Huvius
.416 member
Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3612
Loc: Colorado
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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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He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.
Edited by CptCurl (05/10/12 08:37 PM)
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rigbymauser
.400 member
Reged: 15/05/05
Posts: 2027
Loc: Denmark
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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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kamilaroi
.400 member
Reged: 18/12/04
Posts: 1803
Loc: sydney, new south wales, Austr...
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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?
Edited by kamilaroi (19/09/12 04:56 PM)
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Huvius
.416 member
Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3612
Loc: Colorado
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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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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: 27682
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
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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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Daryl
"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V
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Huvius
.416 member
Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3612
Loc: Colorado
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Quote:
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?
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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He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.
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lancaster
.470 member
Reged: 06/05/08
Posts: 9502
Loc: There's a lighthouse in the mi...
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love the 577/500 No.2
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Norwegian hunter misses moose, shoots man on toilet
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bringing civilisation to the barbarians
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Huvius
.416 member
Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3612
Loc: Colorado
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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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He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.
Edited by CptCurl (01/12/13 10:16 PM)
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TH44
.375 member
Reged: 21/02/09
Posts: 740
Loc: West UK
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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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tinker
.416 member
Reged: 12/03/05
Posts: 4835
Loc: Nevada
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Great looking rifle.
I really like the condition on this rifle, perfect patina.
Cheers
Tinker
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--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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AFRO408
.333 member
Reged: 21/01/09
Posts: 312
Loc: Arding NSW
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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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Flinch ? Wot flinch ? Gunsmithing is my PASSION.
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gwh
.333 member
Reged: 28/01/08
Posts: 277
Loc: Cairns Australia
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Lovely rifle
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Hunt hard, shoot straight
"I speak of Africa and golden joys; the joy of wandering through lonely lands; the joy of hunting the mighty and terrible lords of the wilderness, the cunning, the wary and the grim"
Theodore Roosevelt, Khartoum, 1910
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rigbymauser
.400 member
Reged: 15/05/05
Posts: 2027
Loc: Denmark
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...is that a 1886 brownchester laying in front..?.
Edited by rigbymauser (28/10/13 05:38 AM)
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Huvius
.416 member
Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3612
Loc: Colorado
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Quote:
...is that a 1886 brownchester laying in front..?.
Winchester 92 actually.
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He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.
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Iowa_303s
.400 member
Reged: 22/03/13
Posts: 1016
Loc: Iowa, USA
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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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Matt
formerly known as Iowa_303
"Once your reputation is ruined you can live your life quite freely."
"Enkelkinder über alles"
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HistoricBore
.300 member
Reged: 28/09/11
Posts: 232
Loc: United Kingdom
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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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Huvius
.416 member
Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3612
Loc: Colorado
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Quote:
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!
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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He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.
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Huvius
.416 member
Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3612
Loc: Colorado
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Quote:
Great looking rifle you have there.
What kind of velocity and accuracy do you get with it?
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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He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.
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Englishman
.275 member
Reged: 09/12/09
Posts: 62
Loc: Lot,France
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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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Huvius
.416 member
Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3612
Loc: Colorado
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Quote:
... I have one on my 1897 Westley Richards 577NE...
Would love to see that one if you can!
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He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.
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CptCurl
.450 member
Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5318
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...
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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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RoscoeStephenson.com
YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.
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Huvius
.416 member
Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3612
Loc: Colorado
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Quote:
Quote:
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?
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.
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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He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.
Edited by CptCurl (19/07/14 09:59 PM)
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Ash
.400 member
Reged: 10/05/11
Posts: 1654
Loc: Australia
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I think i just fell in love... (the rifle, not the fellow!)
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.
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Huvius
.416 member
Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3612
Loc: Colorado
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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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He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.
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rigbymauser
.400 member
Reged: 15/05/05
Posts: 2027
Loc: Denmark
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Quote:
Great looking rifle you have there.
What kind of velocity and accuracy do you get with it?
Great looking rifle you have there.
What kind of velocity and accuracy do you get with it?.
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