Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-08-11
The Needle qua.

Tle Needle qua.
Tie Prus>la1 needle gun IS the IN
vcn,i1n ID Mr.. Drcysc, a manufacturer
of arm, at >onmcrla, vino spent over
thirty wears ii trying 10 construct Il
perfect ba-creI, loading rifle The ear
trid1e is inserted at the rear, and the
1gnItloh '' i'i~- -t t,-. IN. intrt,.i,n
of n needle into the illuminate iaafJicii4i
10 tie cartridge. The barrel is 80 .O6
iuchr, loug. ani is riilei with four
grooves down To the hrrcch. where the
chamber. or bel for the cartridge, i,
smooth aut 1 little larger than the
bore. Ihr bel enlarge. slightly to
the rear 50 a9 u admit the cartridge
freely. ani TIE lover part or tile bore
for distance NJ G.l1 inches j. cl-
larLed 50 the ball i, gradually com
pressed into the grooves. The rear OF
the barrel +, couicaI. anI is called the
mouth piece. Over this part there i
.iX-sidcI cyliud r. which hold, all
the mechali, i,in Of the piece. The air.
chamber. next 10 the cylinder, has the
needle pipe screwed INTO its breech.
At tie time Of the adoption of this
new gun tile cartridge WAS altered. the
sabot being enlarged aud placed be-
tween tie powder and the ball.
Tie ba.l i spherio-conical. The
charge of powder is j6 grains. The
weight of the needle-gun is 1929
pounds. The mechanism can be taken
apart without screw driver, vice. &c.
1t can he safely and easily cleaned,
and the Gun being small is particularly
adapted for use in the contracted space
OF loopholes, on horseback, &c. The
objections to the Prussian needlc-gun
are the danger of Il weakening of the
spiral spring and the possibility that
the needle may not be propelled with
sufficient force 10 pierce the cartrid &c.
On account of the ease and rapidltl
with winch it is loaded, there is alsC
danger Of waste Of ammunition, Il,
the soldiers in the heat Of battle, vii
often fire his piece as fast as possible
even when he knows the firing has nC
effect. 10 make the best use of the
needie-gun the soldier requires special
training. The Prussian army is very
well trained to its use, and in thi'
respect has an advantage over th'
French, who have never been into ;
great battle with their Chassepot.
The Chassepot.
The tire-arm which has been adopted
by the French army is the celebrated
Chassepot rifle. which is probably th'
most efficient weapon ever put into TIL
hands of an army of infantry. 1t re
sembles the needlegun, but possesses
several Improvements. During th
late war between Prussia and Austri
Tie effective work of the newly in
vented needlc-gun attracted the motto
of all lighting nations and the Frenc
anticipating that they would sometim
be called upon TO punish Prussia TO
her alleged arrogance and want 6
honor, Immediately set to work to III
vent weapon that should surpass tn
needle-gun in its power as an engin
of war. The result was the lnventio
BY NJ. Chassepot, after long and carr
ful study, having the Prussian gun t
all him to improve upon. After IL
new rifle had been tested over and owe
again, the attention of the Empert
was invited to it, and it was not lor
before he was convicted of its superio
: ity, and ordered its adoption by Il
army.
, One of the principal improvement
, which the Chassepot has over II
r needle-gun Of Prussia, is that its NOV
, ment is simpler, and instead OF beir
| tightly enclosed IN the breech by
( cylinder, it is almost fully expose