Rolling block ID request

[muaddib78]

Im assuming this is a #1 receiver as its 1.32 inch wide, rollmark dates it to 1874 - 1888 and it uses a rotary extractor, am i missing anything?

Would this is safe in .38-55/.375 winchester?

Other than continuing to hunt across ebay and gunbroker.com is theres a reliable parts source for these?

Source for RB barrels?

[marlinman93]

It's a BP era action, and is fine for .38-55 cartridge. Not like the later smokeless actions that are very heavy in the receiver ring and can be milled to octagon top like a Sporting Rifle action. But leave the action round top and it can handle .38-55 loads easily.
.375 Winchester is over 50,000 psi and not good for any Rolling Block action.

[muaddib78]

Thanks for that, found a compatable barrel liner from track of the wolf for 38-55 that i can get into a reamed .43 barrel.

Next problem, rotary extractor breech blocks seem to be impossible to find, any known seller or is there a way to convert this to bar extractor?

[marlinman93]

Thanks for that, found a compatable barrel liner from track of the wolf for 38-55 that i can get into a reamed .43 barrel.

Next problem, rotary extractor breech blocks seem to be impossible to find, any known seller or is there a way to convert this to bar extractor?

Converting to a bar extractor would be a waste of money, as it requires a fair amount of machine work to make this action into the bar extractor, and then you end up with a weaker extractor vs. the rotary. If all you have is this bare receiver, then it's probably best to not begin with this. I would contact Kenn Womack at Rolling Block Parts who has the largest stock of used and new parts for these actions, and see if he might have a complete action, and maybe take your bare receiver as a partial trade in towards buying one?
If you have a complete action minus the extractor, then Kenn is still the best resource for just the extractor.

[muaddib78]

Only parts i dont have at this point are a barrel, the breech block and extractor, and a forend.

I can get a blown out .43 barrel for next to nothing, , crop it to 18 inch, bore and ream it to .609 and drop in a liner from track of the wolf, im checking if anyones ever converted a rotary to bar extractor or not. Ie. Set up a broach and punch the channel.

[marlinman93]

Can't say as I've ever heard of anyone doing the conversion to a sliding extractor, and betting nobody has.
The 18" barrel is going to really limit the effectiveness of the .38-55 cartridge, not to mention the very short sight radius. Most people use a 28" at least and a 30"-32" is even more common.

[muaddib78]

TOTW sells liners by the inch so i can do as far at 8 feet, 28 - 32 is a non-issue

[marlinman93]

So why choose 18" then? Seems like you'd be better off going traditional length of the .38-55 cartridge. And wont have a stubby looking Rolling Block.