Needle gun

For the science fiction weapon, see Needlegun.

The Dreyse needle-gun (German Zündnadelgewehr or figuratively "firing-pin rifle") was a military breechloading rifle, famous as the arm of the Prussians, who adopted it for service in 1848 as the Dreyse Zündnadelgewehr, or Prussian Model 1848. Its name comes from its 0.5-inch needle-like firing pin, which passed through the cartridge case to impact a percussion cap at the bullet base. The Dreyse rifle was also the first breech-loading rifle to use the bolt action to open and close the chamber, executed by turning and pulling a bolt handle.

The gun was the invention of the gunsmith Johann Nikolaus von Dreyse (1787—1867), who, beginning in 1824, had conducted multiple experiments, and in 1836 produced the complete needle-gun. Dreyse was ennobled in 1864.

Usage and history

From 1848 onwards the new weapon was gradually introduced into the Prussian service, then later into the military forces of many other German states. The employment of the needle gun radically changed military tactics in the 19th Century.

The needle gun first made its appearance in street fighting in Dresden during the revolt of May 1849. It also played an important role in the Second war of Schleswig in 1864. The gun saw its heaviest use in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 and the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71.

Ammunition

The cartridge used with this rifle consisted of the paper case, the bullet, the priming cap and the black powder charge. The 15.4 mm (0.61 in) bullet was shaped like an acorn, with the broader end forming a point. It was glued in a paper case known as a Sabot. Between this inner lining and the outer case was the powder charge, consisting of 4.8 g (74 grains) of black powder. The upper end of the paper case was rolled up and bounded together before the needle could strike the primer which was attached to the base of the bullet; its point then passed through the powder and hit the primer ahead. The theory of this placement of the primer would give more complete combustion of the charge.

There was also a blank cartridge developed for the needle gun, it was shorter and lighter than the live round, since it lacked the projectile, but was otherwise similar in construction and powderload.

Limitations

In practice the needle-gun proved to have numerous defects; its effective range was very short compared to that of the muzzle-loading rifles of the day, and conspicuously so as against the chassepot. A significant amount of gas escaped at the breech when the rifle was fired, and a paper cartridge was used. An improved model, giving greater muzzle velocity and increased speed in loading, was introduced later, but this was soon replaced by the Mauser rifle.

Comparison with contemporary rifles

The only contemprary rifle which it can be compared to is the Norwegian kammerlader - the only other breech loader adopted for service in the 1840's.

*Rifle*	Needle gun	Kammerlader M1849/55
Effective range	600 m (650 yards)	1,000 m (1,100 yd)
Rate of fire	10 to 12	6 to 8 (estimate, see article)
Calibre	15.4 mm (0.61 in)	17.5 mm (0.69 in)
Muzzle velocity	305 m/s (1,000 ft/s)	Sources vary between 265 to 350 m/s (870 to 1,150 ft/s)
Barrel length	91 cm (35.8 in)	78 cm (30.7 in)
Total length	142 cm (55.9 in)	126 cm (50.4 in)
Loaded weight	4.7 kg (10.4 lb)	5 kg (11 lb)

External links

References

Translated article on the Needle Gun, retrieved 30 September 2005

This article incorporates text from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.