Читать книгу Gun Digest 2011 - Dan Shideler - Страница 17
ОглавлениеA TRIO OF UNUSUAL REMINGTON MILITARY ROLLING BLOCK RIFLES
BY GEORGE J. LAYMAN
Perhaps it is a stroke of providence that an author may, without warning, be deluged with an entirely unexpected crop of examples of a specific commodity that serve to make a work of nonfiction an even better finished product. Such has been my experience during my research on my latest book, A Collectors Guide to the Remington Rolling Block Military Rifle and its Variations (2009: Mowbray Publishing Company, Woonsocket, RI).
This latest work is the most intriguing study of an antique firearm that I have ever encountered, and it didn’t reach its climax until the final nine months preceding publication. Never before did so many of the rare, unknown, and unexpected variations of the Remington military rolling block rifle make a showing in so short a span of time. From the practically unheard-of Remington Model 1902 in 7.62x54 mm caliber, to the Remington Cadet No. 206 in .45-70 caliber, to one of six known remaining examples of the Springfield-Remington Transformation rifles tested by the St. Louis Board, to solving the puzzle behind the Remington Greek Contract Model, never has such a roller coaster of a book ever confronted me!
In the following pages I’ll share a few of the more interesting portions of this work. The trio of of military rolling block rifles and carbines featured herein are perhaps the first or the very few seen by a majority of collectors, both tyro and advanced alike. The very presence of these three Remingtons – which include a two-band .50-70 Government caliber Rifle found in Cuba that smacks of the little known Civil Guard Model with a hybrid No. 1-1/2 and No. 1 frame in a unique caliber; a .50 caliber rimfire carbine with Cambodian markings; and a nearly nonexistent Model 1902 7mm Mauser caliber rifle of El Salvador contract – make for a rare gathering of the elusive and esoteric. Therefore let us take a truly international journey amongst a few of the many military rolling blocks that have taxed this author’s bank of knowledge to the utmost!
A REMINGTON CIVIL GUARD MODE OR SINGLE ROLLING BLOCK VARIATION UNTO ITSELF
A majority of antique military rifle collectors and students of the rolling block family of firearms have seldom been able to acquire one or more examples of a breech-loading single-shot rifle that was once catalogued by E. Remington &Sons as the Civil Guard Model. Primarily associated with early purchases of the rolling block by Spain, this elusive variant listed in Remington factory literature between 1874 and 1884 was often described as a two-band, military rolling block rifle in .43 Spanish caliber, having a 30.5-inch barrel that was coupled with a saber bayonet lug as standard equipment. Introduced during Spain’s first contract of 1869, it was intended to arm the Guardia Civil or Spanish Civil Guard, an organization which today remains an active para military-police organization serving throughout the peninsula of Spain.
Exact delivery numbers to the Spanish government are unclear at best, with a majority having been sent to Cuba to arm the Ejercito Ultramar, which was Spain’s overseas colonial armed forces. The most common number given by historians has been estimated at 3,000 pieces received by Spanish quartermasters in colonial Cuba. A very small number of these rifles have been retained by the Remington Museum, not to mention those few that had been sold during the late 1940s downsizing of the museum’s inventory.
The November 1, 1920, Remington Museum inventory list compiled by Melbourne Chambers displays a disappointing total of four, with two very unique examples that are now stored in the museum archive room. One is in a very peculiar .42 Berdan caliber, with another specimen in the proper .43 Spanish caliber but made up with a New York State action and a rubber butt plate. The author purchased one of the other Civil Guard Models that were sold off in the 1940s, which was a .58 Berdan-caliber example that had two barrel bands and a Turkish crescent moon and star stamped on the left hammer flat. Identified by a brass tag with inventory number 146, this particular Civil Guard Model has neither the correct .43 Spanish chambering, nor the standard saber bayonet lug.
