Inline Shooters Can Thank The Sidelock
09-22-2011, 10:04 AM
#1
Giant Nontypical
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Colorado
Posts: 9,557
Inline Shooters Can Thank The Sidelock
Yes, you can thank the sidelock, or you probably would never have an inline to shoot.
TRADITIONAL vs. "MODERN" STYLE RIFLES
Nostalgia was the principal force driving early sales of replica muzzle-loaders. Buyers demanded close facsimiles of pieces used in frontier days and during the Civil War. The late Val Forgett (founder of Navy Arms) and Turner Kirkland (founder of Dixie Gun Works) were the leaders in the market. No doubt the "Davy Crockett" craze (when every kid I knew, me included, bought a fake coonskin cap and died heroically in a backyard Alamo) and the TV westerns of the 1950's helped set the stage. The smart movers like Forgett and Kirkland recognized that there was money to be made importing good replicas from manufacturing plants in Europe as the Civil War Centennial celebrations loomed. Original guns were becoming scarce and too valuable to shoot just as the demand for muzzle-loading guns was rising. Thanks to these far-sighted entrepreneurs and others like them, we now have an abundance of well-made guns that are in many ways superior to the classic firearms they emulate. Better metallurgy, CNC machining, tighter tolerances, and genuine parts interchangeability characterize the new generation of muzzle-loaders. Uberti's single action revolvers are as good as anything Sam Colt ever made (Uberti has made and sold far more percussion revolvers than Colt ever dreamed of); the sidelock guns made by Thompson/Center and some of the better European makers such as Pedersoli are better than anything the Hawken Brothers ever produced.
Inevitably, as sales of the reproduction weapons grew, states began to establish "primitive weapons" seasons for hunting with them. This in turn fueled more sales to hunters and the growth of a something akin to a minor industry in related paraphernalia. "Buckskinning" is still a popular hobby, a form of historical re-enactment, similar to the living-history hobby of people who are involved in Civil War and Revolutionary War commemorations.
However, once these seasons became a fixed feature of the hunting hobby, it became clear there was a very sizable segment of the hunting and shooting public who didn't care a lick about historical authenticity. To them a "primitive weapon" season was simply an opportunity for a longer deer season. In the mid 1980's the Knight Manufacturing Company introduced a "new type" of rifle, intended to appeal to hunters. Unlike traditional guns, Knight's guns weren't side-lock types. Instead, a semi-concealed striker impacted a nipple screwed directly into the breech. This "in-line" type action wasn't really new (I have seen examples in museums, dating back 150 years, that could have come from Knight's production lines) but they had sales appeal. The in-line percussion action has a very short lock time, is very reliable, and affords considerable protection from weather because the whole apparatus is usually enclosed in the receiver. Even better from the point of view of the buyers, in-line rifles are intended to be used with telescopic sights, which aren't really practical on traditional side-lock guns. Knight coined the term "Modern Muzzle-Loading," a brilliant marketing gimmick. Sales skyrocketed and today in-lines (the term has become generic) predominate in the hunting field.
TRADITIONAL vs. "MODERN" STYLE RIFLES
Nostalgia was the principal force driving early sales of replica muzzle-loaders. Buyers demanded close facsimiles of pieces used in frontier days and during the Civil War. The late Val Forgett (founder of Navy Arms) and Turner Kirkland (founder of Dixie Gun Works) were the leaders in the market. No doubt the "Davy Crockett" craze (when every kid I knew, me included, bought a fake coonskin cap and died heroically in a backyard Alamo) and the TV westerns of the 1950's helped set the stage. The smart movers like Forgett and Kirkland recognized that there was money to be made importing good replicas from manufacturing plants in Europe as the Civil War Centennial celebrations loomed. Original guns were becoming scarce and too valuable to shoot just as the demand for muzzle-loading guns was rising. Thanks to these far-sighted entrepreneurs and others like them, we now have an abundance of well-made guns that are in many ways superior to the classic firearms they emulate. Better metallurgy, CNC machining, tighter tolerances, and genuine parts interchangeability characterize the new generation of muzzle-loaders. Uberti's single action revolvers are as good as anything Sam Colt ever made (Uberti has made and sold far more percussion revolvers than Colt ever dreamed of); the sidelock guns made by Thompson/Center and some of the better European makers such as Pedersoli are better than anything the Hawken Brothers ever produced.
Inevitably, as sales of the reproduction weapons grew, states began to establish "primitive weapons" seasons for hunting with them. This in turn fueled more sales to hunters and the growth of a something akin to a minor industry in related paraphernalia. "Buckskinning" is still a popular hobby, a form of historical re-enactment, similar to the living-history hobby of people who are involved in Civil War and Revolutionary War commemorations.
