274: 



VARIETIES OF SHOT-GUNS, ETC. 



Needham's bolt being raised in passing through a hedge, 

 which may happen to the striker of any of the locks con- 

 structed on the ordinary pattern. After the above descrip- 

 tion, it will at once be apparent that in the act of opening 

 the breech, the lock is cocked, and that before closing it, the 

 bolt ought to be lowered so as to show the word BOLTED, or 

 else the gun is in the same dangerous state as it would be if 

 on full cock in the ordinary kinds of gun. This precaution 

 is of great importance to the safety of the sportsman who 

 uses Mr. Needham's invention, and as the bolt can be raised 

 by the left hand at the moment of taking aim, there is never 

 any necessity for carrying this gun cocked, or I should rather 

 say unbolted. 



The cartridge-case employed is a much cheaper and more 

 simple affair than that used for the Lefaucheaux gun, being 



Fig 4 8. 



SECTION OF LOADED CARTRIDGE. (FULL SIZE.) 



composed, however, of the same elementary parts, with the 

 exception of the brass pin, whose office is here performed by 

 the needle. Every part, however, is modified, and there is 

 not nearly so much difficulty in constructing it. Besides 

 this, the case is not withdrawn after being used, so that 

 there is not the same necessity for its fitting the chamber 

 easily, as in the French gun. The most important part is 

 the arrangement of the wad and cap, which must be examined 

 attentively, in order to comprehend their offices (see 

 figs. 48 and 49), in which these parts are represented in 



LOADED CARTRIDGE. (FULL SIZE.) 



