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TH44
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Reged: 21/02/09
Posts: 734
Loc: West UK
Field's patent Falling Block
      #211586 - 26/06/12 02:57 AM

Hi Guys

I bought this Fields patent falling block rifle in .450 No. 1 carbine last week, the dealer said it came from New Zealand, which puzzled me

A late(ish) serial number according to Jonathan Kirton, I was surprised at the relatively low powered cartridge - 380 grain bullet ahead of 55 grains black powder

On very close examination I can just see W H Tisdall Birmingham on the barrel

He was active at various addresses 1863 - 1900, but moved or opened a shop in Wangarui NZ in 1893

This would explain the cartridge as there were only feral pigs and deer?? to hunt

So, action/barrel made by Field, proofed in Birmingham assembled by Tisdall?? where??





Engraving is OK









Henry rifling



Lovely action, 1 push - drops block, ejects case and cocks hammer



Birmingham proofs 52 bore .450 (448?)



Optimistic sights to 800 yards



The Carbine cartridge is small compared to the .450 No. 2 Musket and .450 3 1/4 inch

Barrel is 24 3/4 inch, weight 7 lbs 5 oz. It has probably been reblued some time ago

Comments and information please

TH44

Edited by CptCurl (27/06/12 09:27 PM)

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belgmart
.275 member


Reged: 29/02/04
Posts: 78
Re: Field's patent Falling Block [Re: TH44]
      #211590 - 26/06/12 05:44 AM

Nice one - I have a soft spot for the action, and recently succeeded in purchasing one myself (pretty hard to find one that's affordable, actually). Yours is a nice one, nice PG stock. Mine is a MBL rifle in no.2 Musket, but not sure if the bore can be 'rescued' as it is pretty rough. However, it is a Geo. Gibbs, so I probably won't be using the action to build a new rifle :-). I still have to start the cleanup of the poor thing.
FWIW, in my eyes the Field is a bit like the Brit Hiwall - but simpler (which is good in my book): Extremely strong, compact, fast locktime. Maybe a bit "boxy", but its positive features more than compensate for it. Not that many were made, so they aren't all that easy to find.

--------------------
Martini's Rule!

Edited by belgmart (26/06/12 05:44 AM)

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HuviusModerator
.416 member


Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3556
Loc: Colorado
Re: Field's patent Falling Block [Re: belgmart]
      #211595 - 26/06/12 07:08 AM

I too just picked up a Field's patent rifle but in 577/500.
I agree that they are a very interesting action and just about as simple as one can get. I love how by simply backing out the keeper screw on the left the entire block can be removed from the top and the firing pin serviced if need be.
The one I have I believe was made entirely by Field and has a very early number - earlier than any listed in Kirton's book. Can't say as to what the number is offhand since it is out getting some stock repair and a general sprucing up.
Will post on it when I am able to.

--------------------
He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.

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Wolfgang
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Reged: 02/06/12
Posts: 5
Loc: Germany
Re: Field's patent Falling Block [Re: Huvius]
      #216832 - 16/09/12 10:42 PM

Hi friends,
I'm from Germany and new in the forum.
Can't answer you questions, but will show another gun with Field System.
It is made by Holland Holland in 1892 for a certain Captain Hayes.
The weapon has a 70 cm long barrel, with a simple open sight two folding leaves. It is equipped with a 3 time magnification scope that has a mechanism to absorb recoil by a telescopic part.
Also you only have to estimate the distance, with a brass knob you sign up the distance and you have your point to hit.
The system is over and over with very fine scroll engraving, also the trigger guard, the long strap, the lever and the pistol grip.
There is a lot color case hardening remaining on the reciever, also nearly dark blue srews.
The wood is time darkenend, but nicely figured, the forehand ist used with a buffalo horn ending.
I got one original cartridge and the original loading recipe from Holland and Holland.

A German case maker built me 25 cases, Johannsen Reloading equipement took care of a reloading dies set.
Load is 60 grain n140 with paper wads .450 Bullets with 350 grs from woodleigh, to be used in blackpoder barrels, converted to nitro proof.

Its a lovely document of the good old times, that have been running away.

I will soon post some pictures.


Edited by Wolfgang (16/09/12 11:04 PM)

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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27014
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Re: Field's patent Falling Block [Re: Wolfgang]
      #216833 - 17/09/12 12:53 AM

Very nice, similar to the .45/60 Winchester, except for the heavier bullet and 5gr. less charge. The case actually "looks" like an oversized .44/40 case, or slighlty shorter .45/75.

That is a LOVELY action & decent bore, too. Well looked after.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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TH44
.375 member


Reged: 21/02/09
Posts: 734
Loc: West UK
Re: Field's patent Falling Block [Re: DarylS]
      #216848 - 17/09/12 08:24 AM

Welcome Wolfgang - looking forward to the pics!

TH44

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tinker
.416 member


Reged: 12/03/05
Posts: 4835
Loc: Nevada
Re: Field's patent Falling Block [Re: TH44]
      #216850 - 17/09/12 08:46 AM

Nice rifle TH44
Thanks for putting it up here.

