Rolling Block .303 British Calibre

Topics related to Pre - 1898 Remington Rifles
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AlanD
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2008 2:39 am

Rolling Block .303 British Calibre

Post by AlanD »

Does anyone have any tables or information showing the production of the rolling block in .303 British calibre and the dates on manufacture, if known?

Regards

Alan David
Sydney
Australia
wlw-19958
Posts: 159
Joined: Sun Sep 18, 2016 7:21 pm

Re: Rolling Block .303 British Calibre

Post by wlw-19958 »

Hi There,

Is this a military rolling block? If so, there isn't
much information on how many were manufactured
but it is considered a very rare caliber (if a factory
made rifle). This should be made on the later #5
action. If you have any pics, we would love to see it!

The #5 action started production in 1896. There were
several evolutionary models during its production. The
models were: 1896, 1897, 1902 (a.k.a 1901) and 1910.
The differences were small and mostly subtle changes
to sights, upper hand guard and the most obvious the
extractor (prior to the model 1902) or ejector (starting
with the 1902 model and later models).

Post some pics and we will help with identification.

Good Luck!
-Blue Chips-
Webb
AlanD
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2008 2:39 am

Re: Rolling Block .303 British Calibre

Post by AlanD »

Yes this is the military rifle I am thinking of. The British did buy 4,500 7mm rolling block rifles from Remington in 1915 for use on miscellaneous boats and craft such as trawlers for protection against mines and German U boats.
I often wondered why they did not buy any in .303 which by the early 1890's was in common usage around the British Empire.

Did Remington actually produce any military pattern rolling blocks in .303?

Regards

AlanD
stanforth
Posts: 173
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 5:56 am
Location: Oxford England

Re: Rolling Block .303 British Calibre

Post by stanforth »

We (British) purchased what was available. This was to free up .303 Le Enfield rifles for troops going over to France.
We also bought Arisaka and other rifles such as mod.1892 and 1894 Winchesters.
wlw-19958
Posts: 159
Joined: Sun Sep 18, 2016 7:21 pm

Re: Rolling Block .303 British Calibre

Post by wlw-19958 »

Hi There,

Stanforth is correct. Remington kept large numbers
of 7mm rolling blocks in stock because it was the
most popular caliber. Remington would make them
in .303 Brit. but there would be a significant delay
in providing them.

As I understand it, the British wanted the rifles immediately
and elected not to wait for the 6 to 12 months needed to
produce them. One has to remember that Remington was
in high gear producing P14's and in expanding their facilities
to meet the demands of a war and just didn't have the
workforce to build rolling blocks expediently.

Good Luck!
-Blue Chips-
Webb
AlanD
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2008 2:39 am

Re: Rolling Block .303 British Calibre

Post by AlanD »

Out of interest the British 4,500 purchase included, 1000 rifles that were "repaired"or refurbished meaning they were presumably used. So it is possible there were two models purchased, say 1899 and 1902. Unfortunately, examples of these with British markings, normally D.P. for drill purpose and the DCP Canadian proof mark, are very few on the ground.

This is the opposite of the 4,000 Remington Model 14 1/2 rifles of which well over100 have been recorded with the DCP mark and various other rack markings.

If no military rifles were made in .303 - assuming this is in fact the case - does anyone know how many were made in a sporting configuration in .303?

Regards

Alan

Note: The British Admiralty was also offered 1,000 7mm rolling block carbines but declined to buy them on account od dirty bore's. Although they shot quite well according to a note in one of the files at the National Archives in London.
wlw-19958
Posts: 159
Joined: Sun Sep 18, 2016 7:21 pm

Re: Rolling Block .303 British Calibre

Post by wlw-19958 »

Hi There,

Nobody is saying that .303 Brit military rolling blocks
were not made. Quite the contrary. They were
manufactured but in very limited numbers (based on
how few are still around).

What we are saying is that the 7mm version was the most
common. This is partly because the biggest market at the
time was South and Central America and most of these
Countries had adopted that caliber. Other calibers were
made and are documented in the old catalogs that survive.

