Jttne 2fl, 1884.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



433 



Fig. i. 



RIFLES OF TO-DAY. 



THE REMINGTON RIFLE. 



THE story of the first Renrington gun. the manufacture of which 

 arm, under peculiarly adverse circumstances, lai I the founda 

 tion of the largest armory in the world, has beer many times retold, 

 and will probably be hew to but few of our readers 'Briefly stated, 

 it is as follows: In 1816, Eliphabt Remington, the founder of the Rem- 

 ington armory, was a boy working on his father's farm in Herkimer 

 conn' y. N. Y. Like other boys, he was very anxious to obtain a gun, 

 but is-lion the subject was broached to his father, he was told to make 

 one. Tiiis advice, undoubtedly given in jest, lie at once proceeded to 

 act upon, and notwithstanding his tool>- were of the rudest character 

 and his "plant" consisted of an obsolete farm forge, the gun, when 

 finished, proved such a success, that the young man. although un- 

 tutored in mechanics, recognized gunmaking as bis life work, to 

 which business he thereafter applied himself assiduously. 



For nine year- he continued the forging of gun barrels, making 

 hi" father 1 farm the scene of his operations, and pluekily overcom- 

 ing the difficul'ies which the many disadvantages under which he 

 labored, necessarily engendered. In additi n to ihe other work, he 

 quarried the grindstones necessary for bis use. Each piece of work 

 was conscientiously performed each barrel added to the reputation 

 of the young gimmaker, and each test of his productions was the 

 means of bringing new customers to his tumble factory. The most 

 import rat part of a gun is the barrel, and there is no doubt that to 

 the reputation for making safe and accurate barrels, thus early 

 established and subsequently maintained, much of the success of the 

 Remin: tons may be attributed 



In 1835 Mr. Remington was enabled to purchase the present site of 

 Ilion, N. Y.. * few miles from the old forge— his reasons therefore 

 being that he could obtain a betier water power, and the Erie Canal 

 having recently been constructed, better facilities for transportation 

 as well. His first venture in building was a modest one-story struc- 

 ture which still stands, forming a part of the forging shop. Space 

 will nor permit a detailed account of the progress made in the manu- 

 facture of arms, the various improvements in the way of machinery, 

 and the enlargement of the plant. A. casual mention, however, may 

 prove interesting. The first contract for making a few thousand 

 stand of arms was undertaken in 1835, at which time, and until 1840, 

 there were but six machines in operation at the works, This contract 

 was soon supplemented by others for 5,000 rifles each, which in tho-e 

 davs were no doubt looked upon as important as contracts a score of 

 times as large have since been considered. As his three sons grew to 

 manhood, Mr Remington admitted them to partnership, and having 

 been educated to the business, they at once took a prominent part in 

 its management. 



During the succeeding years the Remington arms, in a constant 

 state of improvement, after subjection to the severest tests by gov 

 eminent commissions, composed of the best mechanical and military 

 experts, have been issued to troops in every quarter of the globe, 

 placed in the hands of the most intelligent as well as the rudest and 

 most ignorant soldiers, and have invariabl r withstood the consequent 

 uea.r, exposure and abuses. There have been made at this armory 

 1,500,000 stand of military rifles, 10J,000 sporting arms, and upward 

 of 600,000 pistols. Military arms have been furnished to the follow- 

 ing-named governments, contracts for these guns being consummated 

 by recommendation of the commissions appointed to test the best 

 patterns manufactured: Spain, France, United States (for navy), 

 Egypt, Mexico, Argentine Republic, Denmark, United States of 

 Colombia, Spain (for Cuba), Sweden and Japan. After years of sub- 

 jection to ruugh usage on land and at sea, no fault has been found 

 with this weapon, it having successfully withstood that test of tests, 

 active military service. lit official reports made by representatives 

 of the different governments which have adopted this arm, the most 

 complete satisfaction concerning its performance is expressed, their 

 recommendations being frequently accompanied with supplemental 

 orders. 



