The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-09-20

BREFCU-1 1OADIN0 > II or q y II 9 ,-
Brccch loading fire arms were invented
and used by several nations as early az
tho sixteenth century, and specimens Of
them are now to be found In the arse
nails and museums in nearly all the cap
itals of Europe. Within tho last hun
drcd years many attempts have been
made to improve the brccch loading
systems sanda apply them to shot guns, but
with only partial success; until I'm 1896.
NJ. LcfauchcuX, of Paris, invented
what is known as the LntauchcuN pat
ent, and introduced cartridge cases made
OF paper and brass, or what is called
tho "Pin Fire" cartridge case. This
cartridge case was Il most important and
valuable addition to the breech-loading
systems, as it practically and efliectually
closed up the brecch Of the gun and
prevented the escape of tho exploded
gases In that direction ut the moment
OF ofdischargc, and, consequently, caused
| range and penetration of shot equal
to that of good muzzlc-loading guns.
In England these new inventions
were not favorably received, and 1t was
not until tho large and excellent dis
play Of brccch-loading guns, made by
L"fnuchcuX and other Paris gun
makers, in the London Exhibition of
1851, attracted such general attention
that the English gun.nskers as a class
,cgan tho manufacture Of similar guns.
During tho past twenty-five years the
| most skilful gunmakcrs in England
have given much time and ingenuity to
| perfccting brccch-loaders, and many
improvements have been introduced,
which have resulted in producing tho
most perfect sporting guns ever made.
The double brcech-loading shot guns,
made by James Purdey 81 Sons, Lon
| don, have never been equalcd for finish,
| quality and power, but they are very
! men OF fine tastes and abundant means.
The guns made by Charles Lancaster,
stephen Grant, Westley Richards 81 Co.,
| W. u G. Scott & Son, p. Webley g. Son,
w. W. Grcencr & Co., are less costly
| and within the reach OF most sportsmen.
In this country tho talents of Invent
Ors have been largely directed to i'm
proving brccch- loading fire arms, In
rifles and pistols particularly, and our
readers are, no doubt, familiar with the
names Of Colt, Allen, Sharps, Rollin
patent used by Smith Il Wesson
and others. The perfection at
tained in this country in tho manu-
facture of metallic cartridges gave an
| immense impetus to the perfocting of
| breech loading rifles and pistols, and
the United States now stands at the
head of all nations as the producer of
the best and most effective rifled arms
for military or sporting purposes.
BY the application Of machinery these
arms have been made at the various
private armories in immense quantities,
finished so perfectly alike in all parts
that every piece ls Interchangeable in
| q ~, Nff ft,no NJ u
but as shot guns require to be made
Of 80 many various bores, weights,
lengths, bends, qualities, &C., it was diff
hcult to produce them by means of ma
chincry. Tho Wesson Arms Co. and
Ethan Allen & Co., about 1870, at
tempted this, but were only partially
successful and soon abandoned it. AZ
forwards, by adopting few fixed
models as to bore, weight, &c., and a
limited variety of styles Of finish and
quality, the application of machinery
to such work became practicable, and
most excellent shooting breech loading
shot guns are now made by Parker
brothers, Remington 6; Sons, Nichols
~ Lefeyer. Fox's Patent and Colts
Fatent Fire Arm Manufacturing Com.
pany; the latter Is the last and most
successful In this limo. ="
Hammcrless breech-loading shot guns
have been mado for several years in
England, and somo handsome specl-
mons were shown nc tho Centennial
Exhibition In Philadelphia, but they
are being slowly introduced into this
country. They embrace an important
Improvement however, and Will
gradually grow into favor as their
merits become better known and they
are reduced In price.
We recently had an opportunity to
examine and compare modern breech-
leaders of English and American man
utac'nre, IN great variety, at the old es-
tablished house of Joseph G. Grubb s.
Co., Philadelphia, and we wore botu
Interested and surprised at the skilful
workmanship, beauty Of form, and
great efficiency developed in this branch
OF industry. This firm has printed
pamphlets, nicely illustrated, which
they VIII send, without charge, to par
ties interested In such things; their ar
ticies are reliable and prices moderate.