Remington Rolling Block Single Shot, Breech-Loading Rifle, .43 Caliber

Technical Description: Remington Rolling Block single shot, breech-loading rifle, .43 caliber. The round blued barrel is 35-1/8 inches in length, fastened by three blued oval iron barrel bands; secured by spring retainers. The middle band retainer is missing. The combination front sight and bayonet lug is mounted 1 inch from the muzzle. The rear sight is mounted 2¼ inches forward of the breech and has a single folding leaf graduated
from 600 yards to 1000 yards. The right wing of the sight base has graduations from 100 yards to 500 yards, (1,2,3,etc). The elevation bar is missing. The left barrel flat is marked B. No other marks were noted on the barrel. The breech tang is marked with
the manufacturer, patent dates, etc. now illegible due to buffing prior to rebluing. No other markings were noted on the breech. The walnut stock is a two-piece design. The butt stock is unmarked and carries the lower sling swivel. The middle barrel band carries
the upper sling swivel. The butt plate is unmarked and is iron. The cleaning rod is the correct type. The bore is good. The bayonet is a socket type; the socket is 2 5/8 inches in length with a clamping band. The angular blade neck is marked 457. The blade is 21½ inches in length and is unmarked. This rifle has been returned to an armory for overhaul, reblue over heavy pitting at the barrel and stock juncture, minor pitting on breech. The stock shows extensive and hard use and has been refinished. The middle band is a replacement, as it does not show age or usage, comparable to the rest of the arm. The bayonet is aging to gray with smooth metal. Historical Significance: Rolling Block Military Rifles and Carbines. Large No. 1 size action. Made c. 1867-1888. Quantities totaling over 1,000,000. Made for both domestic and foreign sales. In some cases only actions were supplied for foreign contracts with the guns themselves being assembled abroad and in other cases, entire guns were made abroad under license from Remington. The majority, however, appear to be of Remington manufacture. The factory practice of utilizing surplus parts from military and other contracts and selling to the commercial market accounts for many other variations and anomalies. In the 1960s they were imported from abroad (purchased as surplus from foreign governments) in tremendous quantities in all types, sizes and grades of condition with the lesser quality pieces actually being sold by the pound as sales promotions! Many of them were primarily of value (and many still are) for their rugged actions for conversions to modern sporters. Barrel lengths vary considerably on rifles from approximately 30 to 39 with forends either two-band or three-band fastened. Carbines vary in length from 19 approximately to 22 with short forend, single-band fastened. The most desirable are the carbines having ring bars and saddle rings affixed to left side of frame. The buyer should inspect carbines very carefully for many rifles were shortened in modern times both to make them more desirable and to fetch the higher values. Remington markings appear in two or three lines on tang behind hammer. Caliber markings not normally encountered. See Museum Number 122s Historical Significance concerning sales to France.