No. 28. Berdan Russian bolt gun; caliber, .42.

This gun resembles essentially all modern bolt guns intended for metallic cartridges. The description of the Ward-Burton (Ordnance Memoranda No. 15, or Report of Chief of Ordnance, 1873) will give a good general account of it. It differs mainly in matters of detail, especially in the extractor, which depends upon the action of a spiral spring. It is largely, if not generally, adopted by the Russian Government, together with another arm by the same inventor, Col. Hiram Berdan, of New York.

No. 29. Green's smooth-bore breech-loading musket; caliber, .54. 1857. By depressing the spring in rear of the bolt, a keeper pin inside the receiver is released from a cavity in the bolt in which it was previously engaged. The handle of the bolt is then lifted and withdrawn. A piston, traversing the length of the bolt and attached to the handle, serves to pass the charge forward into place. Being then withdrawn the bolt is locked in place by two lugs at its forward end, engaging with corresponding recesses in the receiver. The piece is fired by a lock beneath the barrel hammer.

No. 30. Beaumont breech-loading rifles; caliber, .44.

Presented to the United States by the Government of the Netherlands. A bolt-gun, cocked automatically by turning up the handle to open the breech. It operates otherwise very much as the chassepot. Its main peculiarity consists in the use of a twoleaved mainspring, like that of the ordinary side-lock, in the handle of the bolt Almost all other bolt-guns use a spiral spring. A safety catch on the right side of the receiver locks the bolt in place after loading, and permits the arm to be carried withont danger either of accidental opening or of discharge.

No. 31. Jenks breech loading smooth-borecarbine; caliber, .52. 1842. Opened by drawing back top lever. By means of a link this draws back a sliding breech-plug, and exposes a round hole in the top of the barrel a little larger than the ball. The ball is inserted through this and allowed to run forward to its seat. The powder is then poured in and pressed forward by reversing the movement of the lever. The forward end of the lever covers this hole when the piece is closed and protects it from the weather. The piece is fired by a side hammer, the comb of which is folded so as to lap over the end of the lever and keep it down. The position of the joints of the link, being in line with the abutment on the tang of the receiver, keeps the breech from blowing open; the hammer is an additional precaution. This arm has no gas-check.

A number of these arms were made for the United States Navy.

No. 32. Morse's smooth-bore breech-loading musket; model about 1858. Opened by raising the flap, hinged at its rear-most end to the butt of the barrel. This exposes a cavity or well in the barrel, formed by cutting away the portion of it above the bore. The breech-block travels back and forth through this cavity, being moved by a link uniting it to the middle point of the flap. This arm uses a center-fire metallic cartridge (Ordnance Memoranda XIV, Plate 1), the rim of which engages with a notched flat spring traveling to and fro with the breech-block. After closing the piece, the firing-pin, playing through a heavy web on the under side of the flap, is pushed forward by hand, through the hole left in the breech-block. This locks the link by binding the block and flap together, and keeps the breech from opening in case of accidental discharge. The piece is fired by an ordinary side lock; a bolt attached to the tumbler, passing through the back portion of the web on the under side of the flap and striking the firing-pin, drives it against the priming in the base of the cartridge. In case the breech has not already been locked by hand, this secures it by driving forward the firing-pin, as before described, and also by entering the cavity in the back of the web. The cartridge is extracted by the spring in the well of the receiver before described. There is no provision for its ejection.

It was contemplated to make a number of these guns for issue to the troops, just as the war broke out and compelled a return to the safe and sure principles of the muzzle-loader.

No. 33. Merrill breech-loading rifle carbine; caliber, .62. 1863.

Like the Jenks carbine, except as to the mannerofloading; has a spring catch, engaging with rear-sight base; also an ordinary side lock, which also rests against the top lever when down. Meant for prepared paper or skin ammunition, the cartridge being pushed forward by the plunger or breech plug to a point accessible to the fire from the cone. No extractor is required, as the cartridge is all consumed. The breechplug is faced with copper, probably to serve as a gas-check.

Fourteen thousand four hundred and ninety-five of these arms were purchased for use in the Army during the civil war.

No. 34. Merrill breech-loading rifle musket; caliber, .70.

Resembles Merrill carbine, except that no provision is made for locking the breech by the fall of the hammer.

No. 35. Wilson & Flather Bridesburg alteration of muzzle-loading rifle musket; caliber, .58.

Essentially the same in principle as the Morse. The cartridge is rim-fire, fired by a side lock; the parts not so well proportioned as in the Morse, and the breech not so securely locked as in that arm. This arm is provided with an automatic ejector, rising from the bottom of the receiver, to throw out the cartridge after it has been withdrawn by the extractor.

No. 35. Unknown (Lee?) breech-loading musket; caliber, 52.

