Videos tagged with Colt Franklin

This video details the story of the Colt Franklin rifle, of which only 50 were made. Despite passing US Army and Navy trials in 1887-1888 with over 4,000 rounds fired without issue, the rifle was not adopted due to concerns about the delicate, exposed box magazine being easily damaged by enlisted men. The speaker, an expert in firearms history, highlights how most of these rifles were destroyed, with their survival attributed to the diligence of a Colt collector active from the 1890s to the 1920s.

The Colt Franklin, patented in 1884, was a unique bolt-action rifle chambered in .45-70, featuring a 9-round detachable hopper magazine designed by General William Franklin. Despite passing US Army and Navy trials with high reliability, only 50 were produced, and they were not adopted, likely due to concerns about the external magazine's durability. The rifle's design incorporated innovative feeding mechanisms and a bottom ejection system.