Close-up lever action rifles

21
Close-up lever action rifles
A still from the 2001 made-for-television western Crossfire Trail, directed by Simon Winser and starring Tom Selleck, Virginia Madsen and Wilford Brimley. So, what do we see here? Of course, the “Yellow Guy” hard drive, well, how can we do without it. Classics of the Wild West, classics of cinema!


At first sight and sight
Seems like a simple thing:
Luxurious this plain
On horseback slowly cross.

Lyrics by Y. Kim "The Man from the Boulevard des Capucines"

stories about weapons. The previous material on "lever rifles" aroused significant reader interest in the VO audience and many questions. Well, for example, “Where is Spencer, because he also has a lever?”, And why is there no Walter Hunt rifle, “because he is the first ...”. And the answers are simple. The Hunt rifle had a lever that combined the function of a lever and a trigger, which somewhat differs its design from the traditional “Winchester” device, where the lever-bracket is ... just a lever. In addition, shooting with "reactive bullets" ... For the same reason, the pistol, as well as the gun, "Volkanik" also did not hit that material. Still, these are the forerunners of a slightly different weapon.




By the way, this is what the first version of the Lewis Jennings rifle looked like - an improved version of Walter Hunt: an underbarrel magazine for "rocket bullets" "Rocket ball" and "lever" - sliding back and forth inside the bracket and at the same time also performing the function of a trigger. Photo rockislandauction.com

That is, the emphasis was precisely on the lever reloading systems. Well, it would be possible to delve into the various subtleties of structures ad infinitum. But here is one wish of a number of readers that can and should be taken into account. In addition to the general views named and shown in the previous material, they wanted to look at them somewhat from a closer distance. Well, today it is possible. Well, in the future we will also talk about rifles with a magazine in the butt, including those that were reloaded using a lever-shackle.


Shot from the film "The Last Stand on the Saber River". Pictured is the receiver of a Henry rifle. And it shows a hole for ejection of shells, which did not close


It did not close on the "Winchester" (carbine) of 1866, which was not the best technical solution ... Photo forgottenweapons.com


On the other hand, the design of the Model 1866 receiver (it was not always made only of brass!) was very charismatic and successful in itself. Nothing extra, right?! Photo forgottenweapons.com

Probably, the receiver of a "Winchester" type rifle could be shorter on a "lever rifle" designed by Schneider. It is described in some detail in the book by V. E. Markevich, where it is called “mutual lever”, but the author could not find a photograph of it, made in metal. However, if it were made, then, due to the design features, it would have - yes, most likely, the shortest receiver. It would be interesting to act in it and the shutter itself. He would not move back, as on other "hard drives", but would rise up and down in its grooves. At the same time, the extraction of cartridge cases and loading was carried out by Schneider not with a shutter, but with the help of a special lever!


Here is a diagram of the bolt device of a Schneider magazine rifle with an underbarrel magazine

In 1873, when another model of the “Winchester” rifle appeared, Andrew Burgess also patented his version of the “lever rifle” (it would still be more correct to call him, and not Burgess and not Borgess, like V. E. Markevich), who received for her patent No. 134589 dated January 7, 1873.


Diagram of a Burgess rifle from an 1873 patent


Scheme of the mechanism of the Burgess rifle: at the top - the mechanism with the shutter open; below - the shutter is locked. From the book of V. E. Markevich "Handguns", publishing house "Polygon", 1994


The shaped type of lever-bracket is designed in such a way that it turns the straight neck of the butt into a semi-pistol neck. Photo forgottenweapons.com

But the most important difference between this design and the "Winchester" one, of course, was hidden inside. The "Winchester" shutter was cylindrical, in the form of a rod, and moved horizontally, while cocking the trigger. In the Burgess, the bolt was retracted into the receiver and stood up vertically at the same time. In addition, it was connected to the lid. Here she was, in the grooves of the receiver, really moving back and squeezing the trigger.


Shutter cover is open. Photo forgottenweapons.com

Here the creative work of the inventor collided with the realities of the business world. The fact is that the Winchester company at that time took steps to penetrate the lucrative market for Colt shotguns and revolvers, and Colt reacted to this in a natural way, namely: by hiring Andrew Burgess, already famous for his developments, to create a rifle that could to compete with the Winchester of 1873. In 1878, such a rifle was created, but rejected during testing. But the 1883 Colt-Burgess was good, but it turned out to be the only attempt of the Colt company to enter the market of "cowboy" lever-action rifles.

