Also on the receiver is “ BREVET REMINGTON”, which translates to “Remington’s Patent.” A royalty number, which is distinct from the serial number, is below it, and was used to track how much money Nagant owed Remington for using their patent. Other markings include the same keys and tiara on the barrel and “ EM & L NAGANT A LIÉGE” on the receiver, as well as various Belgian proof marks on each steel component. Peter and Papal tiara, which indicates that it was a gift from the Belgian Catholic Organization to the Papacy. “ CATHOLIQUES BELGES 1868” is stamped on the stock surrounding the keys of St. It has beautiful nickeling on all of the steel components, which is unusual and may indicate that the rifle was used ceremonially at some point. Nagant, the Rolling Block in the Papal Artifacts Collection is one of the Militia Carbines, making it particularly rare, since only 2,094 of this type were made. Each one of the Nagant rifles has a serial number that begins with FI, MG, or MA to denote its configuration.

The Mousqueton de Gendarmerie, or Militia Carbine, and the Mousqueton d’Artillerie, or Artillery Musketoon, have 30” and 24” barrels respectively, and they both have rear sights than can adjusted up to 350 meters. The Fusil d’Infanterie, or Infantry Rifle, has a 35½” barrel and a ramped rear sight that can be adjusted to make shots out to 400 meters. Nagant, of Liège, Belgium, in three different configurations, with the only significant difference being barrel length. Of those, 5,000 were manufactured by Westley Richards, a company in Birmingham, England. 50-70 Remington.īy the end of the Papal States in September 1870, the Papal Army had nearly 16,000 Rolling Block rifles. The Papal variety fires the 12.7x45mmR Remington Pontificio cartridge, which is similar to the American. Breechloaders had a significant advantage in combat over the muzzle-loading rifles they replaced. Like the Rolling Blocks used by other countries, this fine example is a single shot rifle that is loaded from the breech. The Papal States Rolling Block was the primary weapon of Blessed Pius IX’s forces in the last few years of the Papal States. Papal States Rolling Block Carbine, Serial Number MG 1689

French remington rolling block rifle