The principle of the action consists iu closing the breech by a falling block, working in a mortised breech body, and hinged on a pin at the back end, and falling in front sufficiently when open to clear the opening of the barrel; the top of the breech-block forms an inclined groove, along which the cartridge is slipped into the barrel. The ordinary gun lock is replaced by a direct acting striker, impelled by a spiral spring, both being contained within the breech-block. The act of opening the lever draws down the breech-block, simultaneously drawing back the striker, and compressing the spiral spring; at the same time the toe of the cranked extractor is struck by the breech block, thus throwing its upper claws, which encircle the base of the cartridge-ease, backward, and jerking out the used case. On a fresh cartridge being inserted, the lever is drawn back and fixed to the stock by the spring. This closes the breech, but the spiral spring is kept compressed, and the striker at the full-cock position, by the tumbler, into the bent of which the point of the trigger and the tumbler-rest entered when the breech was opened. The trigger being pulled, the tumbler is let loose, and
the spiral spring discharges the pointed end of the striker on to the cap in the rear-end of the cartridge, which is thus fired.
The following table shows the breech-loading rifles in use in 1879 by the principal powers: The breech-loaders with and without the needle arrangement are too numerous even for mention. In addition to what are known as breech-loaders proper, there are repeat ing-arms, one of the most remarkable of which is the Spencer magazine rifle, having, in a tube in the stock, a series of cartridges, which, by a simple action, pass into the barrel for discharge. As the gun can ordinarily be loaded at the breech without drawing on the magazine, it is doubtless that this reserve would be a powerful means of defense in a moment of danger, as in resisting cavalry; but among its drawbacks are weakening of the stock, serious increase of weight, and, worst of all, great complexity and delicacy —fatal objections in the rough usage of active service. I\ early all sportsmen now use breech-loading guns.