The Rolling block was an amazing rifle in its time. Available in every wanted calibre and relatively fast shooting, reliable, ease uf use and maintenance.
Very interesting history. Remington was the Mauser equivalent in the late 19th century. So many nations equipped their armies with rolling blocks. I’m actually here for the history. The shooting is nice but secondary.
An amazing period of development considering that the US purchased 500,000 Enfield Pattern 53 percussion lock rifled muskets in 1865 alone (according to an article I read earlier - may be wrong) This design is so far ahead of the Snider conversions that the British army were being re-equipped with at this stage prior to the Martini-Henry appearing. The Remington rifles were purchased by Egypt in the end as I recall; I am sure they are mentioned in "The River War" by Winston Churchill - an excellent read that is worth seeking out. Many thanks for the great video, most illuminating. A bayonet fitted shooting match next please!
Interesting to see you drop that cartridge. I am an archaeologist and we track the location of firing lines/positions by the dropped and lost cartridges. You, an experienced shooter, lost a round under the pressure of preforming a mad minute. Imagine your average conscript when the other side is shooting back.
With all the similarities between 11mm type cartridges is there a problem with trying to use the incorrect ones or are the guns clearly marked ? I ask this as I've seen old guns with absolutely no marks on them whatsoever so....do you have a method for chamber measurement?
The French also purchased a number of Gatling guns but by the time it arrived the war was nearly over there was no record of any victory over the Germans.
I have an Egyptian rifle that is identical to the one in the National Army Museum (that one is a pick-up from Tel el Kebir). It's in really good condition with a blued barrel and mounts and tinned finish on the receiver plus it has the yataghan bayonet. I wonder if it was one that ended up in France though it has US inspection marks on the stock, I'm confused!
US inspection marks on the stock are normal, but not the blued barrel. Check if it isn't a 8 mm Lebel rebarelled rifle, as these ones were blued, though it wasn't egyptian models. Rifles buyed by France all had a in the white finish, and yours may well be one which ended in France, as if it found its way to Egypt, it would have very visible egyptian markings in arabic, not to speak of its condition (egyptian used Rolling Blocks have been intensively used and are often worn out). My own Egyptian has been found in France and has the US stock marks. Its bayonet, however, comes from Egypt, and has egyptian markings, in this case a serial number, in arabic on its sheath.
Hi Laurent, thanks for the comments. The one I have is definitley in .43 as I have one inert round of Egyptian ammo, the rifle is in storage but I was able to take another look and it is possible the barrel has turned blue-brown with age, it's hard to tell. I know that Remington re-started the contract to Egypt after 1875 and Tel el Kebir (where the National Army Museum got theirs) was in 1882 so it probably comes from that period. If it was captured by the British it might explain it;s good condition? The bayonet fits correctly but isn't compatible with the Chassepot interestingly.@@laurentdevaux5617
Magnifico! I have two questions: 1) Was possible, in theory of course, to convert some of the various batches to 11mm Gras? 2) Can we hope for a similar video on the carabines?
1) In theory yes although the RBs were all sold off by 1873. 2) Probably not, the information on the carbines is rather sketchy and in most cases not accurately distinguished from the rifles.
@@MichaelJohnson-tw7dq Firstly foreign governments, then arms traders and finally auctioned off to private citizens. Pretty much everything that was imported was sold off again.
@@thebotrchap Thanks for the quick reply. Do you know which governments bought them? Btw, I enjoy your work. You have good coverage of some interesting topics.
@thebotrchap I have a Percussion Eyetailon copy of the 1863 carbine. It's an OK shooter. Being able to make cartridges with just a mold, lead, cloth or paper is a bit of an advantage over a metallic cartridge. As far as keeping your troops supplied with ammo away from the supply depot
Few people know that Napoléon III, far from being the idiot many said he was, immediately perceived the qualities of the Rolling Block, and if the production of the Chassepot had not yet already begin, this rifle would have become the French army standard rifle. Just a few months too late... anyway, the fact that the French army made an intensive use of it in 1870-71 and even during WWI in a 8mm Lebel converted version is a kind of aknowledgement the emperor was right...
