Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-08-22
CONCERNING FIRE ARMS,

CONCERNING FIRE ARMS.
The existence of the present warlikc
condition of affairs in this country will
naturally direct the attention of all class
es of people to the instruments will
which the question at issue is to be solved
A peaceful nation like the American i,
better acquainted with the manufacture
and uses of the plow, the spade, and the
harrow, than those deadly weapons o.
war which we have now to make and
WELD. Very few know anything about
arms, and as every one is liable to be call
ed upon to converse about them. if not to
bear them, some description of those
which may probably come into service
during the present war will not be inap.
propriate or uniDteresting.
REVOLVING PISTOLS.
Colts revolving pistols has become SO
universally known Of late years that any
description of them is superhuous; where
pistols are used they will be the regula-
ton arm. AT present it is almost imp
sible to purchase them at any reasonable
price, the army pattern selling for $27.
Another very good revolving pistol is
North's patient, made by the Savage Re-
volving Fire Arm Co., at Middletown,
Connecticut They are sold for $50, army
size. A new modification of the pistol,
called the "Young America" consists of
an arrangement by which, with one bar
rel, you are enabled to obtain two dis
charges, the barrel having two sepcratc
loads, each charge being reached by sep
arate hammer and cap. The pistol is
very small, and an extremity effective lit
tie weapon.
OLD STYLE OF MUsKETs.
Until the year 1855 the regulation arm
for United States Infantry was the smooth
bored musket, probably as inefficient a
weapon as could be devised. The smooth
barrel, highly polished, being absolutely
impossible to sight over with any degree
of accuracy, while its carrying power was
by no means great. Since 1855 these
arms have been rihed, and patient sights
attached, making them at present very
effective; They cary the Mime bullet
Now, they are two points with regard to
which people have very various ideas; one
of these is concereing rifles. And in Or
der to instruct great mass of individ-
uals who would be ashamed to confess
their ignorence, and greatly surprised il
they knew how many shared it, we will
give as simple an idea Of the process OF
rifling as possible.
RIFLING GUN BARRELS.
To rife gun barrel, from four to six
grooves are cut upon the interior of the
barrel, extending longitudinally through
from end to end. These grooves are, in
depth about equal to the thickness of a
finger nail. Commencing parallel to
to each other, they presently take what
is termed the gaining twist" and run
spirally, still holding their relative posi-
tions, to the muzzle. Thus succession
of threads like a screw is formed, around
which the ball is forced, and by reason
of its spiral motion is Of course propcll-
ed both with greater accuracy and great
er force, and these last are the advantages
of rilling gun barrel
THE MINNIE BALL.
Next to describe the Mimic ball-so
called, though we have reason to believe
that the principle on which it is made
was first discovered by N. Greener, gun
maker, Birmingham, England, and af-
terward appropriated by M. Mimic
The MIME bullet is cone, followed at
the base to the depth of about one third
the height of the bullet; the cartridge is
fastened to the base Of the bullet, the
whole inclosed in a paper cover, and is
hen placed in the barrel and rammcd
home. When the powder explodes it fills
up she cavity in the bullet, expands the
cad, and drives it into the grooves of the
rife filling them completely air tight
The bullet being creased, it slips along
,he grooves without sticking, otherwise
he gun becomes loaded. This principle
overcomes the windage, and avoids the
necessity for forcing large bullet into
4 small bore, which frequently resulted
in bursting the guns.
snARp's RIFLES.
Another weapon which has obtained
noteriety and reputation
since the Kansas troubles, and will prob
ably be brought into service during the
present war, is the Sharp's rifle. The
peculiarly of this arm is that ii is breech-
oading. BY means of appropriate mech
.nism, the end of the barrel in the stock
slides down, leaving the barrel entirely
open. The prepared cartridge and ball
Inserted, the slide returned, and the load
ng is completed OF course the opera
ion is very much simplified and facilita-
ed; but some Objectionable features pre-
ent themselves in the fact that the sep
Iration of the barrel permits the escape |
If gas when the explosion takes place;
hat the mechanism is liable to derange-
nent; the barrel requiring frequently to
'e cleaned; and finally, that the gun is
more expensive than others that are more
eliable. The gun cost about $45 with
abre bayonet, which will be described |
elsewhere.
ARMY MUsKETs.
Of the army musket (rifled) of 1855,
with clasp bayonet, there can be manu-
'actured at Springfield from 1900 to 2O0O
per month. About 49, 900 have already
oeen turned out from that place, half of
which are in possession of the Conteder-
.te forces. The 7th, 10Th, and list Reg
ments N. Y. S. NJ, are furnished with
his arm, which can be supplied by the
quantity at about $22,50 each. The