New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-27
Rnt. nlthongh they had

not superior TO the noedeun But although they had
te latter Tor model To work npOn nothing worm men
onng was achieved until 1853, the French Inspector
hmsnea OF Arms NJ Chassepot produced me Imode 0,
pIechoaIlhg percussion gun, which was, however
leeted by the Government account Of the frequent
missing le ana the comparatively slow process OF loau
lng In the Spring Of 1856 the French Government CON
eluded 10 arrange Toy n minute examination OF tWo
neWly presented models, the improved Chassepot tWl
our pereu,sion) and gun invented by captain OF ar
eIy named Plumerel. After fair and prolonged trla
the mlIafy commission decided IN favor or the Ghsse
pot gun, which was introduced for use In the French
Army by Imperial decree Of August 80 s66, under the
In order to enable us TO form correct opinion OF the
comparative merits and efficiency OF the various breech-
IOaders lately invented We class them M tollOws
Guhs me pOwder-chatge Of which Is igned through
bl9 N OF me hammer upon percussioncap.
z Guns loaded with metallic cartridge containing the
prectile and the ignble matter and where ignition Is
produced by blow upon the outside Of the cartridge.
needle.
4. Needle-guns with perpendicular movement of the
| needle
The construction of all breechloaders shows or
less similarity In many respects and the result obtained
TO range and accuracy does materially differ while
they are not at al equal in the rapdty Of their IRE The
mechanism Of obtraton; G., the hcrmera closing OF
lhe rear opening OF the barrel This elected IN three
| or internal obturatiOn.
by showing the open end Of the barrel into the NOV;
Of the barrel, called outside or external obturation
by closing the end OF the barrel with fiat massive
piece OF metal which method is denominated Hat obtua
tom, and can only be resorted to where metallic cart
ridges are used like those invented for the Lefancheux
| gun.
or these three methods OF obturaon the first is OBJ
Jectionabe and imperfect, nasmuch as the cylinder 10
be inserted into the barrel Of the gun comes into lmne
date contact with the acknowledgment, and with the
dirty residue OF the powder in consequence OF wch the
free forward aud backward movement Of the closing
mechanism is soon materially checked and the rapid
loading Of the gun seriously inerered with The thrd
method Is depending upon the use OF metallic caIildges
which are too expensive for large army The hIng OF
these breechoaders aO much less rapid than that Of
the PrssIn needegun and the ChassepOt "a II s neces
saTy after each discharge OF the TO remove the me-
tac cap the cartridge, often firmly inclOsed In the
end OF the barrel II is indeed difficult TO explain
why I'm spite OF these obvious and serious drawbacks,
/ the inventors Of various brcecloaders should nave
adopted ethcr the interior or the Hat OhuraOn 50 that
the Prussdn needlegn IS up 10 this day the only one IN
the manufacture OF which the external obturatOn mas
been IesOred to, in preference to the other methods
And Just to the application OF this system one OF the
most essential advantages Oh the heedcEuh can DC az
tribued the metallic plates coming into contact In
the process OF oburaOn not directly exposed 10 the
danger or becoming ONefheateo ahd inc closing SCnd
ism is kept free from all obstruction by the residue OF
powder from which the Chassepot, with its internal OBJ
tura0n suffers so severely Inns inconvenience "nl,h
is called In French "crGchcm6ht' has been partly over
come by the application Of Indiarubber knobs, which,
turn dangerous to the working Of the needle.
In order 10 clearly elucidate the advantages and the
defects Of the respective weapons, the needegun and
the Chassepot, We shall put them in JuNtaposon' ana
cite the opinion of Mr. gnatus Neumann OF Llege' Be
GUM. Mr. n. il experienced manufacturer or fire.
arms, and his numerous publications concerning the sub
ject We have here TO deal with have been attentYey
read all Europe and elsewhere. He is no doubt
good authority and may be considered an impartial
judge. After experimenting with both guns Tor long
tne Neumann renders the following verdict;
l. It il impossible to open l. The mechanism the gun
spfse is strained While on sr1ning of the spiral spring
the other hand tho spring previous to the opening OF
be strained unless he chamber. therefore,
gun completely closed the loading OF the gun takes
Thus all danger from want place ana all the move
of precaui0n in opening mcnts OF the cylinder have
and IN closing the gun Is to be executed with strained
ayerted and 1t is just spring, aud the slightest
fully secured against touch on the trigger Is sure
foreseen dental exploit cause the projecting OF
sion when loaded when the needle into the percus-
unloaded. This may be con sion wafer thus exploding
sdered the best aud most the gun and endangerlnS
perfect rest" the lives of those around.
Admitting the Chassepot to
he weapon the efficiency
OF which it would be impru
dent to question or 10 sheer
at, we cannot be blind to the
fact that in the hands Of a
nervous and excited French
soldier it may eventually
prove almost as dangerous
ITO his own comrades and SUI
periOrs as to the enemy
O. The Prussian needle-gun The internal obturauon
IS the only breech-lOader produces "crdchemeht anu
which has The external OBJ nterfcres with the proper
turatOn by which IL Is pro loading OF the gun through
tected against all 'crache accumulation Of dirt from
aenF as well as against all powder residue and
other distractions TO the THIS taxes place as SOON ~
free movement of closing the ndiabber knob at the
! mechanism head OF the cylinder loses
its elasticity and is not re-
placed in due time.
3. The gun he takenas g. The closing mechanlsmls
uud.r nv any soldier with easily taken apart
ont be necessity of using with the Prussan
special tools for that pur- weapon Inc cosuB - M
nose: its cleaning is very der moves up and down in
Easy and repairs while sell its cncascmeut ON Httle
dom require but screw, which easily broken
little time and skill by any imprudent or too
| ~ fOrcihe pull when the gun
is rendered unfit for use.
The cartridge Is I'M 4. The cartridge is OF Diff
doubtedy the best hitherto cult construction ana Is
invented while its manu- not sufficiently protected
facture is easy for the mi against Spollng Tnea on
lies in the solid OF the time. The proJecue does
illuminate cannot be pushed not always get Iee from JUS
OF the needle aud is 10 all which cases the ball
cause the explosion OF the drops snort oI us uesIa
/ powder charge without fail. ton.
IN NJ he