A new customer brought me a partially finished rifle. It appears to be based on Remington rolling block, has a huge octagonal barrel, stamped "45-70" and "Numrich Arms". The client insists on keeping the barrel as is. I'm tasked with making the fore arm and completing the butt stock. This thing is very heavy so I'm thinking a splinter fore end will not look balanced. Would a beavertail, or semi-beavertail be appropriate on a rifle of this style? Anyone have photos of similar rifle?
Thanks, Mike

If you're looking for ideas, you might try picking up a copy of Steve Hughes' "Custom Rifles in Black and White". It'd be a great reference book for your library if you don't already have it.

SDH just had the book reprinted and probably has few copies left.

Mike,
Get a copy of Mike Venturinos "Shooting Buffalo Rifles of the Old West". There are a lot of photos of original rifles to reference. As far as a beavertail or semi beavertail forend goes I wouldn't. It will only add to the bulk of the rifle and look way out of place. I have a #1 rolling block with that same barrel and put a splinter forend with a pewter cap on it. It looks "right" for the rifle.
Best.

Try to find a photo of a RRM Creedmoor model.
Those had a heavy barrel and a splinter type forend.

I think your customer is setting you up for a bad result. You need to get him to look at RRB fore ends on line and tell you which one he wants. Otherwise he may be very unhappy with your choice.
Go to google and type in Remington Rolling Block then pick images and look at all the photos.
Then go to Pedersoli's web site and look at the RRB variations there.

You might notice that the Remington Hepburn at the top of the page has a splinter forend. If you go with that design try to make the top edge thick enough that it will not easily split off.

Here are some photos of a Pedersoli Creedmoor rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike in Michigan:
A new customer brought me a partially finished rifle. It appears to be based on Remington rolling block, has a huge octagonal barrel, stamped "45-70" and "Numrich Arms". The client insists on keeping the barrel as is. I'm tasked with making the fore arm and completing the butt stock. This thing is very heavy so I'm thinking a splinter fore end will not look balanced. Would a beavertail, or semi-beavertail be appropriate on a rifle of this style? Anyone have photos of similar rifle?
Thanks, Mike

I suggest you have your client get a hold of Marcot Lewis's book on Remington Rolling Block Sporting and Target Rifles. It is full of photographs of originals and will give a guideline for what the originals looked like.