Needle gun

For the science fiction weapon, see Needlegun.

The Dreyse needle-gun (German das Zündnadelgewehr or figuratively "firing-pin rifle") was a military breechloading rifle, famous as the arm of the Prussiansns in 1866 and of the Germans in 1870 and 1871. It 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. From 1841 onwards the new weapon was gradually introduced into the Prussian service, then later into the military forces of many other German states. Dreyse was ennobled in 1864.

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.

General characteristics (pattern 1841)

• Calibre: 15.4 mm
• Weight: 4.6 kg
• Charge (black powder): 4.8 g
• Bullet (lead): 31 g
• Muzzle velocity: 305 m/s
• Sighted to: 600 m

External link

• The Needle-Gun and Cartridge, Chambers's Journal, 18 August 1866

This article incorporates text from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica.

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