They managed to make 6 rifles of the M400 model (both in the configuration of a rifle and in a configuration of a carbine) before the leaders of the Colt and Winchester met and agreed on a "separation of spheres of influence." As a result, Colt ceased production of the 1883 Colt-Burgess rifle and Winchester ceased development (and import) of its revolvers. Today, copies of this rifle are produced by the Uberti company, but there are very few original samples left on the antique market, so their price is very, very high.


The device of the rifle "Colt-Burgess" company "Uberti"


The receiver of the carbine "Colt-Burgess" 1883. Please note that it is very similar to the "Winchester". The differences are minimal: the cover of the charging window is moved forward, and the cartridges are shoved under it, while for the "hard drives" it is spring-loaded. Photo forgottenweapons.com


The shutter of the M1883 is U-shaped and moves horizontally. On the top of the receiver there is an oval window for ejection of cartridge cases. Photo forgottenweapons.com


Rifle "Colt-Burgess" 1883 with a bayonet. Photo Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc.

In a previous article about this rifle, it was said that it had a long receiver due to the fact that the bolt rolled in it on two gears. But how does it look on the diagram? Moreover, in his transmission, Ian McColum did not disassemble this particular rifle. And here's how - look at the diagram from the book by V. E. Markevich.


Bollard rifle


Indeed, look at this photo. Her receiver is indeed much longer than that of the Winchester and Burgess. In addition, the lever itself is shifted down along the neck of the butt. Photo forgottenweapons.com


One of the features of the Bollard rifle was the bolt cover, which consisted of two parts. The one closest to the barrel could be moved manually along the grooves back by the teeth in its back, but it could also move back in the process of opening the shutter. Photo forgottenweapons.com


The bolt in the receiver of a Bollard rifle with the bolt cover open. Photo forgottenweapons.com


Bollard rifle with an open bolt. The front cover completely covers the back. Photo forgottenweapons.com


Another example of a lever-action rifle: the Whitley-Kennedy rifle. Photo forgottenweapons.com


And this is a very rare Whitley-Sharf rifle in an even rarer caliber 38-40 Winchester. Photo forgottenweapons.com


Rifle "Whitley-Sharf". View from the left. Patent dated December 21, 1886. Photo antiquearmsinc.com

Whitley produced only 2 Scarf rifles around 000-1886 before it was bought and destroyed by the Winchester Repetition Arms. Despite their "purely industrial design," the Scarf rifle and its Whitley-Kennedy predecessors were quite elegant in appearance compared to other lever-action rifles such as the Bullard and Evans designs. However, their production was too expensive, and they could not compete with rifles from companies such as Winchester and Marlin.


W. Mason lever action rifle. Schematic from US Patent No. 545708, September 3, 1895. Left side view. Even such a trifle as an ammunition counter, he provided for that!

The fact that rifles with a lever occupied a certain niche in the market and would not leave it anywhere was obvious. But this did not stop the inventors, who began to attempt instead of a tubular underbarrel magazine to supply them with a middle magazine for powerful rifle cartridges. We know that such a design turned out, again, at the Winchester (and also at the Savage) in 1895, but other attempts are also known. In particular, one interesting design was patented in the same 1895 by the inventor William Mason.


W. Mason lever action rifle. Schematic from US Patent No. 545708, September 3, 1895. Right side view. The design, as you can see, is very stylish. Better than the Winchester M1895.

By the way, at first Mason worked at the Colt company, but left it and in 1882 went to work at the Winchester Repetition Arms. Although initially hired to design a revolver to compete with Colt's revolvers, Mason ended up prototyping many of John Moses Browning's designs. One of the most notable improvements to its design was the M1886 rifle.


The device of the shutter and the cartridge feed lever

In 1885, he became the company's chief mechanic, a position he held until his death on July 17, 1913. During his life, he received 125 patents for inventions in the field of firearms, ammunition, machines for their manufacture, steam pumps and looms. Company historian Mary Jo Ignoffo called Mason "one of the most significant constructors of the nineteenth century."


Scheme of a V. Mason rifle with a magazine filled with cartridges


Rifle Valentine Fogarty. Photo american-firearms.com

PS


But Valentine Fogarty's rifle, as it turned out, although it had a lever drive, was single-shot. And therefore it is not of particular interest in this particular case for us.

