Orvill Robinson's Innovative Rifles
This video explores two innovative rifle designs by Orvill Robinson from the 1870s. The first, an 1870 model, features a pistol-caliber action with a tubular magazine and a unique tilting wedge bolt system. The later 1872 pattern rifle utilizes a toggle-type lock operated by a side knob, reminiscent of a lever action without the lever. Both designs showed promise and attracted the attention of Winchester in 1874, who ultimately purchased Robinson's patents and inventory, halting production to avoid competition with their own lever-action rifles. The video speculates on a potential influence of Robinson's 1870 design on Ferdinand Mannlicher's later straight-pull action.












