Cool old rifle! The Rem rolling block was indeed strong, solid action/rifle. Doesn't have the glamour of the Sharps, but the Rem. was a significant rifle in it's day. Neat history attached to the rifle as well. Thanks for sharing.
I bought it about 20 years ago. At the time, I knew very little about the Rolling Block Remingtons. But they were pretty common rifles for hunting, target, and military in their day.
I have a NY state militia rolling block as well. It was issued to my great grandfather at the University of Nebraska for ROTC pre World War 1. It sat around until last year when it was re-discovered. Bought some pre-loaded ammo off of Buffalo Arms for about three bucks a pop. Fun gun to shoot but expensive as anything.
The .50-70 Springfield or Government was the official U.S. Military caliber from 1866 to 1873. This caliber saw extensive use during the Modoc Indian War (1872-1873) primarily in the Model 1868 U.S. Springfield Trapdoor Springfield rifle and the Model 1868 Sharps Carbine conversion. I'm uncertain if any .50-70 Remington Rolling Block rifles saw action during this six month conflict inside the Lava Beds (Now Lava Beds National Monument) south of Tulelake, California. This straddles the Siskiyou/Modoc County line in Northeastern California. In 1873 the U.S. Army officially adopted the .45-70 Springfield. Both .50-70 and .45-70 Springfield ammo was loaded at Frankford Arsenal.
Shep - (sorry this is long, but hope you enjoy this) You bet I know how that action works!! You bring me back to my childhood with my Mattel Rolling Block Cavalry Carbine, just like the real thing. We'd put together Mattel Shootin' Shells - those were actual brass cases that had a spring inside, and the plastic bullets had two little plastic legs that went into the case and compressed the spring with two little snaps that clipped under the bent inside over edge of the case (also kept the spring in - ingenious). Then you peeled off a Stick 'em Cap and stuck it on the head of the "cartridge". When chambered and the action, just like your rolling block, fired the chamber had a circular ridge that hit two outside tabs on the legs that released the bullet down the barrel as the cap went off. Just like today, I wanted a lot of extra ammo for my rifle (and lots of accessories - Mattel's marketing) as we shot down toy cowboys and indians hidden in card house forts and teepees…just like in the movies - endless hours of delight that today's kids will never know (even the word "gun" is taboo in schools). Best Regards to ya...
It was VERY outstanding. Started young boys out with the concept of reloading as you had to seat each bullet into the case and put a primer cap on the bottom - almost like real reloading. I had LOTS of those bullets…at room ranges, there wasn't a toy soldier safe from those huge plastic bullets...
I am glad that kids can play with airsoft and paintball now. It looked for a while like there would be a ban on pointing fingers. Sadly your state doesn't like that either.
I had something similar when I was a kid. Looked like a Springfield trap door carbine. But there was no spring in the cartridges that it used. The cartridge was a short metal tube. Had a place to slip a cap into on one end and had a hole drilled through to the other end. The bullet was a very light hollow piece of soft plastic. It slipped over the other end of the cartridge. Firing the cap actually propelled the plastic bullet. Was great fun. But those soft plastic bullets tended to split after they had been pushed onto the cartridge a few times.
Some of the NYSM rolling blocks came with a Buffington rear sight as an improvement for marksmen. There was also a special Creedmoor version for competition with a rubber padded butt, Buffington sight, and other improvements
I just picked one up in a trade with some ammo, brass and reloading dies. Other than a replaced rear sight, it looks to be all original NY militia contract with unit markings on the right side of the receiver
Back quite a few years ago I came across an 1874 Remington Rolling Block action that was a Swedish Gustaf rifle. I have been trying to make it into a working rifle but have had trouble getting parts for it. I would love to make a .50-70 or .50-90 rifle out of it.
1:05 is that a ram rods? if yes, is that means it can be used as muzzle loader? I'm sorry for this silly question, I have no idea about this gun at all because I'm from a country that is not allowed firearm in citizen possession.
I just bought one of these today. 50/70 carbine. I have tow (2) rounds from another vender. I reload everything I shoot. Do you have a favorite place to get brass, dies? I am not sure I want to shoot the two old shells I got. They look too new. Thanks for any info. Cheers.
I think Lyman still makes dies for 50/70. I think Starline makes brass. You can probably get both from MidwayUSA. www.midwayusa.com www.midwayusa.com/find?userSearchQuery=50%2F70
it looks like a NY militia RRB , with the horizontal tab at the breechblock , a feature present also in late no.5 actions . The NY model had a variation in the mechanism , after closing the breechblock they would stay in safe until cocked .