Little is known about her. Made in Boston between 1866 and 1869. 50 caliber, first made under the name of Fogarty Repetitive Arms Co. in 1866. In 1869, it was bought by the Winchester company, most likely in order not to produce competitors.

Winchester sold all of the company's equipment almost immediately after the deal was closed, and did not use any of the patents he bought from Fogarty, further evidence that the purpose of buying the company was simply to keep it out of the market.
Our news channels

Subscribe and stay up to date with the latest news and the most important events of the day.

21 comment
Information
Dear reader, to leave comments on the publication, you must sign in.
  1. +3
    23 October 2022 06: 33
    Vyacheslav hi evolution in weapons will be eternal, there will be a craftsman who will come up with a couple of new ideas and weapons will become even more difficult, even more expensive, and even more reliable!
    1. +6
      23 October 2022 07: 31
      Quote: Thrifty
      even more reliable!

      From my childhood, with Javelot's guns under the primer, I was drawn to weapons. Possibly hereditary. Then I tried to come up with something myself. And in 1980 he even came up with and wrote a proposal to the Moscow Region. But they found that it didn't fit. In the end, O'Dwyer overtook me. Then he came up with a simple machine gun. And it turned out that in 1900 it was even made, but it turned out to be bad and went into service with the colonial troops. Then - a rifle - it turned out that Bollard had invented earlier, and Colt and Browning had invented automatics. It was nice that without the appropriate education it was enough for this. But ... on the other hand, it was precisely these designs of theirs that turned out to be inoperable. That is, I was not enough for a workable one. Actually, just one! Comforts. But interest in prototypes, such twists and errors of the mind, remained forever.
      1. +2
        23 October 2022 08: 38
        From my childhood, with Javelot's guns under the primer, I was drawn to weapons.

        And you "My friend" grew up as a bully, however? They didn’t indulge in someone else’s garden for fruits and berries .... With all the consequences for the ears! laughing
        Now seriously, Vyacheslav Olegovich thanks for the article I liked it. At least some kind of outlet, read and see. Although it is a pity that you are not on the "History" section!
        1. +5
          23 October 2022 09: 05
          Quote: Kote pane Kohanka
          They didn’t indulge in someone else’s garden for fruits and berries ...

          I had a huge garden where everything was. On the right - a garden with tomatoes and potatoes, on the left ... something generally miserable. Behind was an overgrown old garden. Of course, I climbed there, but there was nothing to profit from there. There was nowhere to put it.

          For an article on history has not yet matured.
  2. +1
    23 October 2022 08: 12
    Scheme of a V. Mason rifle with a magazine filled with cartridges

    Beautiful, but nifiga is not clear. For example, how is the movement of cartridges ensured ... In this case, comrade. Shpakovsky, I’ll still express the negative, than to give such a picture, it’s better not to give anything at all - well, by God, like a song in a cat language - beautiful, but incomprehensible. Or at least signed.
    1. +3
      23 October 2022 08: 44
      Good morning .
      Yes, I agree, sometimes it's hard to understand how things work.
      Ideally, Vyacheslav Olegovich should come with all his rifles and show. :-))))
      But this is impossible, the goat understands.
      On the Internet, some types of weapons can be viewed in slow motion, the operation of mechanisms.
      But of course not for everything. And not every such specialist on the Internet to find everything you need.
      Of course, I would like to hold all this in my hands, see the work, feel the heaviness of the rifles.
      But , yes , dreaming is not harmful .
      And even when visiting some weapons museums, no one will allow us to take the exhibits in our hands. It remains to thank the author for such material.
      Thank you.
      1. 0
        23 October 2022 08: 56
        Quote: Blacksmith 55
        Ideally, Vyacheslav Olegovich should come with all his rifles and show. :-))))

        laughing
        No, just because of his specialization, it’s easier for him to find something on a topic than for me ... I sometimes try to search for topics that hooked me - but not knowing exactly where to poke around - it takes a lot of time, comrade. Shpakovsky, go even easier
      2. +4
        23 October 2022 09: 09
        Quote: Blacksmith 55
        And even when visiting some weapons museums, no one will allow us to take the exhibits in our hands

        Yes, I have a museum at my side, but unscrewing the window is sacrilege!
        1. +3
          23 October 2022 09: 45
          God forbid, to open a shop window yourself, but this is already a crime.
          Even the museum staff will not tell you how not to ask.
          Perhaps some scientists will be allowed to, but mere mortals cannot even dream of this.
          Therefore, I like to go to open-air museums, where you can not only see, but also "feel" it.
          1. +2
            23 October 2022 10: 15
            Quote: Blacksmith 55
            Even the museum staff won't open it for you

            I had to wait a year. When changing the exposure opened!
    2. +4
      23 October 2022 09: 08
      Quote from Bingo
      Or at least signed.

