Remington 1871 Army Rolling Block Pistol

Object Details

Remington Arms Company, Inc.

Description

Physical Description:

This .50 caliber center fire Remington 1871 Army pistol was made by the Remington Repeating Arms Co. It is a breech loading rolling block pistol. It has walnut grips and forend with a blue finish. The frame and trigger guard are casehardened.

This pistol is stamped “REMINGTON’S ILION, N.Y.U.S.A” over top “PAT MAY 30. NOV. 15TH 1864. April 17TH 1866.” on the left side of the pistol. On the same side “S” and “P” are stamped. At the rear of the grip is a rectangular stamp, with script letters “LRS.” on the inside.

History:

The rolling block pistol was developed from the split breech carbine invented by Leonard Geiger. Remington Chief Designer Joseph Rider modified Geiger’s model to create the Rolling Block Pistol in 1866.

The rolling block pistol was easy to use, reliable and accurate. Cock the hammer and slide the breech back for easy cartridge insertion. Then move the block forward. When the trigger is pulled, a projection rolls under the breech.

There were five models made of the rolling block design. The Remington Model 1871 Army Pistol was the final design. In this Model, the trigger and guard were moved forward, and a spur was added behind the hammer for better grip. A firing pin retractor was added. This design, while sold to the U.S. Government for military use, was never sold to the military.

References:

Flayderman, Norm. Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms…and their Values, Gun Digest Books, Iola, 2007. 9th edition.

Gardner, Robert E. Col. Small Arms Makers: A Directory of Fabricators of Firearms, Edged Weapons, Crossbows and Polearms, Crown Publishers Inc, New York: 1963, p. 159-160.

Womack, G.S. “Remington Rolling Block Parts,” GS Womack. .

Location

Currently not on view

Credit Line

The Adriana and Edwin W. Bitter Family Collection

1871

ID Number

1985.0783.03

accession number

1985.0783

catalog number

1985.0783.03

Object Name

pistol

pistol, rolling block

Other Terms

pistol; Firearms; Army; Center Fire; .50 In; Rifled; 09; Sa

Physical Description

metal (part material)

wood (part material)

Measurements

overall: 12 in; 30.48 cm

overall: 1 3/8 in x 12 3/8 in x 6 in; 3.4925 cm x 31.4325 cm x 15.24 cm

place made

United States: New York, Ilion

See more items in

Political and Military History: Armed Forces History, Military

Military

The Bitter Collection of Firearms

National Museum of American History

Record ID

nmah_438555

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a2-6499-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa