In the search for new metallic cartridge arms after the Civil War New York went with the rolling block, made in state of course, but also popular arm world-wide even if the US government settled on the Springfield trapdoor. This specific pattern was produced on contract with New York State. Flayderman gives the number as 15,000 “ca. 1872,” but there seems to have been a second order for 4,500 bringing the total up to 19,450. The .50 caliber barrel is 36” long, secured by three bands. Front and long-range rear sights are in place, as is the cleaning rod. The rear sight is complete, graduated to 1,000 yards with an additional top notch. The NY contract pattern is characterized by a tall spur hammer, thumb piece on the block that projects out rather than up, a safety action returning the hammer to half-cock when the breech is closed, and placement of the rear sling swivel on the triggerguard rather than the belly of the buttstock.

The rifle has a three-line address on the tang indicating manufacture after 1874: REMINGTON ARMS COMPANY ILION N.Y. / PAT MAY 3d 1864 MAY 7TH JUNE 11TH NOV. 12^TH. DEC 24TH 1872. / DEC 31ST 1872 SEPT. 9TH 1873. JAN 12TH MARCH 1874. A small “437” is stamped at the left breech of the barrel. We see something very faint on the left wrist that may be an inspection cartouche, but can’t be sure, but It is certainly a NY state contract and issue rifle: the triggerguard tang is stamped “24^th / SEP CO” and the wood shows an ink “24^th / SEP. CO.” stamp as well just forward of the buttplate tang, which bears a rack number “35” to the rear of the screw.

The rifle rates good for condition- complete and all original with good markings, but no finish remaining to the metal, with the barrel originally blued and the receiver case hardened. These were cleaned, as is often the case with National Guard guns, and show  some fine pitting. The stock is full length stock, uncleaned, with no cracks, decent color and surface, but handling marks, dings, pressure dents and some chips and shallow gouges, all pretty typical of a period National Guard rifle. Please see our photos to get a good idea. The mechanics are strong. The bore is semi-bright with thin rifling.

The separate company organization was a postwar alteration of New York’s National Guard. This left regimental organizations and designations intact in larger metropolitan areas where population density could support a full regiment, but assigned companies in smaller communities numbers a “Separate Companies,” uniting them into regiments when called up for service or training. A quick search shows the 24^th Separate Company with an armory in Ellenville in Ulster County.

Chambered for a rimfire 50/ 70 caliber round, the rifle exhibits the large #1 action with a high spur hammer and a projecting ear-like lever on the right side of breech block. The 36” round barrel is secured to the full black walnut stock via three barrel bands with barrel retaining springs. A long-range, full folding rear sight rests atop the barrel breech. Barrel has been cleaned and shows no original colors. Does exhibit scattered fine rust pitting overall. Bore is semi-bright with rifling thin. Stock has not been cleaned and shows normal dings, dents and wear from age and use. Stock is in very good condition with no cracks or repairs visible.

No government cartouches as expected. Gunmetal including hammer, action, triggerguard, and receiver all show evidence of cleaning. Receiver tang shows the maker’s three-line address which is still sharp and clear. Triggerguard tang is stamped with “24^th / SEP Co.” indicating that the longarm was assigned to the New York State 24^th Separate Company of militia. Same marking, though thin, is visible on the toe of the stock in front of the butt tang. Butt tang is stamped “35” likely the rack number. Various other small inspector markings seen on this rifle. No ring bar or saddle ring. Mechanics are strong, could use some oiling. Rifle has both swivels and the original ramrod with its ribbed, slotted body and threaded tip.

In rearming with new cartridge-firing guns after the Civil War, many states chose different ones than the U.S. Army. Remington, Peabody and Sharps rifles armed many, and all initially competed to become the arm of the United States. A main contender for the U.S. Army’s first official cartridge rifle was the Remington rolling block, a design perfected by Joseph Rider and among the few that easily made the jump from rimfire to centerfire rounds.

Made in the millions by Remington and under license to others, it was used worldwide. While our Army ultimately went with the Springfield Trapdoor, the Navy chose the Model 1867 Remington-made rolling block carbine in .50-45, then ordered a further 10,000 Model 1870 rolling block rifles in .50-70 Gov’t made at Springfield Armory under license.

The state of New York held its own trials to replace its National Guard’s muzzleloaders. After briefly considering conversion methods, the state went with Remington-made .50-70 rolling blocks. After all, Remington was a home-state arms maker. It didn’t hurt that Remington willingly took many of the state’s muzzleloaders in trade.

New York bought 19,450 rifles in two orders. On the example shown, the Remington address on the tang indicates it was from the second batch of 4,500 rifles ordered in 1873. The state acquired 1,500 cavalry carbines as well. These rifles are usually found in good, as-issued condition, since we were at peace during their whole service life. By the time they were replaced around the time of the Spanish-American War, the .50-70 had long been out of favor as a hunting cartridge, and few were sporterized.

Almost all will be found chambered in .50-70 (a few were in .45-70, but they are rare) with 36-inch barrels, full-length fore-ends held by three bands, wiping rod and straight-grip military butt. The rear sling swivel is on the trigger guard rather than down on the buttstock below the lower tang where most other models are located.

The upswept hammer is taller than on other rolling blocks, and the New York rifles have checkering within a shield on the hammer and breechblock tab. Other rolling blocks have simple checkering patterns on those parts. The New York models also have a mechanism—designed by William Smoot for the Army trials—that drops the hammer into a safety notch when the breechblock is closed.

Those are the common features, but there is surprising variation in finishes. Some were finished in the white, some had blued barrels and case-hardened receivers, some had blued barrels and bright receivers. The barrel of this one retains most of its original blue, and the receiver shows traces of case-hardening.

The left wrist of the stock or fore-end near the receiver is normally stamped with the initials of the New York inspectors (“RPB,” “HBH” or “GH” along with “SNY” for State of New York). New York also normally marked the top of the buttplate tang with unit and rack numbers for the rifles—but not always.

This is marked several times indicating NY ownership and issue to the 24^th Separate Company. [sr][ph:L]

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