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THE NEEDLE GUN. 
[Nature and Art, August 1, 186G. 
THE NEEDLE GUN. 
A T a time when the merit of the wonderful 
“ needle gun ” is the universal theme of con- 
versation, and when its adoption into the Prussian 
service is by many looked upon as sufficient alone 
to account for the unexpected and disastrous defeats 
sustained by the Austrians in Bohemia, we think 
that it may not be uninteresting to the readers 
of Nature and Art to have placed before them 
a short account of an invention which has gained 
for itself such universal renown, and which will 
cause a revolution in the armament of the infantry 
soldier. We propose now to present to our readers 
such a description as we hope may be intelligible to 
every one, even to those fair friends who have been 
accustomed to look upon needles as exclusively 
their own domain, and devoted entirely to works 
of a peaceful character. We accompany this de- 
scription with a drawing of the needle gun in two 
positions, viz., with the chamber closed and open, 
and with the component parts of the needle arrange- 
ments shown separately. On the same sheet will 
be given an illustration of Snider’s converted 
c 
Enfield breech-loader, which has been ordered to 
be introduced into our service. 
The “ Zundnadelgewehr,” or needle gun, so called 
from the ignition of the charge being produced by 
a needle or steel-pointed rod which passes through 
the cartridge, and strikes the percussion powder 
arranged in its centre, was introduced into the 
Prussian service in 1848. It was originally pa- 
tented as a muzzle-loader in 1831, by Mr. Abraham 
Adolph Moser, of Ivennington, and, having been 
improved upon by a Mr. Dreyse, was adopted by 
the Prussian government. This gun can be loaded 
and fired six or seven times in a minute. All that 
has to be done is to open the chamber, insert a 
would squander their ammunition, was practically 
refuted. During the recent brief but terrible 
campaign in Bohemia, the needle gun has again 
asserted its superiority, and in so decided a manner 
as to elicit one universal cry from every civilized 
nation for the arming of their troops in like manner. 
Still we would caution the public mind against the 
idea that there is any inherent merit in this par- 
ticular form of the needle gun which has obtained 
for it so startling a reputation. 
The successes of the Prussians may rather, we 
think, be attributable to the fact of their being 
armed with the breech-loader versus the muzzle-loader 
of those opposed to them. In consequence of this 
superiority in the Aveapon, the morale of the 
Austrian soldier Avas utterly crushed, Avhereas that 
of the Prussian Avas proportionately elevated ; but 
it must be remembered that in all future wars such 
wide disproportion can never occur again. One 
breech-loader Avill be pitted against another ; and 
that only which has the most perfect construction 
will be eligible for use in the battle-field. In the 
Prussian needle gun iioav under consideration, Ave 
must confess to seeing much that we consider faulty 
in construction. The parts seem too complex for 
field service, Avhere the soldier is exposed to every 
vicissitude of weather, and where it is essential that 
his weapon should be of the simplest form, con- 
sistent Avith its good shooting qualities. The 
folloAving description, Avhich is chiefly taken from 
Sir Howard Douglas’s work on Naval Gunnery, 
Avill, Ave hope, Avith the assistance of the plan and 
drawing, enable our readers to judge of the general 
construction of the piece. 
The barrel, A A, is screAved into the end of a 
strong open guider or channel, B B, which virtually 
cartridge, shut it, and fire ; and, at short distances, 
the piece may be discharged from the hip Avith out 
even raising it to the shoulder. 
In the Danish Avar the superiority of the Prussian 
gun was demonstrated beyond all contradiction ; 
and the objection raised, that soldiers so armed 
forms part of the breeching. Inside of the guider 
slides an iron tube, E E, with a strong “ liebel ” or 
handle, F, and having in the front end a hollow of 
about 11- inch in length, G G. In the middle of 
this space stands forward a “tige” or pillar, II, 
pierced with a small hole in its entire length, and 