None of the past or present Civil Guard Model rifles in the Remington museum is a “catalog correct” representation. The Schuyler Hartley & Graham shipment records of 1868 to 1900 list a mere 1,130 of the .43 Spanish-caliber Civil Guard Models as having been shipped to Argentina. No others of this variation are noted on this listing and recorded as shipped to any other nation in the Spanish-speaking Americas, nor even to Spain itself.
In the past 45 years of military rolling block research and collecting, the author has examined a total of four genuine catalog-correct Civil Guard Model Remington rolling block rifles, and has owned one example which was British proof-marked. It was discovered in British Honduras in the mid-1990s. All rifles of this genre observed to date have displayed evidence of having performed hard but honest service and all appeared to be in very good condition as a whole.
During the course of completion of my latest book, it was in early in 2009 that a most inscrutable Remington-manufactured military rolling block rifle was obtained. This particular arm may be described as a special order variation of Remington’s Civil Guard Model, appearing to be in a singular category all to itself. A genuine pre-1898 antique, it was discovered in Cuba, of all places, and purchased from a Russian acquaintance who is a collector and purveyor of international military antiques. Since Russian citizens may travel to Cuba and export a variety of commodities, it is a rare stroke of fortune to have friends with such privileges!
These views of the full length Cuban Rifle from both left and right side indicate it is in excellent condition overall. The Rifle’s barrel is covered with a fine pitting from the muzzle to the breech. This is primarily noticeable on the left side of the rifle. The right side of the frame has a minimum of fine pitting; however, it is noticeable to a small extent.
Partial case colors are visible on the right frame as well along with the butt plate that has faded case colors which are very brilliant internally when the plate is removed. The right side of the two barrel bands shows a clear, crisp, deeply-struck Spanish crown.
The right breech block flat has a small tri-leaf cartouche which was a standard marking on Remington Spanish contract rifles and carbines.
What I had purchased was a two band, Remington-made military rolling block in .50-70 Govt. caliber, with two Spanish crown-marked barrel bands that was manufactured with the smaller, No. 1-1/2 action such as found on the Lightweight “Baby Carbine,” albeit cosmetically similar to a scaled-down, Civil Guard Model minus the saber bayonet lug. Stamped on the right breech block flat is a tri-leaf cartouche, which is often present on the early, first contract Spanish Model rolling block rifles in .43 caliber which were often issued to the colonial garrisons in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and perhaps the Philippines as well. This remarkably well-maintained rifle, together with an unknown number of others of its ilk, was evidently supplied to a specific unit(s) in the colonial Spanish period. It could also perhaps have been a straw purchase by insurgents in that island nation prior to or during the War of 1898.
Though not a Civil Guard Model in the classical catalog-specified sense of the word, this two-band rifle using the full house .50-70 center fire cartridge has the E. Remington & Sons address on the tang with the last patent date of March 1874 and is equipped with a rotary extractor. Upon removal of the forearm, a cartouche of A.F.G. can be seen on the rear flat. A genuine anomaly among rolling block rifles in .50-70 Govt. caliber, it would almost fill the bill as the elusive but scantily advertised Cadet Model 301 once sold by Charles Godfrey in New York City; however, it is physically quite different. The presence of tang markings indicating production prior to the 1886 receivership of the Remington company is one of the physical traits which give this rifle a full-size look, in addition to its very uncommon smaller frame. Further research suggests that the A.F.G. cartouche has an affiliation with the pre-1898 Spanish Customs and Tariff Service located near present day Guantanamo, Cuba. In the nineeenth century, this region was one of the main ports where Spain received all incoming military goods shipped to Cuba. It was also one of the main offices of the Spanish “Aduanero,” which is the customs branch. Thus it appears that the customs officers were armed with rifles and revolvers different in caliber and sometimes type from those issued to the army.
A view with the action opened reveals the rotary extractor cut on the left side of the breech block, which appears unfired by virtue of the absence of brass pressure ring residue on the face and the shiny, unblemished bore. The butt stock and forearm on this light version of a Civil Guard Model retains a raised grain appearance especially noticeable on the former. When the forearm is removed, it reveals “A.F. G.” stamped to the rear, along with a clean, blue finish on the barrel in this protected area. (Photo by Stuart Mowbray.)
