Rolling Block Cadet rifle

[mm93]

Now this doesn't look like much, and being military appearing, it's outside my area of collecting. But it's one of only three I've ever seen, and they were never cataloged by Remington. And no mention in any of the various Remington Rolling Block reference books either!
What you see above was listed as a .43 Spanish Rolling Block, with a 28" barrel. But if you look closely you might notice this isn't a military action at all, it's an octagon top Sporting Rifle action! And looking at the buttstock it's also a Sporting Rifle buttstock and buttplate too! And unless somebody did something stupid these were all chambered in .45-70, which is very rare considering these were built on the smaller #1 1/2 actions! This is a very rare #1 1/2 Cadet rifle built on special order for military academies, and the only #1 1/2 chambered in .45-70 cartridge! The 28" barrel would be odd for any military Rolling Blocks, but correct for the 1 1/2 Cadet rifles.
I called the auction back when this auction opened to ask how they determined it was a ".43 Spanish" and they said it was a "walk in" by a local seller, and he told them what cartridge it was in. So obviously they didn't check, which made most collectors ignore it at the auction thinking it was a South American full sized military rifle.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Neato!

So.....did you buy it?

 

[Ugly Sauce]

WHAT??? DON'T LOOK LIKE MUCH!!!! Dang, I'd crawl two miles over broken beer bottles for that rifle. Looks like a lot to me.

 

[mm93]

WHAT??? DON'T LOOK LIKE MUCH!!!! Dang, I'd crawl two miles over broken beer bottles for that rifle. Looks like a lot to me.

Well I meant the condition isn't high, or minty. Probably the lowest condition Rolling Block I own, but hoping some TLC and elbow grease will improve it and lighten up the dark wood a bit. I'd have bought it in almost any condition since so few were made and they're so tough to find.

 

[PistoleroWadcutterGANG]

IF you got it, pick it up. You won't run into another in your time left on da ERDT!

 

[Acorn Mush]

Great find on an interesting piece!

Now it begs the question...................... are you going to shoot it?

 

[Bwana John]

I enjoy the reduced caliber Cadet Rifles.
45-70 in a Cadet rifle? Ouch!

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Great find on an interesting piece!

Now it begs the question...................... are you going to shoot it?

I hope so. I wouldn't walk across the street for a free rifle I wouldn't or couldn't shoot. That there rifle, wow I'd take that hiking and trekking, carry it around all day.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Well I meant the condition isn't high, or minty. Probably the lowest condition Rolling Block I own, but hoping some TLC and elbow grease will improve it and lighten up the dark wood a bit. I'd have bought it in almost any condition since so few were made and they're so tough to find.

Oh yeah, all things considered and the rarity, I would not worry too much as to condition, unless it was really a wreck. If some TLC puts it into a nice shooter..., I personally would not care if it was not in high or mint condition. Not being a collector, I'd not even want it in mint condition.

 

[Acorn Mush]

I hope so. I wouldn't walk across the street for a free rifle I wouldn't or couldn't shoot. That there rifle, wow I'd take that hiking and trekking, carry it around all day.

I agree! Now, if the OP will please allow me a few minutes of quiet envy... .

 

[mm93]

Yes, this was at a local auction, and I was lucky enough to win it, and at a very good price since it was erroneously described. I've seen only two others, so I knew what it was, and more about these than the auction house knew. Auction closed late last night, and is only online bidding, so I wont be able to pick it up until next week. They're closed Monday, and I volunteer at our gun club Tuesdays, so Wed. before I have it in my hands.
Among old single shot rifles I collect, I have maybe 20 other Rolling Blocks, and I shoot every gun I own and collect, even if it takes me a lot of work to make brass by reforming it from donor brass. Some take a little work, and some take huge amounts of work; but I shoot them all. My favorite is long range with the old 1800's rifles at 800-1000 yds. Not sure how this lighter gun would do at those ranges as the old guns I shoot are in the 12-15 pound weight and have 32"-34" heavy barrels. This one likely wont see much shooting past 200 yds.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

This one likely wont see much shooting past 200 yds.

I'd be in heaven just to shoot it at 100 yards, and wander around the woods with it all day. 20 rolling blocks, wow. Always kind of wanted one, but I went with the "Trapdoor" instead, and have a vast collection of two. Don't have a giant money bag. I did have a short little Rolling Black carbine when I was a teen, but couldn't figure out what caliber it was, and it was missing the firing pin, and my teen-self had no clue as to where to get another. I took it to a gun-shop to find out what caliber it was, but the guy knew less about it than a teenager. That was a cool little thing, but my big brother decided to send it somewhere to get the pin replaced, and maybe re-chambered or something, and it "disappeared" in the mail. He did not insure it.