By cocking the hammer a parallel projection on the shaft of the tumbler strikes against a hinged stud within the breech-block, first lifts it out of its seat in the receiver, and then draws it back until the breech is fully exposed. The hammer is stopped at the half-cock by a projection on the side of the breech-block, against which it strikes. The block is closed by hand. It is locked when in place by setting into its mortise or seat in the receiver. It is fired by the aforesaid projection on the tumbler-shaft striking against a firing-pin in the front end of the breech-block. The fall of the hammer presses into the front end of the breech-block a pivoted pin, and thus helps to keep it from accidental opening. The extractor is drawn back by the opening of the breech-block. When the extractor gets near its limit its bearing on the ways falls suddenly into a depression made in the ways, causing the front end of the extractor to rise suddenly and eject the cartridge shell from the receiver. This gun is remarkably ingenious. It contains many interesting points merely hinted at herein. One remarkable feature especially, considering its date, 1863 (?), consists in the absence of screws; the entire breech mechanism, including the lock, having but one screw, and that one free from many of the objections to its kind.

No. 37. National breech-loading rifle carbine; caliber, 52.

Opened by depressing the lever-guard. This draws down the rear section of the breech-block out of the way of the front section which, by the continued movement of the lever, is then drawn back and the mouth of the chamber exposed. In closing the lever-guard the rear section of the breech-block returns to its place and transfers the strain from the discharge to the back abutment of the receiver. The withdrawing of the forward section of the breech-block extracts the cartridge by means of two barbed springs on each side of the breech-block. The cartridge is fired by an ordinary back-action side lock, the hammer striking a firing-pin. The withdrawal of the

front section of the breech-block by the lever forces the hammer back to the half-cock the face of the hammer resting against the head of the firing-pin, in contact with the breech-block.

No. 38. Henry repeating carbine; caliber, 44.

Resembles essentially the Winchester rifle, except in the manner of charging the magazine. In this gun it is done from the front, the coiled magazine spring being drawn up into the muzzle section of the magazine tube, this is then swung around to the side, exposing the mouth of the magazine tube. The Winchester magazine tube is loaded from the rear, giving greatly increased facility of manipulation and more protection to the spring.

No. 39. Winchester repeating rifle; caliber, .45.

By depressing the lever the breech-bolt is drawn back, and the carrier, containing a cartridge, raised opposite the chamber. By inverse means the cartridge is passed into the chamber, and the carrier dropped to receive a fresh cartridge. (See Ordnance Memoranda No. 15, or Report of the Chief of Ordnance, 1873.) The difference between this gun and the Henry repeating rifle consists mainly in the manner of charging the magazine. In this gun the charging is done from the rear. The magazine has a hinged lid. This is the first arm of this kind made with an iron frame. It was tested by the Board on Small-Arms, 1873.

No. 40. Winchester repeating rifle; caliber, .42.

As made in quantities for the trade, differs materially from preceding only in having a spring troughed lid through which to charge the magazine, instead of a hinged lid.

No. 41. Winchester repeating carbine; caliber, .42.

Essentially the same as before described, except in the arrangement of tip-stock, &c. All these guns carry a screw-joint cleaning-rod in sections in the butt.

No. 42. Stetson magazine rifle; caliber, .45.

Resembles externally and in many of its features the Winchester rifle. It is locked in the operation of closing the lever-guard by a projection on the bolt being thrown upward in front of a corresponding shoulder on the upper side of the frame. (See Ordnance Memoranda No. 15, and Report of the Chief of Ordnance, 1873.)

No. 43. Sharps rifle; caliber, .53, for linen ammunition.

This gun differs from its improved form described in the above reports principally in the absence of the special attributes of arms using metallic ammunition. The cartridge was inserted whole, the rising of the block "shearing" off its base by the sharp edge on its forward face. (Sometimes this was unnecessary; Benton, p. 301.) The cartridge was ignited through a vent in the block in this particular arm by means of the Maynard primer. For a description of the gas-check, see Benton, p. 301. This arm, with various modifications, was for many years the standard breech-loading arm of the United States, being largely used for cavalry carbines. (See Report of the Chief of Ordnance, 1873, or Ordnance Memoranda No. 15.)

No. 44. Sharps rifle carbine; caliber, .52, linen ammunition, with Sharps primer.

The primer consists of a small lenticular disk of fulminate inclosed between two layers of copper foil. A number of these primers are contained in a vertical well or magazine in the front edge of the lock-plate. They lie one above the other, being pressed upward by a spiral spring. As the hammer falls in its descent, the topmost of these primers is thrown forward by a slide connected with the hammer, just far enough to be "caught on the fly" between the face of hammer and the cone. The action of this primer was very sure.

Eighty thousand five hundred and twelve of these arms were purchased for use in the army during the civil war.

No. 45. Sharps rifle musket; caliber, .50, model 1870, for metallic ammunition.

Fired in competition in the field in 1870, with Remington, Ward-Burton, and Spring field arms of same caliber, 1,000 of each being used. (See Ordnance Memoranda No. 15, or Report of the Chief of Ordnance, 1873.)

No. 46. Sharps carbine; caliber, .50, for metallic ammunition.

