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Remington rolling block rifle
The Remington Rolling Block rifle was one of Remington's most successful single shot rifles. It was designed by Joseph Rider in the 1860s during the American Civil war. Produced too late to see any action, Rider sold the design to Remington after the war, and it quickly became one of the most famous rifles in history.
History[]
The rifle was designed by Joseph Rider in 1864 during the American civil war. However by the time the rifle was completed the war had ended.
Rider then sold the design to Remington and production began in 1867. The Remington rolling block had an most immensely strong action, and could with no doubt withstand the increased pressure of the new smokeless powders coming into use by the late 1880s.
Remington Rolling block in pistol configuration
Remington rolling blocks came in a different variety of calibers, including both rimfire and centerfire: 12.17x42 mm rimfire, 12.17x44 mm rimfire and 12.17x44 mm rimmed centerfire Swedish and Norwegian cartridges, .43 Spanish (11.15x58mmR), .50-70, .45-70, and later in .22 caliber.
Remington rolling blocks came in different configurations. Some were made in carbine style, military configuration, sporting versions and even in pistol configuration.
The rifle is very simple to use: the hammer is pulled back to the cocked position, the breechblock rotated open, and the appropriate cartridge inserted. The block is then rotated closed behind the cartridge. As the hammer is already cocked, the rifle is ready to fire. This action proved to be very strong and the gun even rivaled Sharps rifles. In 1867 Norway placed huge orders for the rifle. It became available to the civilian market in 1868. George Armstrong Custer praised the rolling block rifle for its power as it was capable of taking down large game. Remington hoped that the US Army would choose the rolling block rifle but instead they picked the Springfield trapdoor rifle, as it was cheaper and made use of existing stocks of muzzleloading muskets via conversion to the breechloading system. Remington was forced to seek other markets and many nations from around the world bought the Remington Rolling Block rifle, such as, Egypt, Argentina, Denmark, Sweden, France and even Vatican City. As a result of this, there are large amounts of rolling blocks today chambered in many diverse and somewhat obscure cartridges, such as, 43 Egyptian, 12.17x45 Remington and the aforementioned 12.17x44 rimmed Swedish. There were many rolling block action shotguns made as well, including 10 gauge, up to 28 gauge.
The rolling block was produced up to 1917. Even when more modern bolt action rifles started to appear, the rolling block remained popular and was used in the First World War by some sailors in the Royal Navy as well as rear echelon French troops.
A Remington Rolling block rifle
Today many of the original rolling block rifles have survived in serviceable condition thanks to their robust and simple design.
The Remington Rolling Block is an iconic weapon of the mid-to-late 19th Century. While Remington no longer makes these rifles, the company "Pedersoli" does, offering them in more common chamberings.