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The Lever-Action Magazine Rifle (B. Tyler Henry, 1860) - History and How It Works
Beginner
About 15 minutes
Instructions
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Read Henry's patent
Read Henry's patent
"My invention relates to improvements in a repeating breech-loading gun designed and arranged for the exclusive use of a hollow loaded ball with a primer" (US 30,446, dated 16 October 1860; B. Tyler Henry, of New Haven, assignor to Oliver F. Winchester).
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How it works, in principle
How it works, in principle
Cartridges lie end to end in a tube under the barrel, pushed back by a spring. Pulling the finger lever down works a toggle-jointed link that draws the breech-pin back, while a carrier-block rises with the next cartridge; pushing the lever up drives the breech-pin forward, putting the cartridge in the barrel and closing it. His drawing shows a sporting rifle "carrying fifteen charges".
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Why it mattered
Why it mattered
A rifleman could fire many shots as fast as he could work the lever, without taking the rifle from his shoulder to reload. Oliver Winchester's company developed the design into the Winchester rifles.
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Honest limits
Honest limits
From the text of US 30,446 (1860). This page describes the action in general terms only; it gives no dimensions, charges or making steps, by design.
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