It's the history part I find most interesting, Really appreciate your work 'Auld Chap' PS I'm irish irish as in proper gaelic speaking no flaffing about irish , My great great grandmother was part of the new irish she came from Scotland obviously she's dead now but I'm hoping in another hundred years or so she might be considered irish not that she minds but it'd be nice 'New Irish' my auld irish Arse
I got a little lost here, I have an Egyptian model marked in Arabic, I am trying to figure out the proper bayonet to look for, if you could help point me in the right direction, Thank You.
If it gets really grimy and gummed up then yes there is a small possibility of it happening and causing a cartridge to fire when you snap the breech block shut but still unlocked. In fact the Spanish license built Reformado pattern rifles have a small lever built into the breech block that cams back the firing pin automatically when you open the action.
Bonjour vos vidéos sont formidables mais elles seraient encore mieux si vous les faisiez en version française; j'espére que vous exaucerez mon voeu : c'est la saison; cordialement
Bonjour, j'ai l'habitude de toujours faire une version française 🙂 Pour des raisons administratives elles sortent quelques jours après la version anglaise. Elles sont répertoriés dans la playlist "BotR en Français", quoique il faut que je vérifie si elles sont en effet toutes dedans 😅
@@thebotrchap Yes, but you can still found some in France... I have one made before august 1870 with its bayonet, in a very good condition though the bore shows this rifle has seen a lot of service. I found them together and, interesting fact, the bayonet sheath bears a serial number in arabic
@@laurentdevaux5617 The OP is not just referring to the Rolling Blocks but ALL the emergency guns. Of course some remain in France but the bulk was sold on.
@@thebotrchap Maybe, but anyway an Egyptian Rolling Block can still be relatively easily found here, when a Tabatière is very rare now. And very expensive too...
I’m positively here for the talking
The Rolling block was an amazing rifle in its time. Available in every wanted calibre and relatively fast shooting, reliable, ease uf use and maintenance.
And reasonably soldier-resistant!*
* nothing is soldier-proof
Very interesting history. Remington was the Mauser equivalent in the late 19th century. So many nations equipped their armies with rolling blocks. I’m actually here for the history. The shooting is nice but secondary.
Clicked for the mad minute, stayed for the fascinating history.
In 1870/1871 the Remington Rolling Block is a really high quality military rifle to end up with on such short notice.
As much as I love the Chassepot, given the choice postwar I would have ditched it in favour of RBs, either US or French made under license.
Been waiting for the English version, excellent presentation.
The English version launched first on Friday 🤔
An amazing period of development considering that the US purchased 500,000 Enfield Pattern 53 percussion lock rifled muskets in 1865 alone (according to an article I read earlier - may be wrong) This design is so far ahead of the Snider conversions that the British army were being re-equipped with at this stage prior to the Martini-Henry appearing. The Remington rifles were purchased by Egypt in the end as I recall; I am sure they are mentioned in "The River War" by Winston Churchill - an excellent read that is worth seeking out.
Many thanks for the great video, most illuminating. A bayonet fitted shooting match next please!
Excellent video! Loved both the story and the demonstration. Thanks for posting this!
Thank so much for showcasing your rolling block. Enjoyed the rifle, bayonet, ammo and last but not least, the history. Well done !
I saw one of these for sale about 15 years ago for 700 dollars and it was in excellent condition and I should have bought it
"Ooh, shiney!" Napoleon III in a nutshell.
Yes, I did appreciate that little bit.
It’s quite amazing how far and wide the Remington Rolling Block went. Maybe someday I might find an original or get my hands on a Pedersoli.
I'm keeping an eye out for a rolling block. There are repros, but the quality seems all over the map.
Argentina bought 75.000 Remington rifles in 11 mm Spanish
With the RRB the list of countries that didn't use it is shorter than the list of countries who did 😅
Interesting video Chat.... looking forward to more of your work.
I know the thumb ejection and cocking looks good on paper but by crikey that must be tiring compared to a Martini.
Well done Chap. Keep up the good work.
First class class young Chap. Thank you.
In the snip showing you fitting the bayonet do I hear Corp. Jones announcing "They don't like it up 'em"?
Don't panic !