Certainly, a weapon capable of withstanding such tests and service 

 is sufficiently durable for use either as a military, hunting, or target 

 riile. When the Remington rifle is cocked and the breechblock 

 opened, it is impossible to pull it off, as it is furnished with a locking 

 lever, but a pull on the trigger of some of the advertised imitations 

 he hammer, which falls to half cock when the breechblock 

 is closed, and if the point of the sear breaks, as it ri very likely to do, 

 the gun will be discharged. The function of the lockinsr lever is two- 

 fold: one of its offices being to lock the trigger, so that it cannot 

 escape from its notch iii the tumbler when the breechblock is opened, 

 ami a second to secure the breechblock when closed by the force 

 directly irau'smitted of the lever spring. 



Notwithstanding the improvements made in breechloaing rifles and 

 ammunition for many years past, and tne attention that has been 

 devoted to then use, it is of comparatively recent date that the range 

 of the arms and their efficiency at long distances have been properly 

 understood, Tests of the Remington military service rifle at a dis- 



tance of 1,800yds. have resulted in the penetration of two inches of 

 seasoned timber t nd live inches of solid earth, the charge used being 

 Ihe regular Spanish cartridge, 5 grammes (77grs.) powder and 385grs. 

 lead. The accuracy attained— common military sights being used — 

 fully established the fact that at the di- tance named a body of troops 

 ran easily be driven from any unprotected position. Well authenti 

 cated instances are given in which men and horses have been disabled 

 at a greater range than that mentioned. 



As an illustra'ion of how work is done at the Remington Armory, 

 we may instance the fulfillment of the French contract, begun in the 

 fall of 1870, and finished in the following spring— 155, OOOstand of are s 

 having been made and shipped to Franca within seven months; a 

 rate of production ne' er approached by any similar tstablishment. 

 On each of the last three days, 1,530 stand of arms were manufac- 

 tured and 1,3 stand of arms on each of the fifteen working days pre- 

 ceding, in addition to 200 revolvers per day. Referring to this 

 showing, the London Times asserted that the combined armories of 

 England could not equal such a production. The Remingtons have 

 filled larger contracts— notably one with Spain for 365,000 stand of 

 arms— but this is their most rapid rate of manufacture, 1,400 work- 

 men being employed. 



Figures 1 and 3 are sectional views of the Remington rifle sys- 

 tem used in the military service rifle and in the sporting rifles desig 

 nated as Nos. 1, 154 anci 2. No. 1 varies in weight from 8 to 12ibs., 

 using cartridges of the following sizes: .22, .82, .38, .40, .44. .45 and .50 

 cal., No. lti, 6 to 81bs., .22, .32, .38, and .40cal., No. 2, 5 to 61bs„ .22, .32 

 and .38cal.. either rim or center fire, as maybe adapted to same; 

 there being no diffeience in price of same quality, only in caliber 

 and weight. Figure No. 3 shows a plain sporting gun, many varieties 

 of which are made by the addition of sights and other extras. The 

 system is so well known as to render a technical description of its 

 construction and operation unnecessary. 



The Remington target rifles are intimately associated with the his- 

 tory of Creedmoor and other rifle ranges, from the time that Major 

 FuHonled the field by eight points in tne first international match, 

 until Sergeant Dolan won ihe military championship match in 1883, 

 leading all compe itors eleven points and beating all former records 

 by eight points, the Remington winning in each instance. Nearly all 

 the expert long-range mark men in the country use this arm, and it 

 is also shot by some of the principal prize winners at Wimbledon. 

 The annual reports of the National Rifle Association teem with vic- 

 tories won by the Remington, and these are so numerous and this 

 fact is so well understood, that it is not necessary to reproduce tbetn 

 here. It has won more matches than any other weapon and uplield 

 its reputation from the shortest, to the longest ranges. 



