S&W Model 61 Escort .22LR: Anyone own one?

[FunGramps]

I'm compelled to buy one of these little guys. Not that I've seen great reviews on it, because I haven't. Some run well, some don't. Some see it as fugly, but I really like its look. Plus, it is, after all, a S&W. I see minty examples with their box eventually finding a bigger niche as collectibles...maybe. No matter. I'd still like to take it out of it's box and fondle it a bit, maybe give it a CLP massage or something similarly disgusting.

So...Does anyone own an Escort (not THAT escort), or owned one in the past, and how well did it run for you?

Made from 1970-1973.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

There is a reason they were made for only 3 years.

 

[FunGramps]

There is a reason they were made for only 3 years.

Have you fired or owned one or know anyone who has? I can't believe what auction prices are at on these right now. $500. for used ones without the box and several days remaining in the auction!
And hey, it worked well for Travis Bickel in Taxi Driver.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

I have known people who owned them. Some worked well, but overall they were not a real good design.
Check out baby Browning prices!

 

[FunGramps]

I have. The baby Browning, and any browning Belgium made are crazy high! I do like them, as well as the Colt .25 vest pocket. Crazy expensive as well.

 

[hub1home]

If that is the "type" pistol that I wanted right now, I would get a Bauer. They are an exact copy of the Baby Browning only they are all stainless. I previously owned one and shot about 1,000 rounds through it without any problems. It is certainly in the category that I wish I hadn't sold it.

 

[Japle]

I bought one new in 1973 for $50. With the right ammo (mini-mags) it was reliable and accurate enough for an affair of honor inside a phone booth. Seriously, the accuracy was fine, but because of the small size and the tiny sights, it was hard to hit with in a hurry.
I sold it in the mid-90s to a collector.

 

[simonrichter]

out of curiosity: Is this a striker-fired or a concealed hammer type of action?

 

[Carmady]

Another brand of small pistol is Sterling Arms. They were made in NY in .22LR and .25 ACP. I believe they were all "real" steel, either blued or nickel, or stainless. Heavy little things compared to today's polymer stuff. I had two of the .22s; one looked like it had light use and was very dependable; the other was pretty worn, and unreliable.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVyEuxGqNKI

www.gunbroker.com/item/894400880

 

[FunGramps]

out of curiosity: Is this a striker-fired or a concealed hammer type of action?

As far as I've read, it is a straight blow-back with an internal hammer.
"The Model 61 ‘Escort’ was little more than a copy of a sixty year old pocket pistol, the the 1908 Pieper Bayard."

A commercial failure, about enough room for a one-finger grip, but I still like it!

 

[RKG]

Search for either a Manurhin Walther PPK/s in .22 rimfires or TPH in.22 rimfires. Hard,but not impossible, to find; worth the effort.

 

[Sgt127]

Funny. That was as the first gun I ever took off a bad guy (a burglar I chased down) 1985 or so.

He gave up when I caught him. Found the gun in his backpack. Took one look at it and “well THATS obviously stolen”. It was.

 

[John22]

The 61's slightly bigger brothers the 2214 & 2213 are smooth runners.