Remington M1867 Rolling Block

About the Remington M1867 Rolling Block

The Remington M1867 Rolling Block is a single-shot, breech-loading service rifle adopted in 1867 by both Norway and Sweden, making it the first metallic-cartridge rifle issued to their armies. Built on E. Remington & Sons' rugged rolling-block action, the breech is sealed by a pivoting block locked behind the hammer, giving a strong, simple mechanism that was easy to operate and capable of a high rate of fire for its era. It was chambered for the 12.17mm (12.17x42mm RF) rimfire cartridge and license-produced at Kongsberg in Norway and Husqvarna and Carl Gustafs Stads gevärsfaktori in Sweden.

Sweden and Norway selected the Remington rolling block after observing the decisive effect of breech-loaders in the 1866 Austro-Prussian War; King Charles XV approved the pattern on 8 May 1867. The action proved so durable that surplus rifles remained in civilian hands well into the twentieth century.

Remington M1867 Rolling Block specifications

The original 12.17x42mm rimfire chambering was later supplemented by a longer 12.17x44mm case, and many rifles were converted to centerfire. Norwegian rifles typically used brass butt plates and sword bayonets, while Swedish rifles used steel butt plates and socket bayonets.