history of toggle action

Ray · 01-10-2004, 12:49 AM

What is the history of the luger toggle
action?

Dwight Gruber · 01-10-2004, 02:56 AM

The shortish answer is that Hugo Borchardt's original design was inspired by the mechanism of Hiram Maxim's machine gun, dating from the mid-1880s. Georg Luger modified--improved--Borchardt's design to become the Luger we recognize today.

The toggle action made its initial appearance in 1854, as the New Haven Arms (nÃ?Â©e Smith & Wesson) Volcanic repeating pistol. This is the precursor to the Henry and Winchester lever action rifles. Maxim was familiar with this action, having in 1883 modified an 1866 Winchester for self-loading fire.

--Dwight

Johnny C. Kitchens · 01-10-2004, 03:57 PM

I read that Maxim was inspired by the steam engine in developing the toggle lock. He supposedly noticed that at top dead center the steam engine could resist a lot of force. With a bump of the flywheel it would start to work. If you look at his first design it did indeed resemble a steam engine in many ways. The difference being that it rotated one way for one shot then the other for the next shot. This was to control momentum, which might cause the parts to out run the actual firing. His refinement of the mechanism gave us the toggle lock more like the one we know...

Johnny C. Kitchens · 01-11-2004, 10:53 PM

The toggle lock live in another firearm besides the Luger. A rifle called the Izhmash Biathlon Basic. It is built in Siberia in a city called Izhshevski. While it might sound like an unknown place to firearms people, it is the home of the AK-47. The rifle is manually operated, and has a bar on the right side of the receiver that corresponds to the knobs you would operate on the Luger. You pull the bar back toward you, and then push it back in place. Fast and simple. Chambered for .22 Long Rifle, .22 WMR, or .17 HMR. You can see it in the latest issue (Jan. 2004) of Precision Shooting

unspellable · 01-12-2004, 08:36 AM

Borchardt actually worked for Winchester at one time. While there he designed a couple of revolvers that Winchester never put into production. The tool room models may be seen at the Winchester museum in Cody, Wyoming.

The toggle lock has been used in at least one self loading rifle.

Jerry Harris · 01-13-2004, 10:39 PM

The Russian .22 Biathlon rifle was also reviewed in the July, 2003 issue of American Rifleman (p. 70). The author refers to its action as "straight pull" even though the operating handle travels in an arc and the locking linkage is pure toggle.

01-10-2004, 12:49 AM	#1
Ray Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Oregon Posts: 126 Thanks: 2 Thanked 37 Times in 16 Posts	history of toggle action What is the history of the luger toggle action?

01-10-2004, 03:57 PM	#3
Johnny C. Kitchens User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Arlington, Texas Posts: 518 Thanks: 0 Thanked 20 Times in 8 Posts	I read that Maxim was inspired by the steam engine in developing the toggle lock. He supposedly noticed that at top dead center the steam engine could resist a lot of force. With a bump of the flywheel it would start to work. If you look at his first design it did indeed resemble a steam engine in many ways. The difference being that it rotated one way for one shot then the other for the next shot. This was to control momentum, which might cause the parts to out run the actual firing. His refinement of the mechanism gave us the toggle lock more like the one we know... __________________ Johnny C. Kitchens

01-11-2004, 10:53 PM	#4
Johnny C. Kitchens User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Arlington, Texas Posts: 518 Thanks: 0 Thanked 20 Times in 8 Posts	The toggle lock live in another firearm besides the Luger. A rifle called the Izhmash Biathlon Basic. It is built in Siberia in a city called Izhshevski. While it might sound like an unknown place to firearms people, it is the home of the AK-47. The rifle is manually operated, and has a bar on the right side of the receiver that corresponds to the knobs you would operate on the Luger. You pull the bar back toward you, and then push it back in place. Fast and simple. Chambered for .22 Long Rifle, .22 WMR, or .17 HMR. You can see it in the latest issue (Jan. 2004) of Precision Shooting __________________ Johnny C. Kitchens

01-10-2004, 02:56 AM	#2
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,890 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,282 Times in 424 Posts	The shortish answer is that Hugo Borchardt's original design was inspired by the mechanism of Hiram Maxim's machine gun, dating from the mid-1880s. Georg Luger modified--improved--Borchardt's design to become the Luger we recognize today. The toggle action made its initial appearance in 1854, as the New Haven Arms (nÃ?Â©e Smith & Wesson) Volcanic repeating pistol. This is the precursor to the Henry and Winchester lever action rifles. Maxim was familiar with this action, having in 1883 modified an 1866 Winchester for self-loading fire. --Dwight

01-12-2004, 08:36 AM	#5
unspellable User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 768 Thanks: 0 Thanked 19 Times in 11 Posts	Borchardt actually worked for Winchester at one time. While there he designed a couple of revolvers that Winchester never put into production. The tool room models may be seen at the Winchester museum in Cody, Wyoming. The toggle lock has been used in at least one self loading rifle.

01-13-2004, 10:39 PM	#6
Jerry Harris User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 64 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The Russian .22 Biathlon rifle was also reviewed in the July, 2003 issue of American Rifleman (p. 70). The author refers to its action as "straight pull" even though the operating handle travels in an arc and the locking linkage is pure toggle.