POTD: Remington-Hepburn No. 3 – A Creedmoor Shooter’s Falling Block
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have an early example of one of Remington’s best single shots. This is a Remington-Hepburn No. 3 falling block rifle in 45-70 Government, made around 1883 and wearing a two-digit serial number.
The action came from Lewis Hepburn, who ran Remington’s mechanical department and also shot on the American Creedmoor International Shooting Team. That second job shows. Hepburn patented the design on October 7th, 1879, and instead of a lever under the wrist it uses a thumb lever on the right side of the receiver to lower the block. Flip it down, slide a round in across the top of the block, and flip it back up. It’s a strong, simple action, and target shooters still think highly of it.
The No. 3 arrived during a boom in long range target shooting in the 1880s, and Remington offered it in several flavors, from sporting rifles up through mid and long range Creedmoor target models. Chamberings ran from 22 all the way up to 50-90 Sharps. Out West it found favor with hunters who wanted long range accuracy and a cartridge with some authority behind it, and 45-70 fits that bill nicely. Around 10,000 were made before the rifle left Remington’s catalog in 1907.
Hepburn didn’t stay put, either. He later took his ideas to Marlin, where his side ejection design shaped their lever actions for generations. Obviously, the man knew his way around a receiver.
Most of our POTDs utilize images from our friends at Rock Island Auction Company, the premier firearms auction in the United States. Take some time to browse their current auctions – who knows, maybe you’ll find a piece of history to take home!
“Remington-Hepburn No. 3 Falling Block Rifle in .45-70 Government.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/4097/3024/remingtonhepburn-no-3-falling-block-rifle-in-4570-government. Accessed 29 Sept. 2026.
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