THE THORNEYCROET RIFLE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12542, 11 July 1906, Page 5

THE THORNEYCROET RIFLE.

i This weapon is not shortened by cut* ing off from the barrel.—lt has a good sight • rrdius, with aperture back sight.—ls strong and handy. j The Thorncyproft rifle has been doi signed for the purpose of providing j mounted troops with a magazine rifle .short enough and light enough to ho ■ carried conveniently on horsoback, withj out sacrificing tho efficiency of the weapon hy short .ning the barrel and reducing the sight radius. Tliis has l>eon accompli-hod by placing the trigger in front of tho magazine, which is contained in the stock, and providing n front locking_ rotatable bolt head carried on a flat slide. Thus 5} inches of the length occupied by tho magazine and bolt of a Lee-En field riflo is -ived, a sight radius of 29J incho. (against 23 inches of tho long LeeEnfield) is obtained, and the rear end of tho barrel is brought sufficiently near tho eye to enable an aperture backsight to bo used instead of the open V. Tho barrel is the servico L.-E. barrel taking the .303 service cartridge. Tho body and magazine aro Ln one, : nnd aro screwed on to the barrel. There is no round bolt guide as in tho L.-E., and tho body, which is cut away down to the top of tho magazino just below tho level of the bore of the barrel, is provided with a groovo or slot on each side, in which tho bolt slides backwards and forwards. The bolt is compesed of a flat 6lide and a rotatable bolt head which carries threo locking lug... Those lugs fit into corresponding recesses provided in tho body and situated immediately in rear of tiio barrel. Tlie striker pin is carried in the slide and passes through the rotate able bolt head. It is struck by a hammer actuated by a simple spring, as in a shotgun. The hammer spring and soar aro attached to tho body in rear of tho magazine. Tho trigger is in front of tho magazine, and is con-ilpc'c-I with the .ear by a rod. Tho magazino holds fivo cartridges, and is loaded by means of _. charger wliich differs very slightly from the service pattern in use with the short L.-E. Thero is no separate charger guide, and tho charger falls away ns soon as thp cartridges have been pressed into tho magazine. Tlio barrel is completolv sheathed' in wood as in the short L.-____. Tho principal advantages claimed for the Thomeycroft over the short L.-E. j are: — " . I 1. When fitted with a full-length (30----1 inch) L.-E. barrel, the Thomeycroft is half an inch shorter than the short I L.-E. With the short L.-E. barrel | tho Thomeycroft is s_t irtches shorter | than tho short L.-E. rifle. 2. Tho locking lugs are on the front end of the bolt, immediately behind the cartridge. . 3. "Preater sight radius. 4. If is lighter, better balanced, and has a longer bayonet' reach. 5. It can be loaded more rapidly. • , Short _- L '* E ' Thorneycroft. Service Length of barrel .. 30iin Ssin • 25in "Weight of riflo .. 81b 2oz 7lb Soz P.lb2oz . Longth of riflo .. 44in 39in 44Jin Distance between sights .. .. 23Jin 24Jin Wiin —Cavalry Journal.