OT...45-70/100 rem rolling block

[donw]

gweeeee...i looked at one at a local gun store. it is one of the long barreled infantry models with the bayonet stud on the 3 o'clock position on the muzzle (which would date it to the circa 1900 era if i'm not mistaken) with the slding "ladder" sights. in all a very impressive rifle. surprisingly well balanced and light in hand

it makes me wonder how those guys did what they did with a weapon like that. (a single shot, that is) just the ammo and bayonet would be enouff to weigh down the average grunt of today i would think...i can't imagine trying to tote two hundred rounds of 45-70/100 or more and rations, clothing etc

i'm certain they would make a wonderful hunting rifle, too.

[JReed]

Most infantry of the day only carried what would fit in their cartridge box on their belt. But you are right those rifles are heavy but they shoot nice from the offhand. I like mine havent shot it much but after I can get some loads made up I will find out what it shoots best. How much were they asking for it?

Here is mine

[marlinman93]

Don't you mean .45-70-500? A 100 would be a real plinker round!

[J Miller]

Jeremy,

Nice Rolling Block.

What does the "25" on the butt stock mean? It looks like similar font to the numbers on my No4 Mk1*. And I don't know what they mean either.

Joe

[Mike D.]

Probably rack numbers.

[JReed]

Yep its a rack number dont know from where. This gun was a real pain to find info on. Turns out to be a NYS matlitia rifle in 45-70 not a lot of them out there wich is why it was so hard for me to find info. It shoots really nice just need to play with some loads.

[donw]

$575...if you're at pendleton, it's at "the shootist" in murriteta...

[JReed]

Thats a darn good price if the bbl is in good shape. No I am not at Pendleton right now I am out here in Indiana it will be a few years before I get back out there. If I was you I would snatch it up before some one else does.

[Sixgun]

Donw, If you can snag that RRB in a decent way (money wise) do it. Its better than any 401K plan. Just be sure it was not a RRB that was originally a foreign caliber and then rechambered and rebored.


Jeremy,
I happen to like old single shots rifles a lot and yours is a dandy. Most all of the old RRB rifles are in 43 Spanish or some other stupid foreign caliber. I live in an area that is rich in old guns and yours is very seldom seen--and when they are----big bucks! Tell me, how does it shoot?

[airedaleman]

Yep its a rack number dont know from where. This gun was a real pain to find info on. Turns out to be a NYS matlitia rifle in 45-70 not a lot of them out there wich is why it was so hard for me to find info. It shoots really nice just need to play with some loads.

Pain or not, it's still a really handsome rifle. Hope you have a real good time with it!

Mike

[adirondakjack]

Are you sure it is a NYS Militia rifle in .45? I have a NYS rifle, in .50-70, and as far as I know, NYS never bought the .45s, but rather kept the .50s until after they went over to the .30-40 Krag. Some .50s even made it to the S-A war, as the Krags hadn't been issued to all units yet.

If it is a .45-70 NYS rifle it is a rare "evaluation rifle" (never accepted for issue) and worth bucks. Contact the Remington Historical Society (sorry, no link, google them). These guys FOUND the mythical "secret room" full of Remington's records (big green for decades denied the existance of the old records so they wouldn't be bothered by folks asking. It got to the point where even the employees believed the legend, and nobody knew they existed anymore. But the local historical society dedicated to the Remmie history bugged em long and hard, and was finally allowed to search the old offices and found the "secret" room. All the old records are there, right from the "E. Remington and Sons" era forward. Much of it is now available online.

Meanwhile, back in 2008, old Remmies in .45 or .50 are not that hard to find. If ya intend one as a shooter, I highly recommend ya contact dave Higginbotham at Lone Star Rifles to chat about it. I sent my 1872(ish) .50-70 off to Dave for a once-over, trigger job (down to about 4 lbs), and secondary sear replacement. He pronounced it "carried much, shot little, sound as a dollar" and it's been a lotta fun since. it is NOT easy getting the 36" pipe enough lube with the original style bullet, but I habven't yet tried Swiss in it (which ought to do the trick vs Goex).


