Dimensions, &c. of English musket, in 1800.
At the commencement of this (19th) century, the weight of the English musket and bayonet was, 11lbs. 4ozs., bayonet 1lb. 2ozs., length of barrel 3ft. 3-in., bore ·753-in., bullets 141⁄2 to the pound. Charge.Charges of powder 6 drs., F.G. Every soldier was furnished with three flints for 60 rounds. Priming, 1st. mode.Originally it had been necessary to put the priming into the pan from a flask, containing a finer grained powder, called “Serpentine powder,” but in the early flint-lock musket this was rendered unnecessary, as in loading, a portion of the charge passed through the communication hole into the pan, where it was prevented from escaping by the hammer. Priming, 2nd mode.Latterly a portion of the cartridge was bitten off, and the pan filled with priming before loading.
Objections to flint-lock.
The objections to the flint-lock were, that it did not entirely preserve the priming from wet. Sometimes the flint failed to ignite the charge, and it was necessary to change it frequently. Owing to these imperfections, in 1807, the Rev. Mr. Forsyth obtained a patent for priming with fulminating powder. The composition consisted of sulphate of potash, sulphur, and charcoal, Priming by detonation, 1807.and exploded when struck by any metal or hard substance. This composition was considered too corrosive, but was subsequently improved, and finally applied to the musket, in the form of the present percussion cap, which consists of chlorate of potash, three parts; fulminating mercury two parts; and ground glass one part. Experiments, 1834.The experiments for Mr. Forsyth’s invention, commenced in 1834. Six thousand rounds were fired from each description of arm, and the experiments conducted in all weathers, six of each kind of arm being used. Advantages of percussion.The result proved exceedingly favourable to the percussion principle, and may be briefly summed up as follows:—1st, out of 6,000 rounds from the flint-lock, there were 922 missfires, being 1 in 61⁄2, whereas in the percussion musket there were only 36 misses in 6,000 rounds, or 1 in 166. With the flint-lock there were 3,680 hits out of the 6,000, and with the percussion 4,047 hits, being 7 per cent. in favour of the latter. To fire 100 rounds with the flint required 32 minutes 31 seconds, whereas the percussion occupied only 30 minutes 24 seconds. Another advantage of the percussion musket, was that it was capped after being loaded. Hitherto a certain amount of powder had been allowed for priming, but as this vestige of the hand-gun could be dispensed with, Reduced charge.a reduction of charge could be made; a total reduction however was made from 6 to 41⁄2 drs., which caused a diminution of recoil. The 41⁄2 drs. then recommended was known to be more than was necessary for the projection of the bullet, but an extra 1⁄2 dr. was retained to allow for the effect of damp or waste on service. In the course of these experiments, Reduced pull of trigger.it was found that the considerable force required to pull the trigger might be advantageously reduced, and that increased accuracy would ensue, therefore the pull of the trigger was lessened to 7lbs.
New model musket.
The advantages of the percussion system having been satisfactorily shown, it was decided to convert a portion of the old flint-locks into percussions, and to establish a new model percussion musket for the English army.
Percussion at Canton.
The following anecdote illustrates the weak points of the flint-lock. During the Chinese war, a company of the 37th Madras Native Infantry had been detached to the left, when, the evening closing, the order was given to rejoin, and the whole were to retire upon Canton, and just as it was being carried into execution, a tremendous storm of wind and rain arose, making the air so dark, that no one could see 20 yards. The detached company retired sounding bugles and beating drums, which were drowned by the tempest, and they could not find the battalion. In a few minutes the enemy got between this company and the retreating force. The muskets would not go off, and several attempts of the enemy to close were with difficulty repulsed with the bayonet. In the meantime, the enemy contrived to fire off their own matchlocks, and some of the sepoys’ muskets of men who had dropped in the retreat, by applying matches to them. The square into which the company was formed, was thus being diminished, while the only return that could be made, was an occasional shot from a solitary musket, which the three officers of the company managed to clean out, under cover of great coats held over the muzzle. A company of Marines was dispatched for the 37th party, armed with percussion muskets, scarcely one of which missed at the first fire, and a few volleys sufficed to clear the way, and both detachments reached the camp in safety, with but little loss. This happened in the early part of 1841.
Percussion introduced, 1842.
After a “hang-fire” of about 200 years, a new pattern percussion musket was issued in 1842. Its weight was greater than that of the old flint-lock, being with the bayonet about 11-lbs., 6-oz., bayonet 1-lb., 0-oz., 8-drs., bore ·753, barrel 3-ft. 3-in., length, with bayonet 6 feet, length without 4-ft. 63⁄4-in., Sighted for 150 yards.a block sight for 150 yards, and a percussion lock. For many years prior to 1839 no sight at all was thought necessary for the musket, the bayonet stud being sufficient, but which was totally obscured when fired with fixed bayonets. This arm continued as the approved weapon for our infantry without improvement until 1851, when the Minié rifle was partially introduced.