Remington Rolling Block rifle

Remington Rolling Block rifle
Type	Rolling Block rifle
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1867–early 1900's
Used by	Sweden Norway Denmark Spain and others
Production history
Manufacturer	Remington Arms Company
Specifications
Weight	9.25 lb (4.20 kg)
Length	50.4 in (1,280 mm) to 53.3 in (1,350 mm)
Barrel length	35.7 in (910 mm) to 37.4 in (950 mm)
Cartridge	.50-70, .45-70, 12.17×42mmRF and 12.17×44mmRF Swedish/Norwegian rimfire, 12.17×44mmR Swedish Remington centerfire, .43 Spanish (11.15×58mmR), 8×58mmR Danish Krag, 8×50mmR Lebel, .30-06 Springfield, 7×57mm Mauser
Action	Rolling Block, Breechloading, single shot
Sights	Rear Ramp & Leaf sight, blade front sight

The Remington Rolling Block rifle was a breech-loading rifle produced from the mid 1860's into the late 19th century by E. Remington and Sons (later Remington Arms Company). The action was extremely strong, and could easily withstand the increased pressure of the new smokeless powders coming into use by the late 1880s.

It was made in a variety of calibers, both rimfire and centerfire, including the 12.17x42 mm rimfire, 12.17x44 mm rimfire and 12.17x44 mm rimmed centerfire Swedish and Norwegian cartridges, .43 Spanish (11.15x58mmR), .45-70, and later in .22 caliber.

In 12.17x42mmRF and 12.18x44mmRF (two cartridges that were interchangeable), and towards the end of it's service life also 8x58mmR Danish Krag centerfire, it served as the standard service rifle of the Swedish Army from 1867 to the mid 1890's, when it was replaced by the Swedish Mauser) and in Norway as the standard service rifle from 1867 to the mid 1880's (when it was replaced by the M1884 Jarmann). In .43 Spanish it was the chief service arm of the Spanish Army from 1870–1893, and was used by reserve and militia forces for many years thereafter. Many Rolling Block rifles were used by Argentina before being replaced in 1891 by the new 7.65mm Mauser. The Remington rolling block also became the standard service rifle of the Danish Army.

Sweden and Norway (at that time in a union, the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway) adopted the rifle in 1867, being among the very first nations to adopt the Remington rolling block as their standard military rifle, and large numbers of Remington rolling block rifles and carbines were produced under license in Sweden and Norway. Around 250,000 military rifles and carbines and 85,000 civilian rifles in Sweden, by Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori (a government arsenal) and Husqvarna Vapenfabriks Aktiebolag, and about 53,000 military rifles in Norway by Kongsberg Vaapenfabrik. Civilian Remington rolling block rifles, and later surplus military rifles, became very popular among hunters in Scandinavia, particularly for moose hunting, with ammunition for the rifles being commonly available on the civilian market into the 1920's-1930's.

Along with the Sharps Rifle it was one of two rifles probably used more than any other by the buffalo hunters who hunted the American bison herds in the 1870s and 1880s.

Remington Rolling-Block breech

See also

• Rolling block, the operating principle
• Remington rolling block M1867, as used by the Swedish and Norwegian Armies.
• Springfield Model 1870, uses the Remington action under license.
• Springfield Model 1871, uses the Remington action under license.

External links

• Remington Rolling Block 1864 Carbine