Like the soldier, the hunter requires a gun that i< proof against all 

 kinds of exposure. As a reliable hunting weapon, the Remington 

 has an excellent record, all kinds of game being numbered among its 

 victims. It has furnished food and protection to explorers in all 

 climates, from the Arctic regions to Africa, its accuracy and effect- 

 iveness lenaining unimpaired throughout years of exposure, when 

 far from the reach of gunsmiths. Lieut. Schwatka. U. S. A., whose 

 explorations have given bim a world-wide reputation, writes as fol- 

 lows concerning the Remington rifles,* used by him during his memor- 

 able search for relics of Sir John Franklin: 



'Tn justice to yourselves as generous contributors to my late expedi- 

 tion in search of the relics of Sir John Franklin from 1878-80, I would 

 state that the two rifles furnished by you exceeded mj expectations. 

 They were frequently used during temperatures ranging from 50 to 60 

 degrees below zero and at distances from 200 to 600yds. with perfect 

 working of their parts, and with deadly effect. I consider that on my 

 expedition the arms used were subjected to the severest practical 

 test to which guns have ever been exposed. Compelled to be keot 

 out of doors constantly to avoid the moisture of the igloos, lashed in 

 convenient places for immediate use on constantly overturning 

 sledges, used at a moment's i. otice under all variations of tempera- 

 ture and weather, the Remingtons never failed us on this expedition, 

 where the lives of nineteen human beings and an average of thirty 

 draft animals depended for over ten months upon the efficacy of our 

 firearms." 



The subjoined extract from the journal of Chief Engineer Melville, 

 U. S. N., kept by him during his search for the. Jeaunette officers and 

 crew, was written, Mr. Melville states, just after shooting a ptarmi- 

 gan at long range with the rifle mentioned, it having been found and 

 pulled out of the snow wnere it had lain for months after a long 

 period of careless use by Alexy, Ihe Indian: 



March 20.— The Remington gun is the gun of guns. All of our 

 other sporting rifles gave out one after another. W r e have one Rem- 

 ington that Alexy used for two years, and then it hung out all win- 

 ter, muzzle up, in snow and storm, and we go on shooting with it as 

 if it came out of the armory to-day." 



Gen. Thomas Jordan, speakmg of the arms used in Cuba, says: 

 "Nowhere else in active service , in my belief, has any firearm been 

 subjected to such trying tests as the Remington rifles in Cuba, both 

 by Spanish and Cuban troops, taking into consideration the warm 



damp, corrosive climate and the character of the men who bandied 

 tltem— verv often negroes who had never before been used to hand- 

 ling a gun of any sort. The mechanism proved as strong and endur- 

 ing as it was simple and easy working. Scarcely any sort of bard 

 usage or any degree of moisture impaired its efficiency. Other 

 brecehloadihg arms were in use, both by CubaDS and Spaniards, but 

 none gave the same degree of satisfaction. In close observation of 

 the Remington arm, under circumstances dailv of the keenest solici- 

 tude, when a single firearm in thoroughly effective condition, more 

 or less, was a matter of great importance to me, I could discover no 

 defect in it." 



Numberless recommendations like the above might be cited, but 

 these are merely given to show the behavior and satisfactory work- 

 ing of the arm in climates of the opposite extremes. 



The Remington armory has five and three luarter acres of floor 

 space, equal to one room 40ft. wide and 6.210ft., or nearly one and 

 one-fifth miles, long. Machines to the number of 1,700 are driven by 

 a force of 900 horse power, with the aid of 4,900ft. of line shafting and 

 70.400ft. of belting. The estimated value of the plant, not including 

 either stock or materials, is $2,500,000. It is next to impossible to give 

 an idea of the various styles of arms manufactured, in which are in- 

 cluded military, sporting and target rifles, shotguns, pistols and rifle 

 canes; the different patterns of sporting rifles alone, lengths, sights, 

 chambers, etc.. considered, being "too numerous to mention." 



