Remington 50-70 US Navy Type 1 Rolling Block

[p246]

This is one you seldom see not cut down by Honduras after many were sold to them. The rifle was involved in a scandal during its day. The US Navy ordered 10,000 but were rejected due to the rear sight being placed over the chamber. They were sold to France for the Franco Prussian War. Got there in time for the armistice so France sold them off mostly to South America countries. Honduras bought many and cut them down. This ones destination is unknown. It was not cut down nor does it have the Honduran acceptance marks. It was reimported and bought in the 50s before my time. It's been in the family since then. The bore is exceptional. The main difference between the type 1 and 2 USN is the location of the rear sight and the type 1s have a US stock cartouche but no final acceptance mark. The Type 2 was ordered from money made from the sale of the Type 1 to France. Dick correct me if any of this is wrong. Enjoy the pics

[p246]

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[p246]

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[butlersrangers]

Nice rifle & Thanks for sharing. I use to have one of the U.S. Navy carbines. It was rough and I sold it for something stupid.

IMHO - The Navy Models are a lot more interesting than the Army 1871 model that E. S. Allin 'made complicated'. (The hammer dropping to 1/2 cock 'creeps me out' on the Army and NYS models).

[Dick Hosmer]

Nice rifle - probably a bit cleaner than mine - which is a tough find in any condition. I was overjoyed to be able to add one to my collection about 15 years ago. There are plenty of Type 2s, and carbines (which, unlike the rifles, are 100% Remington-made), but a Type 1 with USN proofs and intact bayonet lug is not often encountered. Don't be too fussy on that model, guys. The one you see may be the only one you ever will see, ditto the 1870 Trials RB, of which only 1000 were made. While we are talking about SA RBs, there are also a lot of 1871 Armies around, some still "mint".

[p246]

Nice rifle - probably a bit cleaner than mine - which is a tough find in any condition. I was overjoyed to be able to add one to my collection about 15 years ago. There are plenty of Type 2s, and carbines (which, unlike the rifles, are 100% Remington-made), but a Type 1 with USN proofs and intact bayonet lug is not often encountered. Don't be too fussy on that model, guys. The one you see may be the only one you ever will see, ditto the 1870 Trials RB, of which only 1000 were made. While we are talking about SA RBs, there are also a lot of 1871 Armies around, some still "mint".

Yes the same gentleman that I got this from had a 1871 Army. He knew what he had in the Navy but his Army was mint and he sold it cheap before I knew he was going to sell them...He also had an Argentine proofed Rolling Block. It was in great condition to, when I ask him about it he said no one wants em sold it for $150.00....dang it.

[jon_norstog]

p, that is a really nice rifle there. It illustrates 2 of the 3 things that made the rolling block a great military rifle in its day: the action tang reinforces the buttstock wrist, so you can reaLLY wail with it in close quarters fighting; bayonet lug, a much more secure mount for a blade bayonet than the old-style socket. What you don't see: you can clean the rifle from the breech with the muzzle set in a pail of warm water; and the action is dirt simple to field strip, with no small parts to lose. Add to that more than ample strength for any black powder load.

jn

[p246]

p, that is a really nice rifle there. It illustrates 2 of the 3 things that made the rolling block a great military rifle in its day: the action tang reinforces the buttstock wrist, so you can reaLLY wail with it in close quarters fighting; bayonet lug, a much more secure mount for a blade bayonet than the old-style socket. What you don't see: you can clean the rifle from the breech with the muzzle set in a pail of warm water; and the action is dirt simple to field strip, with no small parts to lose. Add to that more than ample strength for any black powder load.

jn

Agreed on all points. Having both I like the Rolling Block design better. Remington had a good design and sold a ton of them just mostly to civilians and other country's military.

[jon_norstog]

Too bad Remington didn't put an effort into developing a military bolt gun with a magazine. They had one, just didn't know how to market it. Plus they were selling all the rollers they could make, why bother with new product? Paul Mauser? Who he?

jn

[Dick Hosmer]

The self-contained, mostly enclosed, spring-loaded, snap-in magazine of 1879 is still the world standard today - how many millions (billions?) later?