New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-25
THERE MAY BE A CONTEST
RIFLE MANUFACTURERS AFTER BIG
CONTRACT.
THE SAVAGE GUN PEOPLE TO BE NET WITH a
PECULIAR OBJECTION BY THE REM
INGToNs - TESTS YESTERDAY


AMOUNTED TO LITTLE.
If the Savage gun should win in the compe-
tition conducted this week at the 18th Regi-
ment Armory by the State Board of Examiners
IL Is likely to be objected to on other GROUNDS
than those of general efficiency. These GROUNDS
were stated yesterday by Bethel Burton the
Brooklyn gun inventor. 1t may be remembered
that the barrel manufactured by the Govern
ment and used in his gun failed on the triai'
Mr.. Burton had to find another one. and he
went to the Winchester Repeating Arms COM
pany, OF ew-Haven, but was unable 70 puy
one The Colt company would have given MN
one u they had had what he wanted. but they
had not, and ultimately he procured one from
another company, which barrel is now being
fitted for his rife. The story or the propoSeu
contest came out in this way. Mr. Burton said
to a Tribune reporter:
.Whe was at the Winchester Arms Com
nanv,s Mace I learned that in the event OF the
Savage rifle winning, the company proposed 10
contest the legality OF the award being given
to the Savage rifle on the grounds that the
natent was obtained, not by an American citi-
zen hut bv n subject Of the Queen OF Great
Britain and Ireland"
Whom Mr.. Savage was told about this, ne
said he was not surprised to hear OF II, put ne
was nrepared to meet the situation. Inc
chances are that the thing Will narrow do"h "
a question of law and patents not rifles.
Yesterdays session OF the Board of Examiners
was not satisfactory. The Idea was 10 '"he
the guns apart count the different parts anu
then assemble them in the shortest Tune i"iS
programme was carried out as far as IL "e"''
but It really meant nothing. Neither the
Briggs-Kneeland nor the Winchester guns were
equipped with bayonet attachments In the ois-
mounting the sights were not taken OH THESE
prns and the whole trial got mixed up so much
that II did not amount to anything.
The number of parts included in each gun
was
Savage ~
Mlncneiir
T., tho Winchester there are four rSrts includ-
oh In IN, magazine besides Itself, when are
roelv senarate which would make forty-eiS
nsrts Then the sight was not removed; nor was
II removed from the Briggs kneeland gun. " h.N'
the word WIS given to Ieassemu,e s sne ed r.
there was a rush. one man was asssheu w.
each gun. Elch was eager 10 VIII anu 81 W
went into the wrong places WIN mar ~,
accuracy. Then there wac Wy PACK; anu roin.
the guns were got together III '"'o '''''' " '
utes and seconds
M' "a So s,
Savage ...''''''.'''.'' .'.'.............i2
Winchester
Knee1rl 80 go
The Savage mechanism was In action ho"e'e''
long before the Winchester was.
The Boar then went into executive s ess'o',
for some time and after coming out examiner
the weapons generally. Colonel Shaw had not
nr.viousiv seen the Savage guns rapid maya
zine eicc.or action, and asked Mr. Savage 20
j, monstrate It. The gun did not work nearly :,
well as on Friday. which MT savage eNp'a ,,,,,
70 be the result OF one spring requiring "'''
II ore tension. 49,, , -,
The Briggs Kneeland gun received much az
t.ntion during the day. and behaved adinfapy
after It's trials. 80 $1,000,
The Putnam stralght-pul gun Will be test 81
"A, a later date IL Is loaded with cip ana h''
shots can be fred without taking the gun irol
Tho shoulder The inventor says that IL Is
equally efficient either as magazine or snge,lre
gun. and that It's construction Is simpler than
that OF any other gun yet prodGced