Back in 1985 when muzzleloading visionary William "Tony" Knight introduced his revolutionary MK-85 in-line rifle system, it's doubtful that even he could have imagined where muzzleloader hunting was headed.

One thing is certain: During the two decades since Tony Knight founded Modern Muzzleloading, Inc. (a.k.a. Knight Rifles), the advances made in the design of modern in-line ignition rifles -- and the performance of muzzle-loaded components -- have slowed only long enough to look back a few times. Mostly, it's been a case of "accelerated metamorphosis" as companies raced to lead the pack with the hottest, fastest, hardest hitting, and most efficient muzzleloading products available.

Contrary to popular belief, Tony Knight did not invent the modern percussion in-line ignition system, but he did perfect it. During the early 1970s, Harrington & Richardson introduced a break-open in-line muzzleloader that the company dubbed the "Huntsman." At about the same time, a smaller operation known as Esopus Gun Works introduced an extremely modern looking in-line rifle called the "Pacer." Also, just a few years prior to Tony's introduction of the MK-85, Michigan Arms brought to market their "Wolverine" No. 209 primer ignition in-line design.

But what kept these rifles from enjoying the same success that made Knight Rifles a leading in-line rifle manufacturer by the mid-1990s?

AHEAD OF ITS TIME?
All the early in-line models lacked features needed to appeal to the growing number of muzzleloader hunters. Built with turn-in-48-inches-to-66- inches rifling twists, these were basically "patched round ball" rifles.

By the mid-1970s, muzzleloading had already begun to evolve from a "shooting" sport into a bona fide hunting sport. Those buying muzzle-loaded hunting rifles wanted something with more knockdown power than the ancient spheres of lead. They wanted to shoot a bullet!

Also, the design of a few of these rifles made it difficult to keep the actions free of corrosive fouling.

Knight Rifle's earliest MK-85 rifles were also rifled with a relatively slow turn-in-48-inches rifling twist. But through the summer of 1986, Tony Knight began testing with faster rates of twist to harness the accuracy and performance of yet another innovative new muzzleloader hunting product -- the saboted bullet.

In early 1987, the fledgling muzzleloader manufacturer switched to a snappier turn-in-32-inches twist. And in 1988, Knight moved to a still faster turn-in-28-inches twist that continues to be something of a standard for the in-line rifle industry.

The vastly improved performance of the Knight MK-85 with saboted bullets quickly caught the attention of serious big-game hunters. Prior to the refinement of the rifle and selection of saboted bullets, muzzleloader hunting was considered pretty much a 75- to 100-yard sport. By the fall of 1987, it had become an honest 150-yard hunting sport.

Making the MK-85 even more attractive to modern muzzleloader hunters, Knight's design allowed fast and easy removal of the firing mechanism and breech plug for cleaning the barrel all the way through. Also, the rifle was built with a double safety system that made it the safest rifle design ever produced.

By the early 1990s, Connecticut Valley Arms and Thompson/Center Arms realized that the in-line rifles' growing popularity was still in its infancy. These companies introduced in-line rifle models of their own.

Likewise, the sudden demand for modern muzzle-loaded rifles also led to the establishment of several new manufacturing companies -- namely, White Rifles and Gonic Arms.

As sales began to skyrocket, large modern firearm makers decided to jump into the game. By the end of the 1990s, Remington, Ruger and Marlin began marketing in-line ignition muzzleloaders. During this period, designs began to advance with bolt-action and break-open No. 209 primer ignition systems that made these muzzleloaders every bit as sure-fire as a centerfire rifle.

GOING HIGH-TECH
Every in-line rifle now manufactured comes with the receiver or barrel drilled and tapped for installation of scope bases. And where modern optics are legal, the majority of in-line rifle hunters are relying on them to fully tap the downrange performance of these serious hunting rifles. And they're not putting 2.5x4 scopes on these rifles. Most prefer 3x9 or 3.5x10 models.

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