The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-01-04

y The Kansas troubles have given the
Sharp rifle quite notoriety at the present
time, and the following article, descriptive
of the rifle, from the Boston Courier, will
be read with interest
SuARP's RIFLE. five are to believe the
most part cC what the accounts OF late from
Kansas have furnished us in regard to the
remarkable power of Sharp's rifle, we shall
be bound to conclude that it really fuliils a
two-fold important dcsideratum namely,
that it has the largest capacity, for peaceful,
us well as being the most efficient weapon
known for warlkc purposes. The very fear
of this terrible firearm, the qualities of which
wer, fully understood, il is stated, has been
sufficient against odds in Kansas for keeping
the peace.
Sharp's rifle was invented by the person
whose name il bears, near Hartford, Conn.,,
about FIVE years since. The patent for it is
now owned by an incorporated company
named after it. The rifles are at present
made exclusively at Hartford, by Robbins *
Lawrence; it has the moderate groove, is q
foot shorter than the United States rifle, and
can readily be fired ten times per minute,
and from this to sixteen times by practical
hand. 1t is loaded at the breech, which re-
ccives the cartridge by an operation not un.
| like that of opening pair of scissors, and
with nearly the same facility. II carries u
hall with great precision and force. The
full explosive power of the powder is arailed
Of, in this rifle. Much of the effect ofwind-
age is obviated by the shape ofthe ball, as
well us by its positive motion when it leaves
the muzzlc of the piece; in this it resembles
the Minnie. 1t is not complicated in it's
construction, is easily cleaned, and suffers
mo injury from damp weather. These pcsu-
lliaritics of the Sharp rifle render its use cs-
pccially convenient for mounted men. The
small carbinc now used by the United States
Dragons throws ball with deadly accura-
cy from quarter 10 half a mile.
The small pocket pistols are calculated to
throw Minnie ball one hundred yards "a
cavalry pistol with range of five hundred
wards rifle suitable for infantry with u
range of one mile; and large gun will
throw two ounce ball, or small shell,
one mile and half, or as far as man or
horse can be seen to advantage. Ii is claim
cd for this latter weapon that it will set on
fire house or ship at distance of nearly
two miles, and prevent the use of field artil-
lery by killing the horses before the guns
are brought within good range.
The owners of this rifle reckon that, in
the hands of men well drilled to its use, one
of them is equal to ten ordinary muskets
even with bayonets; or in other words one
thousand men armed with Sharp's rifle will
keep off ten thousand armed with common
guns; inasmuchas at distance of one hun
dred feet the rifle can be discharged at least
ten times before the bayonet could be used.
Among the performances with this weapon
} we are enabled to state that n gentleman
who had some experience with the piece fired
at target four feet square, at distance OF
half mile, thirty times, one half at ran
dom, the other ut rest, and hit the mark
twenty times in the thirty, within space
Of three feet diameter. A better marksman
.'.sn the above fired with one of these rifles
Va. ~dred times at target foot square
oIo nu.. 4, distance of one third of u mile
PNa Sh;. u. Tue ven times.
anu hi' ~ hihety-s~' ven descriptions Of
In comparison of -, ,,utcd by tn,
rifles before commission app. lat Nh,
I. 5. government, Sharp's was place.
head Of the list.
The first lot of these rifles which was
turned out were taken by the government
and are now in the hands Of troops on the
Texas frontier. Large numbers have been
manufactured to supply orders for the war
abroad. So terribly efficient a weapon of
offence and defence as the " Sharp rifle" in
vented, and now owned by our countrymen,
recommends itself strongly on the score of
public policy rs n means of warfare which
should be nationalized, and its manufacture
exclusively controlled by the general gov
ernment.