New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-08-12
THE Elk HIBITION
AT THE
CRYSTAL PALACE.
n
EIDE ARMs-RIFLEs AND REvOLvERs.

.,,on or a race has consisted, not in the lives IL
"a, made happy and the beauy grandeur or greatness
-. ,nhlie institutions In the extent oil IT'S oenev-
So, euterorzes but in the power aud ingenuity with
...h the lives of neghborDg nations or races could be
..o,sc,d and empires destroyed. We speak 81 this
"a :, o,v not 20 Join In the war cry, or TO augment
AZ. dss,e of conquest or annexation but in order TO
.o,d growing belief in the minds Of all thinking men,
t n ia in fact the shame rather than the glory Of the
Is, the great impeachment Of true civilization aud social
sor,osiion rather than the promoter Of public order
IA advancement We canddly confess therefore, that
abaye no sympathy with the rivalry OF arms a. 1t re-
s their use and the purposes TO which they are APP
lid We believe the time is approaching when rulers
rms, find better game than and w1en the great
ness and power Of any country can be more completely
enjoyed and appreciated in the cultivation OF humane
and friendly feelings rather than in the destruction Of hu
man creatures But the world will probably pass
through many changes OF character ere thus millennium
Of humanity and universal beneyoence shall be estab
shed as the practice Of mankind as We 1--we nov IN the
age Onctu0i enterprise rather than OF positive brute
force on the one hand of high moral refinement on the
other we find il duty 10 describe 10 this intel
,ecusl noe the achievements OF its inventive heroes,
IL, schemeTs ts mechanics and its practical men Ri
yalry in the invention manufacture OF arms, IA oil
different order 70 the rIyary oi which we have Deen
speaking; the who can invent rifle, who can pa
tienty toll the vice, 70 complete With bis own hands
the idea which has irress'iby forced itself upon bis
mind is not the man wbO would Delight in the destruc
ton and demolition Of life property no. he Is one
whose mental qualifications and persegerng industry
Mace him above dependence upon this particular
branch of mechar icsl ingenuity. He could turn bis
hand TO other and more useful pursuits. Although,
therefore, frankly ayow our pachc principles We al
fhe same time, confess our Interest IN the various
schemes for tho improvements OF firearms Whlch are
Dreseuted in the Crystal Palace We have carefully
and impartally examined the merits OF each complete
invention and here present description oil all thOse
that are 10 similar in their construction and purpose as
10 be considered as rivals We make use OF ths Term
on our own responsibility each inventor beng unwilling
10 ackDos ledge that there is nthing in the market
which can bear any comparison with his own
The cases n which the American fire arms are exhlb-
tied are placed Oh the letkand side OF the north nave,
near the center marked IN the Catalogue CasS . D'l
sion A, Courts and 2.
In considering the relative value of rifles the folio wing
are points which principally involved and the piece
which will bear the test OF the most Of these pOlnts w
be regarded as the most complete:
S0(efy IN firing Ii must be obvious that this Is the
first consideration because If elher ball or piece OF
the steel breechpn, or OF the barrel should happen to
fake contrary To that Intended the enemy woul
soon exut over the suicidal action OF his foe or the days
Cboly termination.
III CERTAINTY Of Firiag--To miss fire, according TO
the experience o those engaged ia personal encounters
is 10 give enemy an Opp0r unity 70 DO 10 HIS Zoe Just
what bis Toe would have done u Ilm II he could Inns
point the eore frequently matter of lie and death
Or IT, alter wandering about Tor miles up the hill ana
down the vale, the sportsman at last hnds the ODect OF
his pursuit and then, when he attempts 10 he cap OF
prime SIMPLY makes sniP or ltsh, the partridge OF
tmke, wilha sense enough take advantage OF the
SIGNAL and the aIne lost with some rsk perhaps Oh
losing the good temper aud cquanny OF the SPORTSMAN
Iii. Faculty. cf LOodHg and rGP'day 81 f"'Hg
Theso two points closely connected because tue lat
ter depends mainly the iormer although not entirely
30: the perfect action of tn lever and trigger and the
condition OF the touch hole Of he cap, or oil the primer
being essential to rapidly, we'll as TO certainty 81 NJ
ing, aud 70 hIc rapidly, with good ann Is 10 gam gIcA
adyanage over an enemy IL Is oi little advantage, nov
ever TO fire with great rapidly unless there Is sufficient
time ior taking an AIM.
Nv S,mpiiIfy Of construction. Complex guns, more
than complex machinery Of any kind, are most liable TO
gel out OF repair. -
V. TO keep constantly clean If a gun will become
clean after every charge, by It's own operation, without
any especial cleaning, II Is al important advantage
vi 10 hare tactfy "a toadtHg DUNG Si0"sr or "a
1ntaroTae tceater without producing dsafrdhgeuehI
or causing mlssre, and & neral cleanliness In loilng
and action The other quantities OF range and penea-
ton have relation more to skill aud the amount oil pow
der employ cd than to construction
Now IL is III relation To these SIX points Oi eAceichce
that We proceed ~ examine critical! into the relative
merits OF the prucpa niles protesting 10 be newly III
Venttd.
The first case which invites especial attention, is la
beCd as Sharp's Patent Rifle which was Pa'encdn looJ
since which me it is said $40 cases, each containing
Two dozen pieces, making ij2JO IA all, have been sen
from the uauRitciON. lhe peculiarly Of CONSTRUCTION
consists IN square mOycabie brccchpin which IS con
structed of solid ell WTOughC metal about men thcA O
an inch and square Onturning down the lever or guard
tins brvecln Is lowered, leaving breech 0 It's O"i
size ball cartridge pressed with the thumb lntO III
seat 1he brcech Is thea closed 10y pulling back IN
Ie,er and the sharp etAe OF the breecn pn IN rising
cuts Oh the rear cad of tie cartridge exposing Tax
powder to the action Of the " Mll naids IIln'I O
common can ei her Ot hch Dc used Although tht
bacaltrdAe prepared TOR this piece is best, those II
common use by the |. 5 Government Will answer, ans
in case Of being ont of cartridges altogether, as VA
sometimes happen m the harvest the ordinary powder
fak be applied 10 the breech eud WITH almost eI Ia
kciity This we have Witnessed audallt that Is required
t0Woik the gUu Wa! IN not scattering ne
grains Oi powder where they are not required bul
even when tins is dOuc tbc lun is so slmPle
that there is but little PROBABILITY oil us lodging Ii sui
tel,nJ quantity to produce unpleasant I'll ets' foI
sporting purposes. therefore, II Is h,oute weapon
Our good opinion OF this rlle is founded on careil
examination oi It's construction III comparison with oth
eIs ana We hnd Nal stand the test Of Tie ngst hv,
most important Of the points Vi excellence above EN-
ncfated: IL Is se a. grsg because Il contains but Ga,
eharte at time, aud the brcec pa when madeOi solnD
neisl is Of great strength aud sufficient to resist ei
times tie force Of the heaviest cnargt; aud IN s)caA-
ofte construction strength of any piece, We must
course calculate tAe sUuudncSS O the metal uscl -
Tue facility too with which The condition o the barrc
can az an, time be ascetnutd by looking through io2
The brecch emo. is additional reason way tAls rle
safe IN using The c,r.asniy ! hnHg Is btsi pr'ed .!
experience ana rrIuit ol tnc Board o. Oidh'Ace ~
hcers states that m uss "Dtcd several hundred unr'