New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-08-07
An Improved Firearn,.

Among the improvements developed during the
last two years in the shane OF arms projectilee and
other weapons Of warfare, BallsTds breech-leadinS
rio and carbne seems 10 have commended itself 70
the especial attention Of military men, and vhenevW
they have been used by cavalry or sharpshootcre
death has invariably marked tbs unsrrng course OF
their bullets. This weapon weighs only seven
pounds, aud Is excellently prOportlOned, balancing
nicely in tie hard and coming well to the shoulder.
Il has five grooves, and is made in three caliben-
3S.l00ihs Of an inch, 4il00ths, and 59-lOOths--ths
former being most approved for sporting puTposes,
and tine latter according TO Government Regulations.
It is made with three lengths Of barrel-24, 20 and
Is inches-the shortest being finished q carbins
for mounted officers and cavalry. $. " Benes,
Captain Of Ordnance o, Wes, Point, in his report 10
Brig. .Gen. j. W. Ripley, Chief Of Ordnance =
wsshngton-Gen. Ripley having ordered triad Of
tie arm IN the early partof the war-ailer describing
its paris, action, &C., says in conclusion, alto
ge,hsr IL Is the very lest loading carbine ihs, has
been presented 10 me for trial" The action Of he
arm Is simplicity itself, and therein lies 10 chief
merit. A graceful and well proportionsd scroS
guard covers tho trigger Is usual in rifes; this
folds forward toward the muzze upon pivot, and 10
doing 80 draws down the lock, BANNER &C., an
covering tue breech end of the barrel 81 that the
whole length Of the tube Can be easily seen. A me-
tallic cartridge containing cap powder and ball q
then slipped in, when the guard 10 drawn back,
bringing up the lock to ts normal position with the
hammer at half cock. The gun is then ready TO b
fired After the discharge the guard is again thrown
forward the old cartridge shell thrown out BY Q
simple con,rvance, and Il new cartridge inserted ~
hand. This rifle may thus DO fred by an expen
band ten or twelve times in q minute without evea
removing it from his shoulder
Messrs. Merwin e. Bray Of No. &c? Broadway
are now Engaged in the manufacture OF TINS arm,
aud are under contract with the General Govern
ment and with several VI the States for large sup
ply OF the weapon.
Under tho orders Of Quartermastsr- General J. y.
Robinson, jr., OF Kentucky, that State has been
form shed with 5000 Of the Ballard breeeh'loadine
carbines, which have been placed the bands Of 1s
h.., cavalry regiments Ut " Old Ksutuck." Geo.
Robinson. in answer to letter of inquiry frO0
Comnssary General Farrell OF this State In regardts
this weapon SAYS: "No gun in our service has tvSs
more general satisfaction, not only to myself bus y
all Of the State authorities. For accuracy. for peas'
,ration aud simplicity, il is equal TO any that have
vet ried-tor strength and durability It superior.
or those in our service not one has been rcturnsd
for repair Of all received and examined not one has
been rejected, for which l give NJ. G'. Merwin .
Bray great credit"
We were Yesterday shown by Messrs. Msrwin q
Bray breech-losding musket which they Lave 70
Gently patented. 1t closely resembles the Spring.
field mu.ket, bu, presents much moro graceful sns
tidy appearance. IL is Designed especially tos
.barpshooters, and is 90 arranged that in case ths
metallic Cartridge gives cut the soldier can use N
ordinary ball cartridge with percussion cap Tae
nipple tor ths cap is ugonously liked IN the lo0t:
and communicates mere directly with the oarts'
than in the ordinary guns now used. Thisln'
possesses great merit, and NJ highly spoken :" ="
officers who have examined and tested II.