AUTOMATIC FIREARMS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 5805, 24 January 1906, Page 7

AUTOMATIC FIREARMS.

Tlio automatic principle in firearms i- ;it tiyicting tho altetitiou of Knro|ioaii military authorities. Trials with a new automatic rifle were recently carried out before the officials of the British war department- and military and naval, officials representing several foreign government,-). 'The weapon is tho invention of a Norwegian. .Mr Kallcvifi, of Christiania. It weighs 8f pounds and is shrined to 3,000 meters, and is a slim and compact weapon, tho mechanism of which i< so destined that dost or grit cannot penetrate it and interfere with its operation. In this rifle live cart ridel's;, either loose or in a clip are filled in to the magazine, and then can bo fired in succession, quickly or slowly, without removing the gun from the shoulder. Tho loadin'- and ejecting aro actuated by a small portion of the gas arising from tile explosion of the powder. This passes out through a minute hole in the liarrol into a cylinder parallel with tho barrel, in winch works a piston rod which actuates the mechanism. Tlie firing capacity of tho weapon is twenty rounds in thirty seconds. The difficulty of maintaining an (plate supply of ammunition for troops in the field" armed with such weapons luiK deterred most governments from giving automatic titles serious consideration. A soldier thoroughly familiar with the modern bolt action rifle ran deliver lire at a rale which appears to fulfil the requirements of warfare.