M1871 rolling block pistol

[U.S.M.R.]

Has anyone heard of this pistol being converted to a .50-70 smoothbore as an alternative to a Ithaca Auto Burglar?

[Hair Trigger Jim]

I haven't heard of smoothboring them, but Sears Roebuck had a number of them reamed to use .50-70 shotshells in addition to .50 pistol cartridges, according to page 300 of my copy of the 1909 catalog.

[DeaconKC]

HTJ, great bit of info and history.

[U.S.M.R.]

Thanks for the reply Hair Trigger Jim. I've shot the gun both ways. The smooth bore really doesn't effect accuracy with a bullet at 15 or 20 yards.

[U.S.M.R.]

My brother informed me that Rock Island Auction had one. They said some company altered about 200 to a smooth bore in .50-70.