Custom Remington M1866 Rolling Block .50-70 Govt Single Shot Rifle Antique
SOLD FOR: $1,525.00
LSB#: LSB250627ST004
Make: Remington Arms Co.
Model: Rolling Block 1866
Serial Number: C1022
Year of Manufacture: 1866-1868, Antique
Caliber: .50-70 Govt.
Action Type: Single shot rolling block with extractor
Markings: The right side of the receiver has a non-original ordnance bomb and added serial. The top has crossed out arabic markings. The top tang has the 1866 patent date. The barrel is marked, “.50 GOVT”.
Barrel Length: 23.25”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a tall brass blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a two position V-notch dovetailed to the barrel.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a two piece wood set with a barrel band, straight wrist, straight comb, and semi-crescent buttplate. There are light handling marks throughout. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13.25” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates in about Very Good overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is shallow. There is mild erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 8/10.
Most antique firearms have bores that will show erosion. This is not only due to age but also to the use of black powder. When fired, black powder reacts corrosively. NRA Antique Firearm Conditions Standards are quite lenient for bores. In some cases, the NRA standards disregarded the bore’s condition for collector’s firearms.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 98% of its metal finish. There are light handling marks throughout. The barrel has light spots of surface rust. The screw heads show light use. The markings are shallow. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good condition for refinished Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: The Remington Rolling Block of 1866 is one of the most iconic American single-shot rifles of the post-Civil War era, widely adopted both domestically and abroad. Chambered in .50-70 Government, these rifles offered a powerful black powder cartridge suitable for both military and sporting purposes, and the simple, robust rolling block action made them reliable in the field under harsh conditions. The U.S. Navy adopted this pattern in limited numbers, and many more were produced for foreign contracts, particularly in Europe, South America, and the Middle East. Surplus rifles often returned to the civilian market, where they were modified, rebarreled, or customized to suit hunting and sporting needs. This example is a custom sporter built from an original Remington 1866 action, featuring a shortened 23.25-inch barrel marked “.50 GOVT” and a tall brass front blade paired with a two-position V-notch rear sight. The stock set remains solid and well-fitted, showing only light handling marks, and the refinished metal retains about 98% of its blued finish. The bore is bright with shallow rifling and only light erosion, rating 8/10 for a black powder rifle of this vintage. While the receiver markings have been altered, including crossed-out Arabic stamps and a non-original ordnance bomb, these changes highlight the rifle’s long service history and eventual civilian conversion. Mechanically, the rifle remains sound with a fully functional rolling block action.
For collectors, this rifle illustrates the adaptability of the Remington rolling block system, which saw service on nearly every continent in the latter half of the 19th century. Though no longer in pure military configuration, this custom build reflects the practical modifications made by shooters who valued the strength and simplicity of the rolling block action. Its strong bore and refinished exterior make it suitable not only as a display piece but also as a functional antique shooter with appropriate black powder loads. For enthusiasts of early cartridge rifles, frontier hunting arms, or Remington history, this is a fine example of the enduring legacy of the rolling block design. -R.E.
