The Dickinson press., 1888-03-31
LOCKS AND BARRELS.
A UNITED STATES ARMY OFFICER
TALKS ABOUT RIFLES.

cnt InvcDtiOns-An Experts Explana-
lions Concerning the Various Weapons
of Notc-Magazine Guns.
"Vyhat can You tell me about the history
and merit, of this rltlc.' asked the reporter of
Capt. S. A. Day, picking up Il handsome
Springfield.
That is beginning right at home," was the
reply. "Thc Springfield rifle is the one with
which our own troops are armed. 1t has the
hinged brecch block, with the upward and
forward notion. 1t is a good gun, and has
done good service, but it is Il little out of
date. Ii is good for 500 yards, hut not Il foot
further. We have tried to shoot it Mt 1000
yards. but our only hope with it at that dis
tancc is 'scratching,' or accidental Scores"
"What is this!s
sThat is a gun we have all heard u great
deal about-the Martini-lIenry rifle, with
which the English army is provided. 1t has
been used in more countries than IL other
lille. except possibly the Remington. In
ONE respects it is just the opposite OF the
American army gun. 1t has the hinged
brrech block, opening backward and down
ward. instead of forward and upward. This
is an excellent gun. The barrels are well
made and the British manufacturers have
the knack of growing it very effectively.
1t is the gun shot in international matches.
American ritlemen should have great respect
for this gun, for it is the one with which our
national teams have been twice defeated. 1t
is handy gun-it is II 'gunny' gun. 1t feels
like Il gun in the hand. a man would trust
that .,un almost anywhere if he had plcntyo OF
ammunition"
sIIerc is n Sharps rile-isn't that a little
out of date, toofs
s:There arc ITO more of them made now,
except one once in a while by hand. This is
the style of weapon that was sent from the
east to border settlers in Kansas and Ne
braska, along with Bibles, during the troub-
lous times just before the war. This imdi-
viduul gun" continued Capt. Day, patting
the butt ailcctionutely, sis a very fine long
rance Sharps-l5orclmrdt. 1t is Il gun with a
history, having won many prizes at long
range, not, however, in my hands. 1t is
used by marEsmen when they lie down or
double and ttist their bodies into almost
every figure known in the consultations of
the heavens. Its action is excellent, having
q square, falling breach block, containing
sle hammer and lock. 1t strikes the primer
in the prolongation of the bore, thus causing
the least possible disturbance Of the piece i'll
firing"
What can you say IL this RemingtonT
That is the gun formerly known among
national guardsmen us the gas pipe There
have been more guns of this kind made for
and used by armies, raiding parties, filibus-
teriny expeditions, instructions, ETC., than
| of any other arm over invented. 1t has q
rolling block, falling backward and down.
ward, leaving a free way through the bar
| rel for inspection and cleaning. 1t is simple
ity itself, and has an excellent action. Tho
barrel, however, is too light for long range
or heavy work, but it has killed many a
man i'll many q Cline"
"This other gun, l believe" said the re-
porter, ''you referred to as being a remarka-
BILE gun with q remarkable record. Is it not
an ordinary Winchester repeating rifle"
''l}ather an extraordinary one. This par
ticular gun has been fired more than 10000
times 10y DR.. Carver and is still in fair order,
showing only q little weakness OF the MAIN
spring. The Winchester is the leading sport
ing gun of the world, and more game has
been killed by it than with all other guns put
together.
''liut this brings us into the domain of
magazine guns. There are three pronounced
leading types, with some twenty-five OF
thirty variations of which / nave knowledge,
AMI there are doubtless Il great many moro
individual notifications of these types. For
Purposes of convenience l AVE selected the
Winchester, the Lee md the Spencer as typi,
fly iii,s the three great classes.
"rhe well Known Winchester has q fixed
tubular magazine, with lever action. Tho
IIotci!l;iss is a bolt gun, with Il tubular mag.
aZine in the butt instead of in the stock, as
is Tire case with the Winchester and many
Others. There said Capt. Day, after eject.
in.s 81 number of shells over his shoulder
from both guns, ''you can see how conpli,
Gated are the motions necessary in using
t:;sss guns.
1.-The Lecmasazine stands alone of its kind
although there are many notifications of it
1t is detached magazine, with cartridge.
supcrimposed one upon the other like the
fingers on the hand. Thu great and import
ant feature of this gun is the detachability OF
the magazine. Asa military man, l have nt
hesitation i'll saying that it is just as import
ant for troops to he armed with n detaclabl,
magazine for cartridges as it is for them t,
he supplied with fixed bayonets. When al
order to Six lnyoncts!' has been given unt
obeycd, an officer knows that his men III,
prepared to make Il charge at the word o.
command. Why should not similar %securit,
be felt when waiting to rcpcl an attack
After the command fix magazines!' an office
may rely upon all his men having thei.
magazines full and i'll position. Nothin;
could give him greater confidence i'll a crisis
This is the best system for troops of which
l lave any knowledge. The Lee, however
has Il feature in common with many othe
guns which, personally, l do not like-it is
bolt action. y prejudice is Il heavy load TO
any man to carry through this world, bu
Ey whole experience has rendered to increas
my dislike for bolt guns. The inventor 0
this gun, however, MI. James p. Lee, was S
expert with it that lie could have three o
four shots OH the way to Il LOCO yard large
at one time. Such skill is attainable by fe,
men, and the bolt action is necessarily slo,
in the hands OF an ordinary soldier.
"Mr. {. NJ. Spencer, the ingenious inve1
tor of the rifle so well known during our lat
war, is still living. The Spencer rifle is some
thing new. 1t is an American gum, althoug
it has been very remarkably improved b
Col. George v. Fosbery, an English arm
officer now in this city, who is an expert III
only i'll its invention, but in its manufactul
and use. 1t has Il sliding piece Oh the stool
with a trombone movement" Capt. Da
hcrcupon gave an exhibition of the rapidit
and ease with which the Spencer can be fire.
\ quick backward slide of the left har
threw ont the empty cartridges, while a rap
forward motion placed the piece again
condition for firing, the whole not occupyir
a second of time. ''rhis is MI admirable CO.
trivance,'' he cont nued. "It requires tt
use of two hands, however-one to reject al
, load the cartridges into tho chamber fro
the magazine, while the other simply grasI
, the small of the stock and pulls the trigger
New York Times Interview.