Anyhow, good for you, that's just a nice rifle within it's own rights, regardless of it's pedigree, how far it will shoot, or it's collector's status.

 

[mm93]

Being old and kids out of the house for several decades helps with gun purchases. We raised 5 great kids, all in their 50's now, and we were always broke when they were young. But once they were out on their own my gun fund began to grow, and now being that age when Uncle Sam requires me to take minimum disbursements from my investments I feel like I have to spend those monies somewhere, and it's either old guns, or my old cars.
My guns are all civilian models, and this is the first sort of military rifle I own. Don't really consider it military seeing how it's civilian from the receiver back. That just makes it weird and interesting to me!
These are some of my other Remington single shots:

And some of my Marlin Ballard rifles:

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Mm93, if you're into old cars maybe you know someone who may be interested in a 49 Plymouth? Fantastic collection of rollers! I have 1 that I built about 20 years ago. Love shooting it, haven't in a while. Makes me want to blow the dust off it and go lob bowling balls at something far away.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Boy what beautiful rifles. Yes, I have a "disbursement" coming up, which might produce one new rifle. Maybe. I hope. I do have old cars, and motorcycles, if I sold them all I'd have a pretty big money bag. !!

 

[Shortgrub]

I'm the first to admit that I am far from a RB expert. But I have what I thought was a cadet rifle in 45/50 caliber. The wood on mine could have been replaced.

 

[dogkinkead]

I've had two of the South American in 7mm but over the years both got swapped out for other toys. I only shot reduced loads with hard cast bullets but both were fun to shoot and 100 yards was pretty easy. Of course that was when I could actually see the sights...

 

[mm93]

I've got as many old cars as we have room for now, and really couldn't bring another home, or my wife might toss me and the car out. Have a '69 Suburban, '39 Chev coupe, and a '37 British Austin sedan. The '39 and the '37 are old street legal Gassers that I occasionally run at the drags, but mostly on the street.

Mm93, if you're into old cars maybe you know someone who may be interested in a 49 Plymouth? Fantastic collection of rollers! I have 1 that I built about 20 years ago. Love shooting it, haven't in a while. Makes me want to blow the dust off it and go lob bowling balls at something far away.

 

[mm93]

I'm the first to admit that I am far from a RB expert. But I have what I thought was a cadet rifle in 45/50 caliber. The wood on mine could have been replaced.

Remington made Cadet rifles on the old military .50 caliber pistol actions they had leftover. and also on the #4 actions in .22RF. Likely yours was built on the old pistol actions. Both of those Cadets were cataloged items, where these 1 1/2 Cadets were made to order, not cataloged ever.

 

[mm93]

I've had two of the South American in 7mm but over the years both got swapped out for other toys. I only shot reduced loads with hard cast bullets but both were fun to shoot and 100 yards was pretty easy. Of course that was when I could actually see the sights...

I use a lot of South American, and Swedish actions to build BPCR Rolling Blocks for long range shooting. They're all great actions, and are extremely cheap compared to almost any other old single shot action you could find.
I built this one a couple years ago using a Swede action, and some Remington parts from their 1997 run of Creedmoor Rollers.

 

[Shortgrub]

Thanks for the info. Do have a couple of RB Navy handguns in .50 centerfire I play with.

 

[mm93]

Thanks for the info. Do have a couple of RB Navy handguns in .50 centerfire I play with.

I have a 1867 .50 Navy, and an 1891 .22 Target pistol. Just got both in January, and haven't had a chance to fire either yet. I got .50-70 cases and shortened them for the 1867, but haven't made up loads yet. The 1867 has a perfect bore, and should be a good shooter. The 1891 is also perfect and a custom build by Arthur Hubalek in the early 1900's.

 

[Jim Watson]

Local shop had a real deal Creedmoor, unfortunately not well kept. Remington was very accommodating.

 

[mm93]

Local shop had a real deal Creedmoor, unfortunately not well kept. Remington was very accommodating.
View attachment 1197518

Creedmoor rifles go so expensive that even one not well cared for will get big money, as long as the bore is good. I watched one close on Friday that had very little finish, sanded wood, and flat checkering, but a very good bore. It hammered at $3200 plus the auction fee of another 15%. If I didn't already own a Creedmoor I'd have considered trying to outbid the winner!
I finally found a Creedmoor I could afford a couple years ago. Great bore, but not a lot of finish. The stocks were chemically stripped, but not sanded, so easy to bring them back. The best part was the serial number and features on it. It is one of only three known with a full round barrel, and the serial number puts it a full year or more before Remington offered them in their catalog. The Creedmoors used in the 1874 match are all around #3000 and just above. Mine is in the low 1500 range.

I was tempted to rust blue the barrel, and get the receiver color cased again, but they're only original once, so left it alone after fixing the wood finish.

 

[Shortgrub]

Great lookin wood