Remington Rolling Block, New Model Small-Bore, Military Single Shot Rifle, Caliber 7mm aka The Model 1897-1902

Technical Description: Remington Rolling Block, New Model small-bore, military single shot rifle, caliber 7 mm aka the Model 1897-1902. The blued round barrel is 30 inches in length and is fastened with two barrel bands. The lower band is secured by a spring retainer. The upper band is a screw clamping type and also carries the upper sling swivel. The front sight is a blade and is mounted 1 1/16 inches from the muzzle. The rear sight is mounted 4 5/8 inches forward of the breech and is a folding leaf with elevation bar, graduated to 2100 yards. The sight wings are stepped. The barrel is marked on top forward of the lower band 7mm-S.M., thought to indicate the caliber as 7 mm System Mauser. The breech tang is marked Remington Arms Company Ilion, N.Y. / Pat Mat 3d 1864 June 11th Nov 12th Dec 24th 187_ / _ EC 31st 1872 Sept 9th 1873. Jan 12th March 18th 1874 in three lines. The walnut stock is a two-piece design with a hand guard ending forward of the lower barrel band. The stock forearm cap is heavily constructed and carries a bayonet lug. A hole in the cap allows for cleaning rod storage. The right side of the forestock below the rear sight has a Cross or letter T carved into the wood. The butt stock carries the lower sling swivel behind the trigger guard strap. The butt plate is unmarked. Original cleaning rod is with the rifle. The metal is smooth and clean without pitting. The blue is fading to brown. The stock is excellent. The rifle bore is very good. The bayonet is the correct knife type with a 14 ¾ inch blade having a single fuller, wood grips and a curved Quillian. The left side of the blade is marked in the fuller Remington Arms Co Ilion, NY in a single line. Blued metal sheath with a black leather belt hanger. The leather is very dry. Historical Significance: See Museum Number 056 The new model small-bore smokeless-powder military rifle and carbine introduced in 1897 was designed to modernize the rolling block action, which had been so successful with the black powder cartridges, to meet the competiton of the many small-caliber rifles placed on the market after the introduction of smokeless-powder in 1886. This model is generally similar to the earlier models, except for the reduction of caliber, the use of improved steel in the strengthened breech mechanism, and the addition of a hand-guard. Only the smokeless-powder rifles are usually equipped with the hand-guard; this, and the small-bore, are their chief recognition features. The Model 1902 is identical with the Model 1897, except that a spring-operated automatic ejector was added, allowing the extractor to completely eject the empty cartridge. The carbine is similar to the rifle, but has a barrel length of 20 inches and weighs 7 pounds. Large numbers of the new model military rifles and carbines were sold in Central and South America, chambered for the 7mm  Mauser cartridge (Note: the 7 mm ammunition now manufactured in the US has a slightly shorter case and higher chamber pressure than the original cartridge, head space can be excessive if the modern cartridge is used). The gun was also manufactured for the 8 mm Lebel, 7.65 Mauser, 7.62 Russian, .303 British, and .30-.40 Krag military cartridges.