The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-02-06
From the Springfield Mass.) Republican.
Maynard's Primer - New Revolver The
Massashusctts Arms Company.


The famous primer, the invention Of DR..
Maynard, is already known TO our readers, by de-
scription. 1t forms another OF those steps III adj
vance Of all the rest Of tho world which have pc
cuharly disting pushed the improvements in this
country, IN the manufacture Of arms and the art
81 gnnnery. 1t would take but brief examina-
ton OF 1t to see that it must superscdc percussion
caps, as caps superseded nints; and what Il slight
examination makes so apparent, actual and rigid
experiment seems to have established Col. Craig.
the Chief of the Ordnance Bureau, has reported. at
length, TO Gen. Scott, upon its advantages and
superiority, and recommends its carly and extern
sive introduction into the army. General Scott has
approved the report, and il is Understood that pre-
parations have already been made 10 equip ali the
cavalry with arms furnished with this primer. 1t
has, OF course, secured this position only by its
| merits, and after having passed through the most
rigid forms OF trial to which the Ordnance Depart
ncnt could subject it,
the sachusetts Arms Company, Of Cbcopee,
having purchased the right to manufacture This
primer, and apply it to use in the manufacture of
arms, have succeeded in the project Of a new
vover, which we cannot believe to be otherwise
than very far in advance of any and every other
revolver ever made. Colts revolver is always and
worry properly, referred to the standard by which
to judge OF improvements here; but we have no
hesitation in pronouncipg the new arm to be very
lar its superior. Its advantages are obvious that
| mere glance at it convnces the examiner that it
must supersede its predecessors as they have su-
perseded the ruder and less ingeniously adapted
contrivanccs OF earlier days.
the new primer, it will be proper to state that it
consists Of line Of Illuminating pills, placed equ-
distant upon strip OF water proof paper, These
pills, deposits of Illuminating powder, thus
ranged upon narrow strip of paper, can of course
be cood up in receptacle within the lock, and by
proper apparatus be pushed forward in succession
to receive percussion upon the nipple OF the cham
The first and prominent advantage which the
new revolver has over that SO widely known as
Colts, is in the employment of Maynard's primer,
and the other apparent advantages are those which
grow mainly out OF the simplihcations which the
primer allows. 1t can be discharged much faster
than Colts. To prove this, it is only necessary to
say that it ia adapted to supply Of thirtysix pri
mers at once. In Colts pistol, in order to make
thirty six discharges, the fingers must fix, sepa
rately, thirty-six caps-a very slow business, par
ticulary if one is in hurry. Add to this thai the
lying OF the copper, the "iouling" of the lock- the
loosening and dropping of Of caps, well as their
corrosion and the mostening of the powder, are all
entirely obviatod in the new arm, and, 30 far its
advantage ia very apparent. 1t has other advan-
tages, and among them it appears to US that the
doing away of the nipples attached TO each cham
Der OF Colts pistol is an important one. 1t but
one nipple and this is stationary. There is hardly
possibility that more than chamber can be
discharged at once, and it's accidental discharge in
the pocket would seem to be an absolute impossi-
bhty. The method of revolving the cylinder ia
novel, and has an advantage over those hitherto
used
The construction of the new revolver is the most
compact and symmetrical Of any have
seen, and we certainly do not perceive why it will
not crowd all other revolvers out of market when
1t shall come to be introduced. We understand
that the company are preparing to enter largely
into the manufacture Of these revolvers, and that
they have also engaged in the manufacture Of
locks, Tor sporting and common guns, they having
the exclusive right to Maynard's primer for this
purpose. We are glad that improvements Of so
marked a character as these in hands eff
Gent. There is no doubt that they mark new
epoch In the history OF firearms, and are destined
to extend az far aa firearms arc known