Re: Newby question on Rolling Blocks
Hello Keith and ChuckD,
The rifle show in the above photo’s are from a Remington Rolling Block Rifle
that had the breech block and the hammer modified using the Dodge System, Patent No.112,694, March 14, 1871 and No.113,408, April 4,1871.
One of the problems with the early Remington Rolling Blocks, was the firing pin was spring loaded to keep it free from freezing up. It didn’t work to well at times, when the rifle would set for long periods of time with the hammer setting on the firing pin, it would rust in place, with the firing pin exposed out of the front end of the breech block. When a cartridge was placed in the chamber and the breech block shut the exposed firing pin would set the cartridge off. Since the hammer would still be at full cock and not in the safety position, the force of the gases from the round going off would open up the breech block causing injury to the shooter.
With the Dodge System the back section of the breech block was spring loaded and would be pushed upward as the breech block was being closed. If a round would go off, this back section of the breech block would hit the front end of the hammer and it would stop the breech block from opening up. When the hammer is at full cock, by pulling the thumb piece on the breech block, it would lower the spring loaded back section of the breech block letting it pass under the hammer when you went to load the rifle.
