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Remington Military Hepburn, 44-90? (Read 1883 times)

Logan Participating Member Offline Posts: 10 Location: Connecticut Joined: Nov 3^rd, 2024	Remington Military Hepburn, 44-90? Jun 2^nd, 2025 at 1:59pm	Print Post
	Hello All, Looking for some Hepburn collectors to weigh in. I am in the process of acquiring a Military Hepburn, in Mr. Rowe’s book I see a section on Special Military Hepburns. Does every Military Hepburn fall under the “Special” category? There’s nothing particularly special about this one, straight wrist stock, no checkering or tang sights, etc. He also notes that one has not been found in 44-90, which this one is supposedly chambered for. Large emphasis on supposedly. It appears to have a late Military #1 RB rear barrel sight. I’ll post pictures when I get it in my hands, may be a couple weeks.


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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 16884 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Remington Military Hepburn, 44-90? Reply #1 - Jun 2^nd, 2025 at 4:18pm	Print Post
	Since as far as I know no military contracts ever purchased these Hepburn rifles they weren't military issued. So sales would have been to smaller users like maybe jails, police, or some other small users. The vast majority fall into two lumps of serial numbers which indicates some small agency ordered each group. The rest are out of those two groups which tells me individuals ordered one here and there. The term "Special Order" as it relates to these is simply because Remington advertised them for sale, but didn't get enough demand to ever build up an inventory of this model. So each time one or a group was ordered the factory made them up based on that special order. With so few made you're lucky to find one at all!

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Logan Participating Member Offline Posts: 10 Location: Connecticut Joined: Nov 3^rd, 2024	Re: Remington Military Hepburn, 44-90? Reply #2 - Jun 3^rd, 2025 at 6:52am	Print Post
	Thanks for the input Marlinguy! That would make sense, mine is serial number 4314, which falls in line with a couple others that Tom has documented. I can’t wait to get a hold of it.


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DWT1885 Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 429 Location: New Jersey Joined: Nov 25^th, 2010	Re: Remington Military Hepburn, 44-90? Reply #3 - Jun 3^rd, 2025 at 9:18am	Print Post
	When you do get it, I sure hope you post some pictures. Sure would like to see it. Dale.

	35th Security Police Squadron, Phan Rang AB, RVN, May 70-71. All gave some, some gave all.
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oughtsix Global Moderator ASSRA Board Member Online Posts: 1311 Location: Columbus Joined: May 31^st, 2009	Re: Remington Military Hepburn, 44-90? Reply #4 - Jun 3^rd, 2025 at 9:28am	Print Post
	Congrats on winning it!

	Life Member ASSRA, OGCA & TSGC I'm all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out the hands of fools. Let's start with typewriters........ Frank Lloyd Wright
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MartiniBelgian Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1714 Location: Aarschot Joined: Jun 7^th, 2004	Re: Remington Military Hepburn, 44-90? Reply #5 - Jun 3^rd, 2025 at 12:50pm	Print Post
	marlinguy wrote on Jun 2^nd, 2025 at 4:18pm: Since as far as I know no military contracts ever purchased these Hepburn rifles they weren't military issued. So sales would have been to smaller users like maybe jails, police, or some other small users. The vast majority fall into two lumps of serial numbers which indicates some small agency ordered each group. The rest are out of those two groups which tells me individuals ordered one here and there. The term "Special Order" as it relates to these is simply because Remington advertised them for sale, but didn't get enough demand to ever build up an inventory of this model. So each time one or a group was ordered the factory made them up based on that special order. With so few made you're lucky to find one at all! I'd rather see them as 'military match rifles' - after all, target shooting in the day had both match rifle and military match rifle. And as the Hepburn was specifically developed as a target rifle...


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Logan Participating Member Offline Posts: 10 Location: Connecticut Joined: Nov 3^rd, 2024	Re: Remington Military Hepburn, 44-90? Reply #6 - Jun 3^rd, 2025 at 10:13pm	Print Post
	I will absolutely be posting some pictures, upon doing more research I think I may be incorrect about the rarity of the 44-90 cartridge. Correct me if I'm wrong, but in my small brain I'm understanding that the 44 2-6/10" is a 44-90. The oddball caliber is a 44 2-7/8", which is also a 44-90? Just a longer case with maybe a heavier bullet? This makes zero sense to me but both COTW and HMCC list the 44-90 Rem Straight as having a 2.6" long case. For some reason I was thinking the 2.6" case was the 44-77. I'll still probably do a chamber cast to confirm its cartridge.


