Tlie remainder of the article will be devoted to a description of the three most prom inent breech-loaders—(1) the Prussian Zundnadelgewehr; (2) the British Snider; and (3) the Martini-Henry.
Tlie Prussian gun, although it may be said to be now obsolete (having been super seded by the Mauser, a bolt gun on much the same principle, but using a metallic cartridge-case), was first in the field. As regards its breech-apparatus and needle-lock. it consists of three concentric hollow cylinders, with a solid cylindrical bolt inside the last. The rear-end of the barrel is firmly screwed into the head of the chamber, which is fixed to the stock of the piece, and is open at the rear-end. The upper half of the cylinder is cut away at the front-end for rather more than the length of the cartridge. this constitptes the opening in which the musketeer inserts the cartridge. From the rear of this'opening to the back, a groove is cut, sufficiently wide to allow the square pillar of the breech-handle to pass along it. In the middle of this groove is a right angled shunt, offering a stop to the breech-handle when drawn backwards, unless it be likewise turned downwards, when it may be passed completely out at the rear-end. Next within the chamber is the breech-piece, which, to admit the cartridge, is drawn back for a sufficient distance by the breech-handle along the groove. the cartridge is deposited in the recess in the chamber, this breech-piece is closed against the heel of the barrel by moving up the handle to the front-end of the groove, and then turning it down to prevent it from being driven back ou the explosion of the charge; representing, indeed, the resistance offered by the heel of an ordinary muzzle-loading barrel. Finlay screwed within the breech-piece, at a short distance from its front, is a solid block of metal, on which impinges the first force of the explosion. Projecting from this block to of the cartridge is a strong tige, or pillar, around which a space containing air is left. Through this pillar is the channel for the needle to work. Fitting within the rear-end of the breech-piece is a smaller cylinder, constituting the lock of the gun. It slides within the breech-piece, and is retained from falling out backwards by the spring, which catches in a notch. Along the bottom of this cylinder is a groove to admit the passage of the trigger; and at the back is a short upright handle, by means of which the weapon is cocked. Lastly, within the lock is a bolt, pressed forward by a spiral spring, and having the needle rigidly fastened to its front end. Having now
described the several parts of the rifle, it is easy to follow it from the moment of a shot being fired until the next is ready for discharge. The soldier first presses down the spring with his finger, releasing the catch below it, and enabling him to draw back the lock to the next catch on the spring. Having done so, he raises the breech-handle to the perpendicular, and passes it along the groove to open the breech. This done, he places the cartridge in the opening thus made in the chamber, and again moving up the breech-piece to close the breech, the tige in it pushes the cartridge forward into the barrel, and the rifle is at once at "half-cock;" for in drawing back the lock, the front point of the spring forced the bolt (including the needle) with it, and the projec• uoit on it, having passed over the head of the trigger, is caught by the latter in a way which can only be released by the- falling of the trigger. It will be observed that at half-cock the needle is ready to penetrate the cartridge, but that the spiral spring is loose and without power. The position is now obtained, in which the bolt projects at the back, and the spiral spring is compressed into a state of passive strength. All that is now needed to fire the gun is to press upon the trigger, when the bolt, being released by the depression of the spiral spring, asserts its power, and drives the needle into the heart of the cartridge, the parts all resuming their original positions. At first sight, one cannot help exclaiming: ``,.What a complicated apparatus with the four cylinders and the springs!" but, in reality, it is as simple as almost any other gun, for the whole mechanism of the lock (q.v.) is dispensed with. If it be desired to take the needle-gun to pieces, press the trigger till the point bears. If the breech-handle be then in the hinder part of its groove, the breech-piece with its contents will slip out of the chamber. Pressing down, next, the spring until the second catch is passed, there is nothing to retain the lock in the breech-piece; and the lock being free, the needle, with its attached bolt and spring, falls readily- out of its fore-end. The gull is thus taken to pieces in a few seconds, and as many suffice to put it again in fighting order. The most delicate portions are the needle and the spiral spring; but in case of accident to these, there is a spare one in a small cavity opening by a spring in the butt-end of the stock. The worst feature about this celebrated gun is its weight, 12 lbs., or 33 per cent heavier than the Enfield or Snider rifle.