The Future Small Arms.

Evening Star, Issue 7485, 2 April 1888, Page 2

The Future Small Arms.

With respect to this subject, the ' Broad Arrow' of 14th January says: "The Small Arms Committee, according to a contemporary journal, have decided on a system of magazine ' which can be used either as a detachable magazine or a fxed magazine.' Does our contemporary wish its readers to infer from this description that when the magazine is once fixed it is no longer detachable? or what? The fact is, as we have already pointed out, the principle of the future small arm has been decided ; but many details connected with the rifle are still unsettled. The magazine is, however, to be a detachable, and not a fixed one in any sense ; and it is only to be used by word of command. When ' magazine fire' is ordered, the magazine will be then attached, and it is proposed to supply the soldier with two or three of these attachments, so as always to have one ready when very rapid fire is determined upon. At present we believe only about half-a-dozen rifles on the new principle have been manufactured, but the plant at Enfield is ready to turn out large numbers as soon as the various details have been determined, exhaustively tested, and brought to perfection. The conclusion arrived at by the committee ia that the Metford system of rifling with the Lee bolt action and detachable mazagine is to be the pattern of our future small arm, but as yet no definite sealed pattern has been approved." '