This rifle is nice. You did a great job in presentation. It may not be a NY contract model as they had a device that automatically dropped the hammer to half cock; supposedly for safety. It is disconcerting when it happens. My NY Militia/ National guard model has this feature. They were used into the early 20th century by many official State militias before 1903. Then there a standardizing of weapons and the militias were renamed National Guard. Most of the State NGs were given hand me down Krags and Trapdoors. Your rifle was probably sold off then as a hunting weapon.Perhaps the hammer drop device was removed then as well. It is a great deer round. I have seen a Sharps converted to 50 70 drop a deer in its tracks.Those big lead slugs sure do hit hard. All the best.
Many years ago I went into an old general store. They had a barrel full of Remington rolling block rifles in 43 Spanish and 7.62 54r Russian Moslin rifles for $10 each ! I got a Moslin rifle as I could get shells for it, but left the rolling blocks behind.
These days 43 Spanish is even harder to find than 50/70 Government ammo. But any big bore Remington rolling block would probably be worth $400+ these days as long as it was in working condition.
is that ammo you have there charged w/smokeless powder? When is the last time you fired the rifle? With that giant hunk of lead and somewhat low or slow velocity the holdover at 100yds must be 1ft or greater?
The cartridges are loaded with black powder. Load them myself. It has been a long time since I fired it. Probably at least 10 years ago. Have only fired about 20 rounds since I bought it. Have never fired it at more than 25 yards.
Custer was carrying a 50-70 rolling block at the Little Big Horn. The gun has apparently never surfaced. I don't know if anybody would know for sure anyway. Don't know if the serial no. on Custer's gun is known.
It was common to call cartridges by such names. But it often was not the "Official" name of the cartridge. For example 44 W.C.F. (Winchester Center Fire) was and still is called 44/40. 32 W.C.F. was called 32-20. With the 1st number being the bore diameter and the 2nd number being the amount of black powder used in typical loads. But there are exceptions to this. 38 W.C.F. (38-40) was a 40 caliber that used 38 grains of black powder. Probably so named because there was already another 40 caliber round called the 40 W.C.F. the 40-82.
Great old rifle ... I've been watching Larry Potterfield over the last few months rechamber a few of these to center-fire calibers ... check out the MidwayUSA videos here on TH-cam if you don't already subscribe.
A lot of the smaller caliber, early rolling blocks were rimfire. Like 32RF. Dixie Gun Works sells conversion cartridges for old rimfire guns. As I understand it, the brass is machined from bar stock and uses a 22 rimfire blank in place of a primer. Take a look at Dixie`s web site.
Cool old rifle! The Rem rolling block was indeed strong, solid action/rifle. Doesn't have the glamour of the Sharps, but the Rem. was a significant rifle in it's day. Neat history attached to the rifle as well. Thanks for sharing.
I bought it about 20 years ago. At the time, I knew very little about the Rolling Block Remingtons. But they were pretty common rifles for hunting, target, and military in their day.
Have a sharps carbine as well but love my rollingblock a bit more
That's a nice old rifle. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Thanks.
Thank you very much sir! Great info about the Rolling Block!
You`re welcome, and thank you.
I have a NY state militia rolling block as well. It was issued to my great grandfather at the University of Nebraska for ROTC pre World War 1.
It sat around until last year when it was re-discovered. Bought some pre-loaded ammo off of Buffalo Arms for about three bucks a pop.
Fun gun to shoot but expensive as anything.
Brendan Wright You should do a video with it sometime.
Great old rifle. I love rolling blocks but have never owned one.
Thanks.
i love this rifle a true historic piece of art
That sure looks like a fun gun to own. I'd be plenty happy with one in that condition.
Thanks.
That's an interesting rifle and a big-ass round. Another one I've never seen before.Thanks for showing it Shep.
Thanks.
WOW you always come up with the greatest guns. Great video Shep
Thanks.
Another nice one Shep!
Thanks.
Very nice classic sir,thanks for sharing.
Thanks.
Now that's a rifle! Love these old guns.
Thanks.
Very interesting rifle. Graduating from the mini ball to that must have been something to see.
Innovations were being made at a fast pace about then. At lest compared to earlier times.
Awesome piece of History 😁👍☕
it looks like the Big brother to the #6 Remington
All the Remington rolling blocks were pretty much the same design. Just scaled up or down in size.
