I was reading in Pollards History of Firearms that in 1867 the Carter & Edwards bolt action was involved in trials for a new military rifle, these trials being won eventually by the Martini of course. The account says that the Carter & Edwards suffered a premature detonation caused by hyper-sensitive ammunition, injuring the hand of Sir Henry Halford who was assisting in the trials. The book then says that although the Carter & Edward's could not be faulted mechanically, that the presiding comittee felt that bolt actions were too dangerous, and restricted their selection to falling block actions only.
 
This is the only reference I have to this firearm, and I'm curious about it, as it seems to have been one of the very first true bolt actions, not only in Britain but anywhere. Does anyone know anything of the weapons appearance, history, inventors, calibre, type of ammunition or anything.
 
Thanks in advance
 
Dave

Have a look at the following on the HBSA web site for some patent information on Carter & Edwards:
www.hbsa.fsnet.co.uk/carter_&_edwards.htm
 
David

We were only 2 years behind the introduction of the Mauser /71 and the Chassepot was converted to Gras in 1874.  There were a variety of other systems but the bolt concept was already shining through.
I feel certain that but for the Carter Edwards accident a variety of the turn-bolt principle may well have succeeded.
It was not long before various efforts were being made to to try and find some sort of magazine or multiple shot to improve the M-H.

Only a sort of cartridge container or loading block attached to the side of the action which was never adopted so far as I know.