Dreyse M1862 needle rifle musings and other stuff

[LarryHoosier]

Here are items which I cobbled up for my M1862 Dreyse needle rifle. I first had to create some paper cartridges to fire in it. I also didn’t want to use the original needle so I had to create needles for this use. A military rifle without a sling is like a day without sunshine so I had to create as authentic a reproduction as I could determine.

While I was at it I also created slings for my M1871 Mauser, M1867 Albini-Braendlin, and VZ24 Romanian sniper rifle. All of these slings are as obtainable as Hillary Clinton truth serum or Bigfoot roll-on deodorant.

 

[red_zr24x4]

Nice job on the slings
Needles look really close in the pic, I'd say they'll work just fine

 

[johntheplinker]

Good job! In use how durable are the needles? They look like it was a very fragile system. Do you have originals to model your slings after or did you have to use pics and other illustrations? And yes, a military rifle HAS to have a sling to be complete.

 

[55fairlane]

great job....how did you make the needles?

Aaron

 

[LarryHoosier]

On the subject of the needles, They are more robust than they appear at first glance. The needle itself is 1mm piano wire soldered to 3/32" copper tubing. I run the wire all of the way to the base so the impact is absorbed there and not on the solder joint. It is my understanding that each Prussian soldier was issued three extra needles as part of the field kit. I have only shot about 30 rounds through on my first repo needle. So far it is good to go for quite a few more. The bases were a direct copy of my original turned on my lathe from solid stock. The threads are not common but I was able to source a tap and die from a commercial site on the internet.

 

[Slow Hand]

Very cool! I have seen a few needle fire Guns but have never owned one. The reloading interests me though. Same with a pin fire revolver!

 

[indiucky]

Great job...Those rifles paved the way for what was coming as far as innovation goes...