Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-07-26
No. 9.
IN COTJNCU. JrIy 90 &c


| The governor laid before the board re-
port of the gentlemen appointed to prove
and examine the arms at the armory, by the
advice of council, dated June 90, 1908;
which report was read and attentively con-
sidered, in conformity with the recommen-
dations expressed in the said report, and is
as follows:
| Pursuant to request OF his exceHency
the Governor OF Virginia, with the advice
OF Council, we the undersigned, have atteu-
aed for several days, from the 29lh of June,
to the I'd instant inclusive, at the Public Ar
mory, and had proven, under our imInedi.-
ate inspection, agreeably to the mode, and
! with the same proportions of powder and
| ball, as appear by the communications of
the Secretary of War, to be now in practice
i in the armories of the United States, par
GELS OF the public arms now on hand i'm Rich
mond, as exhibited in the annexed tables
A and B, showing the results thereof also
in another mode other sets of certain arms
appearing by table G.
The several parcels of muskets were ia
ken IN our presence, and according to our
directions from the several deposits, indis..
criminately: The muskets of the three first
years make, we consider as rather light in
| the barrel, having been made, we are in.
| formed, to bear degree of proof, then in
practice in the principal armory of the u
nited States at Springfield. But the man
ner in which they have now stood the en-
| creased degree of proof since adopted,
shews that they may be relied upon as good
arms, except as to those made in 1904. 1t
will be seen by the tables, that every par.
eel tried of that years make, have failed
more considerably than any others, which
we attribute to two ,causes-1st. they are
! lighter IN the barrel than even those in the
| preceding years.-2dly. We think it proba-
BILE that the iron is of more brittle quality,
and although we have no reason to DOUBT
| their standing the proof in practice when
they were made, as well as that they might
safely be used in service; yet as tits essen.
| tial that full confidence be felt in the arms
placed in the hands of soldiers, we beg leave
| to suggest the propriesy of recalling to the
armory, all those of that years. make, now
out, subjecting them in detail to the proof
now in practice; and thus ascertaining by
actual trial, those that may be confded in.
The reason given by major Clarke (the SUI
perintendant) for the arms of 1904, being
more light than those of Anterior dates, is,
that he found they could be made so much
lighter and yet bear the proof then requir..
ed at Springfield; and he deemed it an OBJ
! ject to have them as light as they could with
safety be made.
I Since the year 1904, the improvements
in every part of the muskct are obvious !;
and those manufactured in 1907 and 1903,
considering the proportions of the barrel
and great improvement in the lock, we
deem superior to the British Tower mus
kets, or any other now in use. Upon the
whole, we are of opinion, that the arms of
the Virginia Manufactory Except as to
those of 1So4) upon critical examination
and comparison with those imported, and
others purchased from factories within the
United States, have decided preference /;
The barrels, upon the proof we have given
them, having been found generally at least
equal, and those of 1907 and 1908, superb
or: aid the locks in all, are, in our opinion,
in every part decidedly better
1t is probable that many of the failures
complained of in the muskets which have
been distributed, may have arisen from ex.
cessive and unusual modes of proof for the
strongest and best musket that ever was
made, may be charged with an unreasoIra.
bic quantity OF powder, and hard ram,ning
ofthe ball, SO as 10 burst, as appears by tile
trials in the table G, where il may be seen,
that even the Tower muskets were not equal
to the shock. We further beg leave to OBJ
serve, that frequent proving, even with
proper proportions, should be avoided, as
every trial SO much beyond the usual charge
for service, has an injurious effect on the
barrel, and will eventually cause it 10 burst,
although at first Of the best description.
In further pursuance of the request of the
Executive, we. with much Difference, offer
the following observations:
list. In making good barrels, much de-
ponds on the quality of the iron, which ought
to be chosen with great caution. If hard
and brittle, it is not likely to stand the proof
lately adopted; if soft and maIleable, it will
stand every proper degree ofproof. In the
CHOICE of iron we have nc reason to believe
there has been any mistake in the Virginia
Mandatory, except as to the arms Of
1904.
2dly. Very long bayonets will probably
be found incOnvenient in service, they will
be much in the way in movements through
woody countries, and under attack, are more
; easily parried and passed, than those oil
more moderate length. Would it not be
well to conform to the length of bayonets
most generally made in the factories of the
United States.
, 3dly The pistols made in the manufac.
tory are, we think, well executed, but tor
! large.
An uniformity of arms of every elias,
throughout the United States, for which
ammunition is to be prepared, is very i'm.
, portant; as suitable supplies on all accasi.
, | ODs. and in all situafions- are therehv ron.