Quote:
Originally Posted by Mister Sunshine
In regards to the togggle action, neither Borchardt, Browning or Luger came up with idea, Winchester did. Both the 1873 and the 1876 used it as did Hiram Maxim in his machine gun. I have not heard of those companies being sued.
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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.