329 



PRINCE S RIFLE. 



Of all the various breechloaders, where one barrel only is 

 required, this is, in my judgment, the best, for after admit- 

 ting the charge at the breech, the barrel is screwed on again 

 almost as firmly as in the patent breech, the only difference 

 being that there is one thread instead of five or six. In 

 practice this one thread is all-sufficient, and it is found that 

 when well made and case-hardened no ordinary amount of 

 wear and tear will produce the slightest effect upon the metal. 

 But as the principle is incapable of application to a double- 

 barrelled rifle, there is some objection to it for the purposes 

 to which I am now alluding, and the weapon must be taken 

 subject to this fault. 



PRINCE S RIFLE CLOSED. 



The principle may readily be understood by the explana- 

 tion, that in the case of this rifle the breech and barrel are 

 screwed together by means of a single coarse thread in the 

 latter, and two studs fixed upon the cone, as shown in fig. 

 80 at a. But instead of screwing the breech into the barrel, 

 as is done in the usual way, the latter is moveable, and slides 

 forward after it is unscrewed by the lever b working in the 

 slot c d. In doing this the barrel, though allowed to make 

 a quarter revolution, and afterwards to slide forward, is still 

 securely fixed to the stock by the clip fig. 79 e in front, and 

 by the shoulder of the lever behind, while after re-screwing it 

 to the breech it is just as secure, and as incapable of being in- 

 jured by any force which can be applied as the strongest muz- 

 zle-loader. The lock, hammer, and nipple are all like those 



