CARTRIDGES.
Paper cartridges are but little used at the present time. There are two kinds in the United States service—the ball cartridge, made with a single elongated ball, and the blank cartridge. The paper is first cut into strips of a width equal to the length of a trapezoid, using, the pattern as a guide. A cutting-machine like that used by book-binders facilitates the operation when many hands are employed.
To form the cylinder, lay the trapezoids on the table with the sides perpen dicular to the bases, toward the workman, the broad end to the left. Take the former in the right hand and lay it on a trapezoid, the groove in the former against the right edge of the paper, bringing the pointed end one third inch from the broad end of the paper; envelop the former with the paper; then, with the fingers of the left hand laid fiat upon the paper, turn the former and roll all the paper upon it; hold it firmly with the left hand, with the choking-string in the right, take one turn around the cylinder at about one-tliird inch from the end; hold the former firmly in the left hand and draw gently upon the choking-string, pressing at the same time with the left forefinger upon the projecting end of the cylinder, thus folding it neatly down upon the end of the former. Having choked the cylinder close, carry it to the right side, and with the thread in the right hand, take two half-hitches firmly around the part that has been choked; cut the thread on the knife-blade and press the choke in a cavity in the table; place the former with a cylinder on it, cn a second trapezoid; put a ball over the end of the former; roll the paper on the former and the ball; hold the cylinder in the left hand and choke and tie it as thus described for the inner cylinder; withdraw the former, pressing the cylinder with the left hand, and place it in the box.
The folloNiing implements are required to fill the cylinder; One charger, made of a cylinder of wood or brass pierced with two holes through its length, holding the exact charg-c of powder; a funnel attached to one end of the cylinder, and a discharge pipe to the other. The holes in the cylinder are made to communicate and shut off, alternately, from the funnel holding the powder, and the discharge-pipe at the lower end, by a reciprocating motion given to the cylinder by the hands. Fill the funnel with powder, insert the discharge-pipe in a cartridge, holding the charger in both hands, and turn the cylinder; the charge of powder is deposited in the cartridge; insert the pipe in the next, and turn the cylinder in the opposite direction, and continue in the same way for all the rest. Cartridges may be filled with a copper
charger made to hold the exact charge, pouring the powder by means of a small funnel, which is inserted in the cartridge.
To pinch the cartridge, take it in the right hand, strike it lightly on the table to settle the powder; flatten the empty part of the cylinder and bend it flush with the top of the powder at right angles to the cartridge, the oblique side of the trapezoid on top, the cartridge standing vertical on the table; fold the flattened part in the direction of its length, with two folds from the ex terior, mectirg in the middle; bend this folded end back on itself and strike it on the table to set the folds.
When making blank cartridges, cut the paper into trapezoids, as for the ball-cartridges: roll the trapel.oid on the former one ttirm fold down this much of the paper on the head of tlte former with the left hand; roll the rest of the paper; fold down the rest of the paper; touch the fold with a little paste on the finger; press the end of the informer on a ball imbedded in the table for the purpose; remove the cylinder from the former; place it in a box to dry. Fill the cylinders, as described, for ball-cartridges.
The cap for small-arms is made of copper. It is very slightly conical, with a rim or flange at the open end; it has four slits, extending about half the height of the cap. The cap is charged with fulminate of mercury, mixed with half its weight of niter, the object of the niter being to render the fulminate less explosive and to give body to the flame. To protect the percussion powder from moisture, and also to secure it from falling out, it is covered over, in each cap, with a drop of shellac varnish. The copper for making the caps is obtained in sheets forty-eight incises long and fourteen inches wide, weighing three pounds; a variation of four ounces, more or less, is allowed. The copper should be pure, free from seams, holes or blisters, well annealed, and as evenly rolled as possible, with straight and smooth edges. The cop per is cleaned by immersion in a pickle made of one part (by measure) of sulphuric acid and forty parts water; it is scoured with fine sand and a hand ! brush, and washed in running water; after which it is well dried in clean saw dust and rubbed over with a cloth slightly oiled; it is then ready for the mach ne.