RIFLE SHOOTING

Southland Times, Issue 23548, 30 June 1938, Page 13

RIFLE SHOOTING

EVOLUTION OF GUN

By

BULLSEYE

Man-killing implements date back to antiquity. To try to evolve in a natural sequence the discovery and invention of missile weapons will be the objects of the following articles. Some attribute the discovery of gunpowder to Michael Schwartz, a German monk in the year 1320, but its constitution is mentioned by Roger Bacon in his “De Nullitate Magiae” and Bacon died about 1292. After’ the discovery of gunpowder came its application to engines of war and the date of this is as obscure as the date of the first discovery of gunpowder. Cannon are said to have been used against Scotland in 1327 and at Cressy in 1346, and in this year gunpowder was first manufactured in England. Four copper guns were in the Tower of London in 1360, but until the end of the century they were only used for siege purposes and fired balls made of stone. The records of Westminister mention an attack on a Yorkshire Manor in 1375 by 40 men armed among other things with “gonnes,” supposed to be the hand guns. Arquebuses, a sort of hand "gonne,” are mentioned in Germany in 1378. The most reliable date for the use of the hand gun in warfare is the siege of Lucca in 1430, and in 1446 it was in general use. Spain was the first power tp arm its forces with hand guns. The following is a description of. the first infantry hand gun:—A simple iron or brass tube with a touchhole at the top. The tube is fixed to a straight stock of wood about two feet long, called the frame of the “gonne,” It had no lock, but when firing the end of the stock passed under the right armpit. When used by cavalry at the end of the stock was a ring through which and round the neck passed a cord. A forked rest fitted by a ring to the saddle bow steadied the gun, which when not in use was down in front of the right leg. A match made of cotton hemp, spun slack and boiled in a strong solution of saltpetre or the dregs of wine, formed, together with very inferior ammunition, all the appurtances to the hand gun. In using the “gonne” it was found . that the priming fell from the touch-hole through being on the top of the barrel. A hole was therefore made at the side and a small covered pan under it held landing of King Edward IV at Ravenspur in 1471 with 300 Flemings is quoted as the first instance of a force landing from outside armed with “gonnes.” An improvement was made in the hand gun in the time of Henry VH about 1485, by fixing a cock on the gun to hold the match which was brought down to the primage by a trigger, from which came the name matchlock or harguebus (a bow wjth a mouth). This invention came, from Italy. Subsequent improvements in the matchlock were the widening of the butt end to place against the breast and the bending of the stock. The matchlock was used among the Chinese, Tartars, Sikhs, Persians and Turks as late as 1884. The wheel lock was invented at Nuremberg in 1517 and introduced into England in 1530 where it continued to be used until the time of Charles 11. A description of the wheel lock will be given next week,

WAKATIPU DEFENCE CLUB The final shoot of the Wakatipu Defence Rifle Club was held recently in unpleasant weather. A good attendance, including five members of the Garston Club, competed. Some . good scores were registered. The president, H. Mackenzie, was in good form and shot consistently for 33 at 300, 500 and 600 yards, seven shots at each. His total of 99 out of the possible 105 was a fine effort. W. Mcßae also shot well for 33-32-31-96. J. S. Toll 94, and D. R. Gray 93, alsq did well. Mackenzie’s diagrams are as follows:—

THE MINIATURE RANGE The country clubs held a postal shoot recently when some capital scores were registered. The No. 1 match was won by J. J. Lawson (Waiau) with the posible 80. The B grade first prize went to A. G. Christie, with 79. The No. 2 match was won by W. Aitken (Waiau), with the possible 80. The B grade again went to a Mossbum rifleman, P. Mcßride, who also shot well for 79.

The country A grade championship was won by J. J. Lawson (Waiau), with the fine score of 159. The B grade was won by A. G. Christie, Mossbum, with 157.

Members of the Invercargill Club had a record attendance of 52 last week, when the standard of scoring was excellent.

The City Guards Club also attracted a big attendance at the last shoot, when B. Broomfiefild headed the list with the possible 80. A. McKay with 79, topped for the Returned Soldiers’ Association Club’s list on Monday evening. The Makarewa Club is making good headway and its scores are showing improvement. At the last shoot C. H. Wilson and A. Cruickshanks' both shot well for 75 each.

J. Speden, with 79, was top scorer for the Fortrose Club at its last shopt. At the last shoot of the Gorge Road Club S. Ryan shot well for 78 and won the Barrett badge for the best score off the rifle.