The Cookson flintlockrifle, a lever-actionbreech-loading repeater, also known as the Cookson gun, is one of many similar designs to make an appearance on the world stage beginning in the 17th century. The Victoria & Albert Museum in London has a Cookson Gun, dating to 1690.[1] According to the museum, John Cookson made several repeating guns based on this system. He signed one 'Fecit Londini', which suggests he was a London maker. Another John Cookson, who was also a gunmaker, is known to have worked in America. He is recorded in Boston, Massachusetts between 1701 and 1762. In 1756 he advertised repeating firearms firing nine shots in the local paper, the Boston Gazette. It is probable that he was related to the John Cookson who worked in London.
The mechanism at the heart of the Cookson repeater dates from 1650 and was originally known in Europe as the Lorenzoni System, named for Italian gunsmith Michele Lorenzoni of Florence.[2] Long arms utilizing this system were produced in other European nations and in the United States until about 1849. The Cookson rifle dates from 1750 and features a two-chamber horizontally mounted rotating drum. Loading was accomplished by lowering a lever which was mounted on the left side of the rifle. This caused the chambers to line up with two magazines contained within the buttstock and allowed one .55 caliber lead ball and a 60-grain powder charge to fall into their respective chambers. When the lever was returned to its original position, the ball dropped into the chamber, and the powder charge lined up behind it. At the same time, the hammer was cocked, the pan was primed, and the frizzen was lowered. After firing the rifle, the process could be repeated until the two magazines, with their seven-shot capacities, were empty. While most of these guns used gravity to feed the balls into the drum, one specimen, from the Paris museum, used a spring to force them in.[3] Although other breech loading rifles were introduced in later years, the Cookson-type long arms were unique in their ability to fire multiple shots without reloading. Until the Nineteenth century, the only mechanism that could fire faster was the Kalthoff repeater, which was more delicate and expensive.
However, unlike the Kalthoff, the Cookson system had a dangerous flaw in that flame could leak from the firing chamber into the powder magazine, making the gun explode at high risk to the user. Many of the surviving specimens have shattered stocks from such accidents.
Referencesedit
^"Flint Lock Magazine John Cookson". Victoria & Albert Museum.
^"Flint Lock Magazine John Cookson". Victoria & Albert Museum.
Harold L. Peterson The Book of the Gun Paul Hamlyn Publishing Group (1962)
External linksedit
The Cookson repeater
Video of the Cookson repeater
May 02, 2024
cookson, repeater, cookson, flintlock, rifle, lever, action, breech, loading, repeater, also, known, cookson, many, similar, designs, make, appearance, world, stage, beginning, 17th, century, victoria, albert, museum, london, cookson, dating, 1690, according, . The Cookson flintlock rifle a lever action breech loading repeater also known as the Cookson gun is one of many similar designs to make an appearance on the world stage beginning in the 17th century The Victoria amp Albert Museum in London has a Cookson Gun dating to 1690 1 According to the museum John Cookson made several repeating guns based on this system He signed one Fecit Londini which suggests he was a London maker Another John Cookson who was also a gunmaker is known to have worked in America He is recorded in Boston Massachusetts between 1701 and 1762 In 1756 he advertised repeating firearms firing nine shots in the local paper the Boston Gazette It is probable that he was related to the John Cookson who worked in London Cookson RepeaterPlace of originKingdom of Great BritainProduction historyDesignerJohn CooksonDesigned1750 based on Lorenzoni System 1650 SpecificationsCartridge0 55 in 1 4 cm Actionlever action breech loadingFeed systemTwo chamber horizontally mounted rotating drumMechanism editThe mechanism at the heart of the Cookson repeater dates from 1650 and was originally known in Europe as the Lorenzoni System named for Italian gunsmith Michele Lorenzoni of Florence 2 Long arms utilizing this system were produced in other European nations and in the United States until about 1849 The Cookson rifle dates from 1750 and features a two chamber horizontally mounted rotating drum Loading was accomplished by lowering a lever which was mounted on the left side of the rifle This caused the chambers to line up with two magazines contained within the buttstock and allowed one 55 caliber lead ball and a 60 grain powder charge to fall into their respective chambers When the lever was returned to its original position the ball dropped into the chamber and the powder charge lined up behind it At the same time the hammer was cocked the pan was primed and the frizzen was lowered After firing the rifle the process could be repeated until the two magazines with their seven shot capacities were empty While most of these guns used gravity to feed the balls into the drum one specimen from the Paris museum used a spring to force them in 3 Although other breech loading rifles were introduced in later years the Cookson type long arms were unique in their ability to fire multiple shots without reloading Until the Nineteenth century the only mechanism that could fire faster was the Kalthoff repeater which was more delicate and expensive However unlike the Kalthoff the Cookson system had a dangerous flaw in that flame could leak from the firing chamber into the powder magazine making the gun explode at high risk to the user Many of the surviving specimens have shattered stocks from such accidents References edit Flint Lock Magazine John Cookson Victoria amp Albert Museum Flint Lock Magazine John Cookson Victoria amp Albert Museum The gun and its development 1910 Harold L Peterson The Book of the Gun Paul Hamlyn Publishing Group 1962 External links editThe Cookson repeater Video of the Cookson repeater Cookson Volitional Repeating Flintlock Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cookson repeater amp oldid 1214514052, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
