Year: 1861

The existence of the present warlike condition
OF affairs in this country will naturally direct the
attention of all classes of people to the instruments
with which the question at issue is to be solved
peaceful nation like the American is better ac
quainted with the manufacture and use of the
plow, the spade, and the harrow, than those dead
ly weapons Of war which we have now to make and
WELD. Very few know anything about arms, and
as every one is liable TO be called upon to con.
verse about them, if not bear them, some..de
criptiou of those which may probably come into
service during the present war will not be inap-
prophet or uninteresting.


REVOLVING PISTOLS.


Colts revolving pistols has become so univer-
sally known of late years that any description OF
them is superAuous where pistols used they
will be the regulation of arm. At present it is al.
most impossible to purchase them at any reason
able price, the army pattern selling for $27. Al
other very good revolving pistol is North's patent
made by the Savage Revolving Fire-Ar.n Co., al
Middletown, Connecticut. They are sold for $40
army Size. A new modification of the pistol
called the " Young America" consists of an ar
WHICH,, Will one Ddrrel, you are ell
abed to obtain two discharges, the barrel having
two separate loads, each charge being reached by
a separate hammer and cap. The pistol is very
small, and an extremely effective little weapon.
OLD STYLE MUsKETs.


Until the year 1855 the regulation arm fol
United States Infantry was the smooth bore mus
ket, probably as inefficient weapon as could b,
devised. The smooth barrel, highly polished, be
ing absolutely impossible to sight over with an,
degree of accuracy, while its carrying power wa
by DO means great. Since 1855 these arms have
been rihed, and patented sights attached, making
them nt present very effective they carry tn,
Mime bullet Now, there are two points with re
gard to which people have many various ideas on,
of these is concerning rifles. And in order to in
struct great mass of individuals who would b,
ashamed to confess their ignorance, and greatl,
surprised if they knew how many shared it, we viii
give as simple an idea Of the process of riflng Il.
possible.


RIFLlNG GUN BARRELS.


To rifle gun barrel. from four to six grooves
are cut upon in the interior Of the barrel, exten
ding longitudinally through from end to end
These grooves are, in depth equal to the thickness
of finger nail. Commencing parallel to cacl
other. they presently take what is termed tn,
"gaining twist " and run spiraly, still holding
their. relative positions, to the muzzie. Thus O
succession of threads like screw is formed, a
round which the ball is forced, and by reason o
its spiral motion is of course propelled both with
greater accuracy and greater force and these last
are the advantages of rifling gun barrel


MINNIE BALL.


Next to describe the Minnie bal-so called
though we have reason to believe that the princi-
pie on which il is made was first discovered by n
Greener. gun maker, Birmingham, England, and
afterward appropriated by NJ MIME. The Mimic
bullet is a cone, followed at tie base to the depth
of about third the height of the bullet the
cartridge is fastened to the base of the bullet the
whole inclosed in paper cover, and is then placed
in the barrel and rammed home. When the
powder explodes it fills mp the cavity in the bullet,
expands the lead, and drives it into the grooves of
the rifle filling them completely sir tight. The
bullet being creased, it slips along the grooves
without sticking, otherwise the gun becomes lead
cd. The principle overcomes the windage, and