Remington has been through a few bankruptcies and
re-organizations. Each time, there was a general
clean-up of what was considered old useless records
and information has been lost.

As to civilian versions being made in .303 Brit, I don't know
anything about them. Perhaps others know and will share
their information.

Good Luck!
-Blue Chips-
Webb
PhilfyDog
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2022 2:07 am

Re: Rolling Block .303 British Calibre

Post by PhilfyDog »

Recently I purchased a #5 303 at auction in New Zealand

I was informed that there were 198 sporting rifles made in the #5's spanning 7 calibers, and 28 were 303, of the 28 that were made only 4 are known to exist, my serial number is 5-141

she is a very prized part of my collection

I would love to confirm the details I've been told

Phil
marlinman93
Posts: 379
Joined: Sat Aug 14, 2004 10:47 pm

Re: Rolling Block .303 British Calibre

Post by marlinman93 »

I wasn't aware there were any records that would reveal how many of most of the early Rolling Blocks were made? There are smokeless #5 rifles made in Sporting versions, and military also. And from what little info I see on them the .303 was chambered in both Sporting, and military variations. I can't seem to find any data that would confirm how many were made of either, but they're very tough to find examples of.
PhilfyDog
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2022 2:07 am

Re: Rolling Block .303 British Calibre

Post by PhilfyDog »

This is from the auction catalogue about the one I brought

737 Rifle: .303 Remington Rolling Block No5 Single Shot Sporting Rifle marked with Remington Arms on the left side of the
action. 28" barrel with fair bore, all metalwork a browning patina fading in places. Original stock with minor usage dings. It is
unlikely that Remington produced less of any other model according to Roy Marcot, the leading Remington historian a total of only
198 #5 Sporters were produced between 1898 and 1905 in 7 calibres. The military version of the #5 was produced in large
numbers unlike the Sporters but the advent of repeating rifles, mainly by Winchester saw single shot firearms fall from favour in the
market. The Remington Society of America has only 4 of this calibre recorded world-wide. A good and very rare sporting rifle in GC.
Serial Number 5-141

There was a second one there as well.....

Please Note: Lots 185 and 737 are two .303 No5 Remington Sporting Rolling Block Rifles.
These are very rare rifles which is noted by Remington and mentioned in the descriptions. We
are fortunate in New Zealand that we seem to have so many rare guns. These are out of
private collections and they are offered unusually both in this Auction

185 Rifle: .303 Remington Rolling Block No5 Single Shot Sporting Rifle marked with Remington Arms on the left side of the
action. 28" barrel with good bore, all metalwork a browning patina. Good stock and woodwork that has been lightly cleaned. It is
unlikely that Remington produced less of any other model according to Roy Marcot, the leading Remington historian a total of only
198 #5 Sporters were produced between 1898 and 1905 in 7 calibres. The military version of the #5 was produced in large
numbers unlike the Sporters but the advent of repeating rifles, mainly by Winchester saw single shot firearms fall from favour in the
market. The Remington Society of America has only 4 of this calibre recorded world-wide. Comes with two books, The Remington
Historical Treasury of American Guns by Harold L Peterson and Standard Catalogue of Remington Firearms by Dan Shideler, both
books in very good condition. This is a very rare sporting rifle in GC. Serial Number 5-118
marlinman93
Posts: 379
Joined: Sat Aug 14, 2004 10:47 pm

Re: Rolling Block .303 British Calibre

Post by marlinman93 »

I don't see any mention of the "28" in the auction description? Where did that number come from? Roy does mention the 198 Sporting #5's, but no totals for military since his book is strictly Sporting versions.
PhilfyDog
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2022 2:07 am

Re: Rolling Block .303 British Calibre

Post by PhilfyDog »

Good question

The '28' number came from the auction conveyor.

The model I have is one of the 198 sporting models that Roy talks of.

I'm more interested in the sporting models
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