248 PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT 



ning into the pan by means of two inclined planes, the one 

 formed by the fhape of the breech-plug, the other by that of 

 the touch-hole. The butt is excavated, fo as to admit the hand 

 eafily, and it is ftrengthened by a plate of iron, which runs from 

 the end of the breech-plug, round to the. end of the fteel-tubc 

 which holds the ramrod. 



The advantages which it poiTefTes over the common carabine, 

 are thefe : It is flronger, becaufe it is fortified all round with 

 iron ', it is upwards of two pounds .lighter ; and, although {even 

 inches Ihorter in the barrel, it carries as far as the other. 



One might expect, that as the touch-hole is fomewhat larger 

 than ufual, there mult be a greater explofion through it, and 

 eonfequently a diminution of the explofion through the barrel, 

 as well as of the velocity of the bullet ; but the fact is, that the 

 touch-hole, although it be larger at the bafe, it is not much 

 larger at the fummit, where it opens into the barrel, than the 

 common touch-hole ; and, by frequent and accurate experiment, 

 I have found, that, with the fame quantity of powder, the fmall 

 carabine throws a ball with a force fully equal, if not fuperior, 

 to that of. the common carabine. Perhaps the circumftance of 

 the length of the barrel, correfponding better with the diameter 

 of the bullet, may account for thLs fact, and likewife make up 

 for any trilling diminution of the explofion from the barrel, 

 which may poflibly be occafioned by the fomewhat incrcafed 

 fize of the touch-hole. 



As this carabine primes itfelf, it can be loaded on horfe- 

 back, at ipeed, or in the dark, or in windy weather, and 

 under the cloak when it rains. I have never known it to 

 mils, priming; and,. by way of experiment, I have fired it up- 

 wards of twenty times fucceflively, and have always found, 

 on opening the pan, that it was as well primed at the laft, 

 as at the firft fhot. It can be fired eafily five times in a 

 minute, with the afhflance of a fecond ramrod, (fig. 3.) which 





3 



when 