One feature of this industry is worthy of a special mention, as if un- 

 doubtedly exerts a material influence in promoting the < ffieiency of 

 the arms manufactured by this firm. We refer to the exhaustive ex- 

 periments continually carried on with the view of deciding questions 

 concerning calibers, 'rifling, chambering, the proper distribution of 

 metal, and various other points relating to gun manufacture, as well 

 as the correct ammunition for the different stoles of guns. Oun- 

 making is more than a trade in Ilion— it is a science. The places of 

 men grown old in the service are filled by their sons, who. although 

 using the prevailing ideas as a basis, are fully alive to the necessity 

 for continual improvement, and eager to detect any fallacies that 

 may exist. No theory, however plausible, is accepted as correct until 

 actual experiment has proved it to be of practical value. 



Ilion has been represented on ihe battle fields and rii\e ranges, as 

 well as in the hunting camps throughout the world. In the principal 

 expositions these guns have always held a leading place, and the men 

 who make them take a pardonable pride hi their successes. Many of 

 the gun makers are expert marksmen, as those who have seen the 

 Ilion team on the rifle range will remember. Eliphalet Remington, 

 Senior, the founder of the business, died in 1861. On January 1, 1865, 

 the firm was incorporated, retaining the name of E. Remington & 

 Sons. Samuel Remington, at that time president of the company, 

 died in 1882, the stock being now controlled, and the business man- 

 aged by the two surviving brothers, T'hilo and Eliphalet Remington. 



As a fi'ting conclusion lo this article, an extract from an editorial 

 in a former issue of this journal is appended: "It was the assurance 

 from the Remingtons thit a rifle could and would be prepared in 

 time for the opening contest which led to the acceptance of the first 

 Irish challenge in 1873. and from that time on. at considerable incon- 

 venience and loss in a purely business point of view, the entire appli- 

 ances of the Ilion armory have been at the disposal of American 

 riflemen when trials on the range led them to think that certain 

 changes in rifles and fixings would bring about better scores. Full 

 credit has not always been given for these efforts to second the men 

 who give time and labor to practice before the butts. The whole 

 record of American victories on the ranges here and abroad would 

 have been a series of defeats but for the rifles sent out by the 

 Ilion armory. Without going into the well-known story of these fav- 

 orite rifles in the hands of a dozen foreign armories, the fact is now 

 more than ever brought home to those who feel a patriotic pride in 

 American successes that much of the credit of what has been done 

 since 1873 properly belongs to this energetic American arms manu- 

 tory." 



TORONTO, June 17.— Guelph vs. Toronto. An interesting match 

 was fired by the above associations to-day. Ten men a side, at 300, 

 500, and 600yds., 7 shots at each. Position — Kneeling at 200; prone at 

 5C0 and 600yd-:., military rifles. The meeting took place on the Guelph 

 ranges, and resulted in a victory for the Toronto by 70 points. The 

 shooting was good considering the day, which was hot and bright, 

 and a variable wind, making things difficult for the riflemen. A re- 

 turn match will be fired soon on Garrison common. 



Toronto. Guelph. 



200 500 600 200 500 600 



A Bell 25 28 29-82 J Crowe 2.6 30 23— 78 



W Foreman.... 21 33 25—79 Cottis : 20 21 14—55 



T Mitchell 31 29 18-78 Sleeman 24 18 23-63 



Graham 21 25 13-59 Goldie 20 23 15—58 



SF Walker.... 23 25 27-74 Root... 30 28 20—78 



Ashall 23 26 17-66 Macdonakl 27 28 22-77 



G Bell 19 25 19-63 Armstrong..- , 28 19 29—76 



A Anderson. .. 25 29 22—77 Stewart 15 24 7—49 



G Lewis 29 25 20—74 Smith 20 16 16—52 



Mowatt 26 23 21—70 Wiedman.... .. 22 25 22—69 



248 264 "310 722 



231 231 190 652 



THE TRAP. 



