rolling block

[wgr]

how do you tell when a rem.rolling block was made?were is the serial number ?thinks bill

[labradigger1]

I don't think RB's had serial numbers, they do have an assembly number on the side of the tang and trigger group.
Lab

[jugulater]

first you have to determine WHERE it was made. they were produced in a couple of places and in huge quantities. if its a true remington exact date will be hard because remington didn't SR# them and most of the records have disappeared.

I think the Oviedo and Husqvarna made RBs had the dates stamped on them.

with some pictures im sure someone could give us an idea.

[Jtarm]

I doubt precise dating is possible. More info & pics would help.

Start with caliber & any stampings or cartouches. The Swedes used a .44 caliber of some sort. The U.S. Military bought some in .50-70. The latter should be easy to identify.

Commercial chamberings probably ran the gamut of black powder & some smokeless rounds.

[enfield]

Cut it in half and count the rings ( just kidding )

[GOPHER SLAYER]

enfield, that was funny.

[dtknowles]

I've got a Swede and it is a 50.

Tim

[.22-10-45]

Are you refering to military rolling blocks? Because both my original sporters..a .40-50 B.N. & .40-70 straight are both numbered on bottom of reciever. Roy Marcots excellent book on the Remington rolling block rifles has a very extensive index of serial numbers and dates of manufacture.

[Ed in North Texas]

I've got a Swede and it is a 50.

Tim

Exactly. Known as the 12.7x44R, the exact Swedish/Danish military nomenclature of the original cartridge was 12.17x44RF. That rimfire cartridge was loaded with a 12.62mm bullet. Those rifles surviving as 12.7mm were converted to center fire, allegedly for civilian use as the CF cartridge was reloadable. Many of these center fire rifles* will accept a .50 Alaskan cartridge case suitably trimmed in length. I think those which will not accept that case have a problem with the rim thickness and not the .50 caliber body diameter. The cartridge has been called "The European .50-70".

* Including my Karl Gustaf's 1874 dated and serial numbered. It is an original, with both RF and CF firing pin holes in the block and even the forearm, cut down when converted to civilian use, has the rifle's serial number written in the barrel groove.

[wills]

There is probably no way to tell. Check the Remington collectors website.

[wgr]

thinks guys for the info

[Roundball]

Yep, depends on which RB we are discussing. The Danish RB's were dated and had serial number. Others did not.

[missionary5155]

Greetings
In a few cases it was possible to identify approximate year of fabrication when the rifles were imported from particular countries.
But in the case of Chile they captured many hundreds of RB's in Peru during the war of 1879-82 and sold those off or gave them away.
Generally though far more important is the condition of the rifle rather than age. I certainly would rather have a 43 Spanish (which ever variety) from 1895 that is well taken care of rather than a 1872 model that is so badly pitted and rusted in the bore that JES Reboring it to caliber .58 is the only solution to it being near what we like to think of as accurate. Peasant battalions had a bad habit of fighting (or running) and when thought to be safe getting very drunk and sleeping till hunger woke them up. Rifle maintenance was far from their idea of "duty". They had fired their rifle for the glory of their country and that was it.
Mike in Peru