310 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
“ Chambering " is enlarging tlie breech in the barrel sufficiently to 
receive tbe bottle-sbaped cartridge. 
Gauging.—The calibre of the finished barrel is # 45 ; a plug of *452 
should not pass down. 
The foresight is slipped into an undercut recess on the barrel, and is 
brazed on. The hind-sight is soldered on the barrel, having been fixed 
into a frame attached to which are pointers that determine the true 
position of the sight. 
The barrel is, of course, viewed through the several stages of its 
manufacture, and when finished bears several viewers' marks stamped 
on it, including the proof marks, and, last of all, W.D. and the broad 
arrow—which indicates it has been finally approved for service. 
The Ramrod, or rather cleaning rod, is altogether of steel, and has a 
short screw-thread on the end to receive the brass jag. 
The Bayonet is also made at Enfield. The blade is of steel, 
tempered in a bath of lead (617° Fahr.), and the remainder wrought- 
iron. With Martini-Henry ’rifles, the ordinary '53 bayonet (altered in 
the socket) is issued for the rank and file, the sword-bayonet for 
serjeants and rifle regiments, and the cutlass sword-bayonet for the 
navy. (See paras. 2659 and 2713 “List of Changes in War Materiel," 
1874-5). 
Storing, Examination, and Repairs. 
At home, the service small-arms are stored in large quantities at the 
Tower of London, and there are reserves held at all stations, parti¬ 
cularly at Weedon. 
All small-arms, whether from the Government factories or supplied 
by the trade, are sent into store fit for immediate issue. Arms returned 
by the troops are examined locally for assessment of damages, and at 
some few stations are repaired. They all, however, eventually find 
their way back to the Tower, where they are subjected to a thorough 
examination by officials from the Royal Small-Arms Factory. Damages 
are assessed where necessary, and the arms are classified according 
to regulation. Slight repairs are effected on the spot, before being 
returned into store; but should a defect be extensive, the arm is for¬ 
warded to the Royal Small-Arms Factory, Birmingham—another 
branch of the Royal Small-Arms Factory, Enfield. Weapons which 
are not worth repairing are sold by auction. 
With regard to storing small-arms abroad or at out-stations, care must 
be exercised in choosing a storehouse which is altogether free from 
damp. If the arms are in chests they should be examined at least every 
six months, to see that they are fit for immediate use; if they are placed 
in racks they should be frequently dusted, and thoroughly dried and 
oiled every six months. 
All arms in store are classified under the heads of “ serviceable," 
^repairable," or “unserviceable," Rifled breech-loading arms of the 
bores *45 and ’577 are further distinguished as follows:— 
Class I.—-New arms, and used arms which may have had slight 
repairs only, and are equal to new* 
