Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-04

a complete Developments DIS ~ stoSns
bore and method of loading. of the latest
modern magazine rifle and automauc
pistol, from simple tube or IRON nre1
from support by means OF hghteu
match held in the hand
An Old Arms Collection.
The interesting collection of old arms
shows the simple iron tube gun mention-
ed above matchbox guns, wheei-iocK
gun and fiintlock guns. The fintlock, in
troduced about 1850. continued in military
use until about is42, when 1t was replaced
by the percussion lock. In connection with
the firing pin and spring OF a modern maya
zine these guns show the various means
of igiliting the powder charge.
The racks show almost complete de-
-velopnsent in the United States service
arms manufactured at Springfield and at
Harper's Ferry armories t1199-l90S) and
specimen of the national arm of France,
1763 caliber r. made at st. Etienne, and
known at the "Charleviiie musket when
was extensively brought into this country
during the revolutionary war through the
influence of the Marquis de Lafayette.
Near this is one of the first guns manu-
featured at Springfield armory, United
States musket, model of 17g9 caliber go.
a copy of this French gun which was con-
sidered at that time perfect military
musket The war of 1872 was fought with
this type of smooth-bore Misunderstanding
fintleck musket. Following in order is
shown the development of this musket in
the models of 1922 and 1872 when the flint
lock was replaced by a percussion lock-
Notwithstanding this change, the Mexican
war was largely fought with f1intlock
muskets, and the mass of United States
infantry continued to be armed with this
smooth-bore. Misunderstanding percussion
musket until 1856.
An 1914 Model.
The earliest rifle made in quantity by
the government is shown in the Harper's
Ferry rife, model of 1874 caliber .5S The
Hall breech-loading rifle was introduced in
1918, first as flint lock and afterward as
percussion lock arm 1t was used some
what as a carbine. The United States rifle,
model of 1918. caliber "a, was very much
the same. as the model 1922 musket, ex
cept the barrel was heavier and rified. Be
ginning in 1872, a short rifle, popularity
called the Mississippi or jaeger rifle, was
used for some years. In 1856 the United
States rifle o: the short pattern, also
known as the Harper's Ferry rifle was
adopted. In 1861 the Springfield rifle, muz-
zle-loading percussion musket, caliber .58,
was adopted This rifle was made in great
numbers during the civil war
During this war Sharp's :breech-loading
rifle for paper cartridges and Spencer's re-
peatfng rifle were largely used as carbnes
and large quantities Of European arms of
various models were in service. At the
close of this war the government adopted
the Springfield breech-loading rife, model
OF 1866 caliber .5S, which was followed by
Springfield breech-loading rifles Of the fol-
lowing models: 1868. caliber 90; 1878, cali
Der As; 1878, caliber 40, with wind gauge
sight; 1884 caliber 49, with Burlington
sight, In 1892 the United States maya
zine rifle, caiiber 80, an improved form
of the iKrag-Jorgensen, was adopted.
This arm was used during the Spanish
American war. At present the United
States magazine rifle. model Of 1908, cali
Der 80 is being manufactured This rifle
has a rod bayonet, weighs slightly less
than nine pounds, and fires 23O-grain bull
let with a velocity of $500 feet per Sec
ond, imparting to the bullet a greater
energy than any other military rifle.
Odds and Ends
In addition to the above there are in the
racks specimens of many well-known
types Of early breech-loading rifles a few
manufactured in the United States, such
as the Winchester and Remington, a few
interesting relics and also a small collec
ton of modern magazine rifles used
abroad
There are wall exhibits of modern arms,
smokeless powder, fuses and primers; an
exhibit showing the construction of am
munition; also exhibits of the army sad
die the curb and watering bits, the mess
outfit used by soldiers in the field, an arm
rack for use in barracks, azimuth instru-
ments, photographs and ammunition pack
ing boxes In connection with the exhibit
of the quartermaster's department are lay
figures showing United States army uni,
forms as well as arms and equipments.