Correspondents who favor -us with club score* are particularly re- 

 quested to write on one side of the paper only, 



THE CLAY-PIGEON PUZZLE. 



Editor Forest and, Stream: 



"B.," in your issue of June 12, puts some queries well and to the 

 point. I have, wiih him, wondered how so many clay-pigeons get 

 away. Of course we all know- 

 First— That it is possible to miss them clean. p 

 Second— That they get out through a hole in'your "pattern." 

 Third- They "re frequently hit but not broken. They do not pre- 

 sent much of a target; not near as much a> a bird on the wing. I 

 doubt very much that any given system of loading or holding would 

 surround these difficulties. In field shooting we often miss very easy 

 shots. To pool all the conditions of man, gun, powder, shot and bird 

 and make, them work together every time, "cannot be did." Texas. 

 Galvesten, Tex. 



THE KNOXVILLE TOURNAMENT. 



SECOND annual tournament of the Knoxville (Te.nn.) Gun Club. 

 _, Match No 1, first day, purse $200; 10 single ciay-pigeons from 5 

 traps. 18yds.: 



W S Perry 1111111111—10 A E Mead 1111011001— 7 



Wm Jenkins 1111111111—10 S B Dow 1011010110— 6 



J W Slocuni 1111111011— 9 J C Duncan 1110111100— 6 



EL Mills 1111110111—9 J M. Ross 1011101001—6 



F W Armstrong 1111111101— 9 C Dead rick 1001011011— 6 



S W Rhea 1101111110- 8 M G MeCliuig 0010001111— 5 



VSLusk 1010111111—8 TC El (fridge.... 1.101000110—5 



W H Hicks 1001111111- 8 W Sparger 0101000111— 5 



Q -W Woods 1101110111- 8 R L Carter lOlOiOHCO— 5 



J A Campbell 1111110101— 8 W Rutherford lilt 100001— 5 



Capt Jacques 1111100111— 8 R Cleveland OOlOOlOOIl— 4 



W F Kerin 1100101111— 7 A Hay ward lOlOOOtOOl— 3 



W Wagner 0.101111,10- 7 HWorsham 6010001000— 2 



CCHebbard llllOlOllll— 7 TL Rogers 0100000100— .2 



J F Jordan 1111100101— 7 F Harrison 0000000010— 1 



S Townsend HlllOOlOl— 7 A Mcluturff 0000010000— 1 



Perry and Jenkins divided first. Slocum, Mills and Armstrong sec- 

 ond, Campbell. Lusk and Rhea third, Mead and Wagner fourth. 



Match No. 2, first day, purse $130, club added $30; 8 single clay- 

 pigeons, 21yds., use of booh barrels: 



Wagner 11111111—8 Carter 11101010—5 



Perry 11111111—8 Mead 11011010-5 



Deaderick 01111111—7* Dow llOHOOl— 5 



Rhea 1 .111011— 7 French 11 100101—5 



Mills 11111110— 7 McClung 11010011—5 



Townsend 1011111 1—7 Moss 01101100—4 



Jordan lllllllO— 7 Capt Bob 00001111—4 



Armstrong 01110111—6 Jenkins 11100100—4 



Hebbard 10101111-6 Campbell 101 10000-4 



Rose OlllOlll— 6 Misser 11101000—4 



Woods ..11100111-6 Worsham lOooiOlO— 3 



Hay ward lllllOlO— 6 Cleveland 01000011-3 



Slocum 011001 11— 5 Rutherford 01 100001— 3 



Eldridge 01101 101—5 Franklin 00100001—2 



Duncan 11011001— 5 Jaques 10000001—2 



Lusk 11001101—5 Kerin OlOlOOO )-2 



Rogers 01010111—5 Sparger 00101000-2 



Hacks 10101101-5 



Wagner and Perry divided first, Deaderick won second, Armstrong 

 won third. 

 W&tch No. 3, first day. purse $75. club added $25; 5 doubles, 15yds. 



rise: 



