Remington Rolling Block rifle

Remington Rolling Block
Type	Rolling-block rifle
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1867–1918 ^[citation needed]
Wars	List of wars American Indian Wars Wars of Italian unification War of the Triple Alliance (limited)[1] Six Years' War[2] Franco-Prussian War Ten Years' War Third Carlist War Cantonal rebellion Conquest of the Desert Ethiopian–Egyptian War Serbian–Ottoman Wars (1876–1878) Russo-Turkish War Little War Mahdist War Mapuche uprising of 1881 Anglo-Egyptian War South African Wars (1879–1915) War of the Pacific Revolution of the Park Chilean Civil War of 1891 Federalist Revolution[3] First Melillan campaign Cuban War of Independence Uruguayan Revolution of 1897 Intentona de Yauco Philippine Revolution Greco-Turkish War (1897) Spanish–American War Philippine–American War Totoposte Wars[4] Revolution of 1904[5] Mexican Revolution Italo-Turkish War First Dominican Civil War Second Dominican Civil War World War I Anglo-Egyptian Darfur Expedition United States occupation of the Dominican Republic (1916–1924)[6] Coto War[4] Second Honduran Civil War[7] Second Italo-Ethiopian War[8]
Production history
Designer	Joseph Rider[9][10]
Designed	1864[10]
Manufacturer	Remington Arms Company
Specifications
Mass	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	.58 Berdan .50-70 .50-45 Carbine 12.7×45mmR Pontificio 12.17×42mm RF 12.17×44mmR .45-70 .43 Spanish .43 Egyptian 10.15×61mmR 8×58mmR Danish Krag 8×50mmR Lebel 11×59mmR Gras .303 British 7.65×53mm Argentine .30-40 Krag .30-06 Springfield 7.62×54mmR .30 Remington 7×57mm Mauser 6.5mm Daudeteau No. 12 .236 Remington 11 mm Danish 56-50 Spencer [11] Various Target/Sporting/Hunting Calibers
Action	Rolling block
Feed system	Breech-loading
Sights	Rear ramp & leaf sight, blade front sight

Remington Rolling Block is a family of breech-loading rifles that was produced from the mid-1860s into the early 20th century by E. Remington and Sons (later Remington Arms).^[10]

These rifles were 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), .50-70, .40-70, .45-70 and later in .22 caliber. Later models were produced in .30-03 (Predecessor to .30-06), 7×57mm Mauser, and 8×50mmR Lebel.

Development

Rolling-block breech

The Remington Rolling Block was developed from the 1863 pattern .50 calibre split breech carbine issued to the US Cavalry during the American Civil War. This earlier weapon was designed by Joseph Rider and Leonard Geiger to fire the same cartridges as the Spencer carbine.^[12] The split breech rifle lacked a hammer spur because it self-cocked when the breechblock was opened.^[13] Either 1864 or 1865, Remington Engineer Joseph Rider improved the split breech design to create the rolling-block action which was named the "Remington System".^[10][14]

The medium-strength action developed some headspace issues with new smokeless powders coming into use by the late 1890s. A heavier-style action was produced for later smokeless cartridges, although there were still issues with some ammunition.^{[citation needed]}

Military use

Sweden and Norway

In 1867, the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway was the first military to adopt the rifle as the standard military rifle. Around 250,000 military rifles and carbines and 85,000 civilian rifles in Sweden, were produced under license by Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori and Husqvarna Vapenfabriks Aktiebolag, and about 53,000 rifles in Norway by Kongsberg Vaapenfabrik.

Main article: Remington M1867

In 12.17×42mmRF and 12.18×44mmRF (two cartridges that were interchangeable), and towards the end of its service life also 8×58mmR Danish Krag centerfire, the rolling-block served as the standard service rifle of the Swedish Army from 1867 to the mid-1890s, when it was replaced by the Swedish Mauser. In Norway it was the standard service rifle from 1867 to the mid-1880s, when it was replaced by the M1884 Jarmann. In .43 Spanish it was the chief service arm of the Spanish Army from 1869–1893, 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, and were also widely used by Egypt and Mexico.

