Chassepot ( shaspo ) Rifle

(Gun.) This rifle, the weapon of the French army, is a needle-gun, differing from the Pru ian arm in two particulars. 1. The escape of gas is not prevented, as in the Pru ian needle gun, by the perfect mechanical fit of the needle-bolt and the barrel. 2. The fulminate is not in front, but in the rear of the charge, and is contained in an ordinary copper cap. The chief feature of the invention, however, consists in the contrivance adopted for preventing the escape of gas breech ward. The hermetic closing of the breech parts is obtained by the instantaneous compre ion, under the action of the explosion, of a vulcanized caoutchouc washer interposed between the front face of the breech-bolt and a flange, or shoulder, upon the needle-guide. The needle-guide being movable, and the front face of the bolt being fixed, the india-rubber washer is nipped between them. The washer and the flange or shoulder are of a little le diameter than the breech in which they are fitted, so as to facilitate their play therein, but the diameter of the front face of the breech-bolt is, as nearly as po ible, equal to the inner diameter of the breech. When the explosion takes place, the pre ure transmitted by the movable needle-guide to the washer is such, that the latter is compre ed sufficiently to hermetically close the rear end of the barrel and thereby prevent all gas-escape. After the charge is fired, and the pre ure removed, the washer, by virtue of its elasticity, returns to its natural position. The ring or washer is composed of three layers of different degrees of hardne , the two outward layers being of much harder substance than the centre one, so that, on being pre ed, the intermediate layer, which is perfectly elastic, expands. A reference to fig. 572 will sufficiently ex IMG:content-0134.png:[blocks in formation] ds of IMG:content-0135.png:[graphic] The outer dre worn at the altar by the Roman Catholic priests. It is a circular piece of cloth, often richly embroidered in gold, with a hole in the centre to admit the head; and falling down so as to completely cover the body of the wearer. It often appears in the older sculptures and bra es. (See Fig. 573.)