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577Nitro
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Rolling Block w Hepburn lever
Jun 11th, 2021 at 12:03pm
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I found that Lonestar Rifle in Texas used to do a Hepburn lever conversion on Rolling blocks..Who does this conversion now?I have a newer Pedersoli Creedmoor 40-65 type, but have always wanted a Hepburn..Their prices just keep moving up.
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577Nitro
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Re: Rolling Block w Hepburn lever
Reply #1 - Jun 11th, 2021 at 3:43pm
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Hmm, well maybe so, I was looking at an ad photo in the Black powder News 2011 that depicts a job well done. The pin rotation appears to be farther forward a bit or at least a larger diameter than stock..Can't really tell from the side photo. His name was Dave Higginbotham. Here is another conversion, but probably on a Ruger...I just think its appealing to my eye
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« Last Edit: Jun 11th, 2021 at 3:52pm by 577Nitro »  

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rollingblock
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Re: Rolling Block w Hepburn lever
Reply #2 - Jun 11th, 2021 at 5:38pm
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Steve Rhoades in Tucson AZ used to do a side lever conversion, unfortunately he has passed. I do not know if he would do a side lever conversion, but I second the Curt Hardcastle recommendation as his work is consistently impeccable.
  
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John Taylor
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Re: Rolling Block w Hepburn lever
Reply #3 - Jun 11th, 2021 at 6:58pm
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Had one in the shop a few years back that had been converted to a side lever. First thought was why would someone take a good action and mess with it. It did not look like it was a strong set-up and very touchy to get to work right. When the lever is pushed down it has to cock the hammer and then move the breach block. Some of the breach block and frame is cut away to make room for the extra parts.
  

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577Nitro
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Re: Rolling Block w Hepburn lever
Reply #4 - Jun 11th, 2021 at 7:30pm
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I did'nt post the rifle photos for reason other then appearence....no body should pay that kind of money unless it has two hammers one for each side...None of my DRs are anyway near that price..I shoot my rifle, not collect them, so no point in something that might/will get marked up real fast ...plus I don't like myself that much .... Grin I now am getting the opinion, that the RR is not a good subject for the side lever...too bad.
Thanks all for your commentary
  

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scharfe
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Re: Rolling Block w Hepburn lever
Reply #5 - Jun 11th, 2021 at 9:03pm
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Dehaas did a nice underlever conversion on the Rolling Block and wrote it up  in his Gunsmithing The Single Shot Idea book.
  
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577Nitro
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Re: Rolling Block w Hepburn lever
Reply #6 - Jun 12th, 2021 at 11:30am
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I have seen one of those under-lever s before..there is one for sale on either GI, or GB
  

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MrTipUp
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Re: Rolling Block w Hepburn lever
Reply #7 - Jun 12th, 2021 at 8:48pm
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The rifle, a Hepburn, is on Gunbroker, item # 902322790.  Seller claims that the underlever conversion and engraving are "old" and that the present (ugly) configuration as a .25-20 WCF "varmint rifle" was done by DZ Arms. Re-reconvert it into a pseudo-Walker-Hepburn perhaps?

Bill Lawrence
  
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Re: Rolling Block w Hepburn lever
Reply #8 - Jun 12th, 2021 at 9:56pm
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That underlever Hepburn has a look like one Goodman, out of Bozeman, was selling a year or two back, right down to the Zipper barrel. On a quick side note, I believe the Freund rolling block underlever conversion patent, from the late 1800's, is searchable online. It doesn't have the look of butter smooth, but might give an idea of how a side lever might work.
  
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Re: Rolling Block w Hepburn lever
Reply #9 - Jun 26th, 2021 at 1:45pm
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There are two different lever conversions for the rolling block rifles.
One, done regularly by Dave Higgenbotham mounts a side lever on the receiver which only operates the block itself. Dave has patterns for both right and left hand levers. The photos on some of his brochures showed this conversion.
Two, is the Carlos Gove under lever that is much more complicated.  Dave H. before his passing, made a couple of those and told me he was not interested in making any more of them as they were to finicky to get right.
  
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577Nitro
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Re: Rolling Block w Hepburn lever
Reply #10 - Jun 26th, 2021 at 8:53pm
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It seems Mr. Higgenbotham was quite a good gunsmith, and I have not been able to find among my current gunsmiths any of which want to tackle it. So I believe I'll have to save up my penny's and buy a conventional Hepburn
  

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Re: Rolling Block w Hepburn lever
Reply #11 - Jun 26th, 2021 at 10:23pm
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I built one using a Hepburn lever I got from Rodney Storey years ago. It only works the block. It is chambered in 32-40 Hepburn. I figured it was as close to a Hepburn I would ever get. I just simply won't pay the money even a junker commands now. 


JMH
  
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Schuetzendave
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Re: Rolling Block w Hepburn lever
Reply #12 - Jun 27th, 2021 at 2:59am
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JHM Could you post a picture?
  
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SBertram
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Re: Rolling Block w Hepburn lever
Reply #13 - Jun 27th, 2021 at 9:03am
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velvet buck I shot with my RR side lever conversion muzzleloader
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Nice big mature Whitetail taken with the same rifle

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577Nitro
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Re: Rolling Block w Hepburn lever
Reply #14 - Jun 29th, 2021 at 3:57pm
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Those are quite nice,,,,the rifle, and the deer...looks very healthy
  

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