Remington Ilion 20 ga. Rolling Block!

[PerversPépère]

One of my friends just brought me two firearms he intends to sell and one is a genuine Remington Rolling Block 20 ga. shotgun!
It is in near-perfect state, bore clean, no rust on the metal, barrel has a nice plum-brown patina.
Stock is walnut with a beautiful sunburst pattern in the buttstock. it looks like it has been refinished, although quite well.
Metal semi-crescent buttplate is curved, with two holding screws, one on the topside. Interestingly, those buttplate screws are perfect and unbuggered.
All the screws on the shotgun are original; two are a bit buggered but nothing a quick resurfacing and recutting of the slot with a slot-cutting file couldn't heal.
The only fly in the ointment are the swivels which look like a very early push-button post type that don't seem to belong there.
I'll try to take pictures of it today and post them here.
Any idea for the value?
PP.

 

[PerversPépère]

Pics!

Here are the pics!

PP.

 

[tiriaq]

Nice gun! Flayderman mentions RB shotguns in his guide, but my edition is so old that any suggested values are meaningless. Those swivels aren't old. Fortunately they are not installed properly. The swivel base is supposed to be inlet into the stock, so when the swivel is detached, the base is flush with the surface, and does not protrude. There is probably only a wood screw securing the base. OK, the holes are there, and the wood isn't going to grow and fill them in, but a wood screw hole is better than a 3/8" bore. I would suggest removing the bases, and leaving the holes, or, make a screw to fit with an eye for a hook style sling loop. This was a 19th century method. Sorry I can't help with a valuation, but is a fine old gun. The revarnish doesn't help the value, of course, but these things happen. I would be inclined to rub it down with some compound, to reduce the gloss a bit.

 

[PerversPépère]

Clean-up

I think I would get that varnish off with a paint stripper and a brush. No sand paper: the finish is smooth enough.
Maybe an old style shellack would be more in line with that rifle or a traditional hand-rubbed oil finish?
PP.

 

[Sharptail]

PP, I'm no help with the value either, but I do want to thank you for sharing pictures of that fine gun. It looks in great shape and that is a nice piece of walnut. If it were mine I would do an oil finish - it will bring out the grain much better than shellac.

If I may ask, how much does the gun weigh? Where is the balance point? Chamber length? Given appropriate ammo, this one looks like it would be fun to shoot.

Sharptail

 

[PerversPépère]

20 gauge

PP, I'm no help with the value either, but I do want to thank you for sharing pictures of that fine gun. It looks in great shape and that is a nice piece of walnut. If it were mine I would do an oil finish - it will bring out the grain much better than shellac.

If I may ask, how much does the gun weigh? Where is the balance point? Chamber length? Given appropriate ammo, this one looks like it would be fun to shoot.

Sharptail

Sharptail, I didn't take time to measure the gun but I will ask my friend because I need to see it again to take some more close-ups of stamps and proofs. That time, I'll make sure I get all my lighting stuff ready. These pics were made in a hurry with an on-camera flash.
I tried to bounce the light a bit but it doesn't do justice to the piece.
I'll also take time to get the wood off the gun to see if there are inspector marks that can be traced back to someone. This will give us the real manufacturing dates.
As for balance, it is right smack at the action. I'm pretty sure it could be a good upland piece. BTW, the barrel is made of fluid steel not damascus.
PP.

 

[Sharptail]

PP, the following is from a Google cache of a thread from the Remington Society forum. The thread was dated June 2003, and was posted by someone named "oldremguy" in response to a question about a shotgun similar to the one you are looking at.

There isn't a lot written on rolling blocks, in Flayderman's Guide To Antique American Firearms, the shotguns were made from about 1870's to 1880's, Model No.1 : 16 gauge chambered for interchangeable 16 Brass or 20 gauge paper shells with shotgun buttplate. The Model No.2 was a 20 gauge still chambered for the same 16 Brass or 20 paper, but most of the parts on the No.2 were made for military rifle gun parts, barrels and military buttplates. The barrels were 30 to 32 inches long.
Values range from abou $250.00 for very good to $600.00 for Exc. condition. Hope that helps good luck with the gun.

Interesting stuff.

Sharptail