KEENE-REMINGTON MAGAZINE GUN.
This gun has the magazine located under the barrel and all of true motions are direct and positive. The cartridges are held securely in position while passing front the magazine over the carrier to the chamber in the barrel, in which respect it has a decided advantage over other magazine arms. The cartridge does not pass on to the carrier until the gun is opened for the purpose of loading, so that there is no danger of a cartridge being exploded in the carrier in case a defective cartridge is fired in the gun.
The arm is always left at half-cock, and the breech locked so that it can not be jarred open and the cartridge lost out. Front the half-cock it can be brought to the full-cock readily and quickly while the arm is being carried to the shoulder, and without removing the finger front the trigger; in this last respect differing from many other magazine-guns, which can only be cocked by removing the hand from the trigger.
The parts are all large and strong, and can be readily removed and replaced for the purpose of cleaning or inspection. The magazine is so arranged that it can be charged while the breech is closed, thus avoiding the entrance of dirt into the parts of the gun. The gun may be held either barrel up or reversed for this purpose.
To charge the magazine.—Hold the arm in the left hand, the butt-stock under the right arm. Grasp the cartridge between the thumb and the forefinger of right hand, and press it forward, bullet first, into the magazine with the end of the thumb, which may be held sideways for that purpose. The magazine may be
charged with the breech either open or closed, and with the cut-off lever in its forward or backward position: but it is more convenient to do so with the breech closed and the cut-off lever hack.
To load from the magazine.—First. If tit:: arm has been fired or the hammer is down, unlock and draw back the breech-bolt quickly and with sufficient force to bring it clear back. thereby locking and raising- the carrier and bringing up a cartridge. Shove the bolt forward and lock it ; the hammer will remain at half cock. If it is desired to fire, the hammer may be brought to full-cock while the arm is being, lifted to the shoulder, the forefinger remaining on the trigger. Second. If the arm has been closed and left at half-cock, lower the hammer and then proceed as before. After the cartridge has been transferred from the maga zine to the chamber, it should either be fired or removed from the gun before another cartridge is passed through the carrier.
To use the arm as a single loader, with the magazine in reserve, push the cut-off lever forward. This cuts off the passage of the cartridge from the magazine. The arm may then be used as a single loader. 'rhis gun is so made as to be left at half-cock after loading; but if it is preferred to have it left at full cock, it is only necessary to remove the hammer fly, which is let into the tumbler to carry the trigger over the full-cock notch. See Remington Arms.