Sold one of my guns at the gun show this week end and brought home another that just showed up today as it was not there yesterday. At first I thought it a 50-70 but once the zip tie was removed to get a look at the bore and chamber we figured out it was a factory 43 Spanish saddle ring carbine in original dress. I had no idea such a rifle ever existed as all I have ever seen were in full length rifle. Only the tang screw was missing and had been scalped for some other roller I suppose.
The bore has some pitting near the muzzle but the rifling is strong and the crown well preserved. My guess is it will shoot lead as good as it ever did so soon as I get some brass and bullets we'll see. The bore slugs .443 on the lands with a plug gauge. Haven' t gotten around to slugging the groove diameter. Guess I'll pull the barrel and lap a tight spot found about 6 inches in from the muzzle. No exterior barrel damage so it is a factory rifling flaw apparently. Be good to clean up some of the minor pitting as well. Some of it is deep enough to not come out but I doubt it will effect the accuracy potential as all the lands and grooves are very strong and sharp. The out side top edge of the muzzle has some curious wear which I think is from a muzzle boot on the saddle stirrup as the gun was carried muzzle down from the saddle pommel or cantle, suspended from the side ring, would be my guess.
That looks like the .43 Spanish I bought out of the back pages of a NRA magazine for $12. back in 1954
The reason a dog has so many friends is because he wags his tail instead of his tongue.
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery"Winston Churchill
Yeah, should have bought a pickup load of them back then. Good roller actions now go for 450.00 and this original complete rifle I've seen at one of the auction sights on line at 1250.00 in 43 Spanish.
Mike $12. was a lot of money for a 14 year old kid making .50 cents an hour stacking hay bales in a hot 120 degree haymow during School vacation
I had several rollers over the years but Mike I could never warm up to them. They have a fine action but the drop in the stock was too low and making them feel good when shouldering them and raising the stock comb makes them look like a canoe paddle.
The reason a dog has so many friends is because he wags his tail instead of his tongue.
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery"Winston Churchill
Yeah, one either loves them or hates em! I can't really explain why I love em, just do. I like the drop as they were designed around open sight fast shooting, much like a shot gun. The simplicity and look of them is appealing to me as well. Isn't it grand that we do not all like the same thing, like a bunch of robots!
I have always thought the 74 Sharps looks like a walnut cracker with a barrel sticking out of it. The 77 is more appealing and the Borchardt I really like.
I'm wondering if the barrel can be re-rifled and chambered to 50-70. I'll get a chamber cast and my calipers out today and see if it can be done without setting the barrel back, which would be supper cool.
Well, looks like it will work from my preliminary measurements. Wonder if Ron Smith would be interested in undertaking the project? Could someone give me his phone number and/or e-mail? Any other suggestions as to who would be a good prospect to re-bore , rifle and chamber this barrel?
Ron Smith
P.O. Box 635
Wimborne, Alberta
T0M 2G0
403-631-2405
Ron does not own a computer.
Yes Ron does re-bore barrels and he has a .50-70 chamber reamer.
He made me an octagon chrome moly gain twist barrel finishing at 1:34" twist .512" groove-to-groove barrel to shoot 450 to 540 grain bullets.
Should be ready shortly.
Boomer moulds made me a 477 grain bullet.
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I read its a hammer safety thing. Its spring loaded and as the hammer hits the BB the bottom of that lever flicks back over the receiver and prevents the hammer bouncing back. When cocking the thumb depresses the top which pulls the lever in allowing movement.
Looks a bit ugly but I will leave it there.
Some say its a shotgun action because of the shape of the hammer nose. I dont know. I made up a barrel stub to try. Its 18TPI V form threads.
Going to make it my 40-72 Hornady project.
Huh, never heard of a roller using V threads. Why there ain't no end to things I don't know yet !
Looks like it could use a good case coloring job as well.
That looks like the .43 Spanish I bought out of the back pages of a NRA magazine for $12. back in 1954 
I can't really explain why I love em, just do. I like the drop as they were designed around open sight fast shooting, much like a shot gun. The simplicity and look of them is appealing to me as well. Isn't it grand that we do not all like the same thing, like a bunch of robots! 