The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-10-12

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nosuty bsIsss he pablo for ths sss - defects .
b. pronounced upon
Through the kindnsas OF Colonel Csssplns III
efncsnt Ordinance Omc,r Of this Sta<e TIE Writer haa
named ~sssu - e recent nSsoou and sAsuss
Of the most popular nseasms In the United stasa
almost devoid Of mechanical work. Ths b!eeoa boc.E
consists Of solid zoe or steel connected with the
q .s s0A o.d 70 e ss : lever ! Tho only
about tbs gum, and u b merely the look thss kosps
81: ssa block e ssssd S: s.a as ~
ejeos ins exploded shell entirely from the bseecn
simultaneously with Tho pulling down Of the lever me
OF failing downward Whom The lever Is pulled down. n
moves backward. thus exposing the breech 1his sys.
BE- pusnsd into the brsscS suosny - soon - The
lever pulled back the face OF The block comes 10 con-
act With the cover Of the cartridge and STOVES y bone
without the slightest dancer Of premature discharge
Another source Of safety In the pouteney rife that by
the opening OF the breech the hammer 70 lfoocked,
strikes against pin which through the block, and
| the blow ID transmitted 70 the fulminate The gun IL
Sa Ss mSd ss'S o
bresch and s,sct the Ssrtrdas; second inserting fresh
closing the broech; fourth. cooking the hammer; hh
nnng The only defect in this is that the spur or
certainty OF election should the metal Of the shell b
| Of infericr quality.
This weapon has largely used 10 tho United States
cavalry service and there Is likelihood that will b
permanently adopted for that branch Of tho army The
carbine composed OF two parts One being the barrel,
and the other the STOCK with the lock attached These
are secured By axis OF rotation, or hinge, with .
and catch in the rear Of the hammer retain II In IL
proper position Attached to the axis Of rotation II the
spur which under the chamber Of the breech 20 that
m a thrown forward the ah0ll In
elected The method Of operation is as foowB:-The
barrel Of tho carbine thrown upon the left arm
10 the axis OF rotation and the catch In the or the
hammer being pressed down with the finger the locking
spring is released and the barrel falls downward and
hand on stock brings the barrel and he socks
level and the locking spring is instantly fastened TO
the CATCH All that then remains IS TO cock and re the
and possesses considerable strength The great merit II
undoubtedly has Is the with which it can be loaded
and fired Any ordinarily drilled soldier cam at full
gaop load and Gre six eight times per minute and
sill guide his horse with the left hand Although
fu II i would be effective for infantry The method OF
loading which would expedite tho cavalryman, Is very
likely TO delay the infantry soldier ps
LAIDLKY CARBHE
This breech loader 10 tho invention OF ocer Of the
United States army, and s Of recent date. It is made
dercnce being that the breech block and the hammer
pulled back together whereas IN the Remington they
pulled back separately Another slight difference is
in the locking OF the hammer after 1t Is cooked This 10
done by catch at the side Of the stock instead Of by the
breech block, in the other mentioned II does
appear from the description gven that the Iadley
carbine any better than tho Remington There
the objection, vizthat the distance from the
axis Of rotation to the finger ears or top OF the breech
the breech when the exploded shell is resisting the
ton Of the block romans the same
THE NATIONAL RIFLE.
Breech loading rifles are made on several principles
such the swinging block sliding block &c. We only
sy s
sess any bona merits The national bresch loading rife
constructed the sliding block system, and ia made
follows lin the Of the breech block and below
Is recoil bearer, composed Of iron, in the shape Of
threeside paraielogram In front OF this and above
sides of the lower portion Of the front Of The block is
spur which enters small cavity either side Of the
chamber OF the barrel and these spurs eject the shell
completely from the breech when the lever s pulled
down. The lever forms the trigger guard and Is
in Its place by spring attached 70 It's fore part which
contained solid chamber and has connection with
the reech block In many others Of recent invention
the upper up pOTon q the se block pin
the blow 10 tho illuminate Of the metallic cartridge The
manner OF operating the rife is as foows:Thel lever
being pulled down, the reco bearer falls sufficiently low
TO permit the breech block 70 81 dc It, and the shell
rapidly elected As the breech block slides backwards
the hammer Is forced TO half cock by the action thus
now OPEN the cartridge is dropped into the open space
between the chamber Of the barrel and the block the
lever Is pulled back and the face OF the block pressing
against the rim OF the cartridge forces into the barrel
The gun Is then fully cooked and fred. Tho National
rifle Is very simple In It's construction, and its principal
merits that It has dependence upon springs levers
ncrums ior circular bearings for resisting the discharge
The resistance ia obtained by perfectly square, solid
blocks which move alright anges Again, there IL not
the slightest Hanger OF premature discharge, 90 well
arranged thu breoch block 70 the chamber Tho
pom Ia light hut possesses immense strength In tho
presence Of the writer several charges consisting Of 100
grains OF powder and s4S grains Of lead fired from
the shoulder with but little or no reco An military
arm land only intended for such) the National rife
must eventually held high position The only defect
has is in the DANGER OF the lever spring dying Should
this battle field the soldier would be compelled
TO tie the lever 10 the stock for the purpose Of keeping
the brooch closed Bat this objection IL perhaps equally
applicable to all breech leaders The National ride has
been fred with ease sixteen times per minute
RAPfDnY IN FIRING BRxECH-LoADuRa
The following table will show the average number OF
shots per minute which have been fired from several
breech loading rides Of American invention and manu-
facture -
ar IA NJ -