Unlike the tri-flat upper receiver design of the Cadet Model 206 in .45-70 (which, by the way, was the only Remington military rolling block sold commercially in this chambering) this unique .50-70 has a rounded upper receiver, a la the Light “Baby Carbine.” In addition, the rear sling swivel is located on the buttstock and not on the front of the trigger guard, a common feature unique to the various cadet models including a small number of full-size United States martial rolling block rifles and carbines. The mere presence of this esoteric military rolling block rifle provides a degree of certainty that Cuba may still retain a substantial inventory of military rolling block rifles.
Returning to the Civil Guard Model in its basic configuration, the one point that puts it out of place with mainstream Spanish military rolling block rifles is the presence of the saber bayonet lug. Many collectors are aware that among the rolling block rifles sold to Spain from Remington, including those domestically produced by the Spanish under license, all official military versions were manufactured to accept only the angular bayonet. That is to say, except for the small numbers of Spanish-made musketoons and the so called “Royal Bodyguard” Models – the latter having a lug made to accept a 27-inch saber bayonet – makes all of this an exception and not the rule. It may well be assumed that the standard, catalog-specified Civil Guard Model many collectors are quite familiar with may have been a failure from a marketing standpoint and ended up being sold off to customers enthralled by its catchy nomenclature. Thus this first-to-be-seen, and obviously rare, No.1-1/2 size Civil Guard style rifle, chambered in .50-70 Government and adapted to an angular bayonet, may indeed be an independent, unknown variation that accidentally slipped through the cracks.
The possibility may also exist that documentation of this model could have disappeared among the many natural calamities that over the years have robbed historians of much vital data pertinent to Remington history and its products. Should Cuba ever become opened for free trade in the future and permit American citizens the opportunity of unrestricted travel, the research of military rolling block history will be an area we simply must look into.
Shown below is a chart of the dimensions of this scarcity as compared to both the No.1 and No.1-1/2 size actions:
A SADDLE RING CARBINE FROM SOUTH-EAST ASIA
The presence of the Remington rolling block in Asia has normally been confined to China and Japan as far as general knowledge is concerned. Since the publication of the author’s most recent work on the military rolling block, this region has proven that those countries using this particular single shot-military rifle was more widespread than previously thought.
One Asian country that had never been thought of as a user of the Remington rolling block system is the one-time French Protectorate of Cambodia, which is bordered by Siam (the name of Thailand prior to 1939), Viet Nam, and Laos. Just two years after the end of the Viet Nam war in 1975, this .50 caliber rimfire Remington saddle-ring carbine was found in Thailand in an area not far from the Laotian capital of Vientiane.
One of the great surprises of this carbine was that after its forearm was removed, it revealed a WWII vintage ten peso, Japanese occupation note from the Philippine Islands! How this ended up hidden under the forearm in between the barrel is truly puzzling – especially since Cambodia is a good distance over water from the Philippines. It may well be that this carbine was taken as a souvenir by a Japanese soldier in Cambodia or Thailand during the war who had been previously stationed in the Philippines and took an occupation note as a souvenir and hid it in the rifle. Other than this, it could be anyone’s guess!
This carbine was brought back by an Army officer to the United States as an antique war trophy in 1977, which is probably the first time this rolling block had returned stateside in over a century! The carbine is identified by its Cambodian Sanskrit markings, as well as the presence of a twelve-bladed “Chakra,” an ancient pin-wheel like symbol representing blades of fire. Most unique is that its chamber dimensions equate to an all-but-unknown .50 caliber rimfire cartridge with a case measuring 1.5" in length and a bullet diameter of .577"; aside from its length, it has a distinct resemblance to the .56-50 Spencer rimfire.
