You may have noticed that many of the Latin American fighters depicted in my Cowboy Revolutionaries post a few days ago wield Remington Rolling Block Rifles. To refresh your memory — the feller on the right is armed with a Remington.
The Remington Rolling Block Rifle doesn’t get as much attention as its sexy sister, the Sharps, but they were ubiquitous from the 1860s well into the 20th Century. They were probably more common than Sharps rifles on the buffalo range, being less expensive. And they were the AK-47s of their day on the military market.
Remington built them on military contract in a wide range of cartridge configurations for Spain, France, Belgium and several Scandinavian nations. They lingered among reserve forces and militias long after they were rendered obsolete by magazine-fed bolt actions like the Mauser.
The single-shot action was stout and could handle a powerful cartridge. They were rugged and soldier-proof — a rifle that went bang every time, which is the one essential quality of a military arm.
A carbine version was produced for cavalry units and was the standard arm of Porfirio Diaz’s dreaded Guardia Rural, better known as Los Rurales. They were in common use during the Mexican Revolution.
Something like 1.5 million military Remingtons saw service over a half-century and more of conflict around the globe.
Chuck Hawks describes the function of the action:
All Remington rolling block rifles use the same basic principle of design, which is an “L” shaped pivoting or hinged breech block pinned to the receiver in front of and below the axis of the barrel and a traditional exposed hammer placed behind the breechblock (“rolling block”) that must be manually cocked for every shot. This action is adequately strong but not particularly fast to operate; it is, however, smooth and reliable. And Remington rolling block rifles on all action sizes have always had a good reputation for accuracy.
To operate a rolling block rifle, first cock the hammer. This frees the pivoted breechblock. Then thumb the pivoted breechblock (rolling block) backward and down to reveal the chamber. If there is a fired cartridge case in the chamber, it will be elevated by the extractor for removal by hand. Next, insert a cartridge manually into the chamber. Roll the breechblock upward and forward to again seal the breech. The rifle may now be fired by squeezing the trigger, or the hammer may be eased forward to its half-cock “safety notch” position for carry in the field.
The Remington was also well represented among sport hunters, and remained so into the 1930s, particularly among Scandinavian moose hunters. George Armstrong Custer, as avid a hunter as ever rode the plains, hunted elk with a Remington Rolling Block Sporting Rifle.
The Remington Rolling Block Rifle was an unsung workhorse — one of the most important firearms of the Frontier Partisans.
Paul McNamee says
Nice piece (writing.)
And, nice piece (gun.)
JimC says
Thx Paul.
john roberts says
Ironically, the U.S. Army wanted the rolling block for its first breechloader, but they’d already paid for the patent on the trap-door Springfield, an inferior design originally intended to convert Civil War muzzleloaders to breechloaders.
JimC says
I wondered why they went with the Springfield. Knew it had to be money. no military-industrial complex action in the post-Civil War Army!
Victorian Sword says
Egypt imported thousands of Remington Rolling Block Rifles in 1869. They were used against the British in 1882, and alongside the British during the Mahdist Wars of the 1880s-90s.
Eccentric Cowboy says
Good piece pard! The Remington rolling block doesn’t get the love or attention it deserves. It was a rugged work horse and more than pulled its weight through more than one frontier.
JimC says
Thx EC. Figured you’d appreciate…
Ugly Hombre says
Nice write up on the venerable rolling block!
In the 1960’s you could buy a mail order Remington rolling block musket in .43 spanish for damn near nothing. We had one hanging over our fireplace for many years.
Never did find any ammo for it or fire it, but it was a hell of a sturdy cool old rifle.The finish looked nickel but it was probley just all worn off.
I learned to shoot with a Remington number 6 rolling block, many wabbits and tree rats fell to that old rifle, pop also had a Remington number 7- in 32 rimfire we did fire that one but only had s few rounds for it. Sad all those rifles are long gone now.
Remington is down on there luck now fell on hard times.
I got the cure.
Tool up and put out a new Remington Mod 7 in 357, 44, and 30-30. Our just one caliber- it don’t matter you will make money.
And while yer at it re-issue the 1890 Remington thumb buster. You will clean up as Colt is unable and unwilling to meet the market for the SAA.
De nada,
Ps
We don’t want no GD transfer bars- on our hawg legs. Don’t even go there
JimC says
Thx Hombre!
Ugly Hombre says
I looked for pictures of those old rifles online- the 32 rimfire we had was a Remington Model 4, my mistake. The Model 6 a .22,
Some jaspers who have 32 rimfire Mod 4’s have converted them to 32 20 centerfire. There is a video of how it works on youtube.
May seem like a abomination to Buddha, but at least you can shoot the cool old rifles after that and a take down Mod 4 in 32 20 would be fun and useful.
Welcome- nice site! Keep up the good work!