The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-08-12
The RIVAL BREECH-LOADERS.
The Needle Gun and tho CEasserot.

The Needle Gun and the Chassepot.
IL Tins now war does not produce
some other weapon hitherto known
only to those accustomed TO manjpu.
lato il in secret practice, tho Chasse
pot and tho Prussian brccch -Io,dcr
will be fairly tried against each other.
But there arc already suspicious or
rumors that each foe brings into the
fight new weapons which will com
plcto the test. There i3 tho
French mitraillcusc, it is said, which
can rain bullets Iika hail. There is
also tho Prussian kugclhitscn.-
Whether hail or conical shot will
carry the day il is impossible to say
but it is noticeable that tho war of
the nineteenth century is transferred
to the artisans shop, and that diplo-
macy and "tcntcd fields" arc but
agencies and Instruments whcrcwith
is obtained q trial Of the inventive
Scnins of bcllicosc nations.
The prussian needle gun is tho in
vcntion Of Mr. Drcysc, u manufac-
Juror OF &rms ut Sommcrda. who
spent over thirty years in trying to
construct q perfect brcccll-loadin~
rifle. The cartridge il; inserted at the
rear, and the ignition is produced by
the intrusion Of q needle into the full
inmate attached to the cartridge.
The barrel is 3G.OG inches long, and is
riilcd with four grooves down to tho
brccch, where tho chamber, or bed
for the cartridgc, is smooth and II lit
tic larger than the bore. The bed
cnlargci slightly to the rear 50 ai to
admit tho cartridge freely, and t.c
lower part Of the bore for distance
OF G:17 inches is enlarged so that tho
ball is gradually compressed into the
grooves. The rear Of tho barrel is
conlcal, and is called the mouthpiccc.
Over this part there is a six-silcd
cylinder, which holds all the mcchan-
ism Of the piece. The air-chambcr,
next TO the cylinder, has the needle
pipo screwed into its hrccch. The
ball is sphcrico- -conical. The charge of
powder is 5G grains. The weight of
tho Prussian needle gun is 1927
pounds TO 11.3 pounds. The mcchan-
ism can DO taken apart without screw
driver, vice, &c. 1t can DO safely
and easily cleaned, and tho gun being
small is particularly adapted for use
IN the contracted space Of loopholcs,
on horseback, &c. Tho objections to
the Prussian ncodlo gun arc tho dam
ger of tho weakening of tho spi.
raj spring and tho possibility that
the needle may not be propelled with
sufficient iorco to picrco the cartridge.
On account of tho case and rapidity
with which it is loaded, there is also
danger of waste Of ammunition, rs
tho soldier in the heat Of battle, will
often fire his piece rs fast as possible,
even when ho knows tho firing has
no effect. 10 msIlc tho best use of
the needle gun, tho soldier requires
special training. The Prussiun army
is very well trained to its use, and in
this respect has an advantage over
the French, who have never been in
u great battle with their Chasscpot.
The frc:rm which has been adopt-
cd by the French army is tho cole
bratcd Chasscpot rife, which is prob
ably the most efficient weapon over
put into tho hands Of an army Of in
tantry. 1t resembles the Hrussan
needle gun, but possesses several i'm
provcmcnts. During the late war be-
tween Prussia and Austria, the effect
i've work of tho newly invented
needle gun attracted tho notice Of all
fighting nations; and tho French, an
ticipating that they would sometime
be called upon to punish Prussia for
her alleged arrogance and want Of
honor, Immediately set to work to in
vent weapon that should surpass the
needle gun in its power rs an engine
of war. The result was the invention
by NJ. Chasscpot, after long and care
tul study, having tho Prussian gun to
aid him and to improve upon. After
tho now rifle had been tested over and
over again, tho attention Of tho En-
peror was invited to it, and it was
not long before ho was convinced of
its superiority, and ordered it's adop-
ton in tho army. One Of the princi-
pal improvements which the Chase
pot has over the needle gun of Prus.
sia is that its movement is simpler,
and instead of being tightly incloscd
in the breach by q cylinder, it is al
most fully exposed, and the employ
mcnt of India rubber as an obturator.
1t is argued that the Prussian gun,
after it has been discharged several
times in quick succession, becomes
hot and damp in tho cylinder, owing
to tho inability of tho gas, which
comes back after tho explosion of tho
cartridge, to escape. Tho inside soon
becomes dirty, and tho soldier is re-
quircd to take his piecc apart and
clean it. Tho French gun is always
open, and whilo there is no gas shut
up in chamber to corrodc tho metal,
it can in n moment be cleansed from
dirt or rust, and tho soldier is ALWAYS
ablo to quickly discover any accident
to his rife. 1t is claimed that this
gun is not SO easily cloggcd as the
Prussian needle gun, and is moro sub
stantially built. The Chasscpot is
handled in tho following manner
While loading, hold tho gun in the
left hand with tho butt end resting
on the left hip. Tho lever is theI
turned with but ono movement, from
right to left, and with another pulled
back, after which tho cartridge is in
serted into the opening thus effected
| XIV q third ~,