The action on this carbine is, in its entirety, a factory-correct Remington product, right down to placement of the saddle ring and staple. One feature that appears somewhat peculiar when compared to other Remington rolling block carbines is the presence of a ramrod stop at the front of the trigger guard. With this being an early Remington New Model action with rimfire breech block, it may originally have been designed as a two band, full stock, saddle ring carbine, all of which were equipped with a short cleaning rod. Regardless of its original configuration, it is a genuine first in the military rolling block collecting field.
A strong French colonial influence in this region of the world may be the reason why this carbine found its way to Southeast Asia. For many years, Siam and Vietnam treated Cambodia as a buffer state, but with France gaining more and more favoritism and becoming opportunistic with the Cambodian king, they began encroaching deeper into Siamese and Vietnamese territories. A tug of war between Siam and France ensued and slowly weakened Cambodia, eventually throwing the country into civil strife. It was at this time that France supplied Cambodia with arms and ordnance to help authorities protect the country from the scores of bandit and rebel groups that resulted from all the civil strife. Most, if not all, military and police small arms supplied to Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam from 1884 on originated from France. Furthermore, most Remington rolling block rifles and carbines supplied to Cambodia’s gendarmes and military organizations were taken from the left-over, obsolescent Franco-Prussian War surplus.
As earlier noted, the caliber of this carbine has a unique identity crisis. The fully round, unmarked, 20-inch barrel is similar to either a Whitney or an 1865 Spencer carbine barrel, having what appears to be Burnside style three-groove rifling. However, the chamber has ample free bore in order to accommodate a nearly 1-3/4- inch cartridge. The lower butt stock has a plugged sling swivel inlet, carbine butt plate, and Cambodian Sanskrit markings on the lower butt stock that appear to be the number “3” at the far right led by what appears as the number “seven” and a compound word using a “T”-sounding consonant. Next is what seems to resemble an obliterated cartouche or royal insignia of sorts, struck in a square, block-print configuration.
The most significant of all markings, however, is the Chakra over the receiver ring, which genuinely identifies this carbine as having been issued within this region of the world – more importantly, by the French Protectorate of Cambodia. As previously mentioned, this pinwheel-like design is a symbol representing a number of meanings from several other countries in this surrounding part of Asia. It is also the royal marking of the house of Thailand, something that stems from a time well before the country’s name was changed to Thailand. Furthermore, the Chakra represents the ancient bladed weapon of the Khmer gods.
Without question, this is one military rolling block with a set of markings that few collectors would have thought ever existed – one stamped with crisp, prominent Sanskrit letters identifying it as the former Cambodian military or police property. The appearance of this Remington carbine is another indicator that French in fluence was still very prevalent throughout Southeast Asia in the nineteenth century. Such an early Remington military carbine with a Type 2 action in any rimfire chambering is considered a rare find. Note the concave axis of the rimfire breech bloc, and the six o’clock position of the firing pin. Externally, the barrel sides of the chamber are completely round, something reminiscent of the Whitney rolling block, but the barrel displays no markings. The closeup of the seven-bladed Chakra stamped over the receiver ring shows it to be deep and everlasting:a number “3” next to two similar consonants with a “T”-like pronunciation. The square-like cartouche at the end, which appears to be an Arabic “L” or a “C,” may also be an obliterated royal inspector’s stamp or yet another Sanskrit mark. The sling swivel channel on the lower butt stock behind these markings has the texture of hard rubber or an ebony-like filler. (Author’s collection.)
The tang markings on this well-used example are the earliest found on the New Model Rifle Remington rolling block action, ending with the date April 17 1866. The left side of the frame displays a cryptic “B “ stamping adjacent to the extractor screw. This carbine is equipped with the standard 100- to 500-yard carbine rear sight. Its nearly black, oil-soaked stocks, with assorted gouges and dings, are evidence of hard use. Mechanically sturdy, the action is tight, appearing well-maintained, but the bore rates only fair.