However, once these seasons became a fixed feature of the hunting hobby, it became clear there was a very sizable segment of the hunting and shooting public who didn't care a lick about historical authenticity. To them a "primitive weapon" season was simply an opportunity for a longer deer season. In the mid 1980's the Knight Manufacturing Company introduced a "new type" of rifle, intended to appeal to hunters. Unlike traditional guns, Knight's guns weren't side-lock types. Instead, a semi-concealed striker impacted a nipple screwed directly into the breech. This "in-line" type action wasn't really new (I have seen examples in museums, dating back 150 years, that could have come from Knight's production lines) but they had sales appeal. The in-line percussion action has a very short lock time, is very reliable, and affords considerable protection from weather because the whole apparatus is usually enclosed in the receiver. Even better from the point of view of the buyers, in-line rifles are intended to be used with telescopic sights, which aren't really practical on traditional side-lock guns. Knight coined the term "Modern Muzzle-Loading," a brilliant marketing gimmick. Sales skyrocketed and today in-lines (the term has become generic) predominate in the hunting field.
09-22-2011, 10:20 AM
#2
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 12,746
and that people just about wraps it up. can't argue with this post. But adding to it would include the additional improvements to muzzleloading apart from the traditional round balls and minnie balls. You now have other products that were designed to 'improve' the muzzleloading industry. The Powerbelts, sabots, jacketed bullets specifically designed for muzzleloaders and fast twist rate barrels to name a few. It pretty much leaves it up to the individual as to how much technology he wants to utilize from either a personal standpoint or what his particular state regulations allow for hunting.
09-22-2011, 11:50 AM
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Today's inline shooters can thank Knight. It was Tony Knight that revolutionized muzzleloading no matter what obscure references there are. Without Knight they would be just that. Little known obscure facts of history. Looks like all you inline shooters whether it be TC , Cva or whoever owe Knight a debt of gratitude
09-22-2011, 12:25 PM
#7
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: MD/PA Line
Posts: 598
IN-LINES
A plethora of designs for use with the new percussion principle appeared in the early 1800's. The Swiss genius Pauley invented the paper cap, then invented a percussion muzzleloader in 1808 and breech-loader in 1812. His 1808 patent was the first to design and patent a muzzleloading in-line action in which the **** of the sidelock was replaced by a cylindrical hammer driven by a coil spring.His in-line invention was capitalized on by Dreyse, who worked for Pauly between 1808-14 and who used it as the basis for his 1838 turnbolt design which became the Prussian Needlegun of 1848.
Paul Mauser later used the Dreyse needlegun design as a basis for his tumbolt cartridge rifle of 1868, first patented in the U.S., but adopted by the German military in 1871.The Dreyse needle gun of 1848. It was so advanced that any soldier who lost one paid with his life for his carelessness.White later used the Mauser inspired Springfield ‘03 as a basis for the White Super 91 of 1991, once again a muzzlelader, making the cycle one grand round.
You may read more at:
http://www.whitemuzzleloading.com/hi...zleloading.htm
A plethora of designs for use with the new percussion principle appeared in the early 1800's. The Swiss genius Pauley invented the paper cap, then invented a percussion muzzleloader in 1808 and breech-loader in 1812. His 1808 patent was the first to design and patent a muzzleloading in-line action in which the **** of the sidelock was replaced by a cylindrical hammer driven by a coil spring.His in-line invention was capitalized on by Dreyse, who worked for Pauly between 1808-14 and who used it as the basis for his 1838 turnbolt design which became the Prussian Needlegun of 1848.
Paul Mauser later used the Dreyse needlegun design as a basis for his tumbolt cartridge rifle of 1868, first patented in the U.S., but adopted by the German military in 1871.The Dreyse needle gun of 1848. It was so advanced that any soldier who lost one paid with his life for his carelessness.White later used the Mauser inspired Springfield ‘03 as a basis for the White Super 91 of 1991, once again a muzzlelader, making the cycle one grand round.
You may read more at:
http://www.whitemuzzleloading.com/hi...zleloading.htm
09-22-2011, 12:29 PM
#8
Giant Nontypical
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Colorado
Posts: 9,557
Today's inline shooters can thank Knight. It was Tony Knight that revolutionized muzzleloading no matter what obscure references there are. Without Knight they would be just that. Little known obscure facts of history. Looks like all you inline shooters whether it be TC , Cva or whoever owe Knight a debt of gratitude
The only thing I can thank Tony for is starting a craze that screwed up the real muzzleloading season.
