history of toggle action

Dwight Gruber · 01-10-2004, 03:56 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

01-10-2004, 03:56 AM	#2
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 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