Another ID thread for a rolling block

[tjack]

You have what George Layman calls the "Type 1--Transition Model". This action was used to convert muzzle loading rifles to cartridge rifles. If you look at the face of your breech block you will see "wings" on either side of the main block. This is because many of the early muzzle loaders were a .58 caliber and were chambered for a .58 caliber center fire. The wings were necessary to have the entire chamber portion of the barrel covered by the block. Your rifle is the third variation of these transition rifles: the "wings" are made as part of the block and the lower portion of the breech block that rolls under the chamber is flat. The wood on your rifle has been varnished (and maybe sanded??) so you would not hurt any value of your rifle by having the muzzle recrowned.
Another indicator that your rifle is a Transition Model is the lower tang. The end is held to the stock by a wood screw. This was done away with for later N0 1 actions. The receiver having flat sides was due to the large diameter of the barrel shank. A lot of these rifles were sold to France during the Franco Prussian War. They were subsequently sold as surplus and the Belgians re barreled many for resale to Central & South America chambered for the 11mm Spanish. Remington also barreled and chambered them for the same end users in 11mm Spanish.

[vulture]

In picture #6 it appears that there are marks on the side of the barrel in front of the breach that look like vice marks, if so then the chambering may not be standard to the action. It could just be that my eyes are seeing things.

[ehull]

Your rifle appears to have a .43 caliber barrel and typical rear sight, but as previously stated the frame is from a .58 caliber "transformed" musket. If there are foreign proofs on the bottom of the barrel then this is a French used "transformation" musket that was rebarreled after the Franco-Prussian War--likely in Belgium. If the barrel has no proofs or foreign markings, then it is likely that the frame has had a replacement barrel added, as the .43 Spanish is far more "shootable" than is the original .58 Musket cartridge.