Rolling block project finished.

[Claven2]

Believe it or not, this build has been almost 4 years in the making. I got a bit done here and there over time - getting the stock made took the longest. I used a top maker but he took 2 years to get it done (not because it takes 2 years but because he was very backed up with work). The blanks for butt and forestock were from a $600 piece of full fiddleback extra fancy english walnut aged 25 years. Barrel is 31" octagonal. Case hardening was done by Oskar Kob. and all metal work was done by Jason Spencer.

I think it turned out rather nice. It is D&T for a soule-type sight, which I do have. It's also got a stnadard dovetail for a front sight, but I haven't decided what to use for that yet...? Hopefully something period looking and removable or folding so as not to interfere with the 3X malcolm scope.

Antique made in 1872, cal .45-70.




















It's been almost 4 years, but here's a fair approximation, not including any taxes or shipping:

Receiver: about $350
Barrel: About $350
Barrel threading, chambering, indexing, install: $200
TIG welding the swivel holes up in the trigger guard: $30
Metal prep on the action: $200
Buttplate: $50
Metal prep on the blued parts: $100
Blueing or barrel and small parts: $150
stock blank: $600
Stock maker and checkering: $900
Color Case hardening: $250
3X malcolm scope with large calibre ring lock: $300
Metal work on scope mounts to get rid of ugly casting lines: $50
D&T for mounts: $30
Soule sight (not pictured): $300
Beech front sight (not pictured): $120

Wow... so that's somewhere around $3980 or so. No wonder I never did the math before now.

Information

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[Patrick Chadwick]

A beautiful piece of work!

I think the Beech type front sight might just fit below the line of the scope. If not, then a normal dovetailed bead surely will.

An advantage of the RB for competition shooting is that it is possible to clean the bore while lying down - if you use a piece of nylon rod (or similar flexible material) to push a patch through from the breach end. It is therefore worthwhile arranging the backsight so that the mounting bracket is as low as is feasible - to have a free path through the bore.

Patrick

[Badger]

Awesome work and you gave a real old girl a new lease on life to boot ...

Thanks for preserving a nice piece of history ..

Regards,
Doug

[Doug Rammel]

Great work.

I guess I'm a cheapskate. I'll have less than 800 in mine IF I ever get it done. Mine will be 40-65 cal.

[Claven2]

Well, like any custom gun, you can get as inexpensive or expensive as you like

[musketshooter]

The checkering and case coloring are exquisite. Who did the case hardening? I am going to build one up in 444 Marlin shortly.

[Claven2]

It was done by Oskar Kob - he's in Nova Scotia in Canada.

[Frank46]

Sir, just saw your excellent rolling block. Action looks to be Swedish by the visible markings on the side. But what I really like is the way the forend covers the barrel. Most pics I have seen of rolling block sporters usually show a small forend especially if the barrel is rather large. Sort of like the forend was put there as an afterthought. Well done. Frank

[jon_norstog]

Claven,

that's a nice rifle. I've got 2 RBs, a 7mm and a 45-70 built on an Argy. my brother has 2 as well, an Argy long rifle and a .444 Marlin on an Argy action. None of our rifles is as nice as yours! WTH, we hunt elk with them! The 45-70 is my backup gun, behind my 30-40 Krag.

I'm looking at an Springfield Arsenal RB ... I'm not wild about the 50-70 caliber, though.

Keep up the good work!

jn