THE NEW AUSTRIAN FIELD GUNS. 
15 
end they are both covered and secured together by the wrought-iron shoe 
carrying the trail-plate eye. They are further connected by two vertical 
iron plates with angle-iron—one near the front, and another between the 
elevating arrangement and point of trail—by the bolt for the axletree stays, 
by that of the elevating arrangement, and by the axletree boxes. 
On the upper surface of each cheek is secured an iron trunnion plate, 
furnished with a capsquare. The front iron bolts securing these plates to 
the cheeks are lengthened above and made cylindrical, so as to serve as a 
handle or holdfast for the gunner on the axletree seat. 
Just above* the trail shoe is secured an iron socket for traversing hand¬ 
spike, capable of moving in the vertical plane, and on each side of this are 
the trail handies for limbering and unlimbering. The traversing handspike 
(of wood, shod with iron) can be pushed home in the socket for use, or 
when not required can be partially but not wholly withdrawn. When so 
partially withdrawn it can be turned up with the socket, so as to lie between 
the cheeks (as shown in Pig. 17), being there secured by a strap when the 
gun is limbered-up. 
(2) The axletree boxes are made of iron plate, and are riveted together 
and to the cheeks, the lids hinging towards the rear. 
(3) The axletree* is cylindrical, of cast-steel, and weighs \\ cwts. (7Q k ).t 
It has in certain places projecting rings round the circumference, and at 
each end a conical axletree arm. 
The stays {ll, Pig. 17) serve to support the axletree itself, and to secure 
the whole system more firmly together. Their front ends pass round the 
axletree, and the rear ends are secured ( h , Pig. 17) to the iron plates, which 
are fastened to the cheeks by screw bolts and nuts. 
Upon the axletree, on either side, and outside the cheeks, is secured an 
axletree seat [a, Pig. 17) for one man. The seat is made of an iron frame 
covered with leather, furnished with a back, and provided with a leather 
cushion. 
There is a step, b c, for mounting and dismounting. The leather handle 
shown in Pig. 17 on the outer side, assists in the same, and also serves to 
hold on by when the man is seated and the gun in motion. 
Fig. 18. 
* Each separate axletree is subjected to a severe test—a weight of 88 lbs. (40 k ) being dropped 
upon its centre from a height of 6 ft. (2 m ). 
f With 8 C , axletree weighs 1 cwt. Oqrs, 5 lbs. (58 k ). 
