Marvels of Scientific Invention Part 21

APPENDIX

A DESCRIPTION OF THE RIFLES SHOWN AT PAGE 240

THE GERMAN MAUSER can fire forty rounds a minute--more than any other rifle used in the war. The rifle is of the 1898 pattern, weighs 9 lb. 14 oz. with bayonet fixed, and is sighted from 219 to 2187 yards. The magazine holds five cartridges, packed in chargers. As the rifle is not provided with a cut-off, it cannot be used as a single-loader. With its long barrel and long bayonet it gives a stabbing length of 5 ft. 9 in.--8 in. longer than the British.

THE AUSTRIAN RIFLE is the Mannlicher. This rifle is very fast in action as a snap back and forth of the wrist is sufficient to operate it. It is, however, more trying for prolonged work, owing to the throwing of the strain only on the wrist. Without the bayonet the rifle weighs only 8 lb. 5 oz., the lightest of all, yet the bullet--244 grains--is the heaviest used by any of the belligerents. The rifle is sighted from 410 to 2132 yards, and the barrel has a four-groove rifling.

THE BRITISH LEE-ENFIELD--MARK III--is the outcome of the South African War. It is not too long for horseback and is yet quite efficient for infantry. The barrel is 25 in. long and has five grooves in the rifling.

It is sighted from 200 to 2800 yards. The rifle is fitted with a magazine which holds ten cartridges packed in chargers, each of which contains five rounds, so that the magazine is filled with ten rounds in two motions. The rifle is also fitted with a cut-off, which enables it to be used as a single-loader. It is altogether a most efficient weapon.

THE FRENCH LEBEL is of the 1886-1893 pattern, and with bayonet fixed is longer than any other rifle. It weighs, without bayonet, 9 lb. 3-1/2 oz.

The tube magazine under the barrel contains eight cartridges; it takes, of course, longer to charge than a magazine loaded with a charger. It does not fire as many shots a minute as some of the other rifles in the field. The position of the magazine is indicated by the crosses. The rifle is sighted from 273 to 2187 yards, and the bullet weighs 198 grains.

THE BELGIAN ARMY uses the 1889 pattern Mauser, which weighs just over 8 lb. and is sighted from 547 to 2187 yards. The magazine holds five cartridges carried in clips; not having a cut-off, the rifle cannot be used as a single-loader. It has four grooves in its rifling and measures 4 ft. 2-1/4 in., or, with the bayonet, 4 ft. 11-3/4 in. The bayonet is short and flat.

THE "3 LINE" NAGANT of Russia is 1/4 lb. heavier than the British rifle and is over 7 in. longer. The triangular bayonet is always fixed and never removed from the rifle. The magazine of the rifle is of the box type and holds five cartridges. The rifle is capable of discharging twenty-four bullets to the minute. A useful feature is the interrupter, which prevents jamming of two cartridges.

THE ITALIAN MANNLICHER-CARCANO is of the 1891 pattern. It weighs, without bayonet, just over 8 lb. 6 oz. and measures 50-3/4 in. The barrel, 30-3/4 in. long, has a four-groove rifling. The box magazine, fixed under receiver without cut-off, holds six cartridges. The magazine holds six rounds, and the rifle is capable of discharging fifteen rounds a minute.