276 VARIETIES OF SHOT-GUNS, ETC. 



so as to raise the breech. By the addition of the perforated 

 metal-plate and wad behind the cap the escape of gas so 

 much complained of in all the old needle guns is very 

 much obviated, but there is still some slight defect in this 

 respect. 



The opponents of this invention assert that in practice the 

 needle is apt to break, that the lock soon corrodes from the 

 escape of gas by the side of the needle into it, that the 

 management requires too much care for ordinary sportsmen, 

 who from being long accustomed to one form, are not easily 

 induced to use another. Of its shooting as compared with 

 other guns, I shall speak hereafter. 



ME. LANCASTER'S NEEDLE GUN. 



To obviate certain objections in the ordinary needle gun, 

 as well as in the French gun of Lefaucheaux, Mr. Lancaster 

 has patented certain improvements, which have now been 

 before the public for some years. They consist in the 

 adoption of the French crutch, exactly in the form already 

 described, but with a different mode of exploding the 

 cartridge, and with the addition of a very ingenious piece of 

 mechanism for bringing out the cartridge case after its 

 explosion. The brass pin of the cartridge is done away with, 

 and a fulminating powder, between two discs of copper, is 

 exploded by a blow from a central needle, which however 

 does not perforate them ; and there is consequently no escape 

 of gas. Moreover, the needle is not contained within the 

 lock, but is driven forward by the blow of the hammer ; so 

 that, even if any corrosive gas escaped, it would not derange 

 the mechanism the needle alone suffering from it. As the 

 barrels travel forward in the act of turning the lever, the 

 false breech is enabled to be undercut, and thus, when closed, 

 there can be no tilting whatever, as is alleged to take place 

 in the French gun of the ordinary make. The cartridge in 

 other respects does not differ from the French one, nor does 

 the chamber in which it is placed; and there can be no 

 difference in the shooting of this gun from that which has 

 been described at p. 255. It remains to be seen whether the 

 details connected with the cartridge are of sufficient im- 