In conversing with several military rolling block specialists and collectors, I found that none has observed a military rolling block having Cambodian or Sanskrit markings or even knew they existed. Removal of the butt stock reveals two matching sets of the alphanumerics D8 2162, stamped on the upper and lower left flats of this carbine, which could be coded serial or casting numbers. The author is still not certain if this is one of the 21,117 Remington rolling block carbines in various calibers purchased by France in the period of 1870-71. The full round barrel is common to the Transformation Conversion Rifle. >Another possibility exists that a .58 caliber Rifle musket barrel could have been Modified and installed on the action.
The mere presence of this carbine, coupled with such an exotic and enigmatic set of markings, is ipso facto assurance that the collector of military rolling block firearms can expect no foreseeable end of variety in the near future. This Cambodian example once again proves that this now highly specialized field of collecting is chock full of ample, unlimited potential.
THE EL SALVADOR MODEL 1902: A RARE ROLLING BLOCK RESPONSIBLE FOR A NICKNAME
Mexico and El Salvador are so far the only Latin American nations of the smokeless powder era to have their national crests roll stamped over the receiver ring, including the only known variant having the words “MODELO 1902” marked at the bottom. They are seldom encountered in any quantity due to smaller production numbers. Those that are found are often in very rough, well-used condition.
The 1901 El Salvador contract, which actually commenced delivery the following year, is undoubtedly responsible for creation of the popular and widely used term “Model 1902.” Essentially a deja vu of Mexico’s “special order” of three years earlier, the Republic of El Salvador was the first quantity purchaser of this new, “improved” Model 1897. Unlike Mexico’s earlier contract of 14,000-plus Rifles and carbines, El Salvador’s New Model Small Bore Military Rifles were equipped with the Albert Day-patent, automatic rotary extractor of October 22, 1901. In addition to the national crest, the Salvadoran Model 1902 was equipped with a very unique hand guard that has a longitudinally grooved inlet extending from the front of the receiver ring to the middle barrel band. Those who may discover one of these in very good or better condition, together with an unblemished national crest, should consider themselves very fortunate, as the bulk of surviving examples display excessive wear. This variation is also an important addition to any collection of post-1900-era military rolling block rifles.
For the record, it is worth mentioning that the Remington Museum archive room at Ilion, New York, has fortunately retained a single sample of the Model 1902 Salvadoran contract in near new condition, the only one known to the author in such condition. Though production numbers of the El Salvador contract Model 1902 were less than half the total of the larger quantities of the Mexican contract of Model 1897 rifles, the reason so few have appeared on the surplus market is due to many having been discarded by the Salvadoran government sometime after 1934. During this time, a large, anti-government revolt was in progress which saw some 10,000 to 30,000 peasants and revolutionaries massacred in an event known as the La Matanza. Many of the anti-government factions used obsolete military rifles and machetes during their struggle, and it was reported that thousands of their weapons were dumped in the Gulf of Fonseca following the government’s victory. No doubt many rolling block Rifles were among them.
The receiver ring on these rifles has an elaborate roll stamped crest marked, “Republica del Salvador-Modelo 1902” with “CAL. 7mm S.M.” (Spanish Mauser) marked ahead of the upper hand guard. Butt stocks may also be found with an assortment of rack numbers as well.
All in all, this variation should be classified as a special order affair in its entirety. Surviving Salvadoran defense records show that the first deliveries of the 5,550 rifle contract (but no carbines) began in the spring of 1902. In reality, this may perhaps make El Salvador the first customers of the so-called Model 1902 Remington rolling block featuring the improved automatic rotary extractor. The other half of the story is that the very presence of this marking may be the reason why all of the new rolling block rifles with this feature were responsible for the unofficial title of Model 1902. It should also be noted that some Model 1902 Remington rolling block rifles displaying those special features of the Salvadoran Model, such as the grooved upper hand guard minus the national crest, in many cases represent an “overrun” variation totaling somewhere in the range of an estimated 800 to 1,000 pieces. Furthermore, an unknown number were purchased by El Salvador in 1903 without the crest and were perhaps significantly lower in cost due to the absence of the marking. Such unmarked rifles do occasionally appear and are of interest to the collector. However, distinguishing an overrun piece from a genuine second order Salvadoran version is practically impossible. Surviving import records from the now defunct “Hunters Lodge” (also known as “Ye Olde Hunter”) of the 1950s and ‘60s do indicate that several hundred Model 1902 Salvadoran-type contract Rifles without the national crest were imported into the United States from both Honduran and Panamanian sources. These too may be considered contract overruns; however, their early origins cannot be determined.
