Here is a good pic of my crescent butt pattern for the Rolling Block, built for a customer by
C. Sharps Arms in Montana. The forearm is the sporting tip style.
C. Sharps Arms in Montana. The forearm is the sporting tip style.
The picture above is another rifle built for a customer by C. Sharps Arms in Montana, using my
standard shotgun butt. I think they used the black poly Sharps buttplate. Here again, the forearm is using the steel sporting tip.
standard shotgun butt. I think they used the black poly Sharps buttplate. Here again, the forearm is using the steel sporting tip.
Here is another rolling block that was a prize for the Quigley Shoot in Montana. The rolling block action was donated by Kenn Womack of Rollingblockparts.com. I donated the wood, in this case the Midrange shotgun butt and schnabble forearm in a subtle quarter sawn walnut. Note the sharps style pistolgrip carved in Kingwood Rosewood.
The whole package was built by C. Sharps Arms, Montana Armory, who by the way are a good outfit to go to for a Rolling Block project (and a lot of other stuff as well)
The whole package was built by C. Sharps Arms, Montana Armory, who by the way are a good outfit to go to for a Rolling Block project (and a lot of other stuff as well)
This is the Creedmoor pattern for the #4 Rolling Block. I have scaled up the grip and butt a bit to make it a bit more big guy friendly. It can readily handle my checkered steel buttplate as well. Note the sporting forearm, no schnabble with ebony tip. This particular stock set went out to C. Sharps Arms for a Quigley prize gun.
#4 Rolling Block Creedmoor
This is a pistolgrip shotgun butts and schnabble forearm, a new pattern by Curt Hardcastle for the little #4 Remington. Now you know what you can do with that dusty old boys rifle that has been sitting in the back of the safe gathering dust.
With the sweet Green Mountain .22 rimfire octagon barrel, and quality sights, these can become serious match rifles.
This is a pistolgrip shotgun butts and schnabble forearm, a new pattern by Curt Hardcastle for the little #4 Remington. Now you know what you can do with that dusty old boys rifle that has been sitting in the back of the safe gathering dust.
With the sweet Green Mountain .22 rimfire octagon barrel, and quality sights, these can become serious match rifles.
#4 Rolling Block by Curt Hardcastle, 1/4 sawn english walnut, showing checkering
A checkered butt on the #4 Creedmoor.
There were no good buttplates to fit a stock of this size and shape. Rather than resort to a rubber pad to cover the unusual style butt, Curt decided to display the fine grain of this particular
stock.
There were no good buttplates to fit a stock of this size and shape. Rather than resort to a rubber pad to cover the unusual style butt, Curt decided to display the fine grain of this particular
stock.
There's a few pictures of what can be done to a crusty century old military rolling block. I realize most of you are not likely to put that kind of money and effort into building a gun, but here is proof that it can be done.
Most of the stocks that I carve for the Remington R.B. are inlet for the standard #1 military surplus action.
I also carve stocks for the #1 commercial sporting action (easiest I.D. is the lower tang is considerably longer than the top tang, these are not common.)
Also available, with less selection of patterns, are stocks for the #2 and #4 Rolling Block
Most of the stocks that I carve for the Remington R.B. are inlet for the standard #1 military surplus action.
I also carve stocks for the #1 commercial sporting action (easiest I.D. is the lower tang is considerably longer than the top tang, these are not common.)
Also available, with less selection of patterns, are stocks for the #2 and #4 Rolling Block
This is the Midrange buttstock and schnabble forearm I cut in the rare Screwbean Mesquite. This is just the way the customer received it. The next photo is from the customer after he fit and finished it. Nice job, but I cannot recall the customers name, sorry bud... Also note the curly cue sharps grip, also in screwbean mesquite.
Crescent Rifle Pattern
I developed this stock for the Rem. Rolling Block after numerous requests from customers.
Not a good choice if you want to enjoy your shooting.
This is a good choice if you want to build a Gemmer style rifle, however, I do not make Gemmer style forearms.
They are designed for my crescent buttplate, available for 38.00 with screws.
I developed this stock for the Rem. Rolling Block after numerous requests from customers.
