Rolling Block ID

[mr.tickle]

I inherited a Rolling Block from my grandfather. The thing is completely devoid of details. It has a bayonet lug on the right side of the barrel at the 3 o'clock position. There is no serial number, proof marks, or caliber indication. The bayonet lug and lack of serial numbers have me scratching my head. If it was military why the lack of serial numbers? If civilian, why the bayonet lug? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Jim Watson]

Grandpa's rifle has been buffed hard and hot blued. National crest or other ID may well have been ground off.
The HP is a company proof mark.
Military rifles are seldom marked as to caliber. Not even ours. The supply sergeant issues the ammo you are to use.
If you want to shoot it, you are in chamber cast and bore slug country.
There might be a serial number on the side of the tang or otherwise under the stock. It won't mean much, Remington used a lot of manufacturing batch numbers and contract numbers, they did not run from 1 to 1,000,000+ in line with total production.

 

[mr.tickle]

Thank you. Some other replies I have gotten stated it might be an Argentine. I am going to take it to a gunsmith anything to make sure it is safe to shoot and chamber cast.

 

[eastbank]

a chamber cast is in order, it could be in a large number of different calibers. eastbank.

 

[Jim Watson]

Argentine contract in .43 Spanish looks likely. See thread with pictures at
http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?106324-1879-Argentine-Rolling-Block