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Navy Arms Rolling Block No. 2 Creedmoor Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:200.00 USD Estimated At:800.00 - 1,200.00 USD
Navy Arms Rolling Block No. 2 Creedmoor Rifle
Featured in this lot is a Navy Arms Rolling Block No. 2 Creedmoor Target Rifle .45-70 Caliber 30" octagon barrel rifle manufactured by Pedersoli in Italy. The No. 2 heavy single shot Rolling Block sporting rifle was made in a variety of calibers with the largest being used by buffalo hunters and frontiersmen in the West. The .45-70 caliber was the standard U.S. Military cartridge introduced in 1873 and was very popular in the big Remington Rolling Block and Sharps rifles of that time period. It was especially popular because ammunition could always be procured from frontier military forts and outposts. The Rolling Block was produced by Remington from 1866 – 1888. It was made in huge quantities to fill foreign and domestic military contracts, but made in fairly limited numbers as sporting rifles for frontiersmen, professional hunters and sportsmen. The large caliber examples, being extremely scarce and desirable, command the most interest and highest values on the collector market today with the popular .45-70 being the most in demand. This all matching example was made soon after the introduction of the famed .45-70 cartridge in the early 1870s. Almost all of these heavy sporting rifles in large and powerful cartridges found their way West. This is an extremely fine Rolling Block rifle and retains excellent stock and forend with very tight wood to metal fit. The 30” barrel is marked “45-70” on the top octagon flat. Standard barrel length for the Rolling Block sporters was 26” with an extra charge for longer lengths up to 34”. The receiver is uncleaned and retains an attractive aged silvery/gray patina with "Navy Arms Co.Inc, Ridgefield, N.J." printed on the side. Rear tang adjustable newer model Browning peep sight. An iconic rifle of the buffalo hunters and of the Old West in general, this was the same style rifle George Armstrong Custer carried to his death at the Little Bighorn battle in 1876. The rifle comes with a leather hide cover in good condition.This rifle is in good condition with the walnut stock and forestock in good condition showing no marks or blemishes, and strong springs in the receiver. No serial number is present.