Me and a buddy of mine decided to try our luck at a long abandoned mine in Arizona last weekend. We split up and each went our own way. I found 2 Carhartt heart coverall buttons but he totally out did me when he came walking up the hill carrying this rifle. We have managed to kind of ID it as a Navy Arms 45-70 rolling block rifle. There are really no marks other than "476" stamped into the octagon barrel. We think this rifle is from the mid to late 1800's. It was just lying there about 4" in the dirt. He found it with his Tesoro Lobo. The hammer is pulled back like it was dropped during a re-load. There were high tensions in the area between the indians and miners in the day and we wonder if the owner died while fighting with it. It's been there for a real long time for the wood stock to decompose, if anybody has any information on this rifle it would be greatly appreciated. What a find.....
1800's rifle in the pock!
- Thread starter TedS
- Start date
Grumpysrb
Forum Supporter
They still make them. Search for Navy Arms Rolling Block rifle.
upstatedigger
Forum Supporter
yowser...thats an aweseome find! good for you guys!
T4CodyBear
Junior Member
Wow that is an awesome find! Congrats!
jack&jill
Elite Member
That looks to be one fine artifact, Is restoration a possibility? Congrat's! Jack
rocketmoon2
Senior Member
That is an awsome find, WOW
must be a dry area you found it in, sure is in good shape rust wise considering being in the ground. All of the other old guns you see found tend to be very rusty looking on here.
must be a dry area you found it in, sure is in good shape rust wise considering being in the ground. All of the other old guns you see found tend to be very rusty looking on here.
BB_in_Maine
Elite Member
That is an awsome find, WOW
That was my first thought too - must be the dry Arizona climate because it hardly looks dug...!
allank
Banned
Can you give an exact barrel length and a close up of all the markings ? thats a great find !
kelpike
Elite Member
That is just awesome!
Dirtfishn350
Forum Supporter
AWESOME!!! You don't dig one of those every day. Very nice.
wvwildman
Full Member
nice find
ct01r
Forum Supporter
That is SO COOL!! Congrats!! Curt
Dirt Lizard
Elite Member
Awsome find congrads
Flush Draw
Elite Member
Can we get a pic of the end of the barrel with a coin beside it for size reference? You said 45-70, did you mic the bore? Great find by the way!
armydude
Senior Member
That's an awsome find! You should look into restoration on that one.
ebone581
Elite Member
That is a sweet find. I agree. Put a lil money into it and refurbish. Would look cool hanging on a wall.
Gene68
Forum Supporter
Wow amazing find. I would definatly put that beauty were it can be seen and appreciated. I love that kind of stuff, can u imagine the last guy to hold that could have been fighting for his life....
