THE DEANE-HARDING REVOLVER.
In the year 1851, Colt's revolver was first popularly known in this country ; and since that period several of our best gun-makers have turned their attention to the improvement and manufacture of revolvers. That Colt's weapon is a most serviceable one, is admitted ; but one ob- jection advanced against it is that the second shot cannot be fired off without removing the pistol from the height of the object to cock it—a waste of most precious time when one is in danger. Deane and Adams's revolver is designed to meet this difficulty, as it can be cocked by the trigger without being removed from the sight of the object. Other ob- jections were brought against that weapon,—that the barrel could not be removed ; that in the process of cleaning the water injured the lock and other parts of the pistol ; that the cock, when pulled at half cock, did not strike the solid piece at the end of the cylinder, but fell between it and the nipple; that the ramrod's being attached to the side of the barrel caused the plunger, in the process of ramming down the charge, to de- scribe a segment of a circle, touching one side of the upper part of the bore, and the opposite side in the breech end, instead of acting directly against the shot ; and that there was great difficulty of putting the weapon together when it was once in pieces. Revolvers are often sent home from India to be put together. Mr. Harding has endeavoured to obviate the objection. This weapon is so contrived that it can be taken to pieces, lock and barrel included, and put together again without the possibility of mistake. The action of the lock is of the most simple and effective kind, admitting, as in the Deane and Adams's revolver, the discharge to take place without removing the finger from the trigger. And when the trigger is pulled at half cock, the cock falls upon the aquare piece on the end of the revolving cylinder. The ramrod is placed under the barrel, and so adjusted that the plunger has a direct vertical action on the bullet. Altogether nothing can be simpler for rapid firing or for " pot-shots " than this new weapon.
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