Nature and Art, August 1, 1836.] 
THE NEEDLE GUN. 
91 
through, this passes the needle, 1ST. The steel “tige” 
is screwed into a solid plate of iron, J J , left in the 
tube, E E, and this plate it is which receives the 
whole reactionary force of the charge. Behind the 
plate J J (see fig. 2) there is a second tube of iron, 
fixed by a spring in connection with the trigger. 
It is then ready for firing. The iron tube, E E, 
which carries the needle-tube, K K, is capable of 
being moved backwards and forwards near the 
breech, by means of a handle in its side, which 
X, carrying within it a smaller tube, Iv Iv, gilt 
by two rings, marked LL in fig. 1, and TT in 
fio-. 2. Through K K passes the needle, N, a tlim 
steel wire, about of an inch in diameter, bluntly 
pointed at the end which is to ignite the charge. 
passes through a perforation similar to a bayonet 
notch in the side of the barrel. When the tube is 
drawn as far as the perforation will allow towards 
the stock, there is left an open chamber, between 
it and the barrel, and by this means the charge is 
Its other end is screwed into a brass head, O, and 
this again screws into the inner tube, K K, which 
carries the spiral spring, W W . By means of the 
ring, T, the needle-tube forces back W W, until it is 
introduced into the latter. The tube is then pressed 
forward till its extremity, which is in the form of 
a frustum of a cone, is in contact with the reai 
extremity of the barrel, which having the form of 
