When was the Smith and Wesson Model 61 made?

When was the Smith and Wesson Model 61 made?

The Smith & Wesson Model 61 (also known as the Smith & Wesson Escort or simply the Pocket Escort) is a subcompact semi-automatic pistol chambered in .22 Long Rifle and designed for self-defense, and was made from 1970 to 1973.

How many Smith and Wesson Escort pistols were made?

Total production of the Model 61-1, excluding retrofitted Model 61’s, was 2550, making it the most collectible of the Escort pistols, with the presentation models being even more scarce and collectible. In September of 1970 a barrel bushing (or barrel nut) was added to the end of the barrel to more precisely position it in the frame.

When did Smith and Wesson start no magazine safety?

Smith & Wesson must have almost immediately had second thoughts about no magazine safety, because in May of 1970 they introduced the Model 61-1 with a very effective magazine safety that blocks the hammer when the magazine is removed.

Where did the Model 61 escort gun come from?

The S&W Model 61 Escort was first conceived in the early 60’s by the engineers in Springfield, but the design predates Smith & Wesson’s endeavors. S&W engineers were a little bit more than inspired by the design from the 1908 Pieper Bayard.

Where is the magazine release on a Smith and Wesson?

The magazine release was a European style, mounted on the heal of the grip frame. The original frames were machined from aluminum die castings, in July of 1971 S&W switched to forged aluminum. The aluminum was anodized in black or nickel plated.

What was the problem with the first Smith and Wesson?

Early models had numerous reliability problems, and according to Smith & Wesson historian, Jim Supica, many were returned to the factory for repair. According to Supica, many of these returned pistols were not actually repaired.

When did Smith and Wesson start making the Pieper Bayard?

In the early 1960’s Smith & Wesson was looking to produce a small pocket pistol for sport and defense. They began tweaking the Pieper Bayard’s design. The most noticeable was the frame material. S&W switched to aluminum frames, their intended cartridge was a .22 LR instead of the .32 or 380 ACP.