The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-08-23
The Martini-Iien'y Wedpen Of the
TUrks.

The Martini Henry breech loading
rifle, with which tue Turkish soldierv
is armed, aud which has been rcccn ly
used with such deadly effect upon tie
Russians, appears to lie the result of u
government test in England IN 1865.
Among the rifles that competed were
the Martini, Westley- Richards, Bcrdau
and Henry. The trial reduced compe.
tition to the Martini aud Henry, the
Martini giving better satisfaction, com
ing out of the test with its spIisgs and
other parts OF action in perfect order,
besides having the advantage Of mum
Der and simplicity Of parts. L. has
only thirty pieces against forty-nine in
the Henry. The consequence was the
union of the Martini action with the
Henry barrel, and the production OF
the Martini Henry rifle, as now used by
the Turks. Among qualities thut rec
ommend the Henry barrel is the one
that it can BE examined and cleaned
fiom the breech end, an imp )rtant
point in all arms nf precision. ~
Tie Maitinbllenry is devoid OF
the gun. III ioading tiie gun, tue'
lever behind the tF,gger-guard Id.
thrown buskly forward; this, by an
ingenious appsratus, causes the bTeech-
flock to fall below the bore OF tue
barrel, the discharging spring To be
compressed, and the empty cartridge
case TO he jeiked out over the shoulder
Of the manipulation of the weapon:
A fresh metallic cartridge is slipped
in, the lever is thrown back, which
raises the block to close the brCech, and
the arm is ready for firing. The gun
is cooked by showing forward thumb
niece at the side. An indicator near
bv shows whether the gun is cooked oI
not. The gun is fired by direct act
ing piston being driven against the
cartridge by the strong spiral sprlus
within the breech block, and which Il
liberated on pulling the trigger.
The Turkish weapon Is believed t.
be the very best, generally speaking
vet put into service by an army at war
Others have been fred more rapidly
For instance, from the Loper rifle a
many as sixty shots per minute haV
been fired by an expert-wlthout ann
of course. In target practice thirt
shots per minute have been Tired. Il
such rapid firing as this the barrel be
comes so hot that the soldered-on 6acI
sights fell of.
But the Martini Henry rifle is q
that can be desired for rapidity. TriaI
of fast firing, without aim, from
number Of rifles, have resulted in a
average for the Loper of fifty shots
minute: Martini-Henry, forty; WesI
ley-Richards, thirty-eight; Henry
thirty eight Remington, thirty
French Chassepot, nineteen; Berda
, Russian), eighteen, and the need
, gun, mne. The cooking arrangement
/ of the Chassepot and needle gun a
r very slow in action.
= The Prusaan needle gun aud II
t French Chassepot are quite similar
= principle. At the breech is q bolt, !
r sembling the common door bolt in q
0 ton. In loading, the discharging ne
: die is withdrawn by thumb triggc
a By its knob the bolt is turned on
eighth Of circle to the left. th
= drawn backward, leaving a sufiicle
: opening to receive q cartridge. II
( bolt is returned TO its place, puthl
# the cartridge forward into the boz
n The piece is then ready for hrin
!. Within the bolt, which Is hollow,
4 contained the spiral spring and need
- from which the gun takes its nAu
e and by which the cartridge rs explode
BY pulling the trigger the hoerat
G spring shoots the needle forward u
.e the detonating composition in the c'
3 ter of the cartridge. The Chassepo'
Y an Improvement in several regards o.
'e the original needle gun of the Pr
" SLAMS. among which Is efficiency
% the longer ranges. 10 both, howev
+ are employed paper, or what are kDo
)f as consuming cartridges" IN cont
d distinction Il metLlic cartridge c4i
L The consequence is that in firing ih
e, is an escape of gas at the bfeech joi
,r very dissereeable for The soldier,
o. serving 10 foul the chamber and
T. der the gun unfit for action.
o. The Marti ili-Henry lie wall pefis
/ reasonably accurate iirlDg lTom JOY
n $500 wards. The range OF the ff
Oh sian IEcuAt HAA - $500
as wards, yet it proved moss deStfuc'
weapon IL the hands Of the Pruss
e. soldiery. The extreme range OF
n French Chassepot is given At ]
ss- yards
th AT trisls made between the Cha
a. Dot and the Msrtini-Henry rifle, At
eh yards range, the accuracy Of she u
". Tar exceis that Of the former
sly Chsssepot, IL adapted to metallic
nv trIdges, will never be rspid-hi
Of weapon, owing 10 the stiffness
cit tediousBess Of its cooking ARA
in meut. The extreme rapidity oi
* Martini Henry rifie's firing capaci
Of not. however, of itseif great n
sy- but il lies in its carrying out the
% ciple that a rifle that can be Tired
pv greatest number OF times IN 3
or period must be the easiest 70
ny thvs tendisg 70 gre c0naaense