Quote:
Originally Posted by Doubs
Winchester was not the inventor of the toggle mechanism used in the 1873 rifle. The inventor was Benjamin Tyler Henry whose 1860 Henry rifle was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company from 1860 until 1866. The New Haven Arms Company was then renamed the Winchester Arms Company and they released an improved Model 1866 rifle.
Until John Browning designed the mechanism that became the 1886 Winchester, the Winchester lever action rifles were unable to handle cartridges more powerful than pistol calibers.
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I am aware that Oliver Winchester never invented anything. He manufactured men's clothing. He bought the Volcanic Arms company at auction and hired B. Henry to see what could be done with the design. Mister Henry turned a pistol into the Henry rifle just in time for the war between the states. It didn't have a lot of power but it was a repeater. Early receivers rifles were made of iron , then switched to brass. The first rifle to carry Winchester's name was the 1866 model. It had a brass frame and was nick named Yellow Boy. It was made until the 1890s despite the fact that the '73 and '76 were available. I have owned three '73 Winchesters but I didn't care for them. Personally, I don't like any Winchester made before 1892. I once had six of them. I got hooked on single shots and never looked back.