lucky07
CGN frequent flyer
A friend of mine was offered an old .22 that was described as simply "really really old" for free. I told him I'd clean/fix it up for him if it was serviceable. Well, he called to say he picked it up this past week and said I could have it which I found odd. I found out why when I picked it up, it's in worst shape than he figured it'd be in I think I guess ... and a little older too.
Anyways, what we ended up with is a Hopkins and Allen #722 rolling block takedown boys rifle. It's a .22 but there are no markings that indicate caliber or appropriate cartridge length on the barrel. There isn't too much information online about these but from what I found it was a boys rifle made from 1903 o 1915. Apparently at some point H&A changed from pins to screws for the hammer etc., this one has pins so I assume it's an earlier model in that date range but I could be wrong. No half #### on it either which is a bit odd as the 1 good video I was able to find online the guy clearly had a half #### notch on his.
This thing had a hard life, stock was busted long ago and fixed (ugly job but it worked), bore is ? as I haven't taken the time to clean it up well enough to evaluate that yet, and there is something going on with the lockup. I took Everything out of the receiver and it all cleaned up very well. Everything is tight left to right but here are my main problems. 1. The hammer at full #### isn't held quite far enough back to let the block open up. Just barely though, like .5 mm if even that, I have to hold it back a smidge further to work the block. and 2. There is a bit of play in the block with the hammer released. I'd have to measure it but with the hammer released I'm able to pull the block off of the breech face farther than the rim thickness of a round. Which seems to me would cause come of the casing to be unsupported upon firing once the gases push it back. 3. Pins aren't in great shape but were all strait except the one for the hammer which had a slight bend in it which I straightened. They're not made of very hard steel.
I'm not at all familiar with the intricacies of rolling blocks and I'm hoping someone might me able to guide me on whether or not this thing is worth trying to fix. Do these just wear out after 120 years and god knows how many rounds put through and that's why things aren't sitting precisely where they should be?
Anyways, what we ended up with is a Hopkins and Allen #722 rolling block takedown boys rifle. It's a .22 but there are no markings that indicate caliber or appropriate cartridge length on the barrel. There isn't too much information online about these but from what I found it was a boys rifle made from 1903 o 1915. Apparently at some point H&A changed from pins to screws for the hammer etc., this one has pins so I assume it's an earlier model in that date range but I could be wrong. No half #### on it either which is a bit odd as the 1 good video I was able to find online the guy clearly had a half #### notch on his.
This thing had a hard life, stock was busted long ago and fixed (ugly job but it worked), bore is ? as I haven't taken the time to clean it up well enough to evaluate that yet, and there is something going on with the lockup. I took Everything out of the receiver and it all cleaned up very well. Everything is tight left to right but here are my main problems. 1. The hammer at full #### isn't held quite far enough back to let the block open up. Just barely though, like .5 mm if even that, I have to hold it back a smidge further to work the block. and 2. There is a bit of play in the block with the hammer released. I'd have to measure it but with the hammer released I'm able to pull the block off of the breech face farther than the rim thickness of a round. Which seems to me would cause come of the casing to be unsupported upon firing once the gases push it back. 3. Pins aren't in great shape but were all strait except the one for the hammer which had a slight bend in it which I straightened. They're not made of very hard steel.
I'm not at all familiar with the intricacies of rolling blocks and I'm hoping someone might me able to guide me on whether or not this thing is worth trying to fix. Do these just wear out after 120 years and god knows how many rounds put through and that's why things aren't sitting precisely where they should be?
