Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-10-21
w. d. WALLACH.
THE ENFIELD RIFLE.

On the banks of the river Lea, about ten
miles from London, is situated the little town
OF Enfield, now rendered famous as the site of
Government factory for the manufacture of
the Enfield ride In 1854, when experience
gained in the Russian war had taught the
ERglish Government that the time had gone
by for a continued use Of the old Brown
Bess, the manufacture Of smooth bore small
arms was abandoned and the factory at En-
held was enlarged and adapted to the produc-
ton Of rified arms, the pattern known as that
OF 1853 being adopted as the best, became sub
sequently world-renouned as the Enfield
rife"
The buildings which constitute the factory
are situated on the banks of the river, the site
being undoubtedly chosen in consideration of
the available water power, and also the means
OF transport which the navigable portion of
the river presents. The rooms in which the
manufacture is conducted are Of course very
numerous, as the different processes amount to
no less than 769, and in addition to the actual
working and engine rooms, there are a num-
Der Of houses, belonging to the Government,
IN the occupation of those employed; me-
chanic's institute and library, a small church
and q school house.
The first form Of the rife barrel is an OBJ
long tile-like plate of the best wrought char
GOAL iron Of thirteen inches long, little more
than half an inch thick, and FIVE and half
inches wide on one side and FIVE inches on the
OthoAB SuC c0Soo OSluR D6Nelleu In OTQeE 10 IN
sure close Join" The plate Is first heated,
and after several passages through powerful
pair OF rollers containing q series of grooves
and projections, 1t assumes form not unlike
small agricultural drain pipes. The barrel is
then again heated in a reverhatory furnace
and passed through a series of rollers on a set
OF rods until IL is drawn out to the proper
length. The operation is rather difficult the
grooves OF the rollers not being concentric; the
workman has to watch his opportunity very
nicely and thrust in the barrel at the exact
moment the proper part of the roller comes
round. The work is so exhaustive that during
the hot weather the men are only allowed to
work i've hours day.
The next process the barrel undergoes il that
OF rough boring" This is performed in ma
chimes in which four barrels are operated on
at time. An instrument like a twisted augur
attached to a long rod which is made to re-
volve, the barrel being fixed horizontally,
passes right through. The barrel is then set
and Strengthened with hammers by hand Af-
forwards 1t is turned on the outside and bored
for the third time, the chamber of the breech
bored out, and, after the end has been tapped
with hne thread for receiving the breech pin
1t is proved for the first time with a besvy
charge Of powder. The object Of this early
proving is to save the labor which might else
be wasted On faulty barrel. If after a close
inspection IL is approved, il is sent to the
"grlndery," where the outside is ground to a
given guage. 1t then goes through some sixty
nine different operations of minor importance
before 1t is ready to be riAed. The riding ma
chimes are of Belgian manufacture. The barrel
Is hrmly liked at the lower end; a steel rod
containing the cutter that forms the grooves, is
made to pass clear through it, a special con-
ulvance ensuring that this shall be deeper at
the breech than the muzzle end. The twist of
the grooves. which amounts to a half turn in
the length Of the barrel, is obtained with the
assistance Of a radial steel barrel, which is set
at such an angle that rack which slides on it,
the other end of which gears into pinion fx-
ed TO the cutting bar, makes that bar re-
voiys to the extent of half q turn as it slides
from end to end. The metal Is constantly lu-
bricated and kept cool by stream of soap and
water. The barrel having been rifed is then
polished and otherwise prepared for stocking
Ths stocks are made by q copying lathe
which, like many of the machines in use are
of American invention and manufacture. The
copying lathe is machine In which a steel
model Is placed below the actual stock In the
same relative position, and both made to re-
yolye a. exactly the same rate, IS times per
minute. Against the model q guiding wheel
reTolVes; and cutter, revolving g. 600 times a
minute, soon brings the stock to the shape of
the model.
There are nearly 1000 hands EMPLOYED in
the factory, who are paid by the piece. ANY
material that Is wasted is charged to the ac-
count OF the workman who Injuries il; and as
every portion of the rife passes thorough as
many hands, the workmen are q continual
check on each other, each giving a receipt for
the material be takes in hand, to the foreman
of his department.
Many operations through which each rife
passes before it is ready for use, and those re-
latins to its fittings, and to the manufacture of
the bayonet, 30, are so similar to like opera
tions in other factories, that they do not need
description