Howdy folks,

Received an interesting rolling block in the mail today. Have mentioned this rifle in another post but this is the first I have seen it. It is a pistol grip rolling block sporting rifle with a 30" full oct barrel in 40-70BN. The interesting thing is that there are no markings except for assembly markings anywhere on the action. The patent dates are absent and there is no remington stamp on the tang. I expected the tang as it looks to have been factory drilled and tapped for a tang sight. There is no serial number under the buttplate or anywhere on the tang or under the forend tip. The only numbers anywhere on the gun are the two assembly stamps on the tangs and a serial number on the barrel just in front of the receiver and the remington stamp on the top flat of the barrel. Also, the barrel is stamped ST as you would expect on a rifle with a set trigger but this gun has a plain trigger that breaks smooth as glass at exactly 3#. I thought this barrel was not original to this gun but everything looks like it goes together perfectly with even matching wear. ALl the wood to metal fit is perfect and much better than most custom guns you see today.There are bright case colors in the protected spots on the receiver and blue in places on the barrel. The wood is amazing and looks like french walnut with beautifully  executed checkering and perfect wood-metal fit. Looks like the stock was finished with some kind of varnish that is still in pretty good shape. The bore is near perfect until the very last 1/2 inch where there is a concentric ring of scaled rust. A tight patch feels nice and smooth until you hit that ring of rust then it is hard to push though it. Overall I am really pleased with the rifle but am confused as to why a higher grade sporting rifle would be missing serial numbers in all the usual places and if the barrel was stamped ST but then placed on this gun or if it is a replacement. Sorry for the poor quality pics. Best,

Zack

Interesting. I have a 44-77 Rolling block that is also stamped ST but has a standard trigger. The serial number on the tang and the barrel match so either somebody changed the trigger or it is original. The condition and patina sure make it look like the trigger is original. I personally think Remington made and stamped a bunch of barrels with "ST" and the used them as normal inventory.

Since I have two set trigger Rem. with ST on the barrels, I'd asume it meant Set Trigger. Not sure about a theory on why a non set trigger gun would have ST on the barrel, especially if the serial number is matching on the barrel and other parts. But the possiblitiy of a change at the factory to a regular trigger is not out of the question.
Might need to run this past someone like Roy Marcot who's seen way more Rems. than I have.

Lots of interesting conjectures. I have the 44-77 with " ST" on the barrel with a non set trigger and the I have a 45-70 with a poorly stamped " ST" on the barrel and the same "ST" on the receiver. That one has a set trigger. In both cases serial numbers match so no apparent switching of parts. Would like to know what's going on and if there is any rhyme or reason to the markings.

 
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    Creedmoormatch