180 APPENDIX. 



recommend the substitution of percussion for flint locks ; over 

 which the advantages of the former are as great as the latter are 

 superior to the huge wheel and pyrites locks of two centuries 

 ago. In comparison to the percussion gun, the very best flint one 

 absolutely hangs fire, and one out of twenty is_ absolutely a miss- 

 fire. A cap is put on much quicker than a flint lock is primed ; 

 there is no time lost in changing flints ; and if Mr. _ Joyce's per- 

 cussion powder be used, there is no foulness or corrosion whatever; 

 lastly, the rifles at present in use might be converted into copper 

 caps at a trifling expense, and new copper cap locks wOl cost less 

 than flint ones. The onl}^ objection to the chang-e (and I own it is 

 a very great one indeed), is the bhnd prejudice of custom. 



To render the use of the copper cap piece still more eligible, 

 especially for military i^urposes, there should be no lateral vent- 

 hole in the breech, but in lieu of it, a broad convex-headed screw; 

 which, upon being withdra\vn, opens a passage into the chamber 

 under the nipple, of an eiglith of an inch in diameter. 



By this simple contrivance, — which I have apphed to all my 

 own guns, rifles, and pistols, — should any obstruction occur, either 

 from wet or dii't, winch cannot be removed by merely probing the 

 siipple, it will infallibly be cleared out by removing_ the screw, 

 scooping out the passage into the chambei- putting a little powder 

 therem, and firing it ofl', after liaving probed the nipple, and replaced 

 the screw. The aperture formed, by the removal of the screw, 

 greatly adds to the facility of washing the barrel. 



Instead of the brush and brass wire pricker, required for the 

 -present fidnt-lock service, the use of percussion pieces would make 

 it necessary to substitute a little instrument of steel, resembling 

 the letter T, one half of the horizontal part bemg a four, or what 

 is perhaps better, a three-sided pricker or probe, of about one- 

 twentieth of an inch diameter. The other half of the horizontal 

 piece forms a kind of Httle scoop, corresponding to the dianieter of 

 the lateral screw above mentioned, upon the removal of which it is 

 to be employed. The centre piece, or foot of the T, is a turnscrew,, 

 sminounted by a little ring to attach it to the jacket. As, however, 

 the instrument v/ill not be often wanted, perhaps it had better be 

 kept in the trap of the rifle stock, in the inside of wliich I attach 

 it, by a thong, to a little screw staple. 



Some persons recommend that, instead of the lateral screw 

 above described, the nipple itself should be taken out, incase of 

 obstruction, or for the purpose of washing the barrel. This is not 

 only ineffective, but higiily improper, as it requires the use of a 

 particular shaped key or pincer to screw the nipple ; whereas such 

 tilings as will turn a screw, or serve the purpose of a pricker, are 

 to be found everywhere. 



The percussion powder for the caps should by all means be com- 

 posed of the nitrate of mercury, first brought into use by Mr. F. 

 Joyce, of Old Compton Street. This, instead of havhig the sHghtest 

 tendency to corrode the piece, would rather appear to possess an 



