Rolling Block Cadet rifle
- Thread starter mm93
- Start date
Thanks. Kinda dark, and likely oil soaked, but I'll gently clean it with Murphy's to see if it gets better without hurting anything.
Yours is very nice, and better than mine exterior wise. I contemplated restoration on mine as the internals are like new and my grip and forearm are in good shape. It looks like someone put cold blue on my receiver, and a little cleaning with Flitz removed most of it.
Jim Watson
Member
Weird stuff; I just saw a FB video of a Nagant double barreled rolling block pistol. Darn thing had a single nonselective trigger.
Ugly Sauce
Member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2020
- Messages
- 6,201
That is disgustingly beautiful. How dare you!!!!
Ugly Sauce
Member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2020
- Messages
- 6,201
I saw that too. Thought it was pretty neat.
At one time Numrich Gun Parts bought all the leftover parts from Remington for the 1997 Creedmoor Rolling Blocks when the guns were 20 years old. I didn't hear about it until a friend told me he'd bought two receivers and all the internal parts! I quickly went to their site and no receivers left, or hammers and breech blocks left. Someone had also purchased all of the globe sight inserts, but the sights were still available as complete parts to assemble.
I asked about stocks and they said they had standard wood with plastic buttplates, and forearm caps, but not the deluxe presentation wood with steel caps and buttplates. Then the lady asked me to hold a minute as she was going to check if the computer was correct. When she came back she said she found one deluxe checkered stock set, and I told her I wanted it. Those are what's on my built Rolling Block, along with a pistol grip lower tang they had, and both windage globe and tang sight. So the only part of my rifle that isn't genuine Remington is the Green Mountain 4.5 weight octagon barrel. Those stock sets sold for a mere $165 with the steel forearm tip and buttplate, all checkered and finished! Wish I'd heard sooner as I would have bought every set they had!
Just got back from picking up this # 1 1/2 Cadet rifle. As soon as I got out to my car I dropped a .45-70 cartridge into the chamber, and it's a perfect fit! So all is as I expected, and it's a rare .45-70 Cadet 1 1/2!
The auction pictures did no service to this Rolling Block, as it's a much nicer rifle than the pictures showed. The stocks and metal are both dark, but very smooth and no damage to metal or wood. Bore is very nice, likely because it sat without owners knowing what the chamber was.
I was surprised by the size of the gun since pictures made it look like any military Rolling Block. But with the Sporting action and buttstock the barrel and forearm are shorter and lighter, so next to a #1 military it's about 20% smaller, and lighter. A very slender, lightweight version.
Thought I might do some mild cleanup, but now having it in hand I wont do a thing to it, other than take it down, to inspect, clean, and oil internals.
Try to get some pictures today or tomorrow.
I also discovered a 1903 ad from M. Hartley & Co. in New York for surplus military stores and equipment. The ad states they are selling these No. 206 Cadet rifles in .45-70 for $9 and states the guns are 25-30 years old, which would date these to early 1870's when sold new.
The auction pictures did no service to this Rolling Block, as it's a much nicer rifle than the pictures showed. The stocks and metal are both dark, but very smooth and no damage to metal or wood. Bore is very nice, likely because it sat without owners knowing what the chamber was.
I was surprised by the size of the gun since pictures made it look like any military Rolling Block. But with the Sporting action and buttstock the barrel and forearm are shorter and lighter, so next to a #1 military it's about 20% smaller, and lighter. A very slender, lightweight version.
Thought I might do some mild cleanup, but now having it in hand I wont do a thing to it, other than take it down, to inspect, clean, and oil internals.
Try to get some pictures today or tomorrow.
I also discovered a 1903 ad from M. Hartley & Co. in New York for surplus military stores and equipment. The ad states they are selling these No. 206 Cadet rifles in .45-70 for $9 and states the guns are 25-30 years old, which would date these to early 1870's when sold new.
Acorn Mush
Member
Regarding your Ballard rifles might you have a rimfire variant that has a percussion nipple in the breech block, right below the slot for the firing pin?And some of my Marlin Ballard rifles:
You have a beautiful collection of rifles!
Thanks! I have a pretty narrow collecting area of interest. Mainly Marlin Ballard single shots, and Remington single shots.
Took the Cadet down to it's basic pieces today and cleaned a lot of dried up oil out of it, but found it very clean inside. Once I got it sprayed out with brake clean, and then oiled it went together easier than it came apart.
Dug through my parts bins and found a sling loop that was a good copy for size and condition and bent it open to install, then squeezed it closed to get it back to shape.
Just a wipe down afterwards and it's done.
Dug through my parts bins and found a sling loop that was a good copy for size and condition and bent it open to install, then squeezed it closed to get it back to shape.
Just a wipe down afterwards and it's done.
Acorn Mush
Member
Thank you for your response. I had forgotten that a number of companies made Ballard rifles. My Ballard was made by the Merrimack Arms & Manufacturing Co., Newburyport, Mass. It appears to be chambered for .44 Henry rimfire, which round I have in my collection. Seems a perfect fit in the chamber.
Not trying to highjack the thread, just looking for a bit of info.
It appears you really got a prize in your Cadet rolling block.
As a possible source for parts should any be needed, you might contact Kenn Womack of Womack's Rolling Block Parts. I believe he is in Fallon, Nevada. Very knowledgeable and a nice fellow. He was kind enough to spend quite a bit of time with me, answering questions about a 7mm Rolling Block even though I only spent a few bucks with him.
I only collect the Marlin made Ballard rifles, which were the most successful of the various Ballards built. There were 5 other companies that all went bankrupt trying to build Ballard rifles for Merwin and Bray who owned the patent rights they bought from Charles Ballard.
I've sold Kenn Womack some old Rolling Block parts leftover from military rifles I disassembled to use receivers.
I've sold Kenn Womack some old Rolling Block parts leftover from military rifles I disassembled to use receivers.
