Spanish Remington M1868

About the Spanish Remington M1868

The Spanish Remington M1868 is a single-shot, breech-loading rolling block rifle built by E. Remington & Sons of Ilion, New York, for Spain. It was the first contract pattern of the Remington rolling block delivered to Spanish forces, chambered in the powerful .43 Spanish (11.15x58mmR) black-powder cartridge. First-contract rifles are identified by their concave breechblock, screw-retained firing pin, and two-line upper tang patent markings ending 'APRIL 17th 1866'. Many were issued to Spanish colonial garrisons in Cuba before the formal adoption of the improved Modelo 1871.

The Remington rolling block's simple, immensely strong breech — locked by the hammer rolling behind the breechblock at the moment of firing — made it one of the most widely exported military rifles of the black-powder era, arming dozens of nations including Spain, which fielded it across its Cuban colony during the Ten Years' War.

Spanish Remington M1868 specifications

Predates the formally adopted Spanish Modelo 1871 (Reformado). The M1868 and closely related M1870 were early contract rifles distinguished from the 1871 by their breechblock and tang markings.