Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1891-09-04
LOCKS AND BARRELS,
A UNITED STATES ARMY OFFICER
TALKS ABOUT RIFLES.
The Leading Charact eristics of the Differ
ent InveDtions-An Experts ExpIana-
tions Concerning the Various Weapons
of Note-Nfa.azine Guns.

Springfield.
That is BEGINNING right at home,n was the
reply The Springfield rifle is the one with
which our own troops are armed. 1t has the
hinged breech block, with the upward and
forward action. 1t is a good gun, and has
done good service, but it is little out of
date 1t is good for 800 yards, but not a foot
further. We have tried to shoot it at 900
yards, but our only hope with it at that dis
lance is scratching, or accidental scores.n
''What is this!'
That is a gun we have all heard great
deal about-the Martini-Henry rife, with
which the English army is provided 1t has
been used in more countries than any other
.iae, except possibly the Remington. In
ONE respects it is just the opposite of the
American army gun. 1t has the hinged
breech 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 rifemen 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 a 'gunny' gun. 1t feels
like a gun in the hand. A man would trust
that gun almost anywhere if he had plenty of
ammunition
Here is a Sharps rife-isn't that a little
out of date, too"
There are no 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-
40 Won This ind
yidual gum continued Capt. Day, patting
the butt affectionately, sis a very fine long
range Sharps-Borchardt. 1t is gun with
history, having won many prizes at long
range, not, however, in my hands 1t is
used by marksmen when they lie down or
double and twist their bodies into almost
every figure known i'll the consultations OF
the heavens Its action is excellent, having
a square, falling breach block, containing
the hammer and lock 1t strikes the primer
in the prolongation of the bore, thus causing
the least possible disturbance of the piece in
firing
''What can YOU say about this Remington!'
''That is the gun formerly known among
national guardsmen as the gas pipe There
have been more guns of this kind made for
and used by armies raiding parties, tihbus-
tering expeditions instructions, etc, than
Of any other arm ever invented. 1t has
rolling block falling backward and down,
ward, leaving a free way through the bar
rel for inspection and cleaning. Its simple
itv itself, and has an excellent action. The
barrel, however, is too light for long range
or heavy work, but it has killed many
man il many a clime.'
This other gun, | believe said the re
porter, ''you referred to as being remarka-
bic gun with a remarkable record. Is it not
an ordinary Winchester repeating rife!'
'Rather an extraordinary one. This par
ticular gun has been fired 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 sport
ing 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
magazine guns There are three pronounced
leading types, with some twenty-five or
thirty variations of which have knowledge,
and there are doubtless great many more
individual notifications of these types For
purposes of convenience [ have selected the
Winchester, the Lee and the Spencer as typi-
flying the three great classes.
''The well known Winchester has fixed
tubular magazine, with lever action. The
Hotchkiss is a bolt gun, with tubular mag
azine in the butt instead of in the stock, as
is the case with the Winchester and many
others. There said Capt. Day, after eject
ing a number Of shells over his shoulder
from both guns, You can see how compli-
Gated are the motions necessary in using
these guns.
1.-The Lee magazine stands alone of its kind
although there are many notifications of it.
1t is a detached magazine, with cartridges
superimpOsed one upon the other like the
fingers on the hand. The great and import
ant feature Of this gun is the detachability of
the magazine. As a military man, | have no
hesitation i'll saying that it is justas import
ant for troops to be armed with a detachable
magazine for cartridges as it is for them to
be supplied with fixed bayonets. When an
order to fix bayonetsr has been given and
obeyed, an officer knows that his men are
prepared to make a charge at the word of
command Why should not similar security
be felt when waiting to repel an attack?
After the command fix magaZinesp an officer
may rely upon all his men having their
magazines full and in position. Nothing
could give him greater confidence i'll crisis.
| This is the best system for troops of which
have any knowledge. The Lee, however,
has feature in common with many other
guns which, personally, do not like-it is
bolt action. A prejudice is a heavy load for
any man to carry through this world, but
my whole experience has rendered to increase
my dislike for bolt guns. The inventor of
this gun, however Mr.. James z, Lee, was so
expert with it that he could have three or
four shots on the way to a 1000 yard target
at one time Such skill is attainable by few
men, and the bolt action is necessarily slow
in the hands of al ordinary soldier.
''Mr c. NJ. Spencer, the ingenious inven-
tor of the rifle so well known during our late
war, is still living. The Spencer rifle is some
thing new 1t is an American gun, although
it has been very remarkably improved by
Col. George '. Fosbery, an English army
officer now in this city, who is an expert not
only in its invention, but in its manufacture
and use 1t has sliding piece on the stock,
with a trombone movement" Capt Day
hereupon gave an exhibition of the rapidity
and ease with which the Spencer can be fired
A quick backward slide of the lett hand
threw out the empty cartridges, while rapid
forward motion placed the piece again III
condition for firing, the whole not occupying
a second OF time. ''This is an admirable con-
trivance," he cont nued. 1T requires the
use of two hands, however-one to reject and
! load the cartridges into the chamber from
| the magazine, while the other simply grasps
! the small of the stock and pulls the trigger.
! New York Times Interview.
Platinum in the sun.
Platinum has never as yet exhibited its
presence IN the SUMS atmosphere, but recent