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Here are some pictures of my Field rifle. It is #154 which is very early for a falling block rifle. In fact, Kirton lists the earliest known falling block at #401 and the earliest recorded pivoting block action at #194. The wood is quite worn, having spent its life in India and well used. The checkering is just about smooth but still visible. The bore is quite good and I love ovate barrels. The forend tip is shaped quite nicely too. |
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Great rifle you have there. If that thing could tell a story.... Love to have a British SS sportingrifle like that one or a MH in similar caliber. |
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Very, very pleasant! An unusual forend tip a la Henry. BTW the flat top scoring might be easily restored with some due care, solvent and a brush. With reference to ovate do you mean the rifling or external profile? |
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The barrel is ovate in shape, at least that is what they are called. Really, it is more of a teardrop shape with the top filed flat. |
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Huvius - I am not sure what you meant by this statement - "It is #154 which is very early for a falling block rifle." Do you mean early for a Field's Patent? or early for an English falling block CF rifle? The reason I ask this, is the centre fire Sharps rifles in the States pre-date your rifle's "1877" action stamp by 10 years. |
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Quote: I am referring to the Field's patent use number. Field patented a pivoting block action which is similar to a Martini but with a side lever and the true falling block action. I assume the pivoting block actions occupy the earlier uses of the patent since more often than not, the falling blocks are in the four digit range of the patent use. |
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love the 577/500 No.2 |
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Loving it too! I am shooting a 400gr. Hawk bullet over 120gr. Old Eynsford 1-1/2F. Works well. |
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Huvius - I must have missed this when you first posted it (or Alzheimer's is back!) That is a very nice rifle! The ovate barrel is certainly a bonus - a definite sign of a better rifle, and I prefer the rose and scroll engraving I have one, though less good, in .450 No. 1 Carbine, a bit of a squib compared to the .577/500 The action is one of the best of the falling blocks and very smooth to operate Well done - enjoy it TH44 |
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Great looking rifle. I really like the condition on this rifle, perfect patina. Cheers Tinker |
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Lovely rifle and GREAT cartridge ! I've started building one, on a WW Greener, single barrel, break action, top lever, back action lock. I hope nobody was in the Dunny when you fired that thing! |
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Lovely rifle |
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...is that a 1886 brownchester laying in front..?. |
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Quote: Winchester 92 actually. |
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Great looking rifle you have there. What kind of velocity and accuracy do you get with it? |
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Have you-all seen the very similar rifle on the front cover of this summer's issue of Black Powder Cartridge magazine, from the USA? It contains a good article written by its owner Mel Swanson about hunting with it in Africa. Its calibre is "only" .577 - 450. Good photos too! |
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Quote: Here is the link. http://www.blackpowderspg.com/mag.html Must be pretty gratifying to work up a load and take such a classic to Africa for a hunt. |
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Quote: Thanks! I haven't run it through a chronograph but accuracy is pretty decent. If you look closely, the righthand log is flipping - and I was even aiming at that one! I did take a leading shot at a swimming beaver from +/- 200yds downhill and hit just 10" or so to the right of it. Makes quite a splash! |
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I too am a great fan of the "ovate" barrel, I look at it in wonder that a person has filed the whole profile out ,then file matted the top flat to give the sighting plane, wonderful work, I have one on my 1897 Westley Richards 577NE.Lovely.Thanks for sharing. |
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Quote: Would love to see that one if you can! |
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Huvius, A great rifle, and fine shooting! The ovate barrel profile fascinates me also. My little Jones actioned Rigby 40-70 SBN (that you so masterfully helped me identify the caliber of) also has this barrel profile. I too am awed to think of the skill and time involved in filing out that finished contour. Which reminds me . . . I need to get that rifle out for a shooting session soon. Curl |
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Quote:Quote: I thought this could use some clarification and I found this picture of the patent showing both the pivoting block design and the falling block design on the same patent. |
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I think i just fell in love... (the rifle, not the fellow!) |
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While doing a little research on the Old West, I noticed that the feller on the left looks like he is using a Field patent rifle! The picture was taken in Montana in the late 1880s. |
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Quote: Great looking rifle you have there. What kind of velocity and accuracy do you get with it?. |
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I have yet to shoot it with a NfB load which in a falling block I would prefer over black. My Turner double shoots great with its paper patched bullets and H4198 so my hope is that that particular load will shoot to the sights and they can share the same loading. I will report the results when I get around to doing that. |
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And the other guy has a colt lightning! *drools!* |