After I scored a Remington Mannequin 51 for 400 {dollars}, I almost did a jig. Positive, I’m a .32 ACP man at coronary heart, however I’ll take a .380 when the gun is that this cool. The Mannequin 51 has at all times been on my bucket record. I’ve an actual factor for early Twentieth-century pocket pistols, particularly after they aren’t easy direct-blowback designs. The Mannequin 51 featured a novel working system that put it a step forward of the competitors.
Pedersen’s Remington Mannequin 51
Designed by the legendary John Pedersen, the Mannequin 51 was first produced in 1918 and remained in manufacturing till 1926. Obtainable in each .32 ACP and .380 ACP, it provided a skinny, downright lithe profile for self-defense and hid carry. The key to its slimness was the Pedersen-designed “Hesitation” delayed blowback system.
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In comparison with up to date blowback-operated weapons, the Mannequin 51 provided considerably much less felt recoil. It additionally allowed for a remarkably light-weight slide. The hesitation-delayed design is pretty advanced, that includes an impartial breech block that “hesitates” for a fraction of a second to permit pressures to drop earlier than biking. It’s simple to see why it wasn’t broadly replicated; whereas efficient, the precision machining required made it costly to provide.
Within the fashionable period, we have now so many easier methods to delay blowback that hesitation designs are pointless. Nonetheless, in 1917, this was a breakthrough—albeit one which resulted in solely modest industrial success. The complexity ensured a excessive price ticket, and the worth tag saved many consumers away. Whereas it had much less recoil than an FN Mannequin 1910, the distinction wasn’t radical sufficient for most individuals to justify the additional value over a less complicated competitor.
The Mannequin 51 in Technicolor
Within the hand, the Mannequin 51 is outstanding. It’s extremely small and skinny, but extremely ergonomic. It contains a handbook security that pulls double obligation by locking the slide open for upkeep, although the slide doesn’t lock again mechanically on the final spherical fired.
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The .380 model holds seven rounds, whereas the .32 ACP mannequin offers you one additional. The gun is fitted with easy plastic grips which can be engaging of their minimalism, that includes the Remington UMC logos to remind you of “Massive Inexperienced’s” storied historical past.
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The Mannequin 51 got here geared up with a modern-style journal launch, although the sights are positively “micro-sized.” They’re the kind of sights that impressed the previous saying that you simply’ll by no means see your sights in a gunfight. Regardless of the tiny irons, the slide glides rearward with an ease that makes it a pleasure to rack and cargo. You may actually really feel the hand-fitted high quality of this firearm; it’s a disgrace they didn’t produce extra of them.
Capturing a Century-Previous Traditional
I’m by no means going to torture check a classic piece like this, however I do take pleasure in taking it out to run a number of magazines by it every now and then. Capturing the Mannequin 51 is an superior expertise. Its age doesn’t hinder its efficiency; the little gun chews by .380 ACP with ease and excellent reliability. Within the 200 or so rounds I’ve fired, it hasn’t jammed as soon as.
Which may not be a high-round rely by fashionable requirements, however this gun is sort of a century previous—give grandpa some credit score. The primary time I shot it, I assumed, “They need to actually remake this.” Then I remembered that they did—and so they righteously messed it up. Remington launched the R51 in 2014, and it was a catastrophe of high quality management and poor engineering.
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The unique Mannequin 51 is a vastly superior handgun. Scaling the design as much as 9mm for the R51 was a mistake; the enjoyment of the 51 is its skinny, mild body. The 9mm spherical required extra bulk and weight, stripping away the magnificence of Pedersen’s unique imaginative and prescient.
On the vary, these tiny sights don’t offer you a lot to work with, however once you line them up, the Mannequin 51 places rounds precisely the place you need them. I’ve managed surprisingly tight teams at 15 yards (sufficiently small to cowl together with your hand).
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The shortage of harsh recoil makes fast fireplace simple. Blasting double-taps makes me really feel like a turn-of-the-century non-public eye coping with mobsters. If I really needed to defend myself with it, I’d really feel completely snug doing so.
Securing a Piece of Historical past
Unique Mannequin 51s are drying up. They’re getting harder to seek out and costlier as they transition from “previous weapons” to “uncommon collectibles.” They get damaged, forgotten in corners, or tucked underneath beds. When you occur to discover a Mannequin 51 in good situation, snatch it up.
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When you maintain it, you’ll perceive why John Browning himself known as John Pedersen the best gun designer on this planet.