      Captions for the pictures are in the description of the invention. But translating it is a terrible headache. I try, if possible, to give all the schemes from the patent application, but there is no special sense in translating it all, and it will take a lot of space.
      1. +2
        23 October 2022 09: 16
        Quote: kalibr
        and it takes up a lot of space.

        What do you think, maybe give links to the schemes, if they, of course, exist? The photographs are clear and understandable, but with the schemes forever - well, take it apart.
        1. +2
          23 October 2022 09: 21
          Quote from Bingo
          here with schemes forever - well, take it apart.

          They have a US Patent Office number on them. It can be typed on the Internet. You will see the same diagrams + a completely indigestible text in technical English, and even, say, the beginning of the XNUMXth century. It is unlikely that you will be able to squeeze more out of it than me.
          1. +1
            23 October 2022 09: 29
            laughing
            I tried it) I was already hacked on the US patent base)))
          2. +1
            23 October 2022 17: 58
            Good evening, Vyacheslav! smile

            I come to you with another "thank you", I did not think before that an ordinary "cowboy" Winchester could inspire someone to such a development of the topic about a simple and ordinary lever. good


            You have succeeded! drinks
            1. +1
              23 October 2022 19: 36
              It was you who inspired me, dear Konstantin, with your interesting photos and comments, for which, by the way, many thanks to you. Moreover, there will be another article!
              1. +1
                23 October 2022 20: 14
                Another article is excellent, we will wait. smile

                And then we are completely mossy here on a weaponless lack of fish. wink

  3. +3
    23 October 2022 09: 48
    "to prevent it from entering the market" means they saw it as a real competitor
  4. 0
    23 October 2022 20: 28
    And Wilson's shop? Was it made in metal, because it is also a lever type. I first saw her drawing in the "Technique of Youth" in an article about the first magazine rifles. And I couldn't find any more information. I read on the internet that the type was made in metal, but how? Where? Maybe, of course, a tale.
  5. 0
    26 October 2022 15: 03
    Nice article, thanks)
    I have always been attracted to this rifle and others like it, especially this spectacular reload laughing
    If memory serves, I first saw her in Terminator 2. bully
  6. 0
    4 January 2023 14: 36
    I have no experience with lever action rifles. I would like to try some. Considering that in my region the biggest prey is wild boar. Whenever I ask hunters who have tried a lever action rifle, I always get negative feedback and I don't know anyone who has one. I understand that sometimes weapons also have cultural significance. Same question about using a shotgun for hunting. In the US, I see hunters using rifles and cal. 12 with pump operation. In my country, the use of pump-action shotguns for hunting is unthinkable.

"Right Sector" (banned in Russia), "Ukrainian Insurgent Army" (UPA) (banned in Russia), ISIS (banned in Russia), "Jabhat Fatah al-Sham" formerly "Jabhat al-Nusra" (banned in Russia) , Taliban (banned in Russia), Al-Qaeda (banned in Russia), Anti-Corruption Foundation (banned in Russia), Navalny Headquarters (banned in Russia), Facebook (banned in Russia), Instagram (banned in Russia), Meta (banned in Russia), Misanthropic Division (banned in Russia), Azov (banned in Russia), Muslim Brotherhood (banned in Russia), Aum Shinrikyo (banned in Russia), AUE (banned in Russia), UNA-UNSO (banned in Russia), Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People (banned in Russia), Legion “Freedom of Russia” (armed formation, recognized as terrorist in the Russian Federation and banned)

“Non-profit organizations, unregistered public associations or individuals performing the functions of a foreign agent,” as well as media outlets performing the functions of a foreign agent: “Medusa”; "Voice of America"; "Realities"; "Present time"; "Radio Freedom"; Ponomarev; Savitskaya; Markelov; Kamalyagin; Apakhonchich; Makarevich; Dud; Gordon; Zhdanov; Medvedev; Fedorov; "Owl"; "Alliance of Doctors"; "RKK" "Levada Center"; "Memorial"; "Voice"; "Person and law"; "Rain"; "Mediazone"; "Deutsche Welle"; QMS "Caucasian Knot"; "Insider"; "New Newspaper"