History
New Jersey inventor John W. Keene began developing his bolt-action repeating rifle in 1870 acquiring numerous patents by the dawn of the 1876 Centennial Exhibition. The Keene was a sturdy, well balanced, smooth, reliable, and accurate rifle capable of handling most military cartridges then in use. Worldwide, few countries fielded repeaters, but most were awakening to the need.
The International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures, and Products of the Soil and Mine, generally referred to today as the 1876 Centennial Exhibition, opened May 10, 1876 at Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Fair must have been a truly magical event with the many pavilions covering more than 938,008 square feet over 21.4 acres. Thirty-seven countries displayed their nation’s wealth, resources and manufacturing prowess and was visited by nine to ten…