A perfect example of one of the Remington Model 1902 El Salvador contract Rifles shipped without the roll stamped national crest on the receiver ring. This specimen was found by the author in a wooden crate of 10 identical rifles. Discovered in 1995 in an abandoned warehouse near Quantico, Virginia, once leased by Hunters Lodge (Ye Olde Hunter) a few miles to the north in Alexandria during the 1960s, the site yielded some interesting leftovers of the past. With the help of an acquaintance, the author obtained the entire case of 7mm Remington rolling block Rifles. Each Rifle was equipped with a Remington marked knife bayonet and metal scabbard and leather frog, all having a “Ye Olde Hunter” shipping label and tag banded to the buttstock. Handwritten on each tag was, “Salvadoran Remington Rolling Block Rifle w/ Bayo and Scabbard, VG Condition, $19.95.” All tags were dated “8-17-68,” a time somewhat past the golden era of the ‘50s and ‘60s milsurp years.
As seen here, the condition of the Rifles rates about very good: nice bores, and all stocks have the abundance of the usual dings of the past. Each bayonet appears to be in far worse condition than the rifles, with all blades showing deep pits that smoothed out quite well after cleaning. The absence of the Salvadoran national crest is very obvious; however accompanying paperwork in the case specified all were imported directly from that Central American country, with customs clearance from the port of Norfolk, Virginia. Entry into the United States was granted in May of 1968. Following the acquisition of this case of Rifles, the author has since assumed that El Salvador may well have been one of the last countries south of the border to clean out their armories and unload the final shipments of 7mm Remington rolling block ordnance. Rumors still persist that Nicaragua has about 3,000 remaining in the Managua arsenal, and at least a half a dozen have trickled in through Canada since 1988. The question is: how many still remain?
As to why this misplaced case of ten Rifles were never returned to Hunter’s Lodge main warehouse, no one has any idea. All this author knows is that the developer of the property where they were stored in 1995 told my friend to “clean the place out and take what you wish, otherwise it will all end up in a landfill!” There truly is nothing better than good friend! (Author’s collection. Photos by Tony Matias.)
This variation should be classified as a special order affair in its entirety. The roll stamping of the Salvadoran crest is the only other smokeless powder-era Remington to have a national crest other than the Mexican Contract Model 1897. it is believed that the Salvadoran Contract variant was responsible for the unofficial title of “Model 1902.” Surviving Salvadoran defense records show that the first deliveries of the 5,550 Rifle contract (but no carbines) began in the spring of 1902. In reality, this could make El Salvador the first customers of the so called, Model 1902 Remington rolling block that featured the improved automatic rotary extractor patented in October of 1901. Collectors should note that any Model 1902 Remington rolling block Rifles displaying the aforementioned special features of the Salvadoran Model minus the national crest total no more than an estimated 800 pieces. Early documentation suggests that these Rifles were not stamped and were ultimately held back by Remington because of a default. An unknown number were later purchased by El Salvador without the crest and were perhaps therefore a bit lower in cost. Such unmarked Rifles indeed occasionally do appear and are of great interest to the rolling block specialist.
Hard usage and the humid jungle climate took their toll on all the old military rifles. Thus those few 7mm Salvadoran rolling block Rifles that made it to del Norte (“The North”) as surplus are normally discovered in rough, pitted condition. It is a fortunate collector who uncovers one of these prizes in anything better than good condition.
