So I decided to buy this Smith & Wesson Model 61-3 Escort .22 LR 2" Blue Like New in the Box...

Everything is in the box except the Manual -- I need the information so I can strip it to clean off thirty years of build up and handling...

The gun was produced between 1970 and 1973 with this one probably made in 1973 and I have the original receipt from the first owner when he purchased it in 1974.

Any Help would be appreciated

email S&W they will send you a manual free.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Escorts, hope you like frustration. At least you got a 61-3. The earlier models had a die-cast frame that left a bit to be desired.

As to the field stripping:

Clear the weapon. Look for the recoil spring guide. This is a small nub at the muzzle directly over the barrel. Push this in with a punch, don't drive it, just depress the thing. While doing this, grab the front sight and pull it up from the slide. Once you do that, the slide and recoil spring assembly will slide off the frame.

That's about it, don't go any further. Douche out the thing with solvent and a brush and call it a day. Resist the urge to take off the sideplate. Dangerous things lurk there.

How well does it work for you? I've owned all three versions, and the reliability sucks. Sometimes you can get a complete mag off, sometimes you can't. My first version 61 wasn't even worth a s--t as a paperweight.

G

Grognard1,

Thanks for the "secret" to disassemble this gun - I really wasn't able to figure it out before.  I took the gun apart and cleaned it up.  I believe that this gun has never been taken apart.  I spent about 1/2 an hour cleaning it.  I will take it out this week and try it out.

I remembered after you mentioned about not removing the sideplate.  I read a long time ago about that in article.

During that period manufacturing in the U.S. like the 1972 Ford Pinto and the 1973 Chevy Vega with all the rust buckets and other bad ideas that came about - the Model 61 Escort (1970-73)probably was during that era of manufacturing blunders.

Thanks for your help.

I hope it works well

BTW My neighbors gun worked pretty well for him and was fairly accurate.