wellfedirishman
08-26-2014, 02:43 PM
Recently I had the fortune to come across a couple of Danish Rolling block sporters on an auction site for pretty reasonable prices. They both had some issues, but with a bit of TLC I think they will shoot just great.
The first is a Danish model 1867 long rifle converted to 45/70, manufactured in 1888. Range report here:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?245313-Range-report-on-Danish-Rolling-Block-11mm-converted-to-45-70
This is how it looked when I received it - boogered up non-original rear sight:
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm138/wellfedirishman/RangeReports/Danish%20Rolling%20Block/DanishRollingBlock-top_zps9f026c68.jpg
It shot pretty well at 25 yards though, the poor sight notwithstanding.
I removed the sight and mounted a tang vernier instead, which made a ton of difference. It is mounted with a clear epoxy so looks like a very clean installation, without drilling/tapping the underlying metal. Removable with some heat if ever required.
The new vernier sight is shown on the lower rifle below, along with the carbine as the upper rifle:
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm138/wellfedirishman/RangeReports/Danish%20Rolling%20Block/20140824_154640_resized_zps5d808153.jpg
The carbine is the more recent addition, it is a Danish model 1867 manufactured in 1874. At some point it was converted to 45/70 and the barrel cut down to about 21 inches. Given the barrel starts at the rear of the rolling block action, the rifle looks quite short overall. The bore is good but the original factory sights were crudely modified to have a 'V' on the back, which is not correctly aligned in height with the front original sight, and the top of the slight ladder was chopped off for some unknown reason. Currently it shoots way high (about 18 inches at 25 yards) with these sights.
Here are the rifles side-by side as a comparison:
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm138/wellfedirishman/RangeReports/Danish%20Rolling%20Block/20140824_154720_resized_zpsdcb86450.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm138/wellfedirishman/RangeReports/Danish%20Rolling%20Block/20140824_154606-1_resized_zpsc5153f19.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm138/wellfedirishman/RangeReports/Danish%20Rolling%20Block/20140824_154555-1_resized_zpse3db9884.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm138/wellfedirishman/RangeReports/Danish%20Rolling%20Block/20140824_154729-1_resized_zps56a2b677.jpg
The shorter carbine is actually a very pleasant size and functions great. The muzzle is a bit off-round due to the bad barrel-chop job, but that can be cleaned up to make a new correct crown.
Shooting report only at 25 yds carbine / 50 yards rifle since I spent much of the day plugging shotgun clays on the berm with the long rifle.
Carbine @ 25 yards, note the point of aim was below the target shown. I am not sure if the wide group was due to the poor sights or the bad muzzle or a combination. It should (in theory) like the same ammo as the long Dane.
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm138/wellfedirishman/RangeReports/Danish%20Rolling%20Block/Danishcarbine25yardresults_zpsf84e4e63.jpg
Long rifle at 50 yards, point of aim as dead center. The lower shots were due to walking up the vernier scale to get to point of aim. It shouts about an inch group, maybe better (there are 3 shots in the lower hole circled), and hits shotgun clays very well at 50 yards.
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm138/wellfedirishman/RangeReports/Danish%20Rolling%20Block/Danishrifle50yardsresult_zps430cfc0c.jpg
I think the carbine is either going to get a much taller front sight or may also have a tang sight mounted. It will make a very nice antique handi-rifle equivalent when done.
Overall these are very fun guns to shoot, I will spend some time working up a load for them.
The first is a Danish model 1867 long rifle converted to 45/70, manufactured in 1888. Range report here:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?245313-Range-report-on-Danish-Rolling-Block-11mm-converted-to-45-70
This is how it looked when I received it - boogered up non-original rear sight:
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm138/wellfedirishman/RangeReports/Danish%20Rolling%20Block/DanishRollingBlock-top_zps9f026c68.jpg
It shot pretty well at 25 yards though, the poor sight notwithstanding.
I removed the sight and mounted a tang vernier instead, which made a ton of difference. It is mounted with a clear epoxy so looks like a very clean installation, without drilling/tapping the underlying metal. Removable with some heat if ever required.
The new vernier sight is shown on the lower rifle below, along with the carbine as the upper rifle:
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm138/wellfedirishman/RangeReports/Danish%20Rolling%20Block/20140824_154640_resized_zps5d808153.jpg
The carbine is the more recent addition, it is a Danish model 1867 manufactured in 1874. At some point it was converted to 45/70 and the barrel cut down to about 21 inches. Given the barrel starts at the rear of the rolling block action, the rifle looks quite short overall. The bore is good but the original factory sights were crudely modified to have a 'V' on the back, which is not correctly aligned in height with the front original sight, and the top of the slight ladder was chopped off for some unknown reason. Currently it shoots way high (about 18 inches at 25 yards) with these sights.
Here are the rifles side-by side as a comparison:
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm138/wellfedirishman/RangeReports/Danish%20Rolling%20Block/20140824_154720_resized_zpsdcb86450.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm138/wellfedirishman/RangeReports/Danish%20Rolling%20Block/20140824_154606-1_resized_zpsc5153f19.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm138/wellfedirishman/RangeReports/Danish%20Rolling%20Block/20140824_154555-1_resized_zpse3db9884.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm138/wellfedirishman/RangeReports/Danish%20Rolling%20Block/20140824_154729-1_resized_zps56a2b677.jpg
The shorter carbine is actually a very pleasant size and functions great. The muzzle is a bit off-round due to the bad barrel-chop job, but that can be cleaned up to make a new correct crown.
Shooting report only at 25 yds carbine / 50 yards rifle since I spent much of the day plugging shotgun clays on the berm with the long rifle.
Carbine @ 25 yards, note the point of aim was below the target shown. I am not sure if the wide group was due to the poor sights or the bad muzzle or a combination. It should (in theory) like the same ammo as the long Dane.
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm138/wellfedirishman/RangeReports/Danish%20Rolling%20Block/Danishcarbine25yardresults_zpsf84e4e63.jpg
Long rifle at 50 yards, point of aim as dead center. The lower shots were due to walking up the vernier scale to get to point of aim. It shouts about an inch group, maybe better (there are 3 shots in the lower hole circled), and hits shotgun clays very well at 50 yards.
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm138/wellfedirishman/RangeReports/Danish%20Rolling%20Block/Danishrifle50yardsresult_zps430cfc0c.jpg
I think the carbine is either going to get a much taller front sight or may also have a tang sight mounted. It will make a very nice antique handi-rifle equivalent when done.
Overall these are very fun guns to shoot, I will spend some time working up a load for them.