Original Item: Only One Available. These are very unusual and very hard to find, and this is the first example of one of these that we have had! We believe that this is one of less than 800 Army-Framed Target pistols that Remington reworked from 1887 to 1891. Collectors have nicknamed these factory rework pistols "Plinkers", referring to the small calibers they are chambered in. The heavy barrel lacks an address, as usually encountered with this model, and it features a worn down German silver blade front sight and "V" notch rear sight.

This example was most likely originally blued with a case-hardened finish on the receiver, however it was later nickel plated, which unfortunately has made markings on the pistol faint. The left side of the frame was originally marked with the Remington patent information, very little of which is still visible due to the refinish:-

The only other marking on the pistol is under the barrel, where serial / assembly number 432 is still faintly visible. We were not able to get off the grips, so we were not able to check for assembly numbers on the supports. It looks to have seen much use as a target pistol during the last decades of the 19th century, and possibly after.

The entire gun in very good used condition with the usual wear from service. The nickel plating shows some wear, and has a nice matured patina to it, and some areas where it has flaked / worn away. There definitely looks to have been some oxidation on the metalwork before the refinish, which is probably why the markings were mostly removed. The stock wood is in very nice condition, showing wear from service and looking to have had varnished applied at some point, which is well retained.

The action is crisp and moves smoothly, with an intact firing pin, though it does not have the return spring (we do not know if it originally had one). The ejector is the later sliding type, and looks to be fully functional, though we have not tested it on real brass. The bore definitely is in used condition, still showing rifling, but also wear and oxidation from use.

A fine example for any U.S. Target Pistol Collection, ready to display!

Specifications:-

Years of Manufacture: c.1866-1870 - Later Modified
Caliber: .22cal
Ammunition Type: Rimfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 10 inches
Overall Length: 14 inches
Action: Rolling Block
Feed System: Single Shot

History of the Remington Rolling Block Pistol
The Remington Rolling Block is one of the most successful single shot weapons ever developed. It is a strong and simple action, very reliable, and not prone to be jammed by dirt or rough usage. It was based in part on the "split breech" action produced by Remington during the United States Civil War. That design was re-engineered by Joseph Rider during 1865, and the first firearm based on it, the Model 1865 Remington Pistol, was offered for sale to the United States Army and Navy in 1866. While the Army turned the design down, the Navy committed to purchase 5000 pistols.

The pistol went through several models, and the 1871 Army pistol (sometimes referred to as the Army and Navy Model) was the final redesign. The trigger and trigger guard were moved forward on the receiver, and a spur was added to the receiver behind the hammer to allow for a better grip. A rotating extractor was designed. The front sight was changed from a bead to a blade, and the lockwork was also redesigned. The gun was available in .50 centerfire, but could be special ordered in .22 rimfire. It was designed for the U.S. military, but was never sold to them, however this example seems to have been a private purchase. Over 6000 are estimated to have been manufactured.