I recently got this Husqvarna rolling block off GB
listed as 12.7 x 44R
Vall tells me it's a Foresters gun
any info would be appreciated.

Aaron

I corresponded with a gentleman from Sweden years ago who told me the government there reworked their military Rolling Blocks to this lighter style, and then reissued them to what he called "Foresters". Their version of game wardens.
They usually retained the original buttstocks, but got the newer forearm treatment with the wedge to retain the forearm. But he also said some got all new wood, and occasionally for whatever reason some were a bit nicer than others.

As a consequence of the many decades the Scandinavian versions of the US Gov. 50-70 rollers were in use, there are a lot of variations. It was a popular rifle in Norway and Sweden, used in military shooting matches, by hunters, etc. etc. Initially, these rifles were Remingtons, later production was in Norway and Sweden.

The original military roller was rimfire, normally marked 12,17X42R. A civilian centerfire version, often marked 12,7X44R is quite common, perhaps restricted to civilian versions, including a kombi hunting gun made by Husqvarna and chambered for 16X65 and 12,7X44. Incidently, rifle barrel on my kombi was initially marked 12,17X42R and remarked to 12,7X44R -- it is a centerfire. It takes US Gov 50-70 cases just fine, has a 0,515 groove-to-groove barrel and I use 50-70 loading dies and various "50-70" cast bullets.

Military shooting matches required rimfire ammo and it is reported that many shooters had both rimfire and centerfire blocks for their rifles. Center fire BP ammo seems to have been widely reloaded, at least in Sweden. It was popular for moose hunting.

Congrats!

Those are nice rifles, if more than a bit heavy -- but you will like the weight if you ever shoot full BP loads in it. 

BTW, that 3,5lb trigger let off is thanks to the original hammer spring. I put one such original spring in my 8X58RD chambered roller to replace its very strong one and its trigger pull is now 3,5 lbs. Swedish Armory put the heavier hammer spring in the 8X58RD because it had been decided that the higher pressure, nitro-loaded ammo, needed a stronger cup on the primer. 

Question: Does your rifle have a firing pin extractor? This mod was added to assure that the firing pin was fully back when the breach block was slammed closed. There had been a history of very nasty unintended firing, before rolling block was in locking position. Cause was lotsa primer and BP fouling on firing pin, keeping it from retracting when breach was opened.

I've got a few of the Swede rollers, rifles and carbines. military configuration. In both 12 an 8mm, Even had one of the original with the Remington markings on the action.   That railway line rifling works well. They are all accurate. Fun to shoot.

Rebel wrote on Aug 23^rd, 2018 at 1:26pm:


These are somewhat educated guesses, based on comparison with similar stampings on my 8X58RD chambered roller

My 8X58RD chambered roller has IaB and PS on left side of receiver and O.G and JG on flat on top of barrel over chamber -- I would presume OG and JG, perhaps also PS, are initials of persons working in Swedish Armory, Eskilstuna, perhaps Inspectors. Ditto ON on your rifle.

IaB might also be initials, although most Swedes had/used only two names. However," Ingvar av Börlinge", and similar names were also in use. Ditto for your rifle.

Hope this is actually of some use.

Any caliber would be fine.

Aaron