PRINCES RIFLE. 



331 



In loading this rifle the stock is held firmly under the 

 right arm, which fixes it against the ribs and leaves the 

 hand at liberty to lay hold of the lever and turn it to the right, 



Fl. 8J. 



UNDER SIDE OF PRINCES RIFLE. 



after which it is free to force the barrel forward to the posi- 

 tion shown in fig. 80. The cartridge is then pushed into the 

 chamber/ and the hand again drawing back the lever and 

 turning it to the left with some little force, the loading is 

 completed. Fig. 81 exhibits a view of the lever and slide 

 from below. 



Tlie, cartridge preferred by Mr. Prince is made of an explo- 

 sive paper prepared by him. A piece of this is first pasted round 

 the base of the ball, leaving an open cylinder, which is then 

 filled with the charge of powder and tied. Any one can make 

 these cartridges readily enough with a little paste, the only 

 thing necessary after the above-described preparation being 

 to dip the ball and the paper covering it into some melted 

 grease. Ordinary paper will do, but as the fire from the cap 

 has to pierce it, the explosion is not so certain or so rapid as 

 with the prepared paper. Nevertheless, a miss-fire with the 

 common paper does not occur once in a thousand times if the 

 caps are good. Of course they should be those specially 

 made for rifles. 



The skin cartridges, invented and patented by Captain M. 

 Hayes, R.N., are particularly serviceable with all rifles 

 which, like this, require the percussion fire to perforate the 

 envelop of the powder. They consist merely of the charge 

 of powder confined to the base of the ball by a fine animal 

 membrane, and kept in the cartouche box in a cover of car- 



