Page:Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper (IA franklesliesillu2418lesl).djvu/4

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NATIONAL ARMS COMPANY OF BROOKLYN, N. Y. The National Revolver and Breech- Loading Pistols. In this ege of progress inventions succeed each other with wach ropidity that we have scarcely cessed to applaud the luventive genius of one man on a certain subject, beforo molher aan presents asperior invention on the same or one elmilar subject. Upin the invention of metallic cartridges, revolvers were made adapted to their use, and since that time the combina Lion has been gradually but surely beroning a sime que non. The various improvements upon revolvera adapted to metallic cartridges havo culminated in the manufac ture of a weapon by the National Arms Company of Brooklyn, N. Y., which, for strength, penetration and finlab, is believed to have no equal in the world at the prosent time. As will be seen in the accompanying engraving, it is a small and convenient-sized revolver, being of the same capacity and of only half the size and weight of the pres ent style of cartridge revolvers. Its extreme length is only seven inches, and its weight not exceeding fourteen ounces. It nevertheless carries six 32-100ths calibre balls, with a charge of powder as large as that used in other revolvers of awice the siss. Itloaderom the fore end of the cylinder with a central fire waterproof copper del cartridge, the fulminals used in the cartridge being confined in the teat" at the rear end, as seen in the engraving. Boing thus coufinod, an obsolute cortaloty of tre is inmured, which gives it a superiority over the ordinary riu cartridge, from ten to fiftcou pre cent. of which invariably mire fire. Another advantage in this cartridge is, that the fulminats used does not force the powder from the shell before burning, so in the rim cartridge, thereby losing a great portion of its strength. The cylinder in kept from becoming foul or dirty by means of the shell of the cartridge, which forms a lining along its entire length. In addition to the reduced size and weight of the National Revolver," it differs in two respects from all ofber weapons of the kind. In the rear of the cylinder is arm on which the "teats" of the cartridges rest, and on the right-hand aide or the barrette,which, when closed, insures the cartridge from falling out. Both of these insprovements are important. A the "teats" rest upon the "rim" of the cylinder, there is not the slightest chance of it (the cylinders being pre- vented trom revolving by their swelling, as ts too fre quently the case with revolvers mode to curry the ordinary flat-rimmed cartridge. The mechanical con atraction of the National Revolver is splendid. The cylinder is bored out from colld sled; it never fouls, and cannot possibly get out of repair or clog. The bar- rel is also very strong, no less than 2,400 balla baving been fired through one without injuring it in the slightest degree. As will be seen by the engraving, it is slegantly Anished and ornamented. To load the revolver, pull the hammer to a half-cock, for the purpose of relieving the cylinder; then throw open the gate at the right-hand side of the Burrel, Just above the eylluder, and then insert the cartridges, teat downward, so that the flange einks to its place in the cylinder: close the gate afterward and the weapon in leaded. After the charge is fired, for the purpose of ejecting the cartridge-abell, pull the bommer to a half- cock, and with the small rod that accompanies each re- volver start the shell through the opening at the rear of the sbalment and cylinder, when it will fall out. When loaded, the revolver can be carried safely on the person,