Wolfgang welcome to NitroExpress!
I look forward to your photos too.
:-)


Cheers
Tinker

--------------------
--Self-Appointed Colonel, DRSS--



"It IS a dangerous game, and so named for a reason, and you can't play from the keyboard. " --Some Old Texan...

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Caprivi
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Reged: 30/09/08
Posts: 811
Loc: America's Serengeti, Buffalo W...
Re: Field's patent Falling Block [Re: tinker]
      #216856 - 17/09/12 10:50 AM

I have liked the Field since first sight. Always thought a light 303 single shot would be a fine thing.


http://www.vintagedoubles.com/catalog/?sort=5&process=fullview&gunID=2055

--------------------
To live life as it is handed to me from God

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Wolfgang
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Reged: 02/06/12
Posts: 5
Loc: Germany
Re: Field's patent Falling Block [Re: tinker]
      #217971 - 15/10/12 06:57 AM

Hi

now I can show You some picures of my old Lady (ies ) ;-)

Hope you enjoy

Please open my website :

waffenkofferundsafariauruestung.de

Then Thumbnail : alte Waffen

Waiting for Your answers,

Wolfgang

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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27014
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: Field's patent Falling Block [Re: Wolfgang]
      #217973 - 15/10/12 07:29 AM

Wolfgang - having trouble with your address. My computer tells me that: waffenkofferundsafariauruestung.de

is not a web address, and neither is

www.waffenkofferundsafariauruestung.de

nor is

www.waffenkofferundsafariauruestung.com

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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450_366
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Reged: 17/01/07
Posts: 1068
Loc: Sweden, west-coast.
Re: Field's patent Falling Block [Re: DarylS]
      #217976 - 15/10/12 08:20 AM

Quote:

Wolfgang - having trouble with your address. My computer tells me that: waffenkofferundsafariauruestung.de

is not a web address, and neither is

www.waffenkofferundsafariauruestung.de

nor is

www.waffenkofferundsafariauruestung.com



http://www.waffenkofferundsafariausruestung.de/

Works better.

--------------------
Andreas

"Yeas it kicks like a mule he said, but always remember that its much worse standing on the other end"

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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27014
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Re: Field's patent Falling Block [Re: 450_366]
      #218011 - 16/10/12 01:08 AM

ahh- missing an s between the u and r. tks.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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DarylS
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Re: Field's patent Falling Block [Re: DarylS]
      #218012 - 16/10/12 01:13 AM

The H&H falling block very fine indeed.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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TH44
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Reged: 21/02/09
Posts: 734
Loc: West UK
Re: Field's patent Falling Block [Re: DarylS]
      #218044 - 16/10/12 09:50 AM

Plus I with Daryl - very very nice!

TH44

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HuviusModerator
.416 member


Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3556
Loc: Colorado
Re: Field's patent Falling Block [Re: DarylS]
      #218519 - 28/10/12 10:27 AM

Quote:

The H&H falling block very fine indeed.



Well, you have a chance to get one in the upcoming Rock Island auction.
There are a couple little Frasers too as well as another Fraser which looks OK. Maybe broken through the wrist.
Also, a Purdey retailed Farquharson which has fallen victim to the custom craze of years past and a few other English falling blocks in different states of originality.
Oh, yeah...and a pair of Alex Henry howdah pistols as well as a four barrel Lancaster pistol...super cool...

--------------------
He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.

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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27014
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Re: Field's patent Falling Block [Re: Huvius]
      #218520 - 28/10/12 10:38 AM

Huvius - about that 4 barrel Lancaster - is it a .577 Snider Howdah pistol? One was featured in an article about Howday's back in the 70's, maybe early 80's - maybe Gun Digest- ther were some large bore ctgs. Howdah's as well - 12 bore - maybe 10?

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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HuviusModerator
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Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3556
Loc: Colorado
Re: Field's patent Falling Block [Re: DarylS]
      #218560 - 29/10/12 04:04 AM

It is a .476

http://www.rockislandauction.com/viewitem/aid/57/lid/1147

--------------------
He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.

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TH44
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Reged: 21/02/09
Posts: 734
Loc: West UK
Re: Field's patent Falling Block [Re: Huvius]
      #218574 - 29/10/12 10:36 AM

Daryl - Lancaster's largest bore size for the 4 barrelled pistols was .476, later changed to .450/.455 when the British military changed calibres ( I don't know if Lancaster changed the bore size also)

Joel Black, who sometimes posts here IIRC sent me many pages of info including the "Gun" magazine article and Lancaster advertisements of the time

Their largest calibre was .577 X 1 1/2" but I saw a Wilkinson Howdah pistol at an Arms Fair in UK a couple of years ago in .577 Snider - with a load of 70 grains BP behind a 480 grain bullet it must have been quite a handful!!
I should have bought it!

Hope this helps

TH 44

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BillfromOregon
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Reged: 27/10/04
Posts: 254
Loc: Sweetwater, by God Texas
Re: Field's patent Falling Block [Re: TH44]
      #220023 - 23/11/12 02:38 AM

TH44: My comment is AWESOME FIND!

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