Denmark

Like Sweden and Norway, Denmark adopted the rifle in 1867 in 11×41,5mmRF (11 mm caliber).^[15] Initially the Royal Danish Army bought 40,000 rifles and 1800 carbines in the United States between 1867–1868. Later 31,551 rifles and about 4,600 carbines were made at the government owned rifle factory in Copenhagen. Production was halted in 1888 and the last rifles were decommissioned in 1940.^[16] In Danish service it was replaced by the M/1889 Krag–Jørgensen.

Great Britain and France

The British Empire purchased rolling-blocks to arm the Egyptian Army during the 1870s. These were made in Liège, Belgium, in .43 Egyptian calibre and were issued with a sword bayonet. Rolling-block rifles were used against Muhammad Ahmad's Ansar Dervishes during the Mahdist War, including at the Siege of Khartoum where General Gordon met his end.^[17] Guns with decorative brass Islamic crescents and Arabic inscriptions on the buttstock are not uncommon on the collector's market.^[18][19]

The French acquired 210,000 Egyptian rolling-block rifles to make up for a shortage of the standard-issue Chassepot and Tabatière rifles during the Franco-Prussian War.^[20]

During World War I, the British Royal Navy purchased 4,500 rolling-block rifles in 7mm Mauser from Remington's leftover stock after production had ended, issuing them to the crews of minesweepers and Q-ships.^[21] In November 1914, production of the rolling-block was resumed, in the form of a French contract for rifles in 8×50mmR Lebel, designated by France as "Fusil Remington modèle 1914". 100,291 such rifles were delivered by 1916, and used to equip rear-line troops.^[22]

Civilian use

Along with the Sharps rifle, the Rolling Block 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.^{[23][24][25][26]}

The Rolling Block was also one of two makers rifles used by the American team to win the International Long Range matches held at Creedmoor Rifle Range on Long Island, New York, in 1874. Team members shot against the Irish team with half the shooters using Rolling Block Creedmoor models, and the other half using Sharps Model 1874 Long Range rifles.^{[27][additional citation(s) needed]}

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 1920s–1930s.^{[citation needed][dubious – discuss]}

Military users

•  Argentina^[20]
•  Austria-Hungary^[20]
•  Belgium
•  Bolivia^[28]
•  Brazil^[20]
•  Canada
•  Chile^[20]
•  China^[20]
•  Colombia^[20]
•  Costa Rica^[29]
•  Cuba^[20]
•  Denmark: circa 1867–1940^[20]
•  Dominican Republic^[20]
• Khedivate of Egypt^[20]
•  El Salvador^[20]
•  Ethiopia^[30]
•  France^[20]
•  Kingdom of Greece^[20]
•  Guatemala^[31]
•  Haiti
•  Honduras^[20]
•  Kingdom of Italy^[20]
•  Jamaica
•  Japan^[20]
•  Korea^{[citation needed]}
• Madagascar^[32]
•  Mexico^[20]
•  Monaco: Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince^[33]
•  Morocco
•  Netherlands^[20]
•  Nicaragua
•  Norway^[20]
•  Panama
•  Papal States^[20]
•  Paraguay^[34]
• Persia^[20]
•  Peru^[20]
•  Puerto Rico^[20]
•  First Philippine Republic : Katipunan^[20]
•  Spain^[20]
• Mahdist Sudan: Captured from Egyptian forces^[35]
•  Sweden^[20]
•  United Kingdom^[20]
•  United States^[20]
•  Uruguay^[20]
•  Trinidad and Tobago
•  Venezuela
•  Yemen

See also

• Springfield model 1870, as used by the United States Navy, produced by Springfield Armory under license
• Springfield model 1871, as used by the United States Army, produced by Springfield Armory under license

References

Sources

• Mercaldo, Luke; Firestone, Adam; Vanderlinden, Anthony (2011). Allied Rifle Contracts in America. Wet Dog Publications. ISBN 978-0-9707997-7-7.

