Some Roosevelt 1876's

[Coal Creek Griff]

There has been some mention here regarding TR's '76 rifles.  I had a chance to see some at the visitor's center at Theodore Roosevelt National Park at Medora, ND a few months ago.  I took some pictures, but, of course, they are behind glass, so these are not quite suitable for a coffee table book.  Hopefully those here will find interest, though.  I've also had to reduce the file size, so the quality isn't super high.  Lastly, my phone camera didn't perfectly focus, so some detail is lost there too. 

There were three rifles on display.  To keep them straight, I'm going to try to make separate posts for each rifle.  The first two are nearly identical -- they are guns that TR brought with him hunting in Dakota Territory.  He gifted one to his later ranch manager Bill Merrifield.  He had a plaque added to the stock of that rifle.  It is in .50-95 caliber.

[Coal Creek Griff]

The other rifle that TR took with him is a nearly identical .50-95.

[Coal Creek Griff]

The third rifle on display is one that TR called his "ranch gun" and it is .40-60.  It is engraved.

[Coal Creek Griff]

Here are the front sights of the first two rifles.  As a side note, Bill Merrifield was the ranch manager of TR's Chimney Butte ranch.  The brand was the Maltese Cross, which is on the presentation plaque.  The ranch was commonly referred to as the "Maltese Cross" ranch.

[King Medallion]

Cool! Thanks for the pictures.

[Major 2]

VERY COOL !

[Oregon Bill]

He was consistent in specifying finely-checkered butt stocks with pistol grip and shotgun butt -- and the half-octagon to round barrels. They must have all had a similar balance and feel.

[DrummerBoy]

IDEAL COMBINATION
plus (IMHO) button mag

[King Medallion]

I got the poor man's version,  the Presidio.

[RoyceP]

He was consistent in specifying finely-checkered butt stocks with pistol grip and shotgun butt.....

This is more important than you would imagine in a heavy kicking rifle. I used to have a 45-70 Marlin with the crescent butt stock. I only pulled that trigger five times. My shoulder was bruised for a week.

[greyhawk]

This is more important than you would imagine in a heavy kicking rifle. I used to have a 45-70 Marlin with the crescent butt stock. I only pulled that trigger five times. My shoulder was bruised for a week.

I have an old waistcoat /vest with a sheepskin pad sewed on wool side to the shoulder

[BillKilgore]

Thanks for the photos and write-up. Very cool indeed.

[missourijack]

A clone of one of these rifles would be great !