THE LEFAUCHEAUX GUtf. 259 



arguing that there must be an escape of gas, and others that 

 the shape of the cartridge is the cause j but if the additional 

 quantity of powder will only give the desired result, I 

 cannot think the loss of power of any real importance. As 

 far as my experience goes, however, in spite of this additional 

 charge, the breech-loader still shoots somewhat less strongly 

 than its rival, but not to any extent sufficient to counter- 

 balance its manifest advantages. This will be made more 

 clear in examining the results of the Field gun trials of 

 1858 and 1859, the latter of which will be given elsewhere. 



Such being the principle of this gun, it remains now to 

 consider how these several parts are constructed to the best 

 advantage, and in doing this, it will be necessary to examine 

 each of the parts in detail. 



The barrels of the breech-loader are forged exactly in the 

 same way as for the muzzle-loader, the only point necessary 

 to be attended to being that they shall be somewhat 

 stouter at the breech-end. No greater length is required, 

 except for Needham'a and other needle guns; and indeed, 

 there is no reason why any ordinary barrel before it is tapped 

 for the patent breech may not be used. Here, however, the 

 difference in the make begins, and the barrel-maker has to 

 braze on with great care two lumps of iron to the lower sides 

 of the barrels, one of which serves to make the notch into 

 which the lever slides to keep the barrels firmly in their 

 places, and the other forms about three-fifths of the socket 

 in which the circular bolt fixed in the stock revolves. In 

 order to understand the exact form of the bolt, a gun on this 

 principle must be examined, and moreover as scarcely any two 

 makers adopt the same shape, the description of one would not 

 suffice for all. In all cases, however, the principle of the 

 lever in combination with the inclined plane is employed, 

 and by their aid the notch in the lower part of the barrel is 

 firmly brought down and held in apposition to the stock with 

 such force as to resist the expansive power of the exploded 

 gunpowder. On removing the slide in the front of the stock, the 

 fore end comes readily away, and in the part next the hinge, 

 a segment of a circle will be seen formed which completes the 

 socket of the bolt. The barrels may now be lifted out of 

 their bearings and removed from the stock altogether, and 



s2 