Note the stamped marks on the stock, just behind the receiver. On the other side are the regiment numbers. Mine was issued to an outfit near Buffalo. I added the tang sight of course (bedded it with acraglass and used the original stock bolt hole so no drilling on the ole gal)

[Ben_Rumson]

Jack...JR's Roller is Called the New York State Improved Model. Not that many were made...I have it listed in the book "The Rifle in America" authored by Phil Sharpe, he has down mfg'd 1877(?)-1879(?) It has all the features of the regular NYS except for being 45/70. I've seen pics of a Target Model NYS 45/70 that has a Buffington sight like on it like the later Trapdoor rifles.
I really enjoy my 50/70 too, but use smokeless (IMR4350) and Lee Liquid Alox lubed bullets that actually leave a lube star on the muzzle after snaking their way down that thin 36 inch tube.

[Ray Newman]

"Just be sure it was not a RRB that was originally a foreign caliber and then rechambered and rebored."
--Sixgun

Good advice. & in the late 1950's - early 1960's when some of these Rolling Blocks could be had for less than US $10.00, many were simply "re-chambered" by lengthening the chamber & then as sold as .45-70 Gov't.

More than a few years ago, a Fellow Shooter bought -- I believe -- a Danish model advertised by the seller as the same thing as a .45-70 Gov't. Sure thing. Cases usually split on initial firing or very soon after because of the larger dia. of the chamber. Bore was way oversized for a .458" dia slug.

When dealing w/ these old Rolling Blocks, caveat emptor runs doubly true. Over the years, I've noticed that some dealers just don't know & often rely on what they were told by the seller. Or they are trying to pull a fast one. For example: up here a Swede Roller, chambered in .45-90WCF had been advertised @ several gun shows as “a rare officer’s variation.” Upon closer examination, the rear sight was a Pedersoli & there was not any hint of wear on the 130 + year old barrel or action bluing or wood. Playing the dummy, I looked @ it & the dealer thought he had a live one -- telling me how accurate it was, very rare model, hard to find, bought it from the officer’s great grandson etc. He just looked @ me w/ an astounded look when I asked him why would Sweden which had metric caliber Rolling Blocks adopt an alleged officer’s model in a US calibre? Needless to say, he became real defensive & just about grabbed the rifle out of my hands.

Also, many are advertised as .43 Spanish or the 11.15 X 58R. Of course there were two .43 Spanish rounds ( the 11.15X 58R is a bottleneck; the other, the Reformado a 11.4X57R straight). Some erroneously claim the 43. Spanish/11.15X58R is the same as the .43 Mauser/11.15X60R. “43 Spanish” has become a catchall description because large numbers of Argentine Rolling Blocks were imported back into the US. Many of these rifles are in very good condition as they were arsenal re-furbished prior to storage.

Then there is the Egyptian Rolling Block.. Buffalo Arms Sells dies & brass for the various calibres, but shooting history can be expensive....
http://www.buffaloarms.com/

Info on old military rifles-- inc. Rolling Blocks -- by country:
http://www.militaryrifles.com/MAINIndx.htm

As Adirondack Jack posted, Dave H. of Lone Star is probably the most knowledgeable Rolling Block gunsmith in the US. http://www.lonestarrifle.com/

Adirondack Jack , in the early 1960’s I often went into NYC to look @ the surplus arms dealers wares. One had a deal going: buy a .50-70 NYS Militia Roller, he tossed in the bayonet & scabbard for free. Period haversacks were around US $2.00 - 3.00. I think the rifles were around US $10.00 - 12.00, carbines commanded a premium price of about $2.00 more. Sounds cheap now, but some complained that the price was too high for that old junk....

Like I said caveat emptor....

[JReed]

As Ben said it is a NYS improved the last date on the 3 line is Nov 7th 1871 very few were made I got lucky as heck getting my hands on this one. The BBl is the same length as the 50-70 models but it has a bit more meat to it due to the smaller bore it holds real steady in the standing.

Sixgun I have only put a hand full of rounds thru it they were 350gr handloads thanks to Old Ironsights. They shot well @ 100 yards didnt shoot for groups just wanted the old girl to make some noise. I am still collecting components so I can start working up some loads hopefully I can find a 500gr load that she likes.

I even have the Bayonet and scabbard I need to have the leather belt loop remade due to the sever dry roting of the leather.

[awp101]

Man I've been eyeing one of those NYSM .50-70s for some time now, this doesn't help.

Good looking hardware!