Any Information on Rolling Block Appreciated

[sam111051]

I recently purchased a Rolling Block at a local gunshop. The price was only $275.00 so I figured I couldn't do too badly, even if I only used the action. After taking a closer look I found the gun to be in very good mechanical condition with a very nice bore. The only missing parts are the ramrod and the retainer for one of the barrell bands.

From reading the posts here I suspect that this rifle was built on an early export action by Liege, probably chambered for 43 Spanish. I took it to a local gunsmith for a chamber casting and to have the barrel slugged. When I went in to pick it up there was no casting. The "gunsmith" couldn't give me any chamber or bore dimensions - only that his "expert" thought it might be a 44 Russian. Inserting a once-fired 45-70 case leaves ~3/8" of case extending from the breech. The 45-70 is a bit smaller in diameter. I'm going to get the casting done by another gunsmith soon.

Overall Length is ~50 and 1/2". The barrel Length ~35 and 1/8" from muzzle to breechface with three barrel bands. There is no provision for attaching a bayonet. I am attaching a few photos showing proof markings, etc.

I would appreciate any information anyone could provide. Sam McCommons

Sorry about the quality

overall.jpg (17.31 KiB) Viewed 3503 times

Proof marks under barrel

proofs_under_brl.jpg (87.17 KiB) Viewed 3504 times

[tjack]

Sam,
Judging from your photos you "probably" have an ex .58 caliber musket rebarreled in Belgium to .43 Spanish caliber. A lot of time has passed since that was done so get a chamber cast. Your last photo shows the lower tang longer than the upper tang. This was a characteristic of the .58 cal rifles. Also. the face of the breech block might have "wings" on either side to contain the large rim of the .58 ctg. When these things were made up parts were mixed up so #'s don't always match up. The 10.6 on the bottom of the barrel indicates 11mm Spanish. The Belgians used "11.1" for the 11mm Egyptian cal. The "AF" on the bottom of the barrel probably indicates that the work was done (or, inspected??) by August Francotte (who also made Rolling Block muskatoons for Uruguay.

[sam111051]

Thanks for the information tjack. Are there sources for aditional information like what country this rifle was manufactured for. I'm attaching 2 new photos showing marks on stock, handguard and right side of action.

Sam

bb_markings_rt.jpg (64.33 KiB) Viewed 3438 times

markings_stock.jpg (69.41 KiB) Viewed 3439 times

[tjack]

Sam,
The #'s in the stock are probably rack or unit numbers. I cannot make out the mark on the side of the receiver. Your best source of info would be the October 2007 issue of Man At Arms magazine. Ed Hull did a real nice article on the "Transformed" Rolling Blocks. According to Ed, your rifle with the concave portion of the breech block dates it to pre August 1870. Generally, these rifles were sold throughout the world though primarily central/south America in .58 caliber. A large # were sold to France during the Franco-Prussian War. This is probably where yours went to first. After that war many were re barreled in Belgium for a more modern caliber....11mm Spanish. These were re sold to Latin American countries. Get ahold of Ed's article, it contains LOTS of good info.
Take a look at the face of your breech block and you will see the "wings" on either side and the lines where a piece was added to incorporate these wings. It looks like there is a circle to the left of the firing pin hole where it was fastened.
Tomorrow evening I am expecting delivery of a .58 cal carbine that will compliment my rifle.
Good luck!
Tom

[sam111051]

Thanks again for the information Tom. The mark on the overexposed picture of the right side looks like the letters AF with a Z below. Also, 343 appears under the barrel matching the marks on the tang.

I'll try to find a copy of the article.

Sam