear it all down. I should have taken photos. It was nasty inside the barrel shroud. And the outer surface of the barrel was pretty rusty. Nothing a fine file, 80 grit and 220 grit SP with oil couldn’t take care of. Now it is all back together, clean and oiled.

 

Wow! That's a beauty!
I've always wanted one of those old Remington's in 35 Remington!
Congratulations!

 

Thou shalt not covet.
Thou shalt not covet.
Thou shalt not covet...

 

You betcha. I have wanted one of those for a long time. No idea why as here in Taxsylvania you could never hunt with it. I am just fascinated with them. As I sell off my military collection it might happen yet.

 

Congrats on a very nice rifle!

 

Beautiful. I have wanted one of those for a long time, still on the hunt.

Congratulations on the new acquisition

 

I joined the Remington Model 81 (35 Remington) club several years ago when my wife bought me one for Christmas we had seen at gun shop in Canon City in Colorado. She called the shop after we left and paid for the gun and had it shipped to Texas unknown to me. My friend and I noticed the hump back and initially thought it was something else (a Browning shotgun or the like). Not near as nice as yours in terms of the checkered stock, but finish and bluing are in very good shape. Only shot it a couple of times and it started having ejection issues. It appears to be a challenge to take down and clean. While researching the gun, I thought I recalled it was John Moses Browning's last sporting rifle design. Of course there is the story of one of our Texas Rangers taking a model 8 to a gunsmith in Austin to be modified to accept a detachable drum and was used to kill Bonnie or Clyde.

 

You should get the book by John Boessenecker, "Texas Ranger", the epic life of Frank Hamer if you don't have it already. I envy that era, they knew how to deal with outlaws.....

 

Wow, that's a beauty! I got a Model 8 some years ago - not anywhere near as nice as yours. It was kind of a basket case but the bore was good. Did a thing or two to fix it up. Still think yours is nicer.

 

WiscoHunter is your optic mounted inline with the barrel or is it a side mount?

 

It’s not too hard to hard to take down. The receiver is fairly straightforward and not much more complicated than a Winchester 92/94. The barrel just takes a little finagling. Since the barrel moves and recoils as well as the bolt, if it gets pretty cruddy between the barrel and barrel shroud, I could see that causing issues.

 

I got mine as a result of putting an add in the paper looking for a Marlin in 35 Rem.

Placing that add was one of the smarter things I have done. Got a 336SC, 336RC and this Model 81 from 1937, all for $1200.
Shot the 81 last weekend working up some 200 grain Sierras over LVR.
OP’s rifle is a looker for sure, love the checkering.

 

I got mine as a result of putting an add in the paper looking for a Marlin in 35 Rem.
View attachment 928108 Placing that add was one of the smarter things I have done. Got a 336SC, 336RC and this Model 81 from 1937, all for $1200.
Shot the 81 last weekend working up some 200 grain Sierras over LVR.
OP’s rifle is a looker for sure, love the checkering.

Nice score for $1200 (unless it was several years ago LOL.

 

Beautiful rifle. Still kicking myself over losing a nice Model 81 in 30 Remington on GB a few weeks back. Ended up selling for like $550. 30 (and 32) Rem is nigh on impossible to find now, but that keeps the prices down a bit from the more desirable 35 Rem and 300 Savage models.

 

Beautiful 81 in deluxe configuration! Love the tang sight.

 

WHAT A BEAUTY!!! OMG I want one!!! I have a 1951 Marlin 336C 22" Barrel Rifle in .35 Rem my grandfather bought me in 1964 that the owner had never used. I added ring mounts for a scope I use off and on depending on the hunt.

Looking at the combo Safety / Action Dust Cover .... now we know where Kalashnikov stole the idea for the AK47's!!

My Romanian Milled Action AK47 below -

 

I joined the 81 club back in 2019 when my dad passed along his Remington in 300 Savage.
He still has a Savage 99 in 300 Savage as well.

 

I picked up my Model 81 in .35 Remington today from my FFL. I would have had it sooner, but I’m STILL waiting on a GB seller to ship my Marlin 1894 44mag. It’s been 3 weeks. But I digress.

The Remington is in very good condition for an 86 year old rifle. Based on the serial number all over every part, it is from 1937. I believe it was sent back to Remington in October of 41 based on the E3K date code.

The barrel shroud has a nice brown patina. The receiver has much of its bluing remaining. It is not marked with a “B” or “C” but there is very nice hand checkering of the stock and forearm. It has a grip cap on the pistol grip which I was usually on the D grade or higher. I wonder if the rifle was sent back to Remington in 41 to get the upgrades to the wood. it has a period Marbles peep sight and folding rear sight.

I took the receiver completely apart today to give it a really good cleaning. I need to get the proper tool to disassemble the barrel. It is a well built rifle. I can’t wait to get it out to the farm to shoot.
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They sure don't build ones like that anymore. Treasure it.
I have my Dad's 1953 Model 81 35 Rem. and my 1914 Model 8 35 Rem. Great deer guns I used mine for a lot of years and shot a lot of deer and a couple of bears with it. They the old eyes told me I needed a scope but I didn't want to bastardized either by putting a scope on so I switched to a Model 600 35 Rem. with a Leupold 1-4x on it.

 

WOW, it's a great piece of history.

 

I am on the hunt for a model 81 in 35 rem. These make my mouth water!😁

 

Kinda odd looking but it has a COOL factor to it. Enjoy the heck out of it.

 

I have developed an affinity for the Remington Auto Loading rifle, the model 8's and 81's. I currently own one of each. The autoloading rifle is a .35 Rem, the Model 8 is a .30 Rem, and the 81 is a 300 Savage. My Model 81 is the a twin to the OP's 81 with the checkering. Two years ago I did get the chance to bloody the 81 on a couple of hogs while on a Texas hunt. After disassembling these rifles and developing an understanding of their function I realized the genius of the John Browning design. These rifles were more expensive then their contemporary counterparts that were in use at the time. They featured a long recoil design and a roller bearing trigger. For those that appreciate historic firearms they are very nice rifles and will fit well into any collection.