A Conversion of a Different Kind

[Big Al Mass]

I have been wondering if anyone has ever done a '1st Allin'-style trapdoor conversion of one of the various reproduction rifled muskets available. It seems like it would work in theory. You could use .577 Snider brass as the basis of the cartridges.

Just one of those thoughts that popped into my head when I started thinking one day.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

I have a rolling block conversion in 58 Berdan.

A few years ago there was a zoli zouave -snider conversion for sale on the euro equivalent of gunbroker

 

[Big Al Mass]

What do you mean by rolling block conversion?

 

[zimmerstutzen]

In 1866 to 1870, civil war muskets were conerted to both 58 rim fire and center fire by. Several different actions, including the rolling block.

 

[Big Al Mass]

I have never seen a rolling block conversion of a rifled musket before. Could you possibly post a photo?

 

[4v50 Gary]

Sure, why not? It's a matter of getting the action and then fitting it to the barrel.

 

[StrawHat]

Originally, they were converted to 58 Rimfire. Even while the 1865 was being issued, the 1866 (50-70) was under construction and was being accepted as a replacement.

Are you considering milling the rear of the barrel and fitting a breechblock? I would guess you could use one from an 1866 and the hinge block to accomplish your idea.

 

[Jim K]

I am not sure that re-using just the musket barrel would qualify as a "conversion". In the early days, inventors of the various conversion systems tried to retain as much of the original musket as possible so as to allow rearming an army with a breechloader at minimal cost. Conversions like the Allin and Snider kept almost all the original musket, basically cutting away part of the barrel and installing a breechblock. Making a new receiver, like a rolling block or Martini, would defeat the purpose of economy.

As to putting an Allin breech onto a reproduction musket, why not? But assuming the breech had to be made, it seems to me that it would be a pretty costly way to prove that what we know worked before will still work. And taking an original block off an existing rifle would destroy or damage a valuable collectors item.

Jim

 

[StrawHat]

Jim K,

I reworked an original 1866 barreled action to fit a replica musket. The original needed to be glass bedded in the replica stock as it was smaller than the replica barrel by about 1/8". Because of that, I am not sure how much work would be needed to fit the block and hinge bracket to a replica barrel. The originals were soldered AND screwed to the barrels so they would stay put. Original blocks are not common but do show up if you are patient. More for the 45 calibers than the earlier 50s and 58s.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Years ago I had a joslyn conversion
Berdan conversions were used by several European countries including russia