Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon.pdf - Forgotten Weapons

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escape of gas to the rear, and hence fouling of the parts in the breech can
occur but to a small extent. In this case, the barrels are carefully and
thoroughly washed with soap and water, dried, and oiled with a flannel
rag. The gun should be elevated, and the barrels be brought successively
in front of the ejector-hole and then washed, in order to prevent any water
entering the breech and fouling the mechanism. The latter is thoroughly
wiped throughout with cotton waste and oiled, the crank being turned to
aid the operation. On the exterior the barrels are washed with fresh water
and dried.
After long use the entire piece should be thoroughly cleaned.
The interior.-(a) The barrels.-Having dismounted the breech mechanism,
depress the gun so that the water will escape through the muzzle,
bring each barrel successively in front of the loading-trough, close its rear
end by a wooden plug (kept in the equipment-chest) surrounded by a
greased rag, wet the sponge, introduce it in the muzzle, and continue until
the water issues in as clear a state as it enters. Dry the bore with rags
placed on the end of the staff.
(b) The mechanism.-Wash and dry, successively, with the greatest
care those parts of the mechanism which have been fouled dw·ing the firing,
viz, the point of the firing-pin, the extractor-hooks, link, and rack, the cogwheel,
the loading-piston and rack, the extractor-crank. Wash and dry the
exterior of the worm. Clean the worm-shaft, the mainspring, and button
with dry rags. '1\·eat in the same way such parts of the interior of the
breech as are not varnished, particularly the channels of the firing-pin
and loading-piston; the latter with a wiper-brush covered with cloth.
crew-holes, bearings for the worm-shaft, breech-door hinge, pin and channel
of the button must be similarly cleaned. Those portions of the breech
from which the varnish has disappeared should be given a coating in the
manner described below.
The exterio'r.-The entire piece may be washed and dried, and those
parts which are not varnished or lacquered (the barrels, for example) should
be oiled. 'l,he butt-plate and entire front face of the breech can be cleaned
by a rag wrapped around a flat copper strip, and put between the breech
and rear disk.