MILBANK GUN.
This breech-loading small-arm, has a fixed chamber closed by a movable breech block, which slides in the line of the barrel by direct action. The piece is opened by raising the handle of the breech-bolt from its recoil-bearing in the receiver, and then drawing back the bolt. It is closed by reversing the action of the bolt ; the hammer-bolt striking a sear-bolt in closing, and thereby compressing the spiral mainspring which surrounds its rear portion. It is locked by the support afforded the base of the handle by its bearing on the recoil-shoulder of the re ceiver when the piece is closed. The piece is fired by the action of a spiral main spring surrounding the hammer-bolt. The hammer-bolt is kept from accidentally discharging the cartridge by striking the firing-pin before the breech is fully closed, by means of a transverse stop-pin, which, when the handle is up, passes through the firing-pin and keeps it forced back with its point flush with the face of the bolt. When the breech is fully locked by turning down the handle into place, the transverse pin is drawn back by an inclined surface in the hole of the firing-pin through which it passes, and it leaves the firing-pin free to be driven forward, at pleasure, in the usual way. The rear end of the firing-bolt when
drawn back passes through the base of the rear section of the breech-bolt, and indicates the position if cocked. Extraction is accomplished by a hook swinging on a pin passing transversely through the recoil-block near its face. Ejection is caused by the action of a spiral spring, set in the face of the bolt and pressing against the lower edge of the cartridge-head until the shell is clear of the chamber. The shell being then free to turn, is rotated around the hook by which it is held and is thrown clear of the gum A safety-lever is connected with this arm and serves to dispense with the necessity of a half-cock notch. The accidental opening of the breech may be prevented by turning up the handle part way and pressing down its stop-pin ; the point of this passes into a hole in the side of the recoil-block, and thus prevents the revolution of the entire bolt.