Remington's rolling block rifles were among the most powerful firearms of the late 19th century and were popular with sportsmen and hunters in the West where large caliber, hard hitting rifles were necessary to take big game like buffalo and grizzlies and were also used for long range engagements against human adversaries. Together with the Sharps Model 1874, the Remington rolling block was used to kill literally millions of buffalo in a short period of time. Ladd & Smith had a gun store and shooting gallery in San Francisco around 1876-1878. They advertised themselves as dealers/agents of Ballards, Remington, and Winchester rifles. In 1878, their venture was cut short when Thomas L. Smith was killed by a negligent discharge by his partner's brother when he was just 33. This helps narrow down when this rifle would have been in California. "L. & S." is stamped on the bottom of the lower tang, and "LADD & SMITH" is stamped on the left side of the lower tang under the stock. The left side of the upper tang has "89034," and the bottom of the barrel and front of the buttstock have "5959." The bottom of the barrel also has "50" (caliber) and "ST" (set trigger). Given the rifle is .50 caliber and was ordered with double set triggers, it may well have been purchased through Ladd & Smith and then taken east for hunting buffalo on the Great Plains. The barrel has a German silver blade front sight in a dovetailed base, an elevation adjustable notch rear sight, and "E. REMINGTON & SONS. ILION N.Y." on top at the breech. The receiver is filed octagonal to match the barrel flats and has the patent markings on the left side. The set trigger is absent, but the front trigger remains installed. The forearm has a steel Schnabel style tip, and the straight wrist buttstock has a curved steel buttplate.

Fine with attractive gray and brown patina, some darker patches of oxidation/pitting, a few dark streaks in the wood, and generally mild wear including some scrapes and dings. Aside from the absent rear trigger, it is mechanically fine. The "Big 50" Remington rifles were famously used by professional buffalo hunters in the 1870s and 1880s, and this western shipped rifle certainly has the classic frontier used look. Provenance: The John Fox Collection.