Year: 1870

The Needte-G Gun Dc the ChassepOt.


AS considerable curiosity is felt with re-
ference to the character of the two for
midable rifles with which Prussia and
France are respectively armed, we copy
the following description, which will per-
haps convey as ineligible general idea
Of their construction as is possible with
out diagrams


THE NEEDLE-GUN.


The Prussian needle-gun is the inven-
ton OF Mr.. Dreyse, a manufacturer of
arms at Sommerda, who spent over thirty
years in trying to construct perfect
brcechloadod rifle. The cartridge is in
sested ut the rear, and the ignition is
produced by tho intrusion ol needle.
forced by q spring released by the action
of the trigger, into the illuminate attached
TO the cartridge. The barrel is SO :O6 in.
ches long, and is rihcd with four grooves
down to the breech, where the chamber,
or bed for cartridge, is smooth and little
larger than the bore. The bed enlarges
slightly TO the rear so rs TO admit the
cartridge freely, and the lower part Of the
bore for distance of 6 II in, i. so en-
larged that the ball is gradually com.
pressed into the grooves. The rear of the
barrel is conical. and is called the mouth
piece. Over this part there is six-sidcd
cylinder, which holds all the mechanism
of the piece. The air-chamber, next to
the cylinder, has the needle pipe screwed
into its breech.


The gun is loaded in this way: After
it has been brought to a nearly horizontal
position, with the butt resting OF the right
hip, and the lett hand ut the lower band,
and the chamber drawn back from the
mouthpiece by means OF the handle and
turned TO the right. The locket is showed
up, and the notch OF the main spring
engages the catch at the inner rear end OF
/ the chamber At the same time the mid
dle-bolt is pressed against the trigger
stop, thus compressing the spiral spring.


Now let the trigger-stop be drawn by
pressure on the trigger so rs to clear the
offset OF the needlc.bolt. The bolt will
dart forward from the effect of the spring,
and will strike the square end of the
needle pipe, which projects sufficiently to
pass through the powder OF the charge
and innamc the illuminate.


At the time OF the adoption of this new
gun the cartridge was altered, the sabot
being enlarged and placed between the
powder and the ball.


The ball is spherirconical. The charge
of powder is 56 grains. The weight OF
the PllSsian needle gun is 1927 10 ll.3
pounds. The mechanism can be taken
apart without screw driver. vice. &c. Il
can be safely and easily cleaned, and the
gun being small is particularly adapted
To the contracted space OF loopholes, on
]
| PrusSian needle. gun are the danger of y
weakening of the spiral spring and pos
sibility that the needle may not be pro
pclled with sufficient force 10 pierce the
cartridge. On account OF the ease and
rap'dity with which it is loaded, there is
also danger OF waste OF ammunition. rs
the soldier. in the heat of battle, will
often 6re his piece rs fast rs possible.
even when he knows the firing has no
| effect 10 make the best Use OF the
needIe-gun the soldier requires special
training The Prussian army is very well
trained to its use, and in this respect has
an advantage over the French, who have
not been into great battle with their
Chassepot.


THE CHASSEPOT.


The re-arm which HIS been adopted
by the French army is The celebrated
Chasscpot rifle, which is probably the
most effective weapon ever put into the
hands of IN army OF infantry. II re-
sembles The Prussian nccdle-gun, but
possesses scvel al Improvements. During
the late war between Prussia and Austria,
the effective work Of the ncwlyinvcntcd
needle. gun attracted the notice Of all
fighting nations aud the French, antici.
paling that they would sometime be called
upon to punish Prussia tor her alleged
arrogance and want OF honor, immediate
" set 10 work to invent i weapon that
should surpass the necdle-gun in its
power rs an engine OF war. The result
was the invention by NJ. Chassepot, after
long and careful study, having the Prus-
sian gun aid him and to improve upon.
Alter the new rifle had been tested over
and over again, the attention OF the
Emperor was invited TO it,and it was not
long before he was convinced OF its su.
periority, and ordered its adoption in the
army.


One of the principal Improvements
which the Chassepot has over the needle.
gun of Prussia, is that its movement is
simpler, and instead of being tightly en-
closed at the breech by acylinder. it is
almost fully exposed, and the employ
ment of India rubber rs IN obturator. 1t
is argued that the Prussian gun, after it
has been discharged several times inquick
succession, became hot and damp in The
chamber. owing to the inability of the gas
which comes back after the explosion OF