Blake Bolt Action Rifle

Published on April 20, 2015
Duration: 10:46

The Blake Repeating Rifle, designed by John Blake, was an innovative contender in the 1892 US Army rifle trials, ultimately losing to the Krag-Jorgensen. Its unique 7-round packet magazine, which functioned like a revolver cylinder, was praised for its potential with varying cartridge lengths but criticized for being bulky and slow to load in field conditions. The rifle featured a robust bolt with four locking lugs and safety features like gas ports, and was later produced commercially in various calibers.

Quick Summary

The Blake Repeating Rifle featured a unique 7-round cylindrical 'packet' magazine that indexed mechanically with the bolt action. Although innovative, the US Army found it bulky and slow to load in field conditions, leading to its rejection in favor of the Krag-Jorgensen in the 1892 trials.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: Blake Repeating Rifle History
  2. 00:53The Innovative Packet Magazine System
  3. 02:28Loading Mechanism and Army Criticism
  4. 03:57Bolt Design and Safety Features
  5. 06:09Magazine Cutoff and Sights Explained
  6. 08:09Commercial Production and Calibers

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the main innovation of the Blake Repeating Rifle?

The Blake Repeating Rifle's key innovation was its 7-round cylindrical 'packet' magazine. This unique en-bloc clip held cartridges around its circumference and mechanically indexed with each bolt cycle, functioning similarly to a revolver cylinder.

Why did the Blake Rifle lose the 1892 US Army trials?

While innovative, the Blake's packet magazine system was criticized by the Army for being bulky and difficult to load quickly under field conditions compared to simpler, more conventional designs like the Krag-Jorgensen.

What calibers was the Blake Rifle commercially produced in?

After failing military trials, the Blake rifle was sold commercially in several calibers. These included .30 Blake (a rimless variant of the .30-40 Krag), .400 Blake, .30-30, and the .236 Lee Navy.

What safety features did the Blake Repeating Rifle incorporate?

The Blake featured a robust bolt with four locking lugs at the front and a safety lug on the bolt handle. It also included gas ports in the receiver and a recessed bolt face to protect the shooter from potential ruptured cases.

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