Extremely Rare Remington Rolling Block Lightweight Baby Carbine in .44 Rimfire

Serial #1278, .44 Henry RF, 18" barrel with a fine, bright bore that has some minor freckling at the breech. This is a handsome little carbine that retains 80-85% of the original blue on the barrel, with some mild silvering at the muzzle, as well as specks of mild surface freckling along its length. The frame, hammer, and breechblock have a good amount of muted original color case-hardening present throughout, and a mellow pewter gray patina on the balance. The tang has the pre-1888 "E. REMINGTON & SONS, ILION, N.Y., U.S.A." marking which is very seldom seen on Remington Baby carbines. The walnut buttstock and forend have numerous small handling marks in the old varnish finish, with some larger bruises on the nose of the forend forward of the barrel band. The left side of the wrist has a still visible "44 RF" caliber designation that has been partially obscured by the saddle ring digging into the wood. This is a fine example of a very rare, early production, blued and case-hardened Remington Lightweight Baby Carbine, and is one of only a handful known to remain that were chambered in .44 RF. It would make a splendid addition to any collection. Antique