AN IMPROVED RIFLE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1521, 4 December 1886, Page 3

AN IMPROVED RIFLE.

The Defence Department have received a specimen of the new Maxtini-Ecfieid rifts adopted for Ibo English army, a number of which.have recently been ordered by the New Zealand Government. This weapon though somewhat similar to the MartiniHenri rifle has many improvements over the latter. The bore is smaller, with better grooving, and the bullet is longer than those in the Martini-Henri. The new weapon has better faculties for discharging the empty cartridge oases, which are thrown out by moans of a spring. Another improvement is that a small magsaine, capable of holding six cartridges, can be attached to the look of the gun, thus providing tor rapid firing when repa’sing a charge or attacking fortified positions. For the Martini-Snfiold rifles it is claimed that they are not so likely to get out of order as did the Martini-Henri daring the Soudan war, by oboking with sand in tha breach. Protection is also given against the heating of the battel at tha spot where the hand Is usually placed and by the manipulation of a small flange attaebsd to to the look the accidental firing of too gun is safely guarded against. Ihste is practically only one tight for all distances up to 400 yards. Beyond that the rifle is sighted in the usual way with this difference, that the back tight acts as a wind gauge, The range is 2000 yards.