Make: E. Remington & Sons

Model: Type 4 1879 Spanish Saddle Ring Carbine

Serial Number: NSNV

Year of Manufacture: 1879-1896

Caliber: .43 Spanish (11.15x57mmR)

Action Type: Single shot rolling block with extractor

Markings: The top receiver tang is marked with 1874 patent dates. The barrel is marked with a “B” proof.

Barrel Length: 20 3/8".

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a Spanish style carbine 2-position flip-up sight screwed to the barrel.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a two piece walnut set with a tapered forend, barrel band w/ sling loop, saddle ring & bar, straight wrist, straight comb, and semi-crescent buttplate. The LOP measures 13 3/4” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates in about Very Good to Fine overall condition as replaced.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Refinished

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright and the rifling is mostly sharp. There is light erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9/10 as an Antique.

Most antique firearms have bores that will show erosion. This is not only due to age but also to the use of black powder. When fired, black powder reacts corrosively. NRA Antique Firearm Conditions Standards are quite lenient for bores. In some cases, the NRA standards disregarded the bore’s condition for collector’s firearms.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 25% of its metal finish. The frame retains much of its bluing. There is moderate to heavy patina throughout. There are some light pitting marks throughout. The screw heads show moderate use. The markings are mostly clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good condition for an Antique.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: This Spanish Remington 1879 Saddle Ring Carbine, chambered in .43 Spanish (11.15x57mmR), is a compelling example of a late 19th-century military carbine built on Remington’s rolling block action, one of the most robust and widely adopted single-shot rifle systems of its time. Originally produced between 1879 and 1896, this Type 4 carbine was designed for mounted troops, featuring a compact 20 3/8-inch barrel, saddle ring and bar, and rugged construction suitable for cavalry use. These carbines were contracted by Spain and saw extended service during a time of widespread military conflict and colonial expansion, both in Europe and abroad. The Remington rolling block design was renowned for its simplicity, strength, and ease of use, making it ideal for service in austere and demanding environments. This example retains approximately 25% of its refinished metal finish, with the receiver holding the strongest bluing, while the remainder has aged to a moderate patina with light pitting marks scattered throughout. The bore is in excellent condition for an antique, rating 9/10, with semi-bright lands and mostly sharp rifling, showing only light erosion—a rare feature in rifles of this age that were typically used with corrosive black powder ammunition. The two-piece walnut stock is a replacement set but has been well-fitted, showing only light wear and retaining the correct military profile including the semi-crescent buttplate, straight wrist, and barrel band with sling loop. The carbine-style rear sight and fixed front blade are intact, and the action functions correctly, a testament to the enduring strength of the Remington system.

For collectors of Spanish military arms, Remington rolling blocks, or antique carbines, this Spanish Model 1879 Saddle Ring Carbine is an attractive and historically significant piece. It represents a period when single-shot rifles were at the height of their evolution, just before the global shift to magazine-fed bolt actions. Whether admired as a display piece, used for black powder cartridge shooting, or added to a broader collection of Remington contract rifles, this saddle ring carbine offers both utility and collectible appeal, especially with its excellent bore and intact mechanical function.