6 The Needle Gun. 
“The principle of the ‘needle’ is one entirely apart from 
either breach-loading or muzzle-loading. It may be used 
with advantage in either case. 
“Ever since we have abolished flint-locks, the system of 
discharging firearms by percussion has been in vogue; and 
very few gun makers outside of Prussia have turned their 
attention successfully to other methods of ignition. All 
the other breech-loaders, even the newest American guns, 
use percussion, and ignite their charge either by a hammer, 
as in the Enfield and Mount-storm, or by bolts, as in the 
~ case of the modern ‘central fire’ fowling pieces. Mark 
the importance of this defect ; for in order to render 
this system of discharge effective, the blow of the hammer 
or push of the bolt must meet with resistance, so that the 
detonating mass may be pressed between two hard sub- 
stances, hence the necessity of employing cartridges partly 
made of copper or brass. 
“One of the new American guns, deservedly admired for 
the rapidity of its action, actually requires a cartridge made 
entirely of copper, like a huge ‘Ely’s’ bulleted cap, and 
although it is supposed that the central fire-brass and card- 
board cartridge may be used instead, yet, even in that case, 
the objection of having a half burned remnant of paste- 
board and metal case and cap in the gun, afterthe discharge 
holds equally good. In the heat of successive firing these 
hard substances may become wedged in the gun, and 
thereby render its action useless. 
“The Prussians have gathered experiences in this subject. 
However well a breech-loading percussion gun may be con- 
structed, the discharged eartridge ejected by aspring, or by 
other means, in actual practice on a large scale, the objec- 
tion will be found a very serious one. 
“The discharge by a ‘ needle’ is quite a different princi- 
ple. No force is required beyond that of sending the 
abruptly sharpened point of a strong needle into the deto- 
nating substance. This detonating substance may be 
placedon a piece of paper, and when struck with a point of a 
knife will explode. No metal case or cap is required to 
afford resistance, as is the case of ‘ percussion’ guns. 
“ Tmagine the old flint-lock barrel, with the flint, steel, and 
pan discarded ; imagine a cartridge inserted through the 
muzzle, if you like, with a small detonating pill at the side 
corresponding with the small aperture in the barrel—a 
needle pushed in there with a sharp motion, would discharge 
the gun; or imagine the detonating mass as being at the 
Di 
ay Van 
