New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-01-30
improvements in Eire-MrnIs.

The advantages Of rapidly in loading and dis
charging fire arms apparent and the settlement
Of tie principle conclusive In the adoption OF TO
revolving pistol in preference 20 tie single oacer ~ tho
people Ia general and the Government In particular
that Il would appear to bo 10 longer an open question:
in spite Of the opinion TO the contrary Of tho
former Chief Of the Ordnance Department at wash
ington, who opposed in the most strenuous manner
their introduction into the Army for TIE reason that he
preferred tie old flint lock mukct TO any Of The modern
improved arms and yer. T as 70 express his be-
lief that c could as adv ,egeonsy employ them now
against the Rebels ancestors did in the days u
the Revolution. When percussion caps were introduced
tor the use Of froarms rapidly were they adopted
that in a very few years the Old hintock became
completely obsolete, aud is to the present Yong
America age" On object " curiosity. il was thought
that the Of perfection was gained IN this new
method OF ignliing ammunition, but within the last nTe
or sT years great innovations have been made upon the
manufacture Of pegcufsioncops and they row
appear likely 10 give way 10 the use OF fixed ammu-
milton, or copper waterproof cartridge, which Ia
rapidly coming into general use heTe and
also In Europe. and win eventually DO exclusively
adapted BY the whole world, where the use OF hro u ms
is known. In these cartridges TIC porcussoncap TIE
charge " powder ard lead are all combined and en-
closed IN copper table which is perfectly watertgh
and secure from tho efTec;s OF the atmosphere They
can be handled with perfect safety AID kept for yearS
without injrry.
The appcati Of this cartridge. which in iIself is
Acknowledged one OF the Improvements Of tie age
has developed O complete and notceably improved
wcapon-pistol and csrbine-letters ratont Of which
are held by Messrs. Herwin Bray the nsnufacturcrs
Of No. a6a Broadway Their newly perfected revolver
= 4 r,f. ha,y an cal
that Il can DO used either with the copper cartridge
loose ammunition or. by Swing the old shells Of the
copper cartridge, they can be reloaded by hand with
ordinary powder and used es many times as desired.
They have been examined and favoTably oonsid.
cred by the War Department and VIII proba'
biz be adopted In tho cavalry service, rs oaciy
loaded less likely 10 get out OK order than
the other reyolrerf and being very compact The
alryman has but 10 throw his rens over his arm. and
whe holding the pistol In ono band. insert the cart
rdgc In the muzzlo of the cylinder with ho other and
his IeYolyeI Is ready for use In moment The cyHn.
der works flush a recol plate and having shoulder
at the lateral and upon which the cartridge rests 1t
cannot by any possibility become clogged. The cart
ridge is well fabricated and coming Gush with the
gle Of the cylinder caunot work loose however hard the
soldier may ride. No pieces IRE TO be taken ont and
slipped into the pocket ramrod is TO be held La the
teeth as In other pistols while loading but the cartridge
bslpg slipped in ~ above described the work ia com
pleted An extra cylinder with nipples for caps accom-
penies the pistol TO be used In the event Of fixed smnu
milton giving out.
The handle via designed by Col. Adams an old army
officer. and fits well to the hand.
Billiards. breechloading rifle end carbIne. mannfac.
tured by the same firm extensively used In the
cavalry arm OF the service, having nearly superseded
all Of the old styles. The action Of this arm In sim
poitly itself and therein has its chefmerit The Army
Board who examined It years ago before its intro
duetoa into the seryoe reported its qualification bsfy