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I just bought this today at an estate sale and I am trying to identify this Remington rifle - The model,when/where it might have been used and what the markings mean especially the D. 5. 270. It has crown stamps on the hammer and barrel. The last patent date is 1866. It measures about 50" in total length. Any help would be appreciated.
Here are some images:
Your rifle was made by Remington for Denmark. It was originally chambered for the 11.7x42R rim fire cartridge. Sometime before 1897 it was surplused out to civilian shooters. Civilian shooters converted these to at least two different center fire cartridges: 11.7x42R and 11.7x45.5R. They used either center fire cartridge for civilian shooting matches. If they competed in "military" style competitions they were required to use the military rim fire cartridge. This is why the breech block is drilled with two holes. Two different firing pins were required. Contrary to "popular" belief, the firing pin found on the more recent M1866/97 is not a convertible firing pin. Your rifle is fitted with the original Enfield rear sight.
tjack wrote:Your rifle was made by Remington for Denmark. It was originally chambered for the 11.7x42R rim fire cartridge. Sometime before 1897 it was surplused out to civilian shooters. Civilian shooters converted these to at least two different center fire cartridges: 11.7x42R and 11.7x45.5R. They used either center fire cartridge for civilian shooting matches. If they competed in "military" style competitions they were required to use the military rim fire cartridge. This is why the breech block is drilled with two holes. [b]Two different firing pins were required. Contrary to "popular" belief, the firing pin found on the more recent M1866/97 is not a convertible firing pin. Your rifle is fitted with the original Enfield rear sight.
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I had 3 of these some years ago when I was dealing in antique guns. They all had 2 striker holes and the firing pins were reversable. You simply turned the pin over for rim or centrefire.
stanforth,
I think what we have here is an incident when some pre historic gun writer looked at the breech block of a Danish Rolling Block and thought "it should work". It quickly became "it will work". Unfortunately, it does NOT work. Reversing the firing pin allows the rear of the firing pin to stick out of the rear of the breech block. It will not seat all the way. The retaining screw will not go into its hole and, if installed in the rifle, the breech block will not open.
Try it.
Thanks for your reply.
The rifles I refered to were sold as curios (not of shooter condition) years ago so I am not in a position to check. I will look out for another just to satisfy my curiosity.
Yesterday I did an experiment with one of the rilesthat I sold a few years ago, see previous post. Having borrowed it back I loaded one case centrefire and modified another to rimfire by drilling an offset 1/4 inch hole and resessing it to take a .22 blank. Having loaded them both 'blank' I tried the pin for both settings and YES it does work on both centre and rimfire.