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Springfield Rolling Block (Read 551 times)

condorsc Full Member Offline NRA Life/Benefactor, ASSRA, SCV Life Posts: 229 Location: Beaufort, S.C. Joined: Nov 13^th, 2021	Springfield Rolling Block Sep 24^th, 2026 at 10:34pm	Print Post
	I just acquired one of the .50-70 Springfields produced under license by Springfield Armory. To my surprise it has the automatic half-cock the New York State rifles have. Is this widely known? The sight is well away from the round receiver ring, 3-1/8". A crude sheet metal buttplate replaces the original. I have two nice #5 buttplates I'd like to trade for the right one. It would have a gentler bow. My two have pronounced curves.
	« Last Edit: Sep 26^th, 2026 at 2:46am by condorsc »

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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 18390 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Springfield Rolling Block Reply #1 - Sep 25^th, 2026 at 10:44am	Print Post
	Is it the Navy model or the Army model? Is the rear sight 3.5" forward of the receiver or .5" ahead of the receiver? The closer sights never made it to Navy use as the sight location caused the Navy to reject all 10,000 rifles and those got sold to commercial buyers.

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ssdave Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2205 Location: Eastern Oregon Joined: Apr 16^th, 2004	Re: Springfield Rolling Block Reply #2 - Sep 25^th, 2026 at 11:38am	Print Post
	Yes, Springfield rifles have the same half cock action as the NY Contracts, although the parts aren't 100% identical. Kenn at rollingblockparts.com might be able to help you with the buttplate.


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George Babits Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1162 Joined: Sep 27^th, 2012	Re: Springfield Rolling Block Reply #3 - Sep 25^th, 2026 at 5:14pm	Print Post
	The Springfield 1870 Navy does not have the "load on half cock" feature like the N.Y. rolling blocks. With the Springfield army models, some have it and some don't. I think the first ones didn't have that feature, but the military decided that having the "load at half cock" was a lot safer so the main production included that feature. It might also have been that both models were produced to see which one the commanders in the field preferred. I think it is pretty well spelled out in Layman's book on the military rolling blocks. George


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condorsc Full Member Offline NRA Life/Benefactor, ASSRA, SCV Life Posts: 229 Location: Beaufort, S.C. Joined: Nov 13^th, 2021	Re: Springfield Rolling Block Reply #4 - Sep 25^th, 2026 at 7:02pm	Print Post
	The rear sight is 3-1/8" ahead of the receiver, so it's the Army model. Bore is pristine. I'm really happy with it. Oops, the Trapdoor I got in the same time had the rack number. Thanks, everybody.
	« Last Edit: Sep 26^th, 2026 at 2:44am by condorsc »

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George Babits Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1162 Joined: Sep 27^th, 2012	Re: Springfield Rolling Block Reply #5 - Sep 26^th, 2026 at 12:56pm	Print Post
	It is very easy to identify the navy model as it has USN under the eagle and an anchor on the barrel just in front of the receiver. I was very fortunate to find a very nice USN 1870 Springfield complete with bayonet and scabbard. I can't remember just haw far forward the rear sight is, but it is the same sight as the 1868 Springfield trapdoor. George


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