Used in competitive trials in the field with Springfield, Remington, and WardBurton carbines. (See Report of the Chief of Ordnance, 1873, or Ordnance Memoranda No. 15.)

No. 47. Sharps carbine and primer, coffee-mill in the butt.

A number of these carbines were turned in at the close of the war. They are supposed to have been made in Saint Louis, Mo.

No. 48. Sharps carbine; rebel; caliber, .52.

Made at Richmond, Va., numbered 3505. Without magazine primer. A fair specimen of successful manufacture under difficulties.

No. 49. Comblain rifle; caliber, 43.

Partially adopted by the Belgian Government. By depressing the lever the breechblock slides downward to expose the chamber; the motion of the lever cocks the hammer meanwhile. This is done by means of a projection on the lever just in front of its triple joint with the breech-block and hammer. This presses up a corresponding projection on the front of the hammer just above the triple joint. This action is due to the fact that the motion of the breech-block, which contains the hammer and the entire lock, is constrained by straight grooves while the lever swings on a separate axis in front. A projection on the head of the lever, above the main axis, strikes the front side of a swinging extractor pivoted below the chamber, and operates it. It is understood that nearly all the parts of this mechanism are of phosphor-bronze, which is noted for its strength and hardness.

No. 50. Ballard rifle carbine; caliber, .54.

By depressing the lever the breech-block is caused first to recede from the barrel, and then to drop downward, revolving about a shifting horizontal axis at its lower and rearmost corner. The hammer, which with the other parts of the lock is contained in the breech-block, explodes a rim fire cartridge when it falls. The cartridge shell is extracted by means of a sliding extractor beneath the barrel, moved independently by hand by means of a finger-piece projecting beneath the tip-stock.

Fifteen hundred of these arms were purchased for use in the army during the civil

war.

No. 51. Werndl Austrian rifle; caliber, .44.

Opened by turning breech-block sideways by the thumb-piece. The extractor is worked by the spiral groove in the upper surface of the breech-block. A flat spring in rear bears against flat surfaces on the spindle, and both accelerates the movement of the parts and holds the block securely open or closed. Fired by side lock. (See Ordnance Memoranda No. 15, or Report of the Chief of Ordnance, 1873.)

No. 52. Warner rifle carbine; caliber, .52, for metallic ammunition. The breech-block swings open on an axis parallel to the axis of the barrel and to the right of it. It is held down, when closed, by a spring catch engaging with the frame, and also indirectly by the hammer. The extractor slides under the barrel and is operated independently by hand by means of the finger-piece projecting under the tip-stock. The breech-block and receiver are made of bronze.

Four thousand and one of these arms were purchased for use in the army during the civil war,

No. 53. Snider (English).

Alteration of the Enfield rifle; caliber, .58. Adopted largely in Turkey. Opened by turning block over by thumb-piece on the left. It is held down when closed by a small spring catch in the face of the breech. Fired by means of a central firingpin, struck by the ordinary side lock. The breech-block when opened is permitted a longitudinal sliding motion along the pin on which it is hinged. This motion is given it by hand after firing, and extracts the cartridge shell by means of a transversal point attached to the front of the breech-block and entering the counter bore. (See Report of United States Commissioners to Paris, 1867, p. 32.)

No. 54. Whitney Phoenix; caliber, .45.

The breech-block swings to the right upon an axis parallel to that of the gun, and to the right of it. When open it strikes a beveled lug on a pivoted extractor, like that of the Springfield system, but moving on a vertical axis and lying beneath the barrel. The breech-block is locked when closed by its position. It is held closed by a spring pin in the face of the rear abutment, the point of which enters a shallow cavity in the back of the breech-block. The nose of the hammer enters a countersink around the head of the firing-pin and keeps the piece from opening at the halfcock.

No. 55. Joslyn carbine; caliber, .44.

By pulling out the spring catch on the right side, the breech-block is free to turn over the hinge to the left. A spiral wedge on the breech-block, sheering across the butt of the barrel, gradually extracts the cartridge as the breech-block turns. The breech-block is sustained by shutting partly into a circumferential groove around the butt of the barrel.

Eleven thousand two hundred and sixty-one of these arms were purchased for use in the Army during the civil war.

No. 56. Joslyn rifle; caliber, .50.

See description of Joslyn carbine, caliber .44.

No. 57. Tarpley carbine, patent 1860. (Rebel ?) Caliber, .52; paper ammunition.

The breech-block swings to the left when the spring catch on the right side is opened. There is no provision for a gas-check.

No. 58. Collins' alteration of the Springfield muzzle-loading rifle mus

ket; caliber, .58.

The breech-block is opened by liberating a spring catch on its right side and swinging it over to the left. The extractor slides under the well of the receiver, and is moved by a separate trigger beneath the barrel. This section has a cogged section on its upper surface, which meshes into an intermediate pinion between itself and the cogged lower surface of the extractor. This causes a pull on the trigger to slide the extractor backward.