Is this a 1 1/2 Rolling Block? The receiver is about 1.14 inches thick.

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Rcovi
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Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2021 3:01 pm

Is this a 1 1/2 Rolling Block? The receiver is about 1.14 inches thick.

Post by Rcovi »

I believe this to be a 1 1/2 Rolling Block. The receiver is about 1.14 inch thick. I was wondering if you can tell when it was made and how many were made. I read that they were rare.
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marlinman93
Posts: 379
Joined: Sat Aug 14, 2004 10:47 pm

Re: Is this a 1 1/2 Rolling Block? The receiver is about 1.14 inches thick.

Post by marlinman93 »

Yes, it's a #1 1/2, and an early one too! Later didn't have the neat steel forearm tip. Yours is likely an "E. Remington & Sons" rollstamped barrel.
All Remington Sporting Rifles are rare, with very small numbers in each frame size. The #1 1/2 came out around 1884, and production ended in 1897. The total made is unknown, but the highest number known is under #4400, and it's guesstimated maybe 4700 were made. After 1886 production ceased, and restarted in 1889 with the new "Remington Arms Co." rollstamp. So yours is either 1884-1886, or 1889-1897. And the steel tip tells me it's the earlier most likely.
Rcovi
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Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2021 3:01 pm

Re: Is this a 1 1/2 Rolling Block? The receiver is about 1.14 inches thick.

Post by Rcovi »

Thanks for the information. It is a neat old rifle even though it a 32 rim fire. I have a friend that came across 3 boxes of navy arms .32 rf last week so he wants me to sell him my rifle or me buy his ammo. I’m thinking that I want the ammo.
marlinman93
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Joined: Sat Aug 14, 2004 10:47 pm

Re: Is this a 1 1/2 Rolling Block? The receiver is about 1.14 inches thick.

Post by marlinman93 »

I guess that will give you a little shooting before you run out of ammo. If it was mine I'd have the block converted to centerfire, and either load up .32 Long Colt brass, or ream the chamber slightly to accept .32 S&W Long. The latter is the best choice, and least expensive. Plus it would give you lots of shooting enjoyment with readily available ammo, brass, and dies cheap.
stanforth
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Location: Oxford England

Re: Is this a 1 1/2 Rolling Block? The receiver is about 1.14 inches thick.

Post by stanforth »

Reloadable .32 cases are available. I have and use a No.4 rolling block in .32 rimfire using .22 blanks as primers. You simply put the blank in the base, fill with black powder allowing space to seat a .32 ball or bullet. I use bullets from a .31 Colt mold. Great fun.
dieNusse1
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Re: Is this a 1 1/2 Rolling Block? The receiver is about 1.14 inches thick.

Post by dieNusse1 »

I have and use 38RF cases from Dixie in my Flobert. I didn't know 32RF cases were available. Where did you get them?
marlinman93
Posts: 379
Joined: Sat Aug 14, 2004 10:47 pm

Re: Is this a 1 1/2 Rolling Block? The receiver is about 1.14 inches thick.

Post by marlinman93 »

I've used the adapter cases in .44 Long, .38 Long, and .32 Long. I personally find them to fiddly, and not very accurate. But if I wasn't planning on shooting the gun a lot I'd be OK with them.
stanforth
Posts: 173
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 5:56 am
Location: Oxford England

Re: Is this a 1 1/2 Rolling Block? The receiver is about 1.14 inches thick.

Post by stanforth »

This may not help you but I got mine from a guy in Belgium some years ago.
tjack
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Joined: Sat Jul 01, 2006 6:15 pm

Re: Is this a 1 1/2 Rolling Block? The receiver is about 1.14 inches thick.

Post by tjack »

Look up GUNBROKER # 890073939. I've purchased cases from this guy and use them in two .32 RF Rolling Blocks. They have withstood many reloadings. I use them with .22 RF "Acorn" blanks. I'm currently using blanks made by Walther. I've also used blanks made in one of the ex Yugoslave Republics. This route is far cheaper than going with "collector status" Navy Arms .32 RF.
Rcovi
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Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2021 3:01 pm

Re: Is this a 1 1/2 Rolling Block? The receiver is about 1.14 inches thick.

Post by Rcovi »

Thank you all for the information. I think I’ll buy the Navy Arms ammo and order me some Dixi Gun Works reloadable ones. I’m also thinking I could reload the Navy Arms as well.
tjack
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Joined: Sat Jul 01, 2006 6:15 pm

Re: Is this a 1 1/2 Rolling Block? The receiver is about 1.14 inches thick.

Post by tjack »

The reloadable cases are designed by having a hole drilled into the base of the case so that a .22 RF blank can be inserted. The Navy Arms .32 RF are actual rimfire cartridges. While some adventurous folks reload them, it can be dangerous.
Rcovi
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Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2021 3:01 pm

Re: Is this a 1 1/2 Rolling Block? The receiver is about 1.14 inches thick.

Post by Rcovi »

I have my rifle back and it has the Remington Arms NY on the barrel. I also got 147 rounds of 32 rf and they shoot. I just wanted some to have with it.


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marlinman93
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Re: Is this a 1 1/2 Rolling Block? The receiver is about 1.14 inches thick.

Post by marlinman93 »

Those Navy Arms .32 RF are some of the last ever produced, so new enough they should all shoot.
I had a lot of Cannuck .32 Long RF ammo that I purchased from a friend who found it at a garage sale long ago. He had 14 boxes that all looked like brand new, and those I fired all shot great. Since my rifle was a Ballard #2 with reversible firing pin for RF/CF, I only shot a box or two of it, and mostly shot my reloads in CF in my gun.
The .32 Long RF or CF can be a very accurate rifle to shoot if the loaded ammo has bullets that fit the bore properly. Unfortunately bores vary quite a bit from as small as around .310" in some guns, to as large as .315" in others. And ammo also varies with some I've pulled bullets that measured .309" to largest being around .313" So depending on the size of your groove diameter, and the Navy Arms ammo, it might shoot good, or poorly.
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