THE NEW RIFLE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1423, 3 December 1886, Page 2

THE NEW RIFLE.

" ellingtox, December 2

The Dafecc Depar ment have received a specimen of the new Mart ni-tSnfield ride adapted for the English army, a i amber of whi'b have recently been ordered by the New Zealand Government, This weapon, though somewhat slttilar fa sppearsnoe to the Martini-Henry rifle, has many improvement over the latter. The bore is smaller, with better grooving and the bullet is loner that those used in'he Martini-Heory, The new weapon has etter facilities for discharging empty cartridge cases, which are thrown out by means of a sprinjj, a»'d another improvement is that a small ma.gizi e, capable of holding six cartridges, can be attached to the lock of the gun, thus providing tor rapid fi iug when repulsing a charge or attacking fortified posMons. ®>r the Martini-Snfields it is claimed that they are not so likely to got out of order as did the Martini-Henry, daring the Soudan war, by choking with sand ii the breech. Protection fs also given against heating of the barrel at the spot where the hand is placed. Another feature in connection with this weapon is that by the manipulation of a small flange attached to the look accidental firing of a gun is asfely guarded against.' There is practically only one sight for all distances up to 460 yards ; beyond that is sighted in the ostial way, with this difference, that the hade sight also sets as a wind goage. The range is 2000 yards