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The toggle link and its role in the Winchester guns

[The following article appeared in the Winchester Arms Collectors Association newsletter.]

The TOGGLE LINK dates back to the First Repeating Firearm invented in America. Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson were the first to use the toggle link in a repeater with a single lever controlling the complete action. It was used in all Volcanic firearms, the Henry rifle, the Winchester Model 1866, the Winchester Model 1873 and the Winchester Model 1876.

Smith and Wesson's patent number 10,535, dated Feb. 14, 1875, illustrates the function of the toggle link in a large frame Volcanic pistol. B. Tyler Henry's patent number 30,446, dated Oct. 16, 1860, illustrates the function of the toggle link in his famous Henry rifle. Nelson King's patent no. 55,012 dated May 22, 1866, also shows the use of the toggle link, without modification, in the Winchester Model 1866, even though the loading mechanism on the firearm was changed completely.

With the financial difficulties of Smith and Wesson, Oliver Winchester obtained all patents of the Volcanic Firearms as well as the Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson's agreement concerning rights on future firearms and ammunition inventions and improve-ments. In 1866, the Connecticut legislature granted him a charter to incorporate under the name of The Winchester Repeating Arms Company.

With the assistance of Benjamin Tyler Henry and Nelson King, Oliver Winchester made many modifications to the New Winchester Rifle. Thousands of these repeaters were made and used through the Winchester Model 1876, but the toggle link virtually remained the same throughout the manufacture of these firearms.