I'm trying to help a friend identify a rifle he inherited. It is a Remington (marked "E. Remington & Sons, Illion, N.Y." on the barrel). I believe it is a falling block type (lever on right side, when pushed down, lowers block straight down so cartridge can be inserted) and has a "Pat. Oct. 7, 1879 marked on the receiver and has a 4-digit serial number on the tang (?). It has a heavy octagonal barrel. Condition is, I would guess, NRA "Fair". Thank you for any help you can give us.
Antique Remington I.D. Needed
- Thread starter Prof
- Start date
Mike Irwin
Staff
It's a Remington "Rolling Block."
Without more information, such as the caliber, it's impossible to tell, though, just exactly what model rifle it is. Remington made literally millions of these for both the domestic and foreign sporting markets as well as the foreign military market.
At one time Remington was the largest arms supplier in the world, and it was all built around the Remington Rolling Block rifle.
Then a little company in Germany called Mauserwerke came up with a better mousetrap and stole Remington's thunder.
Without more information, such as the caliber, it's impossible to tell, though, just exactly what model rifle it is. Remington made literally millions of these for both the domestic and foreign sporting markets as well as the foreign military market.
At one time Remington was the largest arms supplier in the world, and it was all built around the Remington Rolling Block rifle.
Then a little company in Germany called Mauserwerke came up with a better mousetrap and stole Remington's thunder.
Harley Nolden
Staff In Memoriam
Prof
Is this your rifle? If so, I can provide the assem/disassem w/photo if you will provide an email address.
Compliments:
Harley Nolden's Institute for Firearms Research
HJN
Is this your rifle? If so, I can provide the assem/disassem w/photo if you will provide an email address.
Compliments:
Harley Nolden's Institute for Firearms Research
HJN
There should be a link to some information at www.oldguns.com. If you're just looking for a picture of a Rolling Block, go to www.lonestarrifles.com for some beautiful examples.
Mike Irwin
Staff
Yes, falling block rifles have a slightly different block system.
In the rolling block the breech block moves back in an arc on a pivot pin.
In a falling block, the breechblock moves more or less straight down without the pronounced arc.
The Farquherson (sp?) rifles from the late 1800s through the 1900s were falling block rifles.
Sharps paper cartridge black powder rifles were falling block rifles; the cartridge rifles may have been falling blocks, as well.
The most modern falling block rifles I can thing of are the Ruger No. 3 (out of production) and the Ruger No. 1.
In the rolling block the breech block moves back in an arc on a pivot pin.
In a falling block, the breechblock moves more or less straight down without the pronounced arc.
The Farquherson (sp?) rifles from the late 1800s through the 1900s were falling block rifles.
Sharps paper cartridge black powder rifles were falling block rifles; the cartridge rifles may have been falling blocks, as well.
The most modern falling block rifles I can thing of are the Ruger No. 3 (out of production) and the Ruger No. 1.
Mike: From your description, this is definitely a falling-block rifle. We found another inscription "Hepburn" on the side. Another poster on another site felt this might be a Remington-Hepburn which was a falling-block military rifle produced at the same time as the rolling-block rifles.
Harley: No, this rifle belongs to a friend. I will have him e-mail you with more particulars.
Sorry I didn't know barrel length, caliber, etc. But thank you all for your assistance and information!
Harley: No, this rifle belongs to a friend. I will have him e-mail you with more particulars.
Sorry I didn't know barrel length, caliber, etc. But thank you all for your assistance and information!
Mike Irwin
Staff
Prof.,
If it says Hepburn on it, it is definitely a Remington Hepburn.
Does the lever look something like this?
Remington Hepburn picture
I'd forgotten totally about the Remington Hepburn and just locked into the Rolling Block because they are so much more common.
Had I read your original message a LITTLE MORE CLOSELY :0 I would have realized that you were talking about a different critter. My bad.
Anyway, the Hepburn wasn't nearly as popular as a military rifle, and saw most of its success as a sporting rifle in the US.
If it says Hepburn on it, it is definitely a Remington Hepburn.
Does the lever look something like this?
Remington Hepburn picture
I'd forgotten totally about the Remington Hepburn and just locked into the Rolling Block because they are so much more common.
Had I read your original message a LITTLE MORE CLOSELY :0 I would have realized that you were talking about a different critter. My bad.
Anyway, the Hepburn wasn't nearly as popular as a military rifle, and saw most of its success as a sporting rifle in the US.
Mike Irwin
Staff
Prof,
Is there a caliber marking on it? The Hepburns were apparently made in quite a few calibers, from .32-40 all the way up to the big .45s.
If there's no caliber marking on the gun itself, what does the caliber appear to be, judging by the hole in the muzzle?
From the fact that this gun has a heavy octagon barrel, I'd bet that it is a commercial sporting rifle, as the military versions had round barrels.
Is there a caliber marking on it? The Hepburns were apparently made in quite a few calibers, from .32-40 all the way up to the big .45s.
If there's no caliber marking on the gun itself, what does the caliber appear to be, judging by the hole in the muzzle?
From the fact that this gun has a heavy octagon barrel, I'd bet that it is a commercial sporting rifle, as the military versions had round barrels.