Rolling Block Shotgun?

[sp45]

I have the the Rolling Block book by Marcot and Lewis but I didn't find much on the Rolling Block Shotgun. I have a 20 gauge with a 30" barrel. Which size frame were they made on and what time frame. Were they pre 1899.

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

I would suspect that a 20 gauge shotgun would be built
on the #1 frame considering the shell diameter and rim
diameter. Can you measure the thickness of the frame?
A #1 frame is around 1.315" to 1.325".

It is possible that a #1-1/2 frame was used. They are
supposed to be a little thinner at around 1.14" ( I don't
have a 1-1/2 to measure and the information present
here is from other sources).

If you can post a picture, it would help.

As to age, I don't know what years they were offered.
I have an 1877 catalog reprint and they list a rolling
block shotgun in it (but it is listed as a 16 gauge).

I can tell you that the barrel and tang markings changed
over time. If the Company name is listed as "E. Remington
& Sons," it was made before the Company's bankruptcy and
subsequent sale in 1888. After that date, the Company
name became "Remington Arms Company."

I hope others that are more familiar with RB shotguns will
interject and post what they know.

Good Luck!
-Blue Chips-
Webb

[marlinman93]

As far as I know all Rolling Block shotguns were made on the #1 frame. They were a later offering, and I believe all of them are also post 1898. Mine is a 16 ga. also.
I see them with round top military frames, but also some deluxe versions done on octagon top Sporting Rifle frames. Mine is one of the octagon top frames, and has checkered buttstock and forearm.

[sp45]

1.315 so a #1 frame. It is a round top but the receiver bridge has a factory groove on the top for sighting with the bead. A three digit serial #380.

[marlinman93]

That's correct. The shotguns always had the groove in the top to allow the shooter to see the front bead. Round top receivers were also the most commonly found version.

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

Just to reiterate, I have a 1877 Remington catalog
reprint and in that catalog, the rolling block shotgun
was available. Here is a scan of the page:

1877 RB Shotgun012.jpg (1.51 MiB) Viewed 5033 times

Here is a scan from an 1880 Remington catalog:

1880 RB Shotgun013.jpg (3.31 MiB) Viewed 5032 times

Good Luck!
-Blue Chips-
Webb

[JimMill]

Hi All,

I have the early sporting model shotgun. It is marked E. Remington & Son's with patent dates on the upper tang. The receiver measures 1.23" the same as my #1 rolling block sporting rifles. It has the longer lower tang trigger guard that has the sporting model contour, sighting groove on top of the receiver, sporting breech block and hammer, half moon panels on the butt stock and forearm and steel shotgun butt plate.
The barrel is 34".

I believe the shotguns made with military actions, barrels and stocks were made after 1886 when
E. Remington & Son's were out of business.

Thanks wlw-19958 for posting the catalog pages.

Here is a pic of my receiver.

Jim