Rider

Harley Nolden · April 20, 1999, 09:47 AM

Can anyone tell me: What is the Remington Rider? Who designed it and when? What Caliber?

HJN

fal308 · April 20, 1999, 10:19 AM

Remington-Rider Double Action Belt Revolver. A double action .36 cal percussion revolver with 6 1/2" octagonal barrel marked "Manufactured by Remington's, Ilion,N.Y. Rider's Pt Aug 17, 1858, May 3 1859". Blued or nickel-plated, casehardened with walnut grips. Also found as cartridge conversions. Several hundred made with fluted cylinders. Total production approximately 5000 weapons between 1863 - 1873.

James K · April 20, 1999, 11:57 AM

Joseph Rider was a Remington "in-house" designer and designed a number of guns for Remington.

There was a Remington Rider .31 pocket percussion revolver, of which about 20,000 were made from 1860-1873; there was also a factory conversion to .32 RF.

There was a R.R. single shot .17 caliber (no error, that is seventeen caliber) derringer with only the cap for a propellant source. It may have been intended for indoor practice; only about 200 were made.

There was a R.R. magazine pistol, made from 1871 to 1888; about 10,000 were made. The little thing fired .32 extra short rimfire, and had a 5 shot magazine under the barrel.

There was also the revolver FAL308 describes.

In addition, Rider improved the rolling block action (though it was patented by Leonard Geiger) and the Remington "split breech" carbine is sometimes called the "Remington Rider" carbine. Oddly enough, Remington did not make these; they were marked with Remington's name, but were made by Savage Revolving Arms Co. under contract to Remington. At the time, Remington was up to its neck in revolver production, so farmed out the carbines.

Hope this helps.

Jim

Harley Nolden · April 20, 1999, 12:15 PM

FAL308 & Jim:
This clears up the "Double Whammy" for me. I've even heard of "The Red Rider" BB gun. (Little humor there) So the name Rider is senonimous with firearms. The Remington Rolling Block, Rider rifle, was also produced in Denmark, 1870-88 by Gevaerfabrik Kjonbenhaven. About 80,000 were made here in 11.7X51mm Rimmed cartridge.

Spain also purchased them and called them The Spanish Remington, in 11X58mm rimmed. The Spanish bought the infantry rifles, short rifles, and carbines, in 1871 for the Royal Body Guard.

Thanks heaps for the help in clearing things up.

HJN

[This message has been edited by Harley Nolden (edited April 20, 1999).]

James K · April 20, 1999, 01:37 PM

Hi, Harley,

As I recall, the name "Rider" for the carbine was applied only to the split breech carbine of the Civil War period. The later rolling blocks were a much stronger gun and probably used Rider ideas as well, but I don't remember that the name was applied to them.

Jim

April 20, 1999, 09:47 AM	#1
Harley Nolden Staff In Memoriam Join Date: January 8, 1999 Location: Brunswick,GA USA Posts: 1,884	Can anyone tell me: What is the Remington Rider? Who designed it and when? What Caliber? HJN

April 20, 1999, 10:19 AM	#2
fal308 Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,992	Remington-Rider Double Action Belt Revolver. A double action .36 cal percussion revolver with 6 1/2" octagonal barrel marked "Manufactured by Remington's, Ilion,N.Y. Rider's Pt Aug 17, 1858, May 3 1859". Blued or nickel-plated, casehardened with walnut grips. Also found as cartridge conversions. Several hundred made with fluted cylinders. Total production approximately 5000 weapons between 1863 - 1873.

April 20, 1999, 11:57 AM	#3
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Joseph Rider was a Remington "in-house" designer and designed a number of guns for Remington. There was a Remington Rider .31 pocket percussion revolver, of which about 20,000 were made from 1860-1873; there was also a factory conversion to .32 RF. There was a R.R. single shot .17 caliber (no error, that is seventeen caliber) derringer with only the cap for a propellant source. It may have been intended for indoor practice; only about 200 were made. There was a R.R. magazine pistol, made from 1871 to 1888; about 10,000 were made. The little thing fired .32 extra short rimfire, and had a 5 shot magazine under the barrel. There was also the revolver FAL308 describes. In addition, Rider improved the rolling block action (though it was patented by Leonard Geiger) and the Remington "split breech" carbine is sometimes called the "Remington Rider" carbine. Oddly enough, Remington did not make these; they were marked with Remington's name, but were made by Savage Revolving Arms Co. under contract to Remington. At the time, Remington was up to its neck in revolver production, so farmed out the carbines. Hope this helps. Jim

April 20, 1999, 12:15 PM	#4
Harley Nolden Staff In Memoriam Join Date: January 8, 1999 Location: Brunswick,GA USA Posts: 1,884	FAL308 & Jim: This clears up the "Double Whammy" for me. I've even heard of "The Red Rider" BB gun. (Little humor there) So the name Rider is senonimous with firearms. The Remington Rolling Block, Rider rifle, was also produced in Denmark, 1870-88 by Gevaerfabrik Kjonbenhaven. About 80,000 were made here in 11.7X51mm Rimmed cartridge. Spain also purchased them and called them The Spanish Remington, in 11X58mm rimmed. The Spanish bought the infantry rifles, short rifles, and carbines, in 1871 for the Royal Body Guard. Thanks heaps for the help in clearing things up. HJN [This message has been edited by Harley Nolden (edited April 20, 1999).]

April 20, 1999, 01:37 PM	#5
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Hi, Harley, As I recall, the name "Rider" for the carbine was applied only to the split breech carbine of the Civil War period. The later rolling blocks were a much stronger gun and probably used Rider ideas as well, but I don't remember that the name was applied to them. Jim