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ca. 1868
.34 CALIBER NEEDLE GUN CARTRIDGE OF THE TYPE USED IN THE
DREYSE REVOLVERS – VERY NICE SPECIMEN:
Initially developed during the early percussion muzzle
loader period,
Johann
Nikolaus von Dreyse’s Needle Fire Cartridge reached its
full potential with the advent of the bolt-action breech
loading rifle. The breech loading capability of the
rifle combined with the self contained cartridge allowed
the soldiers to maintain a faster rate of fire than
their opponents armed with the older muzzle loading
systems, and eventually this system was adopted by the
Prussians and several of the other German nation-states,
the French, Italians and Russians.
The firing mechanism consisted of a long narrow firing
pin, or needle, driven by a coiled spring which pierced
the rear of the cartridge, passed through the powder
charge and struck the percussion cap seated against the
base of the bullet.
The cartridge included the projectile, the propellant
and the percussion cap, all secured in a single paper
wrapping, with the percussion cap situated in front of
the powder charge and against the base of the bullet.
The front-to-rear burn pattern of the propellant was
thought to minimize the loss of pressure due to unburned
powder being blown out of the muzzle before it could
ignite or to burn uselessly after leaving the muzzle,
and as a result of the entire charge burning in the
barrel, the increased heat and pressure minimized the
amount of residue left behind. The theory held that
this reduction of waste allowed the cartridges to be
loaded with a smaller charge to obtain the same velocity
as a rear ignited charge applied to a bullet of the same
weight. An additional benefit was with the percussion
cap being seated against the base of the bullet, it was
protected against an accidental ignition in the
cartridge boxes or while being handled.
The Needle Gun Cartridge was one of the first examples
of caseless ammunition in so far as the soldier was left
with nothing to extract from the chamber once the
cartridge had been fired. The paper hull was completely
consumed when the cartridge was fired, and as the primer
was physically connected to the bullet, it too was
expelled down the bore with nothing remaining of the
cartridge.
The calibers of the military rifles produced under this
system generally fell into the range of 11mm. Following
in his father’s footsteps, Franz von Dreyse made his
mark in the realm of firearms by designing a needle fire
revolver in the late 1860’s, offered in such calibers as
.32, .34, .35, and .39. It is noteworthy that the
calibers of German made firearms during this period were
measured in “Prussian Inches” (approximately 10% larger
than “British Inches”) prior to the acceptance of the
metric system under the Treaty of the Metre of 1875.
This scarce specimen of a .34 caliber Needle Fire
Cartridge is in excellent condition, showing no wear,
damage or any other evidence of aging or use. The
original shellac on the paper casing is fully intact,
the bullet is full form with no dents, and the blue wax
base is fully intact.
An excellent specimen to display with your early Dreyse
firearm. (0802) $175
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