Blake rifle

Lore & Background

John H. Blake constructed his rifle in response to the fact that very few domestic designs were submitted to the US Army rifle trials of 1890–93. Blake submitted two of his rifles to the trials, both chambered in .30 Blake cartridge — a rimless version of the .30-40 Krag cartridge. On August 19, 1892, the Army Board recommended the Norwegian Krag–Jørgensen rifle for adoption. American designers opposed the adoption of a foreign design, and Congress demanded additional trials before funds were authorized for production of the Norwegian rifle. A new board was appointed on March 1, 1893, and trials commenced on April 7, 1893. The two Blake rifles were again submitted, but the board decided the design was unfit for military service due to the feed system. Despite the additional trials, the Krag-Jørgensen rifle remained favored. In 1895 Blake submitted his design to US Navy rifle trials, where it lost to Lee's design.

After these failed attempts, Blake tried selling his rifle on the civilian market. The Blake Rifle Book of 1899 listed rifles (28 in. barrel), carbines (20 in. barrel), and a sporting rifle (30 in. barrel). Rifles and carbines were offered in .236 Navy with rifling of one turn in 6.5 in., in .30-40 Krag and .303 with rifling of one turn in 9 in. to one turn in 12 in. The sporting rifle was offered in .400 Blake cartridge, with rifling of one turn in 12 in. to one turn in 18 in. Four grades of hunting rifles were also offered: Grade A (priced from US$100 upward, compressed steel barrel, guaranteed to hit a 4-in. circle at 200 yards with smokeless powder and a 6-in. circle at 200 yards with black powder, imported walnut stock, engravings and checkered stock); Grade B (priced US$80, nickel steel barrel, guaranteed to hit a 5-in. circle at 200 yards with smokeless powder and an 8-in. circle at 200 yards with black powder, engravings and checkered stock); Grade C (priced US$60, rest as Grade B); and Grade D (priced US$50, rest as Grade B but no engravings or checkered stock).

Reader's Guide

The Blake rifle's significance lies in its unique detachable rotary magazine, which set it apart from contemporary rifles using similar feed systems, such as the Savage M1892, which used a non-detachable rotary magazine. The detachable magazine was often described as a packet or en-bloc clip due to the lack of a more proper term at the time. Despite this innovation, the rifle was rejected by both the US Army and Navy trials. The Army board found the feed system unfit for military service, and the design lost to the Krag-Jørgensen rifle in Army trials and to Lee's design in Navy trials. Blake then turned to the civilian market, offering a range of models and grades, including hunting rifles with varying barrel lengths, calibers, and quality levels. The rifle's legacy is primarily as a footnote in the history of American bolt-action rifle development, illustrating the challenges faced by domestic designers competing against foreign designs in military trials. Its detachable rotary magazine concept, though not adopted by the military, represents an early attempt at a quick-loading system that would later become common in other firearms.

Did You Know?

• The Blake rifle uses a unique 7-round detachable rotary magazine.
• Blake submitted his design to US Army trials in 1892 and again in 1893, but it was rejected due to the feed system.
• The .30 Blake cartridge was a rimless version of the .30-40 Krag cartridge.