The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-23
LOCKS AND BARRELS.

a United States Army Officer Talks About
Rifles and Their Characteristics.
New York Times.
ttWhat can you tell me about the history and
merits OF this rife7" asked the reporter of Capt
S. A Day, picking up handsome Springfield.
THAT is beginning right at home" was the
reply. ''The Springfield rifle is the with
which our own troops are armed. It has the
hinged bresch-block, with the upward and for
ward action. It is good gun and has done
good service, but ii is little out of date It is
have tried TO shoot it 1000 yards, but only
hope with it at that distance is scratching, or
accidental scores"
THAT is q gun we have all heard a great deal
about-the Martini-Henry rifle with which the
English army is provided. It has been used in
more countries than any other rifle, except pos
sibly the Remington. In some respects it is just
the opposite of the American army gun. It has
the hinged breecn block, opening backward and
downward, instead of forward and upward.
This is an excellent gun The barrels well
made. and the British manufacturers have the
: knack of growing it very effectively. IL is the
gun shot in in sernational matches American
rif1emen should have great respect for this gun.
for it is the one with which national teams
have been twice defeated. If it is q handy gun,
1T 10 sgunny gun 1t feels like gun in the
hand. man would trust that gun almost any
where if he had plenty of ammunition"
Here is Sharps rihe-isn't that a little out
of date, tool"
s"There are no more OF them made now ex-
cept enc once in while by hand. This is the
style of weapon that was sent from the East to
border settlers in Kansas and Nebraska. along
with Bibles, during the troublous times just
before the This individual gum" contin-
ued Captain Day. patting the butt affection
ately, is very fine long-range Sharps-
Borchardk Il is quo with history, having
many prizes at long range, not however, IN
my hands. It is used by marksmsn when they
lie down or double and twist their bodies into
almost every figure known in the consultations
of the heavens. Its action is excellent, having a
square, falling breach block, containing the
l<~1x &wsfx N1x yw. 10
prolongasio1l of the bore. thus causing the least
possible disturbance of the piece in firing.
What you say about this RsmingtonP'
THAT is the gun formerly known among
tionai guardsmen the gas pipe. There have
been more guns of this kind made for and used
bv armies. rading parties, fhbustsring expedi
tions, instructions. etc, than of any other arm
ever invented. 1t has rolling block, falling
backward and downward leaving free way
through the barrel for inspection and cleaning.
II ia simplicity itself, and has excellent action
The barrel, however, is too light for long range
or heavy work, bnt it has killed many man in
many climee
This gun, believe" said the reporter. '.you
referred to being remarkable gun with
remarkable record. Is 1t not ordinary Win
chester repeating rif1sR'
.sRather an extraordinary This particu-
lar gun has been fred more than 10000 times by
DR. Carver and is still in fair order. showing
only little weakness of the main spring The
Winchester is the leading sporting gun of the
world. and more game has been killed by it than
with all other guns put together.
but this brings US into the domain OF maya
zine guns. There three pronounced leading
types with some twenty-five or thirty varia-
tions of which / have knowledge. and there are
doubtless great many more individual Aodih-
cations of these types For purposes of con-
vsnience I have selected the Winchester, the
Lee and .he Spencer as typifying the three great
classes.
THE we'll known Winchester has fixed tub
ular magazine with lever action. The Hetch-
kiss is a bolt gum with @ tubular magazine in
the butt instead of in the stock, Is the case
with the Winchester and many others There.
said Captain Day, after ejecting number OF
shells over his shoulder from beth guns. you
can sec how complicated are the motions neces-
sary in using these guns.
1.-THE Lee magazine stands alone of its kind,
although there many notifications of 1t. 1t
is detached magazine, with cartridges super
imposed upon the other. like the fingers
on the hand The great and important
feature of this gun IS the cetachability of the
magazine. As military man. have no
hesitation in saying that 10 IL just as impor-
tant for troops be armed with detachable
magazine for cartridges It Is for them to be
supplied With fixed bayonets. When an order
TO Ak hayonstsp has been given and obeyed. an
officer knows that his men prepared TO make
q charge at the word of command. Why should
NOT siuailar security be felt when waiting 10 re-
pei attack After the command nix maya
zInesp an officer may rely upon all bis men hav-
ing thei: magazines full and in position. Moth
ing could give him greater confidence IL a
crisis This the best system for troops of
which | have any knowledge The Lee. how
aver. has a feature In common with many other
guns which, personally, do not hke--It IL
bolt action. a prejudice 10 q heavy load for any
man 70 carry through this world. but my whole
experience has tendsd to increase nv dislike
for bolt guns The inventor of this gun. how
ever. MIR James p. Lee, expert WITH it
that he could nave three four ssoss on the
way to q /. 000-yatd target AZ one time Such
skill is aftaInaols by few men, and the bolt
action is necessarily slow in the hands Of or
binary soldier.
ssMr G. NJ Spencer, the Ingenious inventor OF
tina rife 30 well knova during onr Late war. il