colt franklin rifle

[free1954]

in 45-70 to keep it trapdoor related. FORGOTTEN WEAPONS video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS3RccZ5SC0

[jon_norstog]

That is a great-looking rifle, except for the stupid, vulnerable, in-the-way magazine. The other problem (of course) is the half-cock safety. That's more an issue for hunters than for soldiers in combat.

jn

[Dick Hosmer]

Here's to Remington/Lee/Diss et al - the ones who got it right! Millions of 1870-era mags in daily use, nearly 150 years later.

[free1954]

it was one i had never seen or heard of before.

[Dick Hosmer]

I'd seen simple side views but nothing else. Ian is REALLY good at what he does.

[Art]

Here's to Remington/Lee/Diss et al - the ones who got it right! Millions of 1870-era mags in daily use, nearly 150 years later.

+1

The introduction of the Lee and Mauser magazine rifles in 1888 would have made the Colt rifle obsolete the day it would have been adopted .

[Dick Hosmer]

+1

The introduction of the Lee and Mauser magazine rifles in 1888 would have made the Colt rifle obsolete the day it would have been adopted .

Mauser was on the right track, certainly as to location, but the 1888 is fixed, right? Therefore, I think R/L/D etc. really are the CLEAR winners. Detachable, totally self-contained, and instantly renewable - exactly like the M16, and all its' contemporaries.

[Art]

Mauser was on the right track, certainly as to location, but the 1888 is fixed, right?

It was fixed but took a Mannlicher en bloc clip. Three years later the Mauser 91 would introduce the stripper clip. So it did have fixed magazine but was also a clip loader. It was also chambered for the new 8mm smokeless powder cartridge.

Obviously the Lee design was the way of the future but somehow it didn't become general use for many decades, outside the British Empire at least. Even the Brits didn't realize its true potential.