Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-08-06
THE cHAssEpor GUN


will interest the readers Of the NEws.
1t is a breech-loading needle gun, like
the Prussian. As in that weapon, so
in this, a cylinder or bolt Is moved by
a lever pressed down OH the right side
Of the weapon when It Is loaded, and
when this lever is pulled back, IN
opening Is seen, which admits Of the
Insertion Of the cartridge In the barrel.
In this cylinder there is a rod moved
by a bell-spring. At its extremity the
needle Is fixed by mean ola "muff;"
the needle itselfis a thread of steel,
terminating in a point at the side Of
the barrel. The rod-spring Is connected
with the hammer. which, guided by a
roller to avoid friction, receives from
the thumb of the soldier a movement
following the axis of the gun, which
brings the tumbler Of the lock against
the follower, where 1t remains fixed
until the trigger Is pulled. So far the
Chassepot differs but little from the
needle gun. The main difference be-
tween them Is In the use Of India-rub-
Der for expansion to I'LL up the barrel,
instead OF two cones, Us in the Prusslan
yum. When the breech Is shut the In
lia-rubber ring, or obturator, as 1t Is
called, %penetrates into a comic cham
Der ut the base of the barrel. This Is
composed Of a piece called the "head
Of the breech," and ending In steel
button. which Is shaped like q fiat disk
IN the side Of the breech, and whose
liameter Is a little less than that of
the chamber. Between the part Of the
movable cylinder and the anterior
port of the button Il ring Of India-rub-
her is placed. This Is vulcanized and
the rod passes through it. This ring
Is composed Of three round pieces
placed together the two outside ones
IRE very hard, the middle one Is more
elastic. The button carries on Its CEN
ter a tube 0.50 inch long, which the
needle passes through, and which pen
etrates the barrel ; the latteri Is slightly
G ,larged ut the breech to receive the
cartridge. 70 prevent accidents, a
screw is fixed upon the hammer. and
held in a longitudinal opening In the
breech, when the weapon Is closed. 1t
thus permits the spring to dart the
needle into the cartridge, IN every
other position of the cylinder, this
screw catches against the back Of the
breech, so that the hammer cannot act.
A second notch, less deep than the
tlrst, allows the hammer to fall about
half of its course. When the lever Is
pressed to the right, a strong shoulder
on the cylinder rests itself against the
fixed piece which surrounds the latter,
serving it as a guide, and hinderlng
every movement at the back Of the cyl
Under. The weapon is now ready for
firing. The cartridge Is composed Of
a sheath or case Of paper, at the bot
tom of which is fitted tight u disk of
pasteboard, pierced In the center BY
an opening, in which is a cap exactly
like that used for percussion locks.
only smaller. The edges resting on
the p~asteboard give to the printing, the
opening of which Is turned onward
the base of the sheath, sufficient re-
81 stance to enable the shock Of the
needle to produce Its effect, and
two holes pierced at the bottom OF the
cap permit the jets of flame, which are
produced at the moment Of defagra-
ton, to penetrate the charge. A little
morsel Of cloth introduced into the
| printing forces the incandescent gases
to escape by these two openings, and
increases the resistance of the opposite
side. And lastly, the bottom Of the
powder case or sheath Is covered with
stiff paper. Thus complete, the case
receives five and a half grains Of pow
der lightly poured In, and the ball,
wrapped in a paper envelope and
strengthened at the base by a thick
piece of pasteboard, Is attached to 1t
BY a lisaturc. The projectile Is a ball
Of a pointed cylindrical shape, weigh
ing twenty-five grains, and slightly
swelling ut the back. 1t has no grooves
and Is very much heightened. The
charge Is made with q special kind Of
powder. This weapon possesses a very
long range of fire, aud does execution
at a thousand yards distance, with n
very slight elevation. There Is but
one form Of 1t for both Infantry and
chasseurs. The latter will have n light
bayonct added to 1t, while the Infantry
have a four-angled sword bayonet.
The drill'relating to the Chassepot has
five movements, viz: l. 10 arm
Seize the gun with the left hand and
rest the butt-end on the right side;
then, with the right hand on the
handle. the forefinger on the guard,
| place the thumb OH the head of the
cock and pull 1t back until the follower
catches In the tumbler. 2. 10 open
the weapon-rurn the lever from right
to left and force the breech back. 8.
To load--Seize the cartridge and insert
1t in the barrel. 4. 10 close the wea-
pon-Push back the breech and bring
down the lever on the right side Of the
gun. 8. TO fire. During the fourth
movement the cartridge, pushed back
by the tube which terminates the OBJ
turator, enters the chamber destined
to receive 1t. and thus leaves behind 1t
a comic space filled with air. At the
moment when the trigger Is pulled,
the needle, passing through the head
Of the breech and the tube which rests
against the cartridge, strikes the
printing aud occasions the explosion.
The powder escapes but little from the