Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1866-09-20
Breech-Loading Guns.

Revolution in the manufactur,
OF infantry firearms has fairly be
gun. Like other changes, it ha
required time for its inception; bu
it is now actually started, ant
promises to be sweeping and thor
ough. Governments are proven
bially sluggish in the adoption OF
innovations. But prejudice ha'
been at last overcome, and only
the recent achievement at Kon
iggratz was needed to rouse all Eu
rope from its lethargy, and oper
the eyes of the world to a tull ap
probation of the last great i'm
provement in firearms.
Though Prussia has been the
first to effect an entire radical
change in her small arms, and to
demonstrate to the world its ad.
vantage, yet it is due our own Gov.
ernment to have the credit of fos-
tering that special improvement,
which secures the consummation of
success in this direction. More
than year ago, our Government
organized commission to investi-
gate the subject of breech-loading
arms, and report upon the merits
of such specimens as might be pre-
sented for examination. The
experiments were continued for
many months, with a great va'-ie-
ty OF guns. The report of the de-
liberations of that Commission has
not yet been made public, but it
cannot be doubted by those who
are acquainted with the trial made,
that the new Remington breech-
loading rifle will be approved as
the most effective weapon of the
kind that has yet been produced.
Since that time, as fast as sam
pies could be procured, similar
trials of this gun have been in
progress in several of the coun-
tries of Europe; thus far with but
one result-the most favorable.
In these trials, the desiderata
are, of course, extent of range,
portability, durability, accuracy,
safety and convenience of hand
ling in action, simplicity and
cheapness of construction, and f.
nally, capacity for the most rapid
firing. The superiority in other
being easily established,
and in most cases readily conceded,
competition has been attempted
almost solely in respect to the ra-
pidity of firing. And here again,
the success is most triumphant
In none of the public trials is its
rate of firing quoted at less than
thirteen shots per minute, while in
the hands of an adept it has Of
tener exceeded sixteen shots per
minute. In the report just re-
ceived of q recent trial in Eng
land, it is stated that "the Rem
lngton gun was fred Al times in
less than three minutes, while the
Spencer gun was fired only 26
times in the same space of time"
Moreover, it is to be noted that
he use of the Remington gun is
not attended with the dangers and
disadvantages of magazine in
he breech, which is necessary to
he Spencer gun.) But, more i'm
,ortant than all hitherto, is the
asst news from Austria. The Vi
.nna correspondent of the London
Times says: "Lindner & Reming-
on will have the honor of seeing
heir system tried in actual COM
,at;" and much more, to the ef-
ect, that Austria's decision is not
also that "all the re-
ources of private and public |
works are to be taxed for the sup
,ly of these new descriptions of |
ire-arms. Confrmatory of the
lbove, we learn that Messrs. E.
Remington & Sons, of Illion, have
just received a dispatch by the |
Atlantic cable, saying Austria has
ldopted the Remington arm,
france impatient for the arrival
# the sample guns ordered. APP
opos to this, we learn that the
amples for France have probably |
" this time Just reached their des-
ination, while the additional guns
rdered by England are also nov |
eady for shipment. The Minis
er of War of Belgium has ap-
lied for authority to manufacture |
Arms in that country under the !