Remington Rolling Block Transformed 58 Roberts Single Shot Rifle, MFD 1869-70s Antique
SOLD FOR: $1,135
LSB#: 200129CP80
Make: Remington
Model: Roling Block, Transformed
Serial Number: NSN
Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1869-1870s
Caliber: .58 Roberts
Action Type: Single Shot Rolling Block
Markings: The upper tang is marked “REMINGTONS’ ILION. N.Y. U.S.A. / PAT. MAY 3D NOV.15TH 1864 APRIL.17TH 1868”.
Barrel Length: 39”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a “barley corn” blade integral to a rectangular base fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight has three leaves marked “1”, “3” and “5” or “8”, the first two are one-piece, folding the “1” leaf down raises the “3” leaf. Based on the difference in condition of the “5” or “8” leaf, the “1”/”3″ leaf is likely a replacement.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with capped, triple-banded forend grooved for the included ramrod, straight grip, straight comb, and steel carbine-style buttplate with sling swivels mounted to the front of the trigger guard and the middle barrel band. The stocks show moderate wear with scattered nicks, dings, scuffs, scrapes, scratches, bruising and a few gouges. There are a few small chip losses along the top edges of the forend and there are either chip-losses or deep gouges around the rear barrel band. The LOP measures 13 3/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has consistent surface oxidation throughout but minor wear. Overall, the stocks are in about Good condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: The rifle appears to have been finished bright or “in the white”.
Finish Originality: We see no sign of refinishing.
Bore Condition: The three-groove bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is scattered light erosion and spots of pitting in the bore.
Overall Condition: The metal surfaces show infrequent minor pitting, mostly in the receiver, scattered light surface erosion and surface oxidation throughout. There are some scattered light nicks and scratches. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots, at least the front sling-swivel screw is a replacement. The markings are mostly clear, slightly worn. Overall, this rifle is in about Good-Very Good condition as Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. There is a rotating extractor on the left side of the breech. The hammer has half cock and full cock positions. The firing pin is intact. The face of the breech-block has been widened by inserting a plate with round edges to fit the rim of the .58 Roberts cartridge, a factory feature on these rifles. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: The ramrod is included. It shows wear and surface oxidation throughout.
Our Assessment: Between 1867 and 1902 over 1,000,000 Remington Rolling Block military rifles and carbines were manufactured by the Remington Company, in a variety of calibers and barrel lengths, based on their N0. 1 rifle. The action was so simple and rugged that they were virtually impossible to wear out. Remington exported these rifles all over the world and most saw quite a bit of use and abuse over the course of a long service life. Following the end of the Civil War, there were huge numbers of rifled muskets being surplused out by the U.S. Army and one way Remington was able to cut costs was to buy them up and use the barrels to fit to their rolling block receivers. Many were sleeved and chambered for the .50-70 Gov’t or other cartridges, but there were also some which retained the original bore and were chambered for .58 Caliber cartridges such as .58 Berdan or, in this case, .58 Roberts. U.S. Army Brigadier General B. S. Roberts developed the cartridge for a cartridge conversion rifle of his own design and, while his rifle never drew much attention, the cartridge was seen as suitable for use by Remington. The rifle is in about Good-Very Good overall condition with scattered surface oxidation and erosion on its metal surfaces, wear in the stocks consistent with a 150 year old rifle and a decent bore for a gun which would have seen use exclusively with black powder. The action is still in good shape and functions properly. This would be a welcome addition to any collection of Remington Rolling Block rifles. Please see our photos and good luck!
CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable (THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO OUT OF STATE RESIDENTS): This Antique can be sold and shipped direct in California as “the firearm use ammunition manufactured in or before 1898, for which ammunition is no longer manufactured in the United States.” Penal Code: 16170. Out of state residents can disregard this section – your local laws apply.