The free press., 1893-05-11
A CURIOUS OLD WEAPON.
OLDEST TYPE OF THE MAGAZINE
ARM IN THE WORLD.
Made in London in 1886 ana fohhu
at Baltimore After the War-its
Romantic History.

"THE oldest type of magazine gun
in the world is the John Cuck-
son, which was made in London
during thelast part of the Six
teenrh Century. The only arm OF this
kind in the United States now known to
ein the possession of collectors is he'd
in Hartford, Conn.,, by the connoisseur,
A. E., Brooks, and can only be seen by
the collectors favorites.
A number of inventors, including
Lieutenant Fl. X. White, OF the United
States Navy, have been afforded access
to the arm, which is one of romantic
interest. The story of its loss and re-
covery in the city of Baltimore during
the war is in itself fascinating one, not
to speak of the mystery that surrounded
it for years prior to the attack on the
Federal troops in 1861 in the city
founded in honor of Lord Baltimore.
This ancient gun bears the name and
date "John Cuckson, fecit, London
1885," The magazine was calculated
for ten shots and rested at the left of the
breech mechanism. The bullets were
round and were elected into place stimuli
taneously with the powder. The use OF
flint lock necessitated a device that
would carry the powder into the pan,
where it could be ignited by the spark
from the steel. This was accomplished
by peculiar mechanism that carried
enough powder from the magazine to the
right of the gunstock, from which point
the distribution supplying the basin took
place.
The magazine was operated by lever
on the left side of the stock, which
moved in semicircle at right angles
with the magazine itself. The motion
threw the left hand out and away from
the gun until the quadrant was com
pleted, when the hand in operation was
drawn back to the butt or stock.
1t is an interesting fact that the ball
adjoined the powder when loaded, the
paper wadding that was regarded as in-
dispensible in the cartridge that was
used for 100 years before the war being
conspicuous by its absence. The car
fridge of the present date is identical in
principle, with the exception that it IS
elongated and attached to the shell con-
tanning the powder.
The sight, which is perhaps six inches
from the muzzle, is crescent IN form.
The muzzle shows a plain bore half an
inch in diameter. The stock, which IS
fnely preserved, shows rare and curious
carvings. The heads of the screws even
are embellished with figures of dragons
and wild animals.
The cost of this old arm must have
been great, as every particle of work
connected with it must have been exc
cuted by hand. Tne gun was so expen-
sive in design and workmanship that 1t
could have been owned at first only by
the rich and powerful land owner or
military leader of the time OF its manu-
facture. 1t is a plausible theory, at
least, that it was brought to America by
one of the wealthy colonists under
Lord Baltimore. While there are no ex-
act data at hand at present sustaining
this notion as fully as could be desired,
there is unmistakable reason for ad-
herring to it as the only tenable one.
The history of the gun during the last
thirty years is not destitute OF exciting
features. After the attack on the Union
forces that were marched through Baltl-
more in April, 1861, the city was ordered
to be searched by the Government
forces, and arms of every nature were
confiscated by the Provost Guard. These
arms were rendezvoused at central
point, where they were kept under guard
for four years. At the conclusion OF hos
tilities, the residents of Baltimore, from
whom the arms in question had been
taken in 1861, were allowed to recover
them. They were rusty, and the selec-
tions were generally OF small value.
Strange as it may seem, the old mag
azine gun of the Sixteenth Century, was
so unprepossessing in the rust and de-
Element of its long servltude that no one
cared for it enough to take it home. In
the end it was actually thrown away ana
left to be carried off by a ragpicker as
old Junk. 1t was purchased from the
ragpicker for half dollar and taken to
an old German gunsmith in the city, to
be transformed, if possible from the
flintlock to a modern piece. Weeks al.
terward the German gunmaker decided
that the job could not be done and that
the old gun should have no better late
thaa the junk heap. A second trade
was effected, and the repairer OF OLD
muskets became himself the owner, pay
ing 81. SO for the privilege.
1t occurred to him one day, after
assuming the proprietorship, that he
would attempt TO disassemble the gun
The process was slow and intricate. The
more the man worked, the more he be-
came absorbed with interest and de-
light. Eleven days were actually spent
in the process. The rust was removed
and the barrel polished to the old surface.
For the first time the gunmaker, as nj
deciphered the inscription, began to
understand the treasure that had come
into his hands. 1t was fonnd to be
veritatle Cuckson, with possibly not
duplicate on this side of the Atlantic
So far as known, there is not one in th'
United States.
NJ L,ool,s ,yae in payotiations will