Remington 121 SB Fieldmaster Routledge .22 Cal Smoothbore Pump Rifle C&R
SOLD FOR: $1400
LSB#: 220106TB040
Make: Remington
Model: 121 Smoothbore, The Fieldmaster, 121SB
Serial Number: 68874
Year of Manufacture: 1945 (EPP Date Code)
Caliber: .22 LR Shot Cartridge
Action Type: Pump Action Rifle with Takedown Receiver and Tubular Magazine
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “REMINGTON ARMS CO., INC., ILION. N.Y. MADE IN U.S.A. / PATENTS 1,481,638 – 1,628,548 – 1,682,704”. The right side of the barrel is marked with a test mark. The upper left of the barrel is marked “ROUTLEDGE BORE FOR .22 LONG RIFLE SHOT CARTRIDGE”, with an inspection mark, and “EPP” and an inspection mark. The left side of the trigger assembly is marked “68874”, this is only visible when the rifle is taken down. The left side of the trigger guard is marked “7” on the front bow and has an inspection mark at the rear. The left side of the receiver is marked “THE / FIELDMASTER /TRADE MARK / MODEL 121” and “Remington / REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. / 68874”. The checkered metal buttplate is marked “Remington”.
Barrel Length: 23 ?”
Sights / Optics: The sight is a metal bead set on the barrel at the muzzle. The top of the trigger assembly has a pair of drilled, tapped, and filled holes behind the receiver.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are wood, the buttstock is smooth and has a straight comb, pistol grip and checkered steel buttplate. The forend has grooves with a smooth bottom. The bottom of the forend has scattered compressions, dings, and scratches. There are a few minor areas of thinning and finish loss. The LOP measures about 13 5/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate, which shows some scattered finish loss, spots of light oxidation, and little marks through the finish. The stocks rate in about Very Good – Fine overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with no erosion.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 90% of its metal finish. There is some light thinning to the finish along the barrel, likely from cleaning.There is some finish loss from typical operation. There are areas that are drifting to patina, the most noticeable is on the magazine tube. There are some scattered light scuffs and handling marks. There are some scattered tiny pinpricks, the most noticeable are on the receiver. The screw heads are lightly tooled with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Fine condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be required to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: Back in 1908 Remington wanted something to compete with Winchester’s famed Model 94 but the faster, smoother operation of a pump gun had a lot of advantages. John Pedersen, the inventor of the Pedersen device used on rifles in WWI, had already designed several Remington shotguns. He was given the assignment to design a high-power pump to compete with Winchester’s lever actions. He started with the Model 12 rimfire model in 1909 and designed its big brother, the Model 14 in 1912. The Model 12 and 14 rifles were butter smooth with a magazine tube that moved with the slide. This is a Model 121 which was the improved replacement of the Model 12. In addition to the standard rifled offerings, Remington also produced smoothbore rifles for use with rimfire shot. They produced only about 3,000 of the Smoothbore models so this is a nice find for the Remington fans. The rifle is in about Fine condition with about 90% of its finish remaining. This would make a neat addition to a collection of Remingtons or early American pump-action rimfires! Please see our photos and good luck!