Author Topic: New to me rifle with Large barrel, Roller lock and triggers  (Read 1509 times)

Offline snapper

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New to me rifle with Large barrel, Roller lock and triggers
« on: March 03, 2023, 04:38:34 PM »
I just picked up this rifle with a Bill Large barrel and Roller lock and triggers.

Never owned a barrel from Bill and looking forward to shooting it.

Fleener



« Last Edit: March 03, 2023, 09:03:09 PM by snapper »
My taste are simple:  I am easily satisfied with the best.  Winston Churchill

Offline Longknife

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Re: Large barrel, Roller lock and triggers
« Reply #1 on: March 03, 2023, 04:45:57 PM »
SWEET!!!....54? Do you know who made it?
Ed Hamberg

Offline snapper

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Re: Large barrel, Roller lock and triggers
« Reply #2 on: March 03, 2023, 08:48:38 PM »
It is a .54.

No idea on who made it.   Got it torn down for a cleaning and adjusting.  No maker indications so far that I can see.

Fleener

My taste are simple:  I am easily satisfied with the best.  Winston Churchill

Offline Bob Roller

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Re: New to me rifle with Large barrel, Roller lock and triggers
« Reply #3 on: March 04, 2023, 04:57:32 AM »
There is the possibility I made that gun.I made one with the hammer designed by Bill Large in 1972.I shot it quite a bit and finally sold it to Wes Kindig.The apparent decorations on the bottom of the stock are not anything I did.Can you send a close up of the lock?
Bob Roller

Offline snapper

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Re: New to me rifle with Large barrel, Roller lock and triggers
« Reply #4 on: March 04, 2023, 06:05:16 AM »

The hammer is unique with an L stamped on it.   Looks like 75 to me.

Fleener




My taste are simple:  I am easily satisfied with the best.  Winston Churchill

Offline snapper

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Re: New to me rifle with Large barrel, Roller lock and triggers
« Reply #5 on: March 04, 2023, 06:07:57 AM »
The tacks on the bottom are nothing I would ever do, but I got to admit, I kinda like them.

Fleener
My taste are simple:  I am easily satisfied with the best.  Winston Churchill

Offline Bob Roller

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Re: New to me rifle with Large barrel, Roller lock and triggers
« Reply #6 on: March 04, 2023, 07:25:00 PM »
That lock was made in 1975 and the "L" that is seen was in the mould for the first run of those hammers.It was later removed.
The day Bill was buried I was in the shop and was looking at that mould and his grandson told me to take it with me and I did and
later gave it to Les Barber who was another close friend to Bill and he worked with Larry Zornes at the M&G Shop and had more
of these hammers cast and I still have a few including a polished and checkered one with a square hole for the tumbler.Bill told me
the idea came from a New York target rifle that he had rebored,reamed and the rifled to get it back in service.
 I can not say for sure I made that rifle but it is the style and profile I like and the caliber as well.Same level of workmanship as
the one I made and if it IS my old gun I am glad it is in good hands and has survived.
Bob Roller

Offline snapper

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Re: New to me rifle with Large barrel, Roller lock and triggers
« Reply #7 on: March 04, 2023, 07:43:47 PM »
Bob

Thanks for the information.   The whole barrel channel is bedded if that helps.

Why would Bill be casting hammers?

Looking forward to shooting it. 

Fleener
My taste are simple:  I am easily satisfied with the best.  Winston Churchill

Offline Bob Roller

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Re: New to me rifle with Large barrel, Roller lock and triggers
« Reply #8 on: March 04, 2023, 09:34:34 PM »
Bob

Thanks for the information.   The whole barrel channel is bedded if that helps.

Why would Bill be casting hammers?

Looking forward to shooting it. 

Fleener

Art,
I didn't bed the barrel so that was from another owner IF it is my old rifle.In 1972 Bill showed me the master for this hammer he filed out of a steel blank and asked me what I thought of it.Bill was a wizard with files and I told him it looked fine to me and he had the mould made and this one is from the first run in late 1972 or early 73.I used a lot of these and made two "four pin"styles on Rigby plates using this hammer and they were good  looking in spite of the maker.The Rigby plate is different from the ones usually seen on English rifles and shotguns.I used a tight ball in my Large 54 and it was .535 and the patch was US military surplus cleaning patches for a 30 caliber gun
and 100 grains of DuPont 3fg to help it out of the barrel.Let us know how it shoots.
Bob Roller

Offline snapper

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Re: New to me rifle with Large barrel, Roller lock and triggers
« Reply #9 on: March 06, 2023, 04:11:07 AM »
Bob

Here is a picture of the left side of the plug.   It has an unusual design cut into it.

Does that trigger any memories?

Thanks

Fleener


My taste are simple:  I am easily satisfied with the best.  Winston Churchill

Offline Daryl

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Re: New to me rifle with Large barrel, Roller lock and triggers
« Reply #10 on: March 06, 2023, 05:58:51 AM »
Unusual indeed. Can't be a LOT of those. 1st one I've seen.
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a spaniel without ears" King George V

Offline rich pierce

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Re: New to me rifle with Large barrel, Roller lock and triggers
« Reply #11 on: March 06, 2023, 05:18:25 PM »
“Trigger” any memories. I see what you did there!
Andover, Vermont