336 THE SPORTING RIFLE. 



arrives at the ordinary size of the bore. By being so 

 formed, a greater explosive power is obtained to burst the 

 cartridge and ignite the charge, while the nipple itself is in 

 no way injured." 



By comparing this with Prince's rifle just described, it will 

 be seen that there are two points in which it is inferior to 

 the latter. Firstly, it may be discharged with the breech 

 unclosed, which would cause a serious damage to the eyes; 

 and secondly, it requires that there shall always be a greased 

 wad in front of the ball, by which the accuracy of the shooting 

 is materially interfered with. Now, as in comparing the 

 two there can only be alleged against these serious drawbacks 

 in Terry's rifle the fact that Prince's barrel is not a fixture, 

 but must necessarily slide, I think a moment's consideration 

 will show that Mr. Prince was quite right in rejecting the 

 portion of his specification which is now taken up by Messrs. 

 Calisher and Terry, and that the rifle which now bears his 

 name is far superior to theirs. 



RESTELL'S RIFLE. 



EesteUs rifle is a Belgian invention, but is patented in 

 this country. The principle is as follows. The barrel is 

 attached to the stock and lock in the usual way, and with an 

 ordinary nipple. Behind the open breech is a short chamber, 

 fig. 84 e, in which slides the plug b d, with a projection in 

 front at d, which closes the open end of the breech. This plug 

 is prevented from sliding in any other than one direction by 

 a stud which travels in a small slot, the end of the stud 

 being shown roughed, just above the lower end of the lever. 

 When this plug is pushed forward, it occupies the position 

 of the chamber e, and closes the breech; while, when it is 

 drawn back, it leaves both open and ready to receive a 

 cartridge, which however must be jointed, on account of the 

 shortness of the chamber. The next thing is to provide for 

 the movement and closing of the plug; and these objects are 

 very ingeniously effected, but unfortunately with scarcely 

 sufficient strength. An outside lever a is connected with 

 an internal wedge c, which lies in a slot in the middle of 

 the plug b d } and the shape of the wedge is such that when 