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nuclearcricket Oldtimer Offline Posts: 805 Joined: Oct 15^th, 2008	Re: Remington Military Hepburn, 44-90? Reply #7 - Jun 4^th, 2025 at 11:05am	Print Post
	The 44-77 SBM is a 2.25" long case, There is also a 44-90 Bn case as well as the Remington straight case. Your best bet once you get it is to do a chamber cast to make sure just what chamber it has. Like everyone else, I will be very interested in seeing the pics once you have it in hand. Sam


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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 16884 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Remington Military Hepburn, 44-90? Reply #8 - Jun 4^th, 2025 at 12:03pm	Print Post
	Logan wrote on Jun 3^rd, 2025 at 10:13pm: I will absolutely be posting some pictures, upon doing more research I think I may be incorrect about the rarity of the 44-90 cartridge. Correct me if I'm wrong, but in my small brain I'm understanding that the 44 2-6/10" is a 44-90. The oddball caliber is a 44 2-7/8", which is also a 44-90? Just a longer case with maybe a heavier bullet? This makes zero sense to me but both COTW and HMCC list the 44-90 Rem Straight as having a 2.6" long case. For some reason I was thinking the 2.6" case was the 44-77. I'll still probably do a chamber cast to confirm its cartridge. The first .44-90BN ammo sold by Remington were the same case as the .44-77BN but with bullets seated out further to get the extra powder in the cases. Later the case length changed to become the more common .44-90BN we know. I'd guess yours being a Hepburn is too late to be the earlier .44-90 with generous throat to use the first type .44-77BN cases. Most likely it's either .44-90BN or Straight.

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waterman Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2885 Location: Behind the Redwood Curtain Joined: Jun 9^th, 2004	Re: Remington Military Hepburn, 44-90? Reply #9 - Jun 5^th, 2025 at 4:45am	Print Post
	MartiniBelgian wrote on Jun 3^rd, 2025 at 12:50pm: marlinguy wrote on Jun 2^nd, 2025 at 4:18pm: Since as far as I know no military contracts ever purchased these Hepburn rifles they weren't military issued. So sales would have been to smaller users like maybe jails, police, or some other small users. The vast majority fall into two lumps of serial numbers which indicates some small agency ordered each group. The rest are out of those two groups which tells me individuals ordered one here and there. The term "Special Order" as it relates to these is simply because Remington advertised them for sale, but didn't get enough demand to ever build up an inventory of this model. So each time one or a group was ordered the factory made them up based on that special order. With so few made you're lucky to find one at all! I'd rather see them as 'military match rifles' - after all, target shooting in the day had both match rifle and military match rifle. And as the Hepburn was specifically developed as a target rifle... I think Gert is correct. I think they were made up for military matches, not as potential service rifles.


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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 16884 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Remington Military Hepburn, 44-90? Reply #10 - Jun 5^th, 2025 at 9:33am	Print Post
	waterman wrote on Jun 5^th, 2025 at 4:45am: [quote author=4F6370766B6C6B40676E656B636C020 link=1748887152/5#5 date=1748969453][quote author=565A495752555C4E423B0 link=1748887152/1#1 date=1748895504] I think Gert is correct. I think they were made up for military matches, not as potential service rifles. Wonder how that would explain the two separate groups of numbers that were made at one time? I can't imagine any group of shooters all ordering the same military rifles together? The group of three together seems possible, but the group of six doesn't.

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MartiniBelgian Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1714 Location: Aarschot Joined: Jun 7^th, 2004	Re: Remington Military Hepburn, 44-90? Reply #11 - Jun 5^th, 2025 at 11:59am	Print Post
	Seems pretty normal that hey would produce a certain number of them at the same time, much easier to do - even if it meant having some in stock for some time. But regardless,if you think about the original RB's and Sharps '74 for that iconic LR creedmoor match , they also were made as a lot for a group of shooters...
	« Last Edit: Jun 5^th, 2025 at 12:13pm by MartiniBelgian »

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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 16884 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Remington Military Hepburn, 44-90? Reply #12 - Jun 5^th, 2025 at 1:38pm	Print Post
	MartiniBelgian wrote on Jun 5^th, 2025 at 11:59am: Seems pretty normal that hey would produce a certain number of them at the same time, much easier to do - even if it meant having some in stock for some time. But regardless,if you think about the original RB's and Sharps '74 for that iconic LR creedmoor match , they also were made as a lot for a group of shooters... Yes, but I think those built by Remington and Sharps for the 1874 Match were a little different situation since they knew who each shooter was and what barrel contour each wanted within the rules. I do agree that most makers did a run of standard models in groups of more than just one or two. Just not sure how many they'd have done at one time of these military Hepburns? Especially considering this was a bad time for Remington since these were made either just before bankruptcy, or just after Hartley acquired Remington and was bringing it back to life.

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Logan Participating Member Offline Posts: 10 Location: Connecticut Joined: Nov 3^rd, 2024	Re: Remington Military Hepburn, 44-90? Reply #13 - Jun 17^th, 2025 at 11:52am	Print Post
	It has arrived, I’ll post pictures after work. Just from peeking down the chamber it looks like a straight cartridge, not a BN. Stay posted. Logan


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Logan Participating Member Offline Posts: 10 Location: Connecticut Joined: Nov 3^rd, 2024	Re: Remington Military Hepburn, 44-90? Reply #14 - Jun 17^th, 2025 at 1:01pm	Print Post
	Took some pics on my lunch, she’s a little rough around the edges but she’s all there. I stuck a toothpick down the chamber until it hit the lip and it measures around 2 5/8” (high tech I know). I’d be willing to wager it’s the 44-2 6/10” cartridge. I’ll give her a good clean tonight, any suggestions on cleaning the case coloring without damaging it? Thanks. I keep getting an error when trying to post pictures. Logan


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