Picked up a rolling block

Status
Not open for further replies.
MachIVshooter

MachIVshooter

Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2005
Messages
17,934
Location
Elbert County, CO
Been wanting one for awhile, but they're usually going for a little more than I care to spend. Scored this pretty clean one for $480, though. It's a Mexican contract rifle in 7x57, I'm 99% confident an 1897 variant of the #5.

What I don't know for sure is if the rifle was originally supposed to have a longer forearm, top wood and bands, or if it was made this way. It seems that most of the Mexican rifles did have that, but I've found a number of images that didn't. Anyone know? Also not sure that front sight would be original. I don't much care because I like the rifle regardless and actually think they look better in a more "sporter" forearm configuration anyway, but if it has been altered already, I have no qualms about making it accept a suppressor with internal threads and an adapter. However, if this is likely an original configuration, I will probably refrain from that modification.

I don't see any evidence that it ever had top wood or bands on the barrel, but it certainly could have been refinished at some point and those witness marks eliminated.

20201120_205051.jpg
20201120_205034.jpg
20201120_205110.jpg
 
WestKentucky said:
I would have thought that 7x57 would have come about after those rifles would have ever been considered for any serious use. That’s a neat combo.
Click to expand...

Rolling blocks were made into the 1930s, although most centerfires were discontinued a bit earlier. The #5 RB was a lot less expensive than the Mauser, so it was bought by a lot of governments that wanted to use the Latin country standard 7x57 cartridge but couldn't swing Mauser prices.

AFAIK, most smokeless RBs are chambered in 7x57. They're fairly common, just tend to go more in the $700-$1,000 range in good condition these days.

https://www.gunbroker.com/All/search?Keywords=rolling block 7mm
 
This is what the gun used to look like. If you haven't fired it yet there is something you should be aware of: Some of these guns have excessive headspace when modern ammo is used. I had one such rifle years ago. Firing modern, factory ammo, the case would stretch horribly, to the point of being dangerous. The rifle in the picture does not do this. Roy Marcot and the Remington Historical Society visited the Arsenal Museum last year. I asked him about this and he was well aware of the problem. I am not aware of any way to tell which is which. All I can suggest is to put a round in the gun and shake it, lengthwise. If it has the longer chamber, you will hear a faint rattle. The excessive headspace really was that bad. Or, you could glue a shim, say .010" or so to a cartridge and see if the breech closes and the hammer slides under it. If it does its probably not safe .

Your front sight is not original and your rear sight looks to be backwards. The numbers on the sight should have their base facing the breech. It is an 1897 sight.

Having said this, who cares!!! This a fun gun, not a collector piece! If the bore is a bit rough, don't be discouraged, it will probably still shoot well.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_6778[1].JPG
    IMG_6778[1].JPG
    146.1 KB · Views: 70
tark said:
This is what the gun used to look like. If you haven't fired it yet there is something you should be aware of: Some of these guns have excessive headspace when modern ammo is used. I had one such rifle years ago. Firiong modern, factory ammo, the case would stretch horribly, to the point of being dangerous. The rifle in the picture does not do this. Roy Marcot and the Remington Historical Society visited the Arsenal Museum last year. I asked him about this and he was well aware of the problem. I am not aware of any way to tell which is which. All I can suggest is to put a round in the gun and shake it, lengthwise. If it has the longer chamber, you will hear a faint rattle. The excessive headspace really was that bad. Or, you could glue a shim, say .010" or so to a cartridge and see if the breech closes and the hammer slides under it. If it does its probably not safe .

Your front sight is not original and your rear sight looks to be backwards. The numbers on the sight should have their base facing the breech. It is an 1897 sight.

Having said this, who cares!!! This a fun gun, not a collector piece! If the bore is a bit rough, don't be discouraged, it will probably still shoot well.
Click to expand...

Yep, aware of the headspace issues from both changes in case dimensions since these were made and wear. I haven't checked it yet, thing just came in yesterday. If it's sloppy, I'll fireform brass of a specific headstamp to keep it separate from my 7x57 for the '93 & '95 Mausers. As I understand it, though, PO Ackley determined that the actions are really quite strong, so I probably won't water the loads down too much.

Rifling in this one actually looks really good, and appears to have a quite fast twist rate. I haven't investigated that yet, but it looks to be around 1:8, maybe faster.

Since it has already been modded, I guess I'll be suppressing it!
 
MachIVshooter said:
Yep, aware of the headspace issues from both changes in case dimensions since these were made and wear. I haven't checked it yet, thing just came in yesterday. If it's sloppy, I'll fireform brass of a specific headstamp to keep it separate from my 7x57 for the '93 & '95 Mausers. As I understand it, though, PO Ackley determined that the actions are really quite strong, so I probably won't water the loads down too much.

Rifling in this one actually looks really good, and appears to have a quite fast twist rate. I haven't investigated that yet, but it looks to be around 1:8, maybe faster.

