*Rare, Original, Swedish Conversion, M1860-67 12mm Remington Rolling Block Rifle (gevär m/1860-67), Made by Stockholm gevärverkstad, Dated 1870, Matching numbers, Obsolete calibre – cocks & dry fires*
Serial number: 197
Overall Length: 52 3/8 in (1330 mm), Barrel: approx 91cm
Marked on top of Barrel: LRN, A.H, over Crown over S
Marked on RHS receiver: Crown over S over 1870
Marked on RHS of Stock: LRN 1870 AH
Marked on RHS of wooden Barrel: LRN 1870 A.H
Marked on LHS of Barrel and below on Wood: 197
Marked on LHS receiver: 197
Marked on LHS of stock: 197
Marked on top of Brass Butt Plate: 197
Marked on trigger: FZ
Marked on sight: oval with a cross through it, sight graduated from 120-300
The Remington rolling block mechanism was designed and patented by Joseph Rider of Newark, Ohio, on January 1, 1863. The patent was acquired by Remington & Sons, who further refined the design. In 1867, the combined Kingdoms of Norway and Sweden adopted the Remington rolling block rifle as their general-issue service rifle. Norway and Sweden obtained a license from Remington to locally manufacture the M1867 Remington and also purchased the necessary machinery for production. About 200,000-220,000 military rifles and 7,000 military carbines using the m/1867 action were manufactured as complete weapons in Sweden. In addition to that 10,000 complete rifles and 20,000 actions made in the US were bought from Remington. Alongside newly built Rolling Block rifles, the Swedes converted approximately 30,000 of their earlier muzzle-loaders and chamber-loaders by replacing their rifles’ receivers and actions with Remington or Remington-licensed Rolling Block components.
This particular rifle is a M1860 Wrede’s pattern muzzle-loader converted to the M1867 Rolling Block standard, primarily issued to the Infantry of Gotland, in Sweden it was designated gevär m/1860-67. It is one of the rarer Swedish Remington rifles, marked with a crowned “S.” The crown is of the older, open type, indicating conversion by Stockholms gevärsverkstad, which was more of an army workshop or armory than a factory and, therefore, converted relatively few rifles. Inspection officer acceptance stamps (LRN and A.H.) are found on the top of the barrel, forward of the manufacturer’s markings. The rifle’s receiver features half-moon breechblock and hammer pins, a characteristic of all Swedish conversion rifles. The serial number “197” is stamped on multiple components: the left side of the receiver, the barrel flat ahead of the receiver, the front and butt stocks, and the brass butt plate. Conversion rifles are often found without unit or rifle number markings on the buttstocks.
The barrel length of the M1860/67 is unique within the Swedish 1867 series. Measuring 91 cm, it is slightly shorter than the newly manufactured rifles but longer than the other Swedish conversion models (M1864/68 and M1860/64/68). It has three screwed iron barrel bands, and a ramped ladder rear sight positioned about 92 mm (3.6 inches) in front of the receiver. This is the only Swedish M1867 series rifle without a bayonet lug; instead, its original M1860 Wredesgevar socket bayonet used the front sight as the bayonet lug. It includes an iron cleaning rod and a stock made from brown birch.
All Swedish M1867 rifles, including conversions, were fitted with the same ramp and ladder backsight adopted in 1867. The sights were originally graduated in Alen (a unit of feet), ranging from 800 to 1400. In 1879, they were converted to the metric system, with most rifles having their Alen markings on the left sight base overpunched with a “cross in a circle” mark and new metric markings (120, 180, 240, and 300) added below the originals. The original ladder was replaced with a new one graduated in meters (marked 4 through 8), extending the rifle’s nominal range from 350 to 900 meters with the ladder raised.
*Condition*
Very good condition, retaining traces of original finish. Good patina commensurate with age and service. Obsolete calibre – cocks and dry-fires. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
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