Lovin the history of the rifle and the minute with chappie
Thank you, lots of info mashed unto that.
That bayonet did make quite a satisfying noise.
11:46 : I'm pretty sure that The Chap says "bad minute" instead of "mad minute."
If I did it's not wrong
Tks great video.
Really interesting, thanks Chap.
Some Great Info , Many Thanks , Great Video 💯💥💥💥💥💥💥💥
Very cool rifle, would love to have any of those you mentioned.
Interesting to see you drop that cartridge. I am an archaeologist and we track the location of firing lines/positions by the dropped and lost cartridges. You, an experienced shooter, lost a round under the pressure of preforming a mad minute. Imagine your average conscript when the other side is shooting back.
Yeah it hung up in the loop in the pouch and I didn’t have a full grip on it. It’s still better than fumbling of loose rounds
Rolling Blocks are very nice.
I see what you did there...😏😎 "WAR WERE DECLARED!"
wow it looks in great shape
As always, the video is very interesting and impressive, thank you for that. What book did you recommend on the topic?
Umm, a French one - Les Remington Rolling-Block dans l'armée Française - Philippe Mouret - Éditions du Brevail - ISBN 978-2-491741-34-1
Tanks. @@thebotrchap
With all the similarities between 11mm type cartridges is there a problem with trying to use the incorrect ones or are the guns clearly marked ? I ask this as I've seen old guns with absolutely no marks on them whatsoever so....do you have a method for chamber measurement?
That's just it. There are no markings. Mismatched guns and ammo was a very real problem in the conflict.
You can cast the chamber. There are alloys specifically for this.
Very interesting and informative.
I’m a simple man. I see a firearms video even remotely related to Egypt, I have to watch it.
☝️😎👍 🇪🇬
The French also purchased a number of Gatling guns but by the time it arrived the war was nearly over there was no record of any victory over the Germans.
There’s a whole bunch of stuff that never made it out of the dockyards.
I have an Egyptian rifle that is identical to the one in the National Army Museum (that one is a pick-up from Tel el Kebir). It's in really good condition with a blued barrel and mounts and tinned finish on the receiver plus it has the yataghan bayonet. I wonder if it was one that ended up in France though it has US inspection marks on the stock, I'm confused!
US inspection marks on the stock are normal, but not the blued barrel. Check if it isn't a 8 mm Lebel rebarelled rifle, as these ones were blued, though it wasn't egyptian models. Rifles buyed by France all had a in the white finish, and yours may well be one which ended in France, as if it found its way to Egypt, it would have very visible egyptian markings in arabic, not to speak of its condition (egyptian used Rolling Blocks have been intensively used and are often worn out). My own Egyptian has been found in France and has the US stock marks. Its bayonet, however, comes from Egypt, and has egyptian markings, in this case a serial number, in arabic on its sheath.
Hi Laurent, thanks for the comments. The one I have is definitley in .43 as I have one inert round of Egyptian ammo, the rifle is in storage but I was able to take another look and it is possible the barrel has turned blue-brown with age, it's hard to tell. I know that Remington re-started the contract to Egypt after 1875 and Tel el Kebir (where the National Army Museum got theirs) was in 1882 so it probably comes from that period. If it was captured by the British it might explain it;s good condition? The bayonet fits correctly but isn't compatible with the Chassepot interestingly.@@laurentdevaux5617
Magnifico!
I have two questions: 1) Was possible, in theory of course, to convert some of the various batches to 11mm Gras? 2) Can we hope for a similar video on the carabines?
1) In theory yes although the RBs were all sold off by 1873.
2) Probably not, the information on the carbines is rather sketchy and in most cases not accurately distinguished from the rifles.
@@thebotrchap to whom were they sold off?
@@MichaelJohnson-tw7dq Firstly foreign governments, then arms traders and finally auctioned off to private citizens. Pretty much everything that was imported was sold off again.
@@thebotrchap Thanks for the quick reply. Do you know which governments bought them? Btw, I enjoy your work. You have good coverage of some interesting topics.
Very slick with that rifle! I loved the history as well. Fancy pig sticker, or I guess “swein” sticker as well.