Not a good choice if you want to enjoy your shooting.
This is a good choice if you want to build a Gemmer style rifle, however, I do not make Gemmer style forearms.
They are designed for my crescent buttplate, available for 38.00 with screws.
Remington Forearms.
The most popular forearm for a rolling block is the schnabble tip. It is the easiest to complete.
The steel tip type forearm is a bit more advanced project to complete, and tips are becoming
difficult to source.
Either style forearm were used on both the Sporting Rolling Block as well as the #3 Hepburn.
When correctly done, they will finish at the bottom of the two side flats of an octagon barrel.
The most popular forearm for a rolling block is the schnabble tip. It is the easiest to complete.
The steel tip type forearm is a bit more advanced project to complete, and tips are becoming
difficult to source.
Either style forearm were used on both the Sporting Rolling Block as well as the #3 Hepburn.
When correctly done, they will finish at the bottom of the two side flats of an octagon barrel.
Here is a .44/77 built by Mike Nesbitt. The stock is the standard sporting shotgun butt and steel tip forearm. The comb on this stock is traditional, not as high as the midrange stock shown in the pic below, but correct if you want a period shotgun style butt.
The walnut is the last on hand from the Axtell Rifle Co., used on their 77 Sharps.
The walnut is the last on hand from the Axtell Rifle Co., used on their 77 Sharps.
Above is a nice pair of Rolling Block sporting rifles, built on Scandinavian actions. These are the Midrange pattern shotgun butts, and schnabble forearms.
Eldridge Mounts Rolling Block with the standard style shotgun butt and schnabble forearm. This is not the best style for a competition rifle, but makes a great all round stock. Note the schnabble also works on a round barrel.
This is the Silhouette pattern, with shadowline cheekrest. This is a good all round pattern for many uses. Similar in height to the Midrange, it offers a cheekrest, which in this case does not raise the height of the comb, but adds a nice decoration. This rifle is a Scandinavian Rolling Block belonging to Jim Reed of New Zealand. Jim comes out to the States when opportunity presents and has been to more matches around the country than many of us natives.
Pistolgrip Creedmore Pattern
The coolest conversion for the military rolling block, also the toughest to build correctly.
The lower tang on the action must be bent correctly to accommodate the stock (Hint: get the stock BEFORE bending the tang so you have a reference to make the correct bend).
To get the graceful geometry in the wrist that is so appealing, it is necessary to mill the upper and lower tang to approx. .615 wide at the receiver. I make no guarantees that anyone can do a nice job of this, it is not an easy conversion.
Curt Hardcastle has worked out a better system to convert military actions to pistolgrip sporting style.
The straight grip patterns are much easier to complete and more economical in the end.
The coolest conversion for the military rolling block, also the toughest to build correctly.
The lower tang on the action must be bent correctly to accommodate the stock (Hint: get the stock BEFORE bending the tang so you have a reference to make the correct bend).
To get the graceful geometry in the wrist that is so appealing, it is necessary to mill the upper and lower tang to approx. .615 wide at the receiver. I make no guarantees that anyone can do a nice job of this, it is not an easy conversion.
Curt Hardcastle has worked out a better system to convert military actions to pistolgrip sporting style.
The straight grip patterns are much easier to complete and more economical in the end.
Ebony Pistolgrip
The ebony pistolgrip can be added to a straight grip action for a nice accent. It is not a real substitute for a true pistolgrip conversion, but a lot easier to do in the long run. These are 125.00, unfinished.
Work by Curt Hardcastle
I am happy to show some work from my friend Curt Hardcastle here. The first three photos at top of the page, show some more of Curt's work. I've only known Curt and his lovely wife Lark (who also is one of the best BPCS spotters in the game) for a couple of years, but the better I get to know them both, the more impressed I am with their skills and integrity. These pictures show what Curt was able to do with a couple of crusty old military Rolling Block actions, built to order for his customers.
Bear in mind, this level of work does not come cheap, the owners of these rifles have several thousand dollars invested in them. Curt is particular about the work he accepts, but I do not believe you will find a dissatisfied customer from his shop.