Remington Rolling Block Mid-Range
Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 5:30 am
Hello, everyone. about a year ago, I became the proud owner of an original Remington Rolling Block Mid-Range in .40-70 str.
(2 1/2"). We have determined it was built around 1878. The original 28" 1/2 oct. brl. is marked as a .40-70 str.
Sometime in the far distant past..I believe it was still during the long-range match era. The barrel was re-bored-
re-chamberd to .44-77 (greater long-range accuracy?). The fellow I bought it from had it for about 25 years..finally got tired of getting beat up by recoil, so had a 32" Green Mountain 1/2 oct. brl. fitted to action. The caliber is same as original .40-70. I have put original brl. safely away..no alteration of action was done in any way in fitting new brl.
Now the neat part..the original brl. and L.H. side of action, near front edge have British proofs.
I know Remington had an office in England..don't know if it was imported thru them..or brought back from states by a British long-range rifleman?
The front sight is windage adjustable with spirit level. The inserts have a little peg, that fits a corresponding hole in front sight base. I had a few originals with rifle.
Wanting a full set. I had O'Hare Tool Co. "wire" out a set of various sized appatures, pin-heads, and cross-hair inserts.
We had quite a time getting these to fit..that peg sure complicated matters! O'Hare sent various sized samples..I hand filed to fit & sent back.
As luck would have it..by the time we had gotten it right..the weather has turned quite cold..too cold I am afraid to be fooling around with wet-patches & black powder fouling!
But in the Spring, I will be ready.
I just wish some of these old-timers could talk!
(2 1/2"). We have determined it was built around 1878. The original 28" 1/2 oct. brl. is marked as a .40-70 str.
Sometime in the far distant past..I believe it was still during the long-range match era. The barrel was re-bored-
re-chamberd to .44-77 (greater long-range accuracy?). The fellow I bought it from had it for about 25 years..finally got tired of getting beat up by recoil, so had a 32" Green Mountain 1/2 oct. brl. fitted to action. The caliber is same as original .40-70. I have put original brl. safely away..no alteration of action was done in any way in fitting new brl.
Now the neat part..the original brl. and L.H. side of action, near front edge have British proofs.
I know Remington had an office in England..don't know if it was imported thru them..or brought back from states by a British long-range rifleman?
The front sight is windage adjustable with spirit level. The inserts have a little peg, that fits a corresponding hole in front sight base. I had a few originals with rifle.
Wanting a full set. I had O'Hare Tool Co. "wire" out a set of various sized appatures, pin-heads, and cross-hair inserts.
We had quite a time getting these to fit..that peg sure complicated matters! O'Hare sent various sized samples..I hand filed to fit & sent back.
As luck would have it..by the time we had gotten it right..the weather has turned quite cold..too cold I am afraid to be fooling around with wet-patches & black powder fouling!
But in the Spring, I will be ready.
I just wish some of these old-timers could talk!
:cheers: