Post by zimmerstutzen on Oct 5, 2014 2:17:38 GMT
Invented in England in the 1830's, the needle fire involved a case less cartridge that consisted of a football shaped bullet in a fibre sabot. The base of the sabot had a paper skirt and was filled with powder. Where the cartridge was closed on the base, a small dab of match head material was placed. Instead of a center fire striker, it had a rough serrated needle. When the trigger was pulled, the needle thrust forward through the match material, lighting the match material and in turn the charge. The actions leaked substantial gases and were frquently fired from the hip. The system was adopted by the Prussians in 1848. They were the first major power to adopt rapid firing breech loaders. Later versions of the action changed the needle to a long pin and a percussion cap was placed in the base of the sabot that when struck would ignite the powder.
