Another person you might contact regarding the provenance of this rifle is Ron Peterson, of Peterson Guns in Phoenix.  He own's a couple of documented rifles from the early International Creedmoor matches and might be able to shed some light on yours.

And thank you for those photos.  They're a real treat.

Doh!

Thanks

Some observations between Fultons and this beautiful rifle:

The tang sight bases are very simular and neither appear to have screw adjustment.

In the 1874 team picture, Bodines rifle seems to have a pewter forestock tip.

It also looks like a octagon barrel.

Frank

John ... The link you listed goes to "page not found".  Can I ask you check it and post again?

Also I added a second group of photos on the first tab on this thread, are you able to view those?

Thank you for your help and patience,
Joe Dobrzynski

Is there any possiblity that it could be Hepburns rifle?

Frank

Joe, bad news. The Creedmoor match rifles were 44-90 not 44-77 per the NRA Museum

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The American competitors used both Sharps and Remington .44 caliber breech-loading single-shot rifles that were loaded with heavy powder charges and heavy paper-patched bullets. The most effective of all long-range target cartridges were the .44-90 Sharps and .44-90 Remington. The .44-90 Remington cartridge was loaded with a 550-grain bullet which had a muzzle velocity of 1250 f.p.s. The .44-90 Sharps cartridge was typically loaded with a 520-gr. bullet capable of 1270 f.p.s. Muzzle energy of both of these rounds was about 1850 ft.-lbs, compared to 1600 ft.-lbs. for the standard .45-70 Government cartridge. Neither cartridge approached the power level of the .44-100 Remington or .45-100 Sharps rounds which delivered over 2,200 ft.-lbs. of muzzle energy.

 

The special high-quality Sharps and Remington rifles furnished to the American team were fitted with precision sights. The usual wind-gauge target front sight was mounted in a dovetail cut in the barrel near the muzzle. This assembly provided accurate lateral adjustment of the front sight by means of a screw. Accurate scales were engraved on the front side of the sight assembly so that precise measurements of windage could be made. The sight tube or globe was slotted so that interchangeable sighting inserts could by used to provide optimum sight patterns for various target conditions.

The elaborate aperture rear sights fitted to these rifles were either mounted on the receiver tang or attached to the top of the buttstock forward of the buttplate. The latter sight position was used by some shooters who preferred to lie on their backs and support the rifle muzzle with their knees or feet. The long sight leaves employed on these rear sights pivoted on a fixed base. The shooter aimed through a tiny aperture peephole drilled in the center of the 1-inch diameter sunshade disk. The vertical position of the sighting aperture disk was usually determined by a long slender screw less than 1/8" in diameter, with a 20-pitch thread that permitted very accurate elevation adjustments. These tall rear sights were precision instruments, and often included vernier adjustment scales.

Roy Marcot's book on Remington Rolling Block Rifles would seem to disagree with the .44-90 being used! On page 135 he states that, "E Remington & Sons decided that their longrange rifles would be chambered for .44-77 Remington centerfire ammunition, which contained a paper patched 400 grain bullet."

I have not shot this rifle nor have I made a chamber cast.  I made the simple assumption that it was chambered in 44-77.  Someone will likely correct me, but I thought that the .44-90 cartridge case is the same as the .44-77 with the bullet seated out a bit further to allow for the extra powder.

The bore diameter at the muzzle measures 0.448" (using pin gauges).  This is exactly the same as my other Remington Creedmoor rifle.  It very well could be .44-90.  There isn't any caliber marking anywhere on the barrel.

Regarding the competition matches, years and shooters.  Both Bodine and Hepburn were on the American Team in 1874 and the photo of Bodine from that Match shows him holding a 'standard' Creedmoor rifle.  Bodine was on the American Team at the Match at Dollymount in 1875, but Hepburn was not.  What I need to find is a photo from the 1875 Match.  This goes back to my original comments regarding the drawing in Haper's Weekly from 1875.