Caution: genius at work

Towards the end of the 19th century requirements for rifles were changing. Hunters were demanding bigger and more powerful guns. Big money could be made from the wholesale slaughter of the North American bison (buffalo), and the Winchester 1876 model seemed to fit the bill, at least initially.

Winchester, however, was desperate for military sales and its 1876 action was not strong enough to take the government .45-70 cartridge that was then in use with the US army. Oliver Winchester died in 1880 but four years later a chance encounter took place that was to dramatically change the rifle