The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-05-26

ANOTHER DESTRUCTIVE WEAPoN.-Larqe Orders
from England for american Fire Arms.-The large
quantity of firearms and gun making machinery al
ready furnished to England from American work
shops, proves to have been but the precursor of
more extended orders. Hitherto our mechanics
have restricted their efforts more particularly to
the manufacture of small arms. in which their skill
has been amply acknowledged; but now we hear
casually of a couple OF monster raed guns which
have been in course of preparation by the we'll
known manufacturers of Chicopee, Mass. the
Games Manufacturing Company" and that the
results of preliminary trial of an extraordna-
ry character. One OF these guns is intended for
the United States Governments the other will be
taken out in the Russian trigate General Admir-
al, for presentation to the Gar of all the Russians
A few days since, Captain Chestahoff, the future
commander OF the new steamer, heard of the per-
formances OF the gun, and, with characteristic
zeal, at once determined to obtain duplicate in
behalf of his sovereign.
In several respects, the gun here referred to,
conforms to the description recently given in Eng
Iish papers of the celebrated IA rmstrong" gun
1t has rifed bore, of diameter capable Of receiv-
ing four pound bail; but the missile here en-
ployed is so elongated that the weight of metal is
Increased to thirteen pounds. The section or
base, is composed of lead, presenting a concave
surface to the cartridge, with the view of its being
forced into the grooves by the expansion of the
powder behind it, thus preventing loss of explosive
power by windage. prominent object in the ex-
periments made, was to ascertain the effect of in
creasing the number of grooves. The remarkable
accuracy lnaly obtained, Is shown by the fact that
three balls were thrown through the same perfora-
ton, with only ritiing variation at the distance
OF hall mile. The target was placed on the slope
oil NH while these experiments We're in progress
with the suppositon that the resistance offered by
the target would prevent the ball going much be-
yond; but messenger brought word that dana ge
was being done two miles further off. Balls were
then fired that they struck into the earth com
partively short distance from the target and on
being dug out were found shattered by the concus-
sion.
We learn from Mr.. Z. V. Haughwout agent for
the Ames Manufacturing Company that orders
were brought out by the last steamer from Eng
land for the immediate construction of large auan
titles of machinery for the manufacture OF the
most approved American firearms, and that the
same have been put in hand for execution, both at
Chicopce and other large works. Offering the need
ed facilities. The agents of the British govern
ment bearing these orders also bring large in
stament of sterling gold, and unrestricted as
to the amount of work to be done. The American
machinery already in England is worked up to its
fullest capacity, turning out several thousand GUNS
per month, under the direction of workmen from
the shops at Chicopee
We understand that public trial of the new ri
He'd cannon will soon be made at Governors Island,
under military supervision, probably during the
present week.
The United States government armories both at
Springfield and Harper's Ferry, are manufacturing
the rlf1ed musket for the United States army This
weapon in destructiveness will compare well with
the MIME rifle, or any thing else in use About
$4,000 of these muskets will be made at Spring
field in the course of the present year; at both nla
ces, something like e, O0O.-Jornolof Commerce.