The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-08-14
From the N. T. Tnhnne.
Description OF Fire arms in tho Crystal
Palace. Att-


The first case which invites especial attention II Ia
belled Sharps patent rifle which patented in lS3o
since which time II is said lsoo cases. each con,anin
from The msnufacory The peculiary OF constr acion
consists square moveable bresch pin. which 10 con-
structed Of solid we'll wrought metal abou, inch thick
guard this bTeecn pin is lowered leaving breeeh Of
It's own size. bacarrdxs is pressed with the thumb
into its seat The breech is then closed BY pulling back
the lever and the sharp edge OF the breech pin rsng
cuts of the end OF the cartridge exposing the powder
10 The action OF the "Maynards primer" cap,
either OF which be used Although the ball cartridge
prepared for this piece bes, those common use By
the United States government will answer; and in
Of being ou Of cartridges altogether will sometimes
be applied the bTeech end with almost eqsal facility
This have Witnessed, and all that is required 70 work
The gun in this way is care in not scattering the grains Of
Ipowder where they are moi required. But even when
this is DONE the construction s simple that there 10
bu lille probability Of its lodging in sufficient quantity 10
produce unpleasant effects For sporting purposes there
| fore, it is a favoriie weapon.
Oar good opinion OF this rifle ia founded on careful
examination OF It's construction in comparison with 9TH
cts, and md will stand the test OF the FIRST ve
most important of the points OF excellence above
ated 1t safe in firing, because coniains but one
charge time, and the beech pin, when made Of sound
metal s Of great strength. aud sufficient to resist ten
times the force Of the heaviest charge and in speaking
OF The construction or strength OF any piece, we must Of
calculate the soundness OF the metal used Tho
facility, too, with which The coadon OF the barrel 1t
any time be asceriained, by looking through from the
hreech end additional why this rifle is safe in
using The certainty Of firing best proved BY experience.
report OF the board ot ordnance officers that
fired several hundred times without cleaning. dn-
ring which The movements OF i,s machinery not OBJ
structed" The facity Of toading aud rapidly Of firing
certainly equal TO all that be truly said Vt other
single barrel guns not revovers. while possesses the
advantage OF greater safely than be claimed for
revolver We have not seen lis equal ~ simplicity OF
construction. II is not proessed that this gun will do
without occasional cleaning, but it is found by allowing
the ball. which purposeIy gooyed the barrel can %
kept clean during several hundred successive fringe We
have tried the range Of this rifle from one Of the piers
~ he hail oma1 IN fall inO tho
at the distance OF about 1000 yards The price OF this
| rifle is $40. Hsssa =
cartridge next comes under notice. Although DR. Mars
ton has completed his for the Exhibition, he has
favored with sight Of the specimen,s which be in
tends TO place in it, and which viii be seen in The Palace
ia few days II will form an attractive addition TO this
department Of the Exhibition. which at present is BY no
means oversiocked. alN :
Mr. Narsion's invenlon consists in q breech- bolt or
slide which. by drsuing he lever srward is brought back
from the breech end OF The barrel sufficient distance 10
allow space in the breech in which to place ball cart
ridge. When the cartridge is placed in this chamber
through opening the right hand side OF the gun, the
lever drawn back, and the ball cartridge is forced by
pressure Of forty fifty pounds its in The
barrel. The piece is loaded, and by placing cap
on the nipple IT is ready 10 be discharged The fire s
communicated 10 the end OF the cartridge by snall
hole running through the nipple 10 the breech bolt. and
thence TO The cartridge, which is perforated in the centre.
will be presently described The most ingenious part
of the obstruction at the top OF The lever, where there
is sat slide in the shape OF knee joint. in which
the pin of the breech-bot works. When the lever ID
brought for ward IN drawing back the 0reech OOi nc top
of the lever slides along on the pin connecting with the
bolt the whole length OF the slat, and the lever then
hangs at right angles with the and offers no
resistance the backward motion OF the breech bolt
But as soon the lever drawn back and the cartridge
driven seat the lever and breech-bol being Al
angle Of 1875 deg and formed her connexon 20 ~ 10
duced by The FIRE is complete The two pieces OF metal 1T
ting each other in similar way TO that OF the keystone
of an arch fitting the stones on each side A small.
round bush the breech end OF the barve and
rounds the cartridge and breech at their Junction. no
eecinaiy 10 prevent The leakage OF smoke or te when
The piece discharged We can testify that this 10 ell
iectual TO this end. having seen the gun bred several
times by Mr. Marston. ~
The Cartridge deserves special attention. II 10
posed OF the usna materials with conical ball cement
ed into it, The end. however, has leather button
disc attached to IT, OF somewhat larger diameter than
the bore OF the barrel This rs why lever employed
4, force it into barrel THIS leather button perforated
The centre receive the fash from the cap, ~ above
described The first fire OF the gun will leave this leaih,
button (Which is previously greased IN the large end
OF the barrel, and the second fire will force the baton
through The barrel thoroughly cleaning for the Discharge
which inn atey succeeds The result OF this nKeni-
Gus arrang ement is to what we have clasesd
above AS the filth point OF excellence in T1e viz 10
keep constantly Clean However as The leather button
is left in every time ii would seem 10 be necessary To
expeI it, or draw 1t out by some other means Than by
firing when it is intended TO lay by the gun, otherwise
The effect Of the last shot would still remain in the bar
rel ramrod is furnished with each gun for this pur-
pose.or for unchsgng. or for loading the gun At the
muzze in the old way. ett
The lock is sligk, improvement, upon the ordinary
locks: the lever hangs upon pin with an e'onxa.ed
hole which allows it 10 r,se and fall avoid lhe
necessity of another piece OF metal between II and the
piece which works the tumbler. simplifying that which
has always been the most complex portion of hre arms
The lock is applied TO the Marsion patent revov-
ing pistol.
Colts rtyovers displayed in number OF beautiful
specimens. the being arranged with great Taste ne
cons and general efficiency OF these pieces are 20
universally known, hat need do no more tnan gssce
this mention OF them first among our notices OF vsO~ss1
hre arms
Por,ers patent revolving firearms come next "a our
noteA Their peculiarly consists in cylinder n inches
dia mater hted vertically in the breech OF the weapon
The ,hc ness OF this cylinder about OF an inch. and
Il r.yoIyss upon journal as to present Hs lace ctose
10 The end of the barrel which hts u nicely and 10 there
bv closed The cylinder is made of sol,d STEEL and
~. face il perforated with eight, and in the larger
pieces nine chambers. large enough TO receive charge
and BALL each corresponding as revolves to the bore
of the bane as 10 present charge in turn ready to
be fired of Thrs eight nine charges may BE- fired in
such rapid succession to produce as,oaishmen in the
hole communicating with the centre Of the charge and
opesing on the rghthand side Of The cylinder covered
when position by the end Of the cap. Any number
OF these cylinders he loaded and capped n tins
10 produce succession Of shols, being easy 10
replace cylinder with another When in lie place, the
cylinder rests firmly its journals asans the aeoa al
the discbaree, and also supported its cicumferencs
BY the iron poron OF the breach in which II revoveo
Ths cap sirnck Internally by nipple-shsped hAmmsr
working horizontally The lock, very simple piece ct
mechaasn, il fixed a end Of ths barrel w hnxt
closing and casped upon the aide Of the cylinder when
ready for use, but otherwise opening and allowing the
cykder TO be taken ard charged exchanged for
another a, pleasure In me be rifles, cap-box.
Il