When Bolt-Action Began
The bolt-action rifle has been around for centuries as a successor to the lever-action repeating rifle. The first-ever bolt-action rifle was a muzzle-loading needle rifle, produced in 1824 by German arms designer Johann Nicolaus von Dreyse.
Von Dreyse would later design the first breechloading bolt-action needle rifle in 1836. This means that the gun is loaded from the rear of barrel instead of the front, as was the norm before von Dreyse’s invention.
Bolt-action rifles were massively popular throughout the 19th century, where they were produced and widely used in many countries.
The bolt-action peaked in popularity during World War I, where it was the standard-issue rifle for fielded troops on a global scale.
The Winchester Hotchkiss
The Winchester Repeating Arms Company — known to most as simply Winchester — has been a household name for firearm lovers everywhere for over a century.
One of Winchester’s first rifles, the Model 1873, debuted in the early 1870s, going on to earn the nickname, “The Gun That Won the West”.
Following the 1873 was the Winchester Hotchkiss patented in 1876, named after its designer, Benjamin B. Hotchkiss.
The Winchester Hotchkiss was the first center-fire bolt-action repeating rifle to be adopted by a major military, when it was acquired by the U.S. Army in 1879.
Shortly after that, the U.S. Navy bought a thousand second-model Winchester Hotchkiss rifles throughout 1880 and 1881. Following that, many first-model rifles were converted to second-model designs, and the rifle grew in popularity with the armed forces.
The Winchester Hotchkiss was one of the rifles produced in the decades leading up to the first World War, and was used by armies in both World Wars.
Firearms, Ammo & Accessories
You can find a genuine second-model Winchester Hotchkiss bolt-action rifle made in 1880 in December’s Firearm, Ammo & Accessories Auction at Compass!
Pre-bidding for this auction opens on Friday, December 17th at noon Eastern Time. Be sure to browse our auction catalog featuring pistols, shotguns, rifles, steel blades, and more! This auction will begin to close on New Year’s Eve at noon Eastern Time.
Visit our Auction Calendar page for more information on all our current and upcoming auctions!
About Compass Auctions & Real Estate
About Compass Auctions & Real Estate: Founded in 2010 and constantly growing, Compass is known for its weekly auctions working with corporations, municipalities, federal entities, and individual consignors, and for its hybrid auction platform for live and online bidding focusing on five primary categories: municipal surplus, vehicles, luxury goods, firearms, and real estate.