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{[JACKS GUNS]}
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GUN GA. OR CAL. |
BRAND/DESCRIPTION |
GUN |
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REMINGTON ARMS
ROLLING BLOCK |
Model 1884 Rifle
In 1865-66, Remington produced the state-of-the-art
Rolling Block Rifle.
E. REMINGTON & SONS ROLLING BLOCK MILITARY SINGLE SHOT RIFLE, DARK VARNISH STOCK, 34" BBL, VERY GOOD BORE, 3 LINE TANG INSCRIPTION LAST DATE 1873 JAN 12TH MARCH 18TH. MARK ON RECEIVER "H", ON BANDS "U". COOL RIFLE.
Remington Rolling Block Rifle. the concept of a single-shot rigle that was unusually strong, yet easy to manipulate is attributed to Leonard Geiger, with primary improvements by Joseph Rider. E. Remington &Sons acquired the rights to produce firearms based on Geiger's patent during the Civil War, and more than 20,000 Remington split-breech carbines were made for the Federal Government utilizing the improvements by Rider, a design employee of Remington. By the war's end in 1865, Rider had begun to experiment on an improved breech mechanism, and by 1866, the first prototype rolling blockwere made. E. Remington &Sons would later refer to rifles, carbines and shotguns utilizing this breech mechanism as "No. 1" firearms. Orders for military firearms from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Spain and other countries, as well as orders from the U.S. Army and Navy, spurred further development of the "rolling block
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HOPKINS AND ALLEN
MODEL 1888
X. L SHOT-GUN |
"XL" was a trade name used by Hopkins & Allen on rifles, pistols and shotguns. (Pronounced as "Excel" as in "really good!") The cartridge it used is known as the .44XL shot cartridge. While it was similar to the .44-40 (and they may even fit into guns chambered for the other) they are not considered interchangeable, and would be unsafe to shoot in a gun not specifically chambered for the cartridge in question. Inexpensive shotguns were hand items, popular for shooting pests (rats and stuff, not the neighbors) in the mostly rural areas in the 1880-1910 period.
This petite little gun features an 18" mint smooth bore round barrel retaining approx. 75% thin original blue and marked on top with "X-L Shot-Gun 44 Cal. CF, Patented June 23, 1885". Action very much resembles early Ballard patents with falling block and hammer. The gun is equiped with a simple takedown thumb screw at front top of receiver allowing disassembly with just a few turns of the screw. Fitted with smooth walnut stock and forerm, smooth metal butt plate. Antique
I have an old firearm, and am trying to figure out whether or not it is antique or not. The top of the barrel reads X.L.SHOT-GUN 44 CAL.C.F.PAT'D JUNE.28.1885. It is a breach loading single shot. It is configured much like a high wall action. It is a take down shotgun, it has a knurled knob on the right side of the reciever that you rotate counter clockwise five times to remove the bolt that pins the barrel into the reciever. The hammer, on this gun is center mounted, so it is not offset to one side or the other. When the gun is broke down the serial number is on the face of the reciever and on the top of the barrel where it slides into the reciever. The serial number of this firearm is # 84. There is no other writing on the firearm, including under the forearm. Any advise as to whether or not this is an antique would greatly be appreciated, as you can't go by patent dates.
Hopkins and Allen Model 1888 was also marked "XL" or "Junior." This was a falling block, lever action, single-shot, round barrel rifle, and antique under the GCA of 1968 according to my 1983 edition of The Official Price Guide. On another Q&A forum I found a statement that 38XL and 44XL shotshell guns were offered on these frames from the 1890's to 1914, which would indicate that they may not be classified as antique under the BATF rules. |
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ZULU
SHOT_GUN |
A 12 gage shot gun with a hammer to the side. You flip the firing pin over to the right side to put a shell in!!It has ELG in a circle on the side of the barrel! Looks like ZULU on top of the barrel!!
An obsolete military single-shot rifle, made into a sporting shotgun. The ELG in an oval indicates it was made in Belgium prior to 1893 (unless there is a crown over the oval, then it was made sometime later), and approved for black powder ammunition. Many of these conversions were only marginally safe when made and should never be used with modern shells. |
 
 
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303 British |
Originally designed as a black powder cartridge, the .303 British was the first loaded with a smokeless propellant called Cordite around 1892. The .303 served as a British military cartridge until the 1950's and at one time was an extremely popular big game cartridge. In the hands of farmers and natives, this cartridge with its long .311" bullet has probably killed more African game than any other. Even today the .303 British continues to be quite popular there as well as in Canada.
Even though the .303 British was once available in the Winchester Model 1895 lever action rifle, few American hunters had ever heard of it until dozens of foreign governments dumped their obsolete military rifles into the U.S market during the 1950's and 1960's. At that time, Lee-Enfield rifles brought as much as $24.95 on the war surplus market, which was most tempting to the chap trying to squeeze a deer rifle into a growing family's budget. Ballistically, the .303 British is quite similar to the .30-40 Krag.
Not much is said or written about the .303 British these days, mainly because those who still use it are hunters and not writers. But it continues to get the job done just like a number of other mild mannered cartridges that have become classics in their time.
Sierra, Speer, and Hornady offer the .311" bullets of various weights. Some rifles with a bore and groove diameters on the minimum side will also handle .308" bullets about as well. When loaded with a 150 grain spitzer at 2700 fps, the .303 British will kill deer just as dead, just as quick, as the .308 Winchester. Heavier bullets are best for bigger game. Regardless of what bullet is loaded in the .303, H335 is an excellent powder.
Source: Hodgdon Data Manual, 26th Edition
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Historical Notes:
The 303 British was the official military rifle cartridge of England and the British Empire from its adoption in 1888 until the 7.62 NATO came along in the 1950's. Original loading was a 215 grain bullet and a compressed charge of blackpowder, smokeless powder became the propellant in 1882. Manufacture in the U.S. began about 1897. Remington chambered their Lee bolt action magazine rifle for this cartridge and Winchester did likewise in their Model 95 lever action. No American rifle has chambered the .303 British since 1936. However, Winchester, Federal, and Remington continue to load this popular caliber.
General Comments:
The 303 British has always been popular in Canada and other parts of the British Empire. In the U.S. it has not been as widely used because of its performance similarity to the .30-40 Krag. However, since the end of WWII, the importation of large numbers of British Lee Enfield military rifles has altered this situation. At the present time, the .303 is more popular than the .30-40 Krag. Norma imports 130grain and 180 grain loads that greatly increase flexibility and usefulness of this cartridge for the American hunter. The 215 grain bullet has always had a good reputation for deep penetration and is a favorite for moose and caribou in the Canadian backwoods. The .303 is suitable for anything the .30-40 Krag is in ways of game. In Australia, a number of popular sporting cartridges are based on necking down and/or reforming the .303 case.
Editor's Note:
Although often classed with the .30-40 Krag, this cartridge is loaded to higher pressures and delivers superior ballistics. Foreign factory loads place it very close ballisticly to the .308 Winchester and measurably above any factory .30-40 load, though handload for the .30-40 in the Model 95 Winchester can match the .303 British
 Original buttsocket markings show the 1917 date, FTR stamping and the "star" being "struck through". Officially denoting the rifle was converted back to the MkIII standard.
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