Nice old rifle, even with all the new guns these days to me there is still nothing like shooting a old classic gun like that.
Thanks.
I have owned 2 of these both in 20 gauge both were good guns and shot well.one was 1878 Remington and sons other was later Remingtons fun to shoot.
They made many different variations
The .50-70 Springfield or Government was the official U.S. Military caliber from
1866 to 1873. This caliber saw extensive use during the Modoc Indian War
(1872-1873) primarily in the Model 1868 U.S. Springfield Trapdoor Springfield
rifle and the Model 1868 Sharps Carbine conversion. I'm uncertain if any
.50-70 Remington Rolling Block rifles saw action during this six month conflict
inside the Lava Beds (Now Lava Beds National Monument) south of Tulelake,
California. This straddles the Siskiyou/Modoc County line in Northeastern
California. In 1873 the U.S. Army officially adopted the .45-70 Springfield. Both
.50-70 and .45-70 Springfield ammo was loaded at Frankford Arsenal.
Thanks for the history. I enjoyed it.
Beautiful rifle.
Thanks.
Shep - (sorry this is long, but hope you enjoy this) You bet I know how that action works!! You bring me back to my childhood with my Mattel Rolling Block Cavalry Carbine, just like the real thing. We'd put together Mattel Shootin' Shells - those were actual brass cases that had a spring inside, and the plastic bullets had two little plastic legs that went into the case and compressed the spring with two little snaps that clipped under the bent inside over edge of the case (also kept the spring in - ingenious). Then you peeled off a Stick 'em Cap and stuck it on the head of the "cartridge". When chambered and the action, just like your rolling block, fired the chamber had a circular ridge that hit two outside tabs on the legs that released the bullet down the barrel as the cap went off. Just like today, I wanted a lot of extra ammo for my rifle (and lots of accessories - Mattel's marketing) as we shot down toy cowboys and indians hidden in card house forts and teepees…just like in the movies - endless hours of delight that today's kids will never know (even the word "gun" is taboo in schools). Best Regards to ya...
That sounds like a great toy.
It was VERY outstanding. Started young boys out with the concept of reloading as you had to seat each bullet into the case and put a primer cap on the bottom - almost like real reloading. I had LOTS of those bullets…at room ranges, there wasn't a toy soldier safe from those huge plastic bullets...
I am glad that kids can play with airsoft and paintball now. It looked for a while like there would be a ban on pointing fingers. Sadly your state doesn't like that either.
I had something similar when I was a kid. Looked like a Springfield trap door carbine. But there was no spring in the cartridges that it used. The cartridge was a short metal tube. Had a place to slip a cap into on one end and had a hole drilled through to the other end.
The bullet was a very light hollow piece of soft plastic. It slipped over the other end of the cartridge. Firing the cap actually propelled the plastic bullet.
Was great fun. But those soft plastic bullets tended to split after they had been pushed onto the cartridge a few times.
Beautiful rifle you have there
Thanks.
Some of the NYSM rolling blocks came with a Buffington rear sight as an improvement for marksmen. There was also a special Creedmoor version for competition with a rubber padded butt, Buffington sight, and other improvements
Thanks for the info.
Breech block, not loading gate :-)
Nice rifle mate!
I find Rolling block to be more practical than the falling block.
Personal preference.
I just picked one up in a trade with some ammo, brass and reloading dies. Other than a replaced rear sight, it looks to be all original NY militia contract with unit markings on the right side of the receiver
You should do a video with it sometime.
Back quite a few years ago I came across an 1874 Remington Rolling Block action that was a Swedish Gustaf rifle. I have been trying to make it into a working rifle but have had trouble getting parts for it. I would love to make a .50-70 or .50-90 rifle out of it.
1:05 is that a ram rods? if yes, is that means it can be used as muzzle loader? I'm sorry for this silly question, I have no idea about this gun at all because I'm from a country that is not allowed firearm in citizen possession.
It was for cleaning.
thank you, make sense tho
Rolling blocks are awesome :) Fire & Ice
Thanks.
thank you for the info sir
I just bought one of these today. 50/70 carbine.
I have tow (2) rounds from another vender. I reload everything I shoot.
Do you have a favorite place to get brass, dies?
I am not sure I want to shoot the two old shells I got. They look too new.
Thanks for any info. Cheers.
I think Lyman still makes dies for 50/70. I think Starline makes brass.