How many sharps rifles/carbines did France use in the war?
My one source says 7334 percussion and 1275 in 50-70. I don't know the split between rifles and carbines.
@thebotrchap I have a Percussion Eyetailon copy of the 1863 carbine. It's an OK shooter. Being able to make cartridges with just a mold, lead, cloth or paper is a bit of an advantage over a metallic cartridge. As far as keeping your troops supplied with ammo away from the supply depot
Aloha; brilliant! Mele Kalikikmaka! Mahalo
Few people know that Napoléon III, far from being the idiot many said he was, immediately perceived the qualities of the Rolling Block, and if the production of the Chassepot had not yet already begin, this rifle would have become the French army standard rifle. Just a few months too late... anyway, the fact that the French army made an intensive use of it in 1870-71 and even during WWI in a 8mm Lebel converted version is a kind of aknowledgement the emperor was right...
It's the history part I find most interesting,
Really appreciate your work 'Auld Chap'
PS I'm irish irish as in proper gaelic speaking no flaffing about irish ,
My great great grandmother was part of the new irish she came from Scotland obviously she's dead now but I'm hoping in another hundred years or so she might be considered irish not that she minds but it'd be nice
'New Irish' my auld irish Arse
If you ran out of ammo you could use it to pole vault away!
Or a pike to keep those nasty poncy cavalry at bay
How much do these sell for now? I have one and very hard to find information on
Oh no! I'm emergency issued a Rolling Block! The horror!
I know right! In some barracks late 1871 - "Now now privat Dupont you have to hand it in and you get this shiny chassepot" " I don't wanna sarge!"
I got a little lost here, I have an Egyptian model marked in Arabic, I am trying to figure out the proper bayonet to look for, if you could help point me in the right direction, Thank You.
J’attend la version française
Elle devrait suivre dans un jour ou deux. Le petit décalage semble améliorer la distribution.
Is there any risk of the firing pin being stuck, and causing an accident?
If it gets really grimy and gummed up then yes there is a small possibility of it happening and causing a cartridge to fire when you snap the breech block shut but still unlocked. In fact the Spanish license built Reformado pattern rifles have a small lever built into the breech block that cams back the firing pin automatically when you open the action.
thanks I was looking for such a mechanism@@thebotrchap
I was passed the bayonet for this down from my grandad and now I know what it is to
Bonjour vos vidéos sont formidables mais elles seraient encore mieux si vous les faisiez en version française; j'espére que vous exaucerez mon voeu : c'est la saison; cordialement
Bonjour, j'ai l'habitude de toujours faire une version française 🙂 Pour des raisons administratives elles sortent quelques jours après la version anglaise. Elles sont répertoriés dans la playlist "BotR en Français", quoique il faut que je vérifie si elles sont en effet toutes dedans 😅
Je vous remercie de ces précisions@@thebotrchap
Who'd skip this, the whole thing is interesting. Though I do have an interest in the Franco Prussian war .
The irony. France would buy rolling blocks all over again in ww1.
I did mention that at the end 😉 It was indeed the start of a beautiful relationship 😁
Not in french ?
Patience l'ami, ça viendra!
Ah impec.@@thebotrchap
That is a bayonet.
The Chap in his red kepi training for the inevitable the Prussian invasion. 😉
Pretty!
vive la dif·fé·rence
France bought anything that can shoot then
What happened to them all?
Most of them were auctioned off in 1871-1873, mostly to Belgian and American surplus dealers.
@@thebotrchap Yes, but you can still found some in France... I have one made before august 1870 with its bayonet, in a very good condition though the bore shows this rifle has seen a lot of service. I found them together and, interesting fact, the bayonet sheath bears a serial number in arabic
@@laurentdevaux5617 The OP is not just referring to the Rolling Blocks but ALL the emergency guns. Of course some remain in France but the bulk was sold on.
@@thebotrchap Maybe, but anyway an Egyptian Rolling Block can still be relatively easily found here, when a Tabatière is very rare now. And very expensive too...
Sneaky back door French
No French edition? I hope TH-cam's Almighty Algorithm hasn't made it not worth the effort.
Patience... It will come. Parallel launches were causing issues.