Since it has already been modded, I guess I'll be suppressing it!
Click to expand...
Sounds like you know your stuff!! The pic I posted shoots an inch at fifty and two at 100. Five shot groups. The bore is kind of....rough!!! My roller likes the 175 gr loading best. Federal factory ammo shows little signs of either expansion or stretching. They full length resize with little effort. I love rolling blocks because they are strong, stupid simple to manufacture and easy to use.
 
It is a 1897 Model and has been modified so thread the barrel up ! If you look on top of the barrel about 6" or so forward of the breech you should see "7mm Spanish" or some thing like that . The original case dimension were abit larger than the modern 7x57 and that is the head space issue generally all though the pin the reech block rotates on can wear and even the block be bent by wear/overloads . The 7mm has a smaller firing pin than the earlier Black powder models. I used to collect RBs and had all models rifle and pistol pretty much. My favorite was the smaller #2 in small cased centerfire cartridges like .218 bee ect. I had a factory higher grade target one with a bad bore relined into made into .17 K Hornet I have kept. I still have a pretty complete 1897 Mexican that is pretty clean and years back score a couple hundred Kynoch made "7mm Spanish" boxed ammo (Cordite I believe) I still have a few and my Mexican shoots them into 3" at 100 yards .
 
doubleh said:
Yeesh, Ugh, Barf, Hands off. Sacrilege, I say. That's worse than hanging a can on a lever action. Naw, it's your gun so do what you want with it. Just don't post any pictures of it after you do so. :D:D:D
Click to expand...

I have a 1903 mfr Marlin 1894 .25-20, an 1895 SS .45-70 and an 1894 .357 mag suppressed, as well as a Steven's Favorite I converted from .32 RF smoothbore to .32 S&W long with an octagon barrel. I'll put the photos up later!
 
MachIVshooter said:
I have a 1903 mfr Marlin 1894 .25-20, an 1895 SS .45-70 and an 1894 .357 mag suppressed, as well as a Steven's Favorite I converted from .32 RF smoothbore to .32 S&W long with an octagon barrel. I'll put the photos up later!
Click to expand...
I also have a Stevens Favorite converted from .32 RF into .32 S&W Long and I don't think I will ever sell it. As you probably know with .32 S&W ("short" ) it does not need to be suppressed ! :) Bottom picture:
oiling005_zps981a6b83.jpg


And here is a picture of my Mexican 7mm: second one from bottom
oiling010_zpsaffe47da.jpg
 
I have twice picked up and played with a .43 Egyptian at a local shop. I would need a new "weird" caliber like a hole in the head... which I might receive from SWMBO if I bought the thing!

Another store had a 7x57 but I almost fainted when I saw the price tag and put it down quickly least I be accused of damaging it.

Pedersens down in central Florida near Mount Dora has had a couple of 7x57 at more reasonable prices and a nice looking Snyder and Trapdoor all in a row. Always worth a stop and always worth driving out of the way for... if for nothing else than the "museum"

-kBob
 
doubleh said:
That makes my eyes hurt. :D It's probably nice to your ears though.
Click to expand...

Lol. Yes, much more pleasant.

Don't worry, I'll make a more appropriate looking can just for this rifle like I did with my .25-20

index.php


index.php



index.php


The Marlin is threaded internally with a custom adapter, so the sight was left in place and the magazine tube unmolested. The rifle appears completely stock with the adapter removed unless you look at the front of the muzzle very closely. The Scope is a little vintage Marlin Micro-Vue 4x, custom mount I made to use the existing holes in the receiver.

It's one of my favorite rifles, along with the more recently acquired Remington model 25 in .25-20 (yes, also threaded). Some 85 gr. cast lead bullets over 3.7 grs. Trail Boss clocking just under 1,000 FPS is mouse fart quiet through this 1.25x7" suppressor. Supersonics are plenty quiet too, the little pills not making much of a sonic crack. In terms of noise, it's compares to a suppressed .22 rifle with subs or supers, respectively, but with a lot more oomph.



This is that little Stevens

index.php


I used leftover barrel to make a timed thread protector

index.php
 
Last edited:
MachIVshooter said:
I have a 1903 mfr Marlin 1894 .25-20, an 1895 SS .45-70 and an 1894 .357 mag suppressed, as well as a Steven's Favorite I converted from .32 RF smoothbore to .32 S&W long with an octagon barrel. I'll put the photos up later!
Click to expand...
I’m pretty sure I remember seeing pics of that 25-20. If I recall correctly you did an internal thread something akin to a shotgun choke with an an extension to accept the suppressor. And it looked awesome.

edit... baby screamed and it took a while to hit post, you beat me to it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

B
  • Locked
  • Poll
Is it wrong to modify a common military surplus rifle?
2 3 4 5 6
Replies
126
Views
6K
MCgunner
M
C
  • Locked
Remington Model 4 Rolling Block 22 cal
Replies
5
Views
1K
Smitty in CT
S
Doug Bowser
  • Locked
Loading for the 7X57mm Rolling Block Rifle
Replies
3
Views
2K
tark
tark
C
  • Locked
C&R Question For You C&R Junkies.....
Replies
7
Views
687
DMK
DMK
Robk13
Hungarian m91/30?
Replies
13
Views
391
js8588
J
Back
Top