You can probably get both from MidwayUSA.
www.midwayusa.com
www.midwayusa.com/find?userSearchQuery=50%2F70
it looks like a NY militia RRB , with the horizontal tab at the breechblock , a feature present also in late no.5 actions .
The NY model had a variation in the mechanism , after closing the breechblock they would stay in safe until cocked .
Thanks.
This rifle is nice. You did a great job in presentation. It may not be a NY contract model as they had a device that automatically dropped the hammer to half cock; supposedly for safety. It is disconcerting when it happens. My NY Militia/ National guard model has this feature. They were used into the early 20th century by many official State militias before 1903. Then there a standardizing of weapons and the militias were renamed National Guard. Most of the State NGs were given hand me down Krags and Trapdoors. Your rifle was probably sold off then as a hunting weapon.Perhaps the hammer drop device was removed then as well. It is a great deer round. I have seen a Sharps converted to 50 70 drop a deer in its tracks.Those big lead slugs sure do hit hard. All the best.
Thanks for the info.
Wow what a awesome old rifle! Thanks for posting!
Thanks.
How can you tell it was a NY Militia rifle? I was told the same when I bought my Rem rolling block, but how do you make that determination?Jim
Cool gun. My brother in law just inherited a bunch of what we think is original cartridges. Is there a way to tell the age?
Not that I know of. Try asking on one of the forums that deal with cartridge collecting.
Many years ago I went into an old general store. They had a barrel full of Remington rolling block rifles in 43 Spanish and 7.62 54r Russian Moslin rifles for $10 each ! I got a Moslin rifle as I could get shells for it, but left the rolling blocks behind.
These days 43 Spanish is even harder to find than 50/70 Government ammo.
But any big bore Remington rolling block would probably be worth $400+ these days as long as it was in working condition.
is that ammo you have there charged w/smokeless powder? When is the last time you fired the rifle? With that giant hunk of lead and somewhat low or slow velocity the holdover at 100yds must be 1ft or greater?
The cartridges are loaded with black powder. Load them myself.
It has been a long time since I fired it. Probably at least 10 years ago. Have only fired about 20 rounds since I bought it.
Have never fired it at more than 25 yards.
Cool. Ive never seen one before.
Thanks.
You could give The National Firearms Museum a run for their money!
Thanks for another interesting/educational video.
Thanks.
nice RRB Shep do you shoot it???
I have shot it a few times, but not much. I`ve shot only about 20 rounds with it in the 20 years that I`ve owned it.
Custer was carrying a 50-70 rolling block at the Little Big Horn. The gun has apparently never surfaced. I don't know if anybody would know for sure anyway. Don't know if the serial no. on Custer's gun is known.
very cool
Thanks.
Can't you fire form 45-70 out to 50-70?
Not sure if you could or not. Even if it worked you would have to punch the empty brass out with the cleaning rod after firing.
might have to anneal first.
mine is complete and has a "F over 35" stamped on the stock bottom and "TCC" on the stock top..I don't know what either means??
RE Guilford I don`t know. Maybe a unit marking of some sort? An acceptance stamp after inspection by an armorer?
classic
Thanks.
The 50-70 was replaced by the 45-70. Unless you have some evidence to suggest something else I'd date it to about 1870 and maybe before.
I never knew the 70 meant 70g. of powder!!
It was common to call cartridges by such names. But it often was not the "Official" name of the cartridge. For example 44 W.C.F. (Winchester Center Fire) was and still is called 44/40. 32 W.C.F. was called 32-20.
With the 1st number being the bore diameter and the 2nd number being the amount of black powder used in typical loads. But there are exceptions to this. 38 W.C.F. (38-40) was a 40 caliber that used 38 grains of black powder.
Probably so named because there was already another 40 caliber round called the 40 W.C.F. the 40-82.
@@1957Shep It can get confusing. There is a lot to learn. Thank you!
Great old rifle ... I've been watching Larry Potterfield over the last few months rechamber a few of these to center-fire calibers ... check out the MidwayUSA videos here on TH-cam if you don't already subscribe.
A lot of the smaller caliber, early rolling blocks were rimfire. Like 32RF.
Dixie Gun Works sells conversion cartridges for old rimfire guns. As I understand it, the brass is machined from bar stock and uses a 22 rimfire blank in place of a primer.
Take a look at Dixie`s web site.
:) Had one ones, but sold it. didnt work.
Too bad. These would probably be hard to find parts for.
And most of them are hard to find ammo for.
1957Shep These days i never Wold have sold it..
But, nothing to cry over today. Done is done. :)