Back Action

[msmith]

When was the Back Action first used?And what was the avantage?Thanks

[Tanselman]

It became popular around 1840, but was in use earlier. Some say it came from the back action wenders, or swivel breech, flintlocks, so it has been in use as long as percussion guns have been around, just not as common as front action locks until about 1840.

Front action locks took out a lot of wood below the breech area, making it a weak point in the stock that was prone to breakage if dropped. We see a number of guns broken through the lock area. The back action took out wood primarily behind the breech, reducing the mortised out area under the barrel's breech and making the gun less vulnerable to breakage when dropped or mishandled.  Shelby Gallien

[msmith]

Thank you, for answering my question.I have not seen anything written about Back Action Locks.

[Feltwad]

It is difficult to say when the back-action lock was first used, it was there in the flint period and also the patchlock and tubelock era .The back action lock as we know today is mostly due to George Lovells patent of the 1830,s I have enclosed an image of  a early lock of 1820 that started as a patch lock and converted to percussion ,it is from a smoothbore sporting gun which is  not often seen as most of these early locks were fitted to pistols

Feltwad

[willyr]

Were not the flintlocks used on the swivel breech rifles
'back action"? this would date them much earlier.
Be Well,
Bill Ridout

[Feltwad]

Yes Bill you are correct  the back action Flintlock was used on the swivel breech rifle and shotgun also the standard over and under pistol, the difference to the ordinary flint lock was that the frizzen or steel  were part of the barrels. Other types were the flintlock revolvers  that were made in pistol rifle and shotgun by famous names such as Collier, Nock, Rigby.
Feltwad