SHARPS RIFLE.
This famous arm, which superseded the Hall rifle, belongs to that system in which a fixed chamber is closed by a bolt, by direct action, and in which the lock is concealed. The receiver has a slot in its tipper surface for the purpose of load ing the chamber or filling the magazine. It is bored through at rear for the recep tion of the breech bolt, which is composed of two principal parts, viz.: the body and the locking-tube. The bolt is locked by lugs on the locking-tube, turning in corresponding cuts in the receiver. The bolt carries on its upper surface the ex tractor, which is of the ordinary spring-hook pattern, and in its axis me firing which extends the whole length of the bolt. The spiral form of the face of the locking-tube, and of the shoulder of the bolt, is such as to cam the bolt up against the head of the cartridge when the bolt is locked.
On the rear face of the locking-tube are two spiral surfaces, which bear against corresponding surfaces of the firing-pin. When the handle is turned down to lock the bolt. the firing-pin spring is compressed between the shoulders on the pin, and nut on the extreme rear of the bolt. On withdrawing the nose of the sear, the firing-pin, under the influence of the spring moves forward and explodes the car tridge. The shell is ejected by the ejector-pin, which strikes against the lever of the carrier, when the bolt is withdrawn, and is driven forward against the lower side of the head of the shell, while the extractor is pulling on the upper. The
firing-pin spring and rear of bolt arc protected by a thin shell. The bolt is pre vented from being, drawn completely out of the receiver by the lever of the carrier and by a key striking on the upper surface of the extractor.
The magazine is in the tip-stock. When the breech-bolt is withdrawn the pro jection in which the ejector-pin is situated, strikes the lever of the carrier, tipping the latter up in a position oblique to the axis of the bore, bringing the point of the cartridge nearly opposite the center of the chamber. The carrier is held in this position by a pin and spring. When the bolt is closed the cartridge is driven in the chamber. While a projection on the bolt strikes the lever. the front of the carrier to descend opposite the mouth of the magazine to receive another car tridge. The carrier is of such thickness at its front as not to uncover the maga zine tube completely when the former rises. Cartridges are thus prevented from escaping from the magazine except when the carrier is in position to receive them.
No magazine cut-off is applied to this gun; consequently, it can only be used as a single loader when the magazine is empty.
As a magazine g-tim three motions are necessary to operate it, viz., opened, closed, fired. As a single loader, four motions are necessary, viz.. opened, loaded, closed, fired.