I need advice on a Rolling Block

[shotgunner]

I bought this action at an auction this week. It came very cheap and I am wondering about making a project out of it. I do not know much about Rollingblocks, this looks to me like a military action and I suspect it was a 43 Spanish or something like it. My questions are:

1. Is this action suitable for conversion to 45-70 or 38-55?
2. Who might be a good candidate to barrel it?
3. I am going to do the wood myself but wonder what it would cost to have a barrel made and fit, the firing pin replaced ( bushed if necessary ) and finished.

I have always wanted a Rollingblock lead bullet gun and this might be a good project. Shotgunner

[Frank46]

From your pic I'd say that this looks like one of the swedish rolling blocks. If you could post a pic of the markings located on the upper tang would go a long way to better identify it. Would be good to rebarrel to 45-70 keeping the pressures at trapdoor levels. John Taylor@taylor machine could do the work you want. I'd post this on the assra.com website under gunsmithing and you can get his e-mail address there or 38_cal aka David Kaiser would also do the work. Frank

[shotgunner]

There are no markings on the tang, only an H and the serial number, 1869 on the right side.

[jlwilliams]

  There is a guy who rebarrels rolling blocks on gunbroker.  He auctions the service for about $150 if you send him the action and a barrel blank.  Somewhere I have a link to some place that had 45-70 unchambered blanks.  PM me if you need me to dig it out.

  That action should be fine for any of the black powder cartridges, rifle or pistol.  Like Frank said, as long as you run the 45-70 at apropriate load levels it will be fine.  Those rifles were built in 43Spanish, 45-70 and 50-90.  The later ones were stronger, but as long as it's not cracked the early actions are fine for the cartridges they are made for.

[NickSS]

If you want a first class job done call Dave Higgenbottom or Lone Star Rifle company.  He can do all the smithing as well as provide any new parts you need.

[Frank46]

Pretty certain you have a swedish rolling block. The numbers on the left side are probably the serial numbers and the H probably stands for huskqvarna and the 1869 is probably the year it was made. Still would keep pressure levels at trapdoor limits. Frank

[shotgunner]

Guys, thanks for all the info. I have one price quote so far. One thing I see is that if I want to save money I should buy a replica. Being that I don't like replicas that much I may follow through with this one. I am debating about if I should go 45-70 or 38-55. I have no interest in high pressure loads, only in putting together an accurate, comfortable gun to shoot. I would probably take a deer or two with it, at moderate ranges. If it is a Swede what cartridge would it have used? Shotgunner

[John Traveler]

The Swedish M1869 Remington Rolling Block was chambered for a 12.7mm cartridge very similar to our contemporary .50-70 Government, except for a smaller rim diameter.

[ssdave]

Send it to John Taylor at johntaylormachine.com  He will rebarrel it excellently, for a lot less than most smiths charge.  Excellent work and a nice guy.  He knows these well.

dave