Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-09-18

s.
Breech loading fire arms were invented
and used by several nations as early az
the sixteenth century, and specimens o
them are now to be found in the arse
nails and museums in nearly all the cap
itals of Europe. Within the last hun
dred years many attempts have been
made to improve the breech loading
systems and apply them to shot guns, but
with only partial success until In 1885,
M. LefaucheuX, of Paris, invented
what is known as the Lefaucheux pat
ent, and introduced cartridge cases made
OF paper and brass, or what is called
the "Pin Fire" cartridge case. This
cartridge case was most important and
valuable addition to the breech-loading
systems, as 1t practically and effectually
closed up the breech Of the gun and
prevented the escape of the exploded
gases in that direction at the moment
Of discharge, and, consequently, caused
q range and penetration of shot equal
to that Of good muzzle-loading guns.
In England these new inventions
were not favorably received, and 1t was
not until the large and excellent dis
play Of breech-loading guns, made by
LsfaucheuX and other Paris gun
makers, in the London Exhibition of
1851, attracted such general attention
that the English gunmakers as a class
began the manufacture Of similar guns.
During the past twenty-five years the
most skilful gunmakers in England
have given much time and ingenuity to
perfecting breech-loaders, and many
improvements have been introduced,
which have resulted in producing the
most perfect sporting guns ever made.
The double breech-lOading shot guns,
made by James Purdey & Sons, Lon
don, have never been equaled for finish,
quality and power, but they are very
expensive and only owned by sports
men of fine tastes and abundant means.
The guns made by Charles Lancaster,
Stephen Grant, Westley Richards & Co.,
w. & G. Scott & Son, p. Webley & Son,
w. w. Greener & Co., are less costly
and within the reach OF most sportsmen.
In this country the talents of invent
ors have been largely directed to i'm
proving breech-loading fire arms, in
rifles and pistols particularly, and our
readers are, no doubt, familiar with the
names of Colt, Allen, Sharps, Rollin
White Inventor of the original
patent used by Smith s. Wesson
and known as theirs) Remington
and others. The perfection at
tained in this country in the manu-
facture of metallic cartridges gave an
immense impetus to the perfecting 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 is interchangeable In
every arm of the same class and pattern;
but as shot guns require to be made
of 80 many various bores, weights,
lengths, bends, qualities, &C., it was diff
f1cult to produce them by means of ma
ch1nery. The Wesson Arms Co. and
Ethan Allen q Co., about 1870, at
tempted this, but were only partially
successful and soon abandoned it. At
terwards, by adopting a few fixed
models as to bore, weight, &C., and
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 3 Sons, Nichols
d Lefever, Fox's Patent and Colts
Patent Fire Arm Manufacturing Com
pany; the latter is the last and most
successful in this line.
Hammerless breech.loading shot guns
nave been made for several years in
England, and some handsome speci-
mems were shown at the Centennial
Exhibition In Philadelphia, but they
are being slowly introduced into this
country. They embrace an important
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
ufacture, in great variety, at the old es-
tablished house of Joseph G. Grubb &
Co., Philadelphia, and we were both
interested and surprised at the skilful
workmanship, beauty of form, and
great efficiency developed in this branch
of industry. This firm has printed
nicely illustrated, which
they will send, without charge, to par
ties interested in such things; their ar
ticles are reliable and prices moderate.