Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-01-16


he Claim 1. Made That 1t VIII Hit .
Man Point Blank at 500 Yards
An official army order gives all the de-
tails of the mechanism of the new maya
zine rifle with which the army is to Be
supplied. The weight with magazine
empty is nine pounds eight ounces, the
new sword bayonet fifteen and one-half
ounces, the scabbard four and three
fourths ounces, the magazine when filled
with eight cartridges thirteen ounces
The length of the rifle is four feet one
inch, and the sword bayonet one foot
four inches.
The magazine consists Of sheet steel
box inserted from under the body in
front Of the trigger guard through an
opening in the body. 1t is held in posi-
ton by spring in the body engaging in
. notch on the magazine. 1t will con-
tain eight cartridges, and may be filled
when in position in the rifle or when de-
tached, by inserting the cartridges one
by one. A spring at the bottom of the
magazine presses upward movable
platform, forcing the column of cart
ridges also upward.
A '.cut off, is fitted to the right side of
the body. which, when pressed inward,
stops the supply of cartridges from the
magazine, SO that the arm may then be
used as single loader. When the 'cut
off" is pulled out the lower edge Of the
bolt on being driven forward engages
the top edge Of the uppermost cartridge
in the magazine and forces it into the
chamber. and SO on till the magazine is
emptied. The magazine can be removed
by pressing small lever inside the trig-
ger guard.
One magazine is attached to each rifle,
being secured from loss by a chain link.
A spare magazine is also issued with
each arm. The stock, like that of the
Martini-H Henry rifle, is in two pieces, the
fore end and the butt. Under the hinder
part Of the small of the butt is projec-
ton forming SO called pistol grip"
The butt is secured to the body by q
"stock bolt" The butt plate is fitted
with trap, giving access to the unoccu-
pied portion of the stock bolt recess,
which is arranged to contain an oil bot
tie and jag.
The rifle is provided with two sets Of
sights. The foresight and the backsight
are fixed in the usual position on the bar
rel The foresight lisa square block with
q vertical cut through it, showing fine
line Of light. Aim is taken by fitting
this square into a corresponding square
notch in the backsight. so that lines Of
light of equal width may Re seen on
each side of it, and aligning the central
line of light on the point to be hit, The
lowest or fixed sight is that for 300
yards. Using this sight, head and
shoulders figure can be hit at any dis
lance between 1915 and $50 yards. while
a six-foot figure can be hit up to about
500 yards without in either case aiming
of the figures. The highest graduation
is for 900 yards The rifle is also fitted
with extreme range sights. The front
| Tight, which is called the dial sight, is
| graduated from / 800 va rds up to $500
| yards. There are two kinds of ammuni-
ton pouches, one holding forty rounds
and the other fifty. The cartridge is
made Of solid drawn brass and is charged
with ordinary gunpowder pressed into
the form of a pellet, with both ends
slightly rounded. - Manchester Guard
| inn