Citations

1. Esposito, Gabriele (October 31, 2019). The Paraguayan War 1864–70: The Triple Alliance at Stake in La Plata. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 32. ISBN 9781472834430.
2. "The military rifle cartridges of the Dominican Republic: from .50-70 to 5.56mm".
3. "O EXÉRCITO REPUBLICANO" (PDF).
4. Jowett, Phillip, Latin American Wars 1900-1941: Osprey Publishing (2018)
5. "BATALLA DE MASOLLER - ARMAS". YouTube. 9 September 2015.
6. Hernandez, Edwin "ARMAS DE FUEGO USADAS EN LAS LUCHAS CIVILES Y POR LOS CUERPOS ARMADOS DOMINICANOS (SIGLOS XIX Y XX)"
7. "From Picturesque Landscapes to Views of War, Honduras through Postcards". 9 December 2020.
8. Pankhurst, Richard "Linguistic and Cultural Data on the Penetration of Fire-Arms into Ethiopia"
9. Rose, Alexander (2008). American Rifle: A Biography. Random House Publishing Group. p. 171. ISBN 9780440338093.
10. Rattenbury, Richard C. (October 22, 2014). A Legacy in Arms: American Firearm Manufacture, Design, and Artistry, 1800–1900. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 87. ISBN 9780806147796.
11. "Military rifle cartridges of Peru part I: South America's most pugnacious country?". www.thefreelibrary.com.
12. Remington goes to war
13. NRA guns
14. Sawyer, Charles Winthrop (1920). Firearms in American History: Our Rifles. The Author. p. 260.
15. "Cartridge: Danish Remington". Arma Dania: The Virtual Museum of Danish Arms and Armour. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
16. "Bagladeriffel af model 1867 (Remington)". Arma Dania: The Virtual Museum of Danish Arms and Armour. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
17. Egyptian Remington
18. Collectors weekly
19. Old Ammo
20. Mercaldo, Firestone & Vanderlinden 2011, p. 165.
21. Mercaldo, Firestone & Vanderlinden 2011, p. 168.
22. Mercaldo, Firestone & Vanderlinden 2011, p. 169.
23. Worman, Charles G. (2005). Gunsmoke and Saddle Leather: Firearms in the Nineteenth-century American West. UNM Press. p. 292-294. ISBN 9780826335937.
24. "With powerful". Wyoming Wild Life. Vol. 71. University of Minnesota: Wyoming Game and Fish Commission. 1939. p. 11, 13. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
25. Bakken, Gordon Morris (2008). Icons of the American West; From Cowgirls to Silicon Valley [2 Volumes]. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 284. ISBN 9781567206944. One of the most popular buffalo rifles of this era was the Remington Rolling Block; also known as the Remington No. 1. By the time the Sharps Model 1874 was introduced Remington had already manufactured over 600,000 of this model rifle for both the American and foreign military. During the 1870s the Remington Arms Company was working twenty-four hours and producing nearly 1600 rifles for each twenty-four hour period.
26. Ehrig, Dave (2005). Muzzleloading for Deer and Turkey. Stackpole Books. p. 96. ISBN 9780811701372.
27. "Long Range Rifles". American Rifleman. No. 96. National Rifle Association. 1947. p. 20. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
28. Marcot, Roy (2005). The History of Remington Firearms: The History of One of the World's Most Famous Gun Makers. Lyons Press. p. 54. ISBN 1592286909.
29. "The military rifle cartridges of Costa Rica: arms of Latin America's most "peaceful" country".^{[permanent dead link‍]}
30. McLachlan, Sean (2011). Armies of the Adowa Campaign 1896: The Italian Disaster in Ethiopia. Osprey Publishing. p. 35. ISBN 978-1849084574.
31. "Guatemala - Coat of Arms". www.crwflags.com. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
32. "The Malagasy Pith Helmet of the Merina Kingdom | Military Sun Helmets". 21 March 2016.
33. Giletta, Jacques (2005). Les Gardes Personnelles des Princes de Monaco (1st ed.). Taurus Editions. ISBN 2 912976-04-9.
34. Samaniego, Marcial (1985). "Situación de las Fuerzas Armadas de la Nación en el decenio de la pré-Guerra del Chaco". Anuário de la Academia de Historia Militar del Paraguay (in Spanish). 1. Academia de Historia Militar del Paraguay.
35. Rossi, Major Robert N. (3 June 1994). The Mahdist Revolution (PDF) (Report). Fort Leavenworth, KS: Defense Technical Information Center. p. 61. Retrieved 30 November 2023.

External links

• The Remington Rolling Block Rifle (video demonstration of use)
• Arming God's Battalions: a Papal States Rolling Block via YouTube