Extremely Rare Remington Model 1871 Rolling Block Pistol One of perhaps 6-known.

[Shotgun Steve]

In special nickel finish with full ivory stock.
A .50 caliber center fire rolling block pistol, in a special nickel finish and with factory ivory stock and fore end. Remington made very few special rolling block pistols with full ivory stocks, perhaps only half a dozen, making this gun an extreme rarity. The pistol measures 12-inches in overall length, and the barrel measures 6.75-inches in length.

[kflach]

Looking at the dates that are stamped on the gun, it looks like this gun was being developed after Remington's NMA. What would be the advantage of this type of gun over something like the NMA? Or maybe I should phrase it, "What kind of marketing spin would Remington use to sell this if they were comparing it to their NMA?"

Obviously they didn't take it and really try to sell it, but they were willing to continue development and that costs $$.

[Forty Rod]

The Navy wanted a powerful, single shot cartridge pistol.

[kflach]

It would be interesting to have been privy to the Navy's internal discussions as they developed the request for this gun. From what I understand, a .44 would have been more powerful than the .36s they were normally using. The 6.75 inch barrel wouldn't have been as accurate as the 8 inch NMA barrels. The recoil would have been fierce.

I'd love to shoot something like this just to say I'd done it, but it seems impractical. It is rather cool though.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

It would be interesting to have been privy to the Navy's internal discussions as they developed the request for this gun. From what I understand, a .44 would have been more powerful than the .36s they were normally using. The 6.75 inch barrel wouldn't have been as accurate as the 8 inch NMA barrels. The recoil would have been fierce.

I'd love to shoot something like this just to say I'd done it, but it seems impractical. It is rather cool though.

Naaah ... not really.  Not with BP.  Barrel length wouldn't be much of an issue, either.  The difference between an 8" revolver that has a g-ap between the cylinder and the bore would be about the same as 6.75" barrel with no gap.  The velocity would be about equal as well as bullet velocity if all other factors, i.e. BP charge, bullet weight, etc.

BP is very tolerant of small differences.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

The 44 of yesteryear is about the power of a modern 38 Spl., and the old 36 comes to about the power of a healthy 32 auto/revolver round of today.  (Considering they're still loaded to the power levels when they were invented ... which is over a hunnert years ago.)

[Forty Rod]

Copper rimfire cartridges were thought to be a  lot more waterproof.

Ship-to-ship ranges and structures of the ship needed more power.

Navy.

Get it?

Besides, every Marine know the Navy is just nuts.

[kflach]

Almost every time I post, I end up getting smarter. I LOVE that!

As far as Marines, well, I was in the Navy, so I know about Marines. Granted, I flew jets instead of driving boats, but I was still in the Navy and I know about Marines.

[Forty Rod]

Did you learn enough to know you should genuflect when you meet one?   

Beats the hell out of saluting, don't it?   

[kflach]

LOL!

There was a time I would have genuflected to my DI (At AOCS we had Marine DIs).