892 FIRE-ARMS 



trial at Ilythe, Mr. Princo fired 120 rounds in less than eighteen minutes, showing the 

 rapidity of loading which this weapon admits of. Tho rifling preferred by the invent or 

 is a five-grooved boro rather deeply cut, the twist being three quarters of a turn in 

 three feet. The London guumakers have certified to the great merits of Prince's 

 breech -loading rifle. 



Prince's cartridge is an ingenious invention ; it can be used either with a muzzle or 

 with a breech-loader. The cartridge is made of gun-paper, produced in the manner 

 described for making gun-cotton. The spark fires this with the powder, and if the 

 paper is pure there is no ash loft from its combustion. Mr. Princo has brought out 

 a new brooch-loading rifle which is simpler than any yet produced. His practical ex- 

 perience in such matters, extending over more than a quarter of a century, combined 

 with the success he has already attained, causes any fresh arm emanating from him 

 to be regarded with considerable attention. The breech is opened by a half turn of a 

 lever, and closed by a corresponding movement. Either common ammunition or a 

 flask can be used in loading. Tho barrel is a fixture ; a chamber being attached 

 to the breech-end, so that existing muzzle-loaders may bo readily converted. For 

 cavalry a simple addition is made to the arm, so that the caps are placed on the nipple 

 in the act of loading. 



Terry's Breech-loading Rifle differs from Prince's in having the barrel fixed. 

 There is an opening at the base of the breech, which being lifted by a lever discloses 

 a receptacle for the cartridge. 



Mr. Westley Richards, Mr. James Lcetch, and some others have introduced breech- 

 loading rifles. Of the former, Colonel Wilford says : ' The weapon manufactured by 

 Mr. Westley Richards is a perfect wonder. I saw a small carbine, weighing only 

 6 Ibs., fire better at 800 yards than the long Enfield.' 



In the rifle by Leetch the opening for the admission of the charge is in front of 

 the chamber ; consequently the shooter has all the security that the solidity of tho 

 breech can import. 



Revolvers or Repeating Pistols. The fame attached to Colt's revolvers,/^. 910, 

 renders them so well known as to require but little introduction necessary. Although 

 the invention of revolvers, of course, cannot be ascribed to Colonel Colt, their adaptation 

 to modern requirements, and their general use, are undoubtedly duo to his extreme 

 energy, perseverance, and skill, and to him, therefore, every credit ought to be given. 

 This make is now extensively used in the United States, and indeed in almost every 

 corner of the world, and seems hot to lose favour anywhere. In Turkey, Egypt, 

 Brazil, Peru, Spain, Holland, Prussia, Russia, Italy, and Chili, as well as tho United 

 States, and our own country, they have been and are extensively used and approved ; 

 and we are given to understand that 40,000 of them have been supplied to our au- 

 thorities, and have been served out and used in the Baltic, in the Crimea, in China, 

 and in India, with the utmost effect. The shooting with Colt's arms is highly satis- 

 factory. With Colt's revolver you can make first-rate shooting, and be perfectly 

 satisfied with its action. As a proof that it is not liable to get out of repair, we mrd 

 only state that the American Board of Ordnance had a holster pistol fired 1,200 times, 

 and a belt pistol 1,500 times, without the slightest derangement. The penetration of 

 the first-named was through 7 inches of board, and tho second through 6 inches. 



The barrel is rifle-bored. The lever ramrod renders wadding or patch unnecessary, 

 and secures the charge against moisture, or becoming loose by rough handling or hard 

 riding. The hammer, when at full cock, forms the sight by which to take aim, and 

 is readily raised at full cock by the thumb, with one hand. It has been tested by long 

 and actual experience, that Colt's arrangement is superior to those weapons in 

 which the hammer is raised by pulling the trigger, in which, in addition to tho great 

 danger from accidental discharge, tho strength of tho pull necessary for cocking 

 interferes with tho correctness of aim, which is of so much importance. A very 

 effectual provision is made to prevent tho accidental discharge of this pistol whilst 

 being carried in tho holster, pocket, or belt. Between each nipple (tho position of 

 which secures tho caps in their places) is a small pin, and tho point of the hammer 

 has a corresponding notch ; so that if tho hammer be lowered in the pin, tho cylinder 

 is prevented from revolving, and tho hammer is not in contact with tho percussion cap, 

 so that, even if tho hammer bo struck violently by accident, it cannot explode 

 the cap. 



Tho movements of tho revolving chamber and hammer are ingeniously arranged 

 and combined. The breech, containing six cylindrical cells for holding tho powder 

 and ball, moves one sixth of a revolution at a time ; it can only bo fixed when tho 

 hammer and the barrel are in a direct line. Tho base of tho cylinder being cut ex- 

 ternally into a circular ratchet of six teeth (tho lover which moves tho ratchet being 

 attached to the hammer) ; as the hammer is raised in tho act of cocking, tho cylinder 

 is made to revolve, and to revolve in one direction only ; while the hammer is falling 



