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Special Interests - Groups & Societies => BROW => Topic started by: Major 2 on December 05, 2020, 12:48:35 PM

Title: Sad Rolling Block
Post by: Major 2 on December 05, 2020, 12:48:35 PM
My Friendly FFL ( I do a lot of old gun repair & appraisals for them )
has customer that brought in a Remington Rolling block

Good part is it has great action and in very good cond.  , bright bore

bad news it was cut down at some point and sportified , the stock is sq. cut about 1 1/4" ahead of the rear barrel band.

and some WAG mounted a modern Weaver Scope .... The customer does not know what Caliber it is

So I been asked to cast the chamber ( Kerro Safe ) in hopes he can shoot it

I'll post some photo 

If it were mine I think I'd re-barrel it and re- stock it or repair it to Carbine length ...as a project
   
Title: Re: Sad Rolling Block
Post by: Oregon Bill on April 10, 2021, 07:21:30 AM
Major, what flavor o' rolling block did this turn out to be?
Title: Re: Sad Rolling Block
Post by: Major 2 on April 10, 2021, 08:30:36 AM
It was chambered in 43 Spanish
Title: Re: Sad Rolling Block
Post by: Dave T on April 10, 2021, 12:31:21 PM
From what I understand the 43 is kissin' cousin to the 44-77 Sharps. That would be an interesting cartridge/rifle to play with but the other things done to it (the idea of that scope on a RB makes me shudder - lol) present something of a problem. Since 43 Spanish isn't a cartridge you can run down to the gun shop and buy (even when gun shops had ammo) one wonders what the previous owner was thinking when he/she/it put that scope on. Curiouser and curiouser.

Dave
Title: Re: Sad Rolling Block
Post by: Drydock on April 10, 2021, 12:35:30 PM
Bubba is not to be understood!
Title: Re: Sad Rolling Block
Post by: Professor Marvel on April 10, 2021, 08:39:56 PM
Since 43 Spanish isn't a cartridge you can run down to the gun shop and buy (even when gun shops had ammo) one wonders what the previous owner was thinking when he/she/it put that scope on. Curiouser and curiouser.

Dave
Re the scope...
Bad Eyes?  If it was already cutdown, as a deer carbine, the owner most likely saw no harm.

I myself am running into that issue... Anything I want to shoot past 75 yards is getting a scope put on it, but in a manner that is not irredeemable. Ascetics and originality be damned, if I can't put the roundinto a teacup with my eyes at 175 yards it becomes a museum piece.

I see a progression in these old rifles.
Milsurp "fill in the blank" gets offered via Bannerman, hardware store or mail-order at $1.59 a pop.
Makes a great first deer rifle for the kid! Ah, but it is too long and too heavy, so we cut down the stock
And the barrel... Makes a satisfactory cheap deer carbine.

That crappy looking but good enough carbine gets passed around the family, may end up as a wagon gun or loaner, pretty soon gets shoved in the closet, if not tossed out. After all more modern stuff , betterer stuff is available by now, ( 1920?  1930? 1950? )

Eventually it comes out of the closet or attic. A more mature sort with the funds available might try to rebarrell, restock, or restore it... A more frugal fellow with less disposable cash just wants to make
G-grandpa's  "deer gun" shoot again and take another deer!  Or, turn it into the cheap first rifle for the latest sprout.... Again ... But with a scope for easy sighting....

Not everybody has $200 to drop on juniors first deer rifle, especially if he/she might not carry on the hunting tradition for whatever reason...  Have you seen the price of a new water heater lately? I shudder...

Better to have it shooting than to turn into a wall decoration.

Yhs
Prof marvbles
Title: Re: Sad Rolling Block
Post by: Drydock on April 10, 2021, 09:56:03 PM
True.   A wise man once wrote: "History is not what it used to be."
Title: Re: Sad Rolling Block
Post by: Major 2 on April 11, 2021, 12:14:46 AM
You may want to avert your eyes  :(

Note: the aluminum PICATINNY mount for the scope , ( barrel is drilled for it w/ 3 screws ), there is also some kind of ramp front sight and a V  block rear sight.

 ::)
Title: Re: Sad Rolling Block
Post by: Professor Marvel on April 11, 2021, 01:46:33 AM
You may want to avert your eyes  :(

Note: the aluminum PICATINNY mount for the scope , ( barrel is drilled for it w/ 3 screws ), there is also some kind of ramp front sight and a V  block rear sight.

 ::)

Coooooooool .... that would go well with this tactical 1858

(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/I9IAAOSwH9he532O/s-l1600.jpg)


if its a pre '98 I would offer the man $50 ....

cuz I have a welder and a whole box of green mountain barrels... !

yhs
prof grumblebunny
Title: Re: Sad Rolling Block
Post by: DeaconKC on April 11, 2021, 08:31:57 AM
That's just the sort of mud puppy I love to redeem! Seriously, if he would sell, I would like to make him an offer.
Title: Re: Sad Rolling Block
Post by: Major 2 on April 11, 2021, 11:35:41 AM
I didn't meet the guy, it was my FFL that commissioned me , I returned the carbine & chamber cast to the store.
Gave some passing thought to the project myself ....re-barrel & rechamber find forstock , but told the guy did not wish to sell it...
 
I can ask again , but I think it was someway an heirloom ...
Title: Re: Sad Rolling Block
Post by: LongWalker on April 11, 2021, 05:40:43 PM
I've got one of those fine rolling blocks chambered in 43 Spanish.  My plan was to strip it for the action, and trade it off at a gun show.  But here's someone's big chance to save this Priceless Piece of History:  I'll sell the whole rifle for just twice what I expect to ask for the action (since it is currently a "Priceless Piece of History", and a stripped action is just a "Bubba Event").   I'll be here (listening to the crickets) waiting for the calls . . . .   

Sorry, pet peeve.  In 40 years of hearing people complain about modifications other people have done to their firearms, purchased with their money, I have yet to see anyone offer to buy the darn thing before it is chopped--even when it is offered for sale before the modifications are done.  Just a guess, but the guy who cut it down might have been perfectly willing to trade it--uncut--for a 94 Winchester.

So act now.  Quantities are limited, and they aren't making History any more!
Title: Re: Sad Rolling Block
Post by: DeaconKC on April 12, 2021, 02:01:39 PM
There are 2 RBs at my LGS right now, both unmolested. Both over $1,000 so I can't swing that right now. So, I am willing to put in some "sweat equity" to have one I can shoot.
Title: Re: Sad Rolling Block
Post by: KenH on April 13, 2021, 10:53:01 AM
I know it's blasphemy, but I have a Rolling Block rebarreled to 45-70 with a scope, and even a 45-70 Trapdoor with a scope.  With my eyes I could barely see to hit a paper plate at 50 yds with iron sights.  I have found with tang mounted sights I can actually shoot to 50 yds ok, and have held <1" group at 50 with my 1874 Sharps with tang sight.

There are reasons to mount a scope if a shooter is wanted rather than wall hanger.  Myself, I'm not much into Wall Hangers - that's like a safe queen only taken out to clean.

Ken H>
Title: Re: Sad Rolling Block
Post by: Coffinmaker on April 13, 2021, 01:24:54 PM

 :)  PLUS ONE too KenH   ;)

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