The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-07-22
DEADLY WAR MISSILES.
Fired From the Gifard Gun and Pro.
PEELED by Carbonic Acid Gas

pened Dy CarDonic ACID Gas.
The Giffard gun, which was tried
recently at Nottingham by Board of
English army officers, seems likely to
be the first gun which uses any other
propelling agent than powder to attain
anything like a practical success. The
propelling agent of NJ Paul (iiffard's
rifle is liqueied carbUniC acid gas The
gun itself is not new, nor Is the prln
ciple upon which it is constructed NJ.
Giffard has had a gun before the public
for more than three years, but since
that time he has made several improve
ments and considerably modified II in
detail. The propelling agent which
he uses makes very little noise and no
smoke, and leaves no odor Only a
very slight recoil follows the discharge
and the gun does not foul. The pro-
pelling agent is always completely
under the control of the person hand
ling the gun.
In appearance the Gll1'ard gun is
something like Winchester shotgun.
1t has an ordinary octagon barrel, un-
derneath which is fitted a Giffard res
ervoir, as the magazine is called. This
reservoir is steel cylinder closed al
one end and fitted at the other END
with valve. The reservoir contains 4
supply of liquefed Carbonic acid gas at
pressure of two tons to the square
inch, sufficient for from forty to sixty
rounds, according as the gun is to be
used at long or short range These
reservoirs are tested in the manutaC-
ture up to three times the strength
necessary to hold the gas under pres
sure, and are guaranteed to be perfectly
sound and safe. The special valve al
the end of the reservoir is SO Contrved
that at each pull of the trigger the reg
ulated quantity of gas enters the bullet
chamber
The rifle is of the hammerless type
and is neat in appearance and hand!
in form. All the parts are interchange
able and can be replaced Such {
safety catch is used as is ordinaril,
fitted on hammerless shotguns The
throwing forward of the lever which
serves also as a trigger guard, open
the bullet chamber for the insertion o
the bullet, which is conical shaped |
also cocks the gun and moves tn,
counter which records the number o
charges fired. The same action place
the gun at safe" By returning thu
lever to its position the bullet Chambe
is closed. A movement releases tn
safety catch.
When the trigger is being pulled tn
tumbler strikes the firing pin, whicI
presses against the valve of the reser
voir, opening it momentarl|y Thl
permits the regulated quantity Of gas t,
escape into the chamber, where
instantly expands, forcing the projecti
through the barrel with increasing i'm
petus until it leaves the muzzle. Tn,
charged reservoir may be kept for an,
time, under any conditions Of climate
without suffering deterioration or waste
The provision for informing the use
as to the number of charges fired is
rotating dial, on which an Indicate
marks at every tenth round the numbe
of charges remaining.
The rifle is especially adapted TO
light shooting, and will kill at sixty
yards. It's work is accurate and i
gives good penetration, Bullets free
through one-inch boards were hatteneC
on the iron sheathing behind tn,
TARGET