MR. LANCASTER'S NEEDLE GUN. 



277 



portance to justify the outlay of twenty guineas additional, 

 which is about the difference between the price of Mr. 

 Lancaster's guns and those of Lefaucheaux's make, as con- 

 structed and sold by our best makers, with one or two 

 exceptions, who are able to get high prices for anything they 

 sell. The external appearance of this gun is shown in the 

 following sketch : 



Fijf 



LANCASTER S GUN, CLOSED. 



The barrels in no wise differ from the French form, except 

 in the exterior of the breech-end, where they are necessarily 

 slightly stouter, to allow of the cutting away of a small 

 groove for the little catch which delivers the cartridge. 

 This lies between the two barrels, and works backwards and 

 forwards with an easy and smooth action, as will be presently 

 explained. The hinge on which the barrels are lowered varies 

 from that of the Lefaucheaux gun in admitting of a sliding 

 motion by means of a slot, instead of a mere eye, fitting closely 

 upon the bolt. By this arrangement the barrels, as the lever is 

 moved, are drawn away from the false breech, and the latter 

 is enabled to be undercut, so as to secure the breech from 

 being tilted up and opened during the explosion. In other 

 respects there is no difference, as far as I know. 



The delivery of the cartridge is effected by means of a 

 sliding piece of metal, which is constructed of the following 

 shape (fig. 51), in which act represent two views of the 



CARTRIDGE EXTRACTOR. (FULL SIZE.) 



