Dreyse Needle Gun

The Dreyse needle-gun (German Zündnadelgewehr, which translates roughly as "needle ignition rifle") was a military breechloading rifle, famous as the main infantry weapon of the Prussians, who adopted it for service in 1841 as the Dreyse Zündnadelgewehr, or Prussian Model 1841. It was developed by Johann Nikolaus von Dreyse from 1827 in Sömmerda with then new ignition needle cartridges, which also contained the ignition element next to projectile and propellant charge. The rifle was the first mass-produced Breech-loading gun suitable for military use. After a long period of development, mass production began in 1840. The gun was used in various variants mainly from 1848 to 1876 in the Prussian army. The Prussian successes in the German War of 1866 led to a change of infantry armaments in other states. The principle of the ignition needle ignition was taken over by France as the Chassepot 1866. In addition, the principle of the Breech-loading of the ignition needle gun , the cylinder lock, characterize the weapon technology still for decades.
Its name comes from its 0.5-inch (13 mm) needle-like firing pin, which passed through the paper cartridge case to impact a percussion cap at the bullet base. The Dreyse rifle was also the first breech-loading rifle to use the bolt action to open and close the chamber, executed by turning and pulling a bolt handle. It has a rate of fire of about 10-12 rounds per minute. Some Austrian Lorenz 1854 Infantry Rifles were rebuilt with the Dreyse system. The Dreyse needle-gun was gradually replaced by the Mauser Gewehr 1871 as the standard service rifle for the German Army in the 1870s.

Specifications

(1841 - 1876)

• Type: Bolt-action rifle

• Caliber: 15,4 mm (M/41, M/62), 15,2 mm (M/60, M/65), 15,3 mm (M/54), 15,1 mm (M/57)

• Weight: 4.7 kg (M/41), 4.69 kg ((M/62)

• Length: 56.1 in (142.5 cm) (M/41), 53 in (134.5 cm) (M/62)

• Barrel length: 35.7 in (90.7 cm) (M/41), 33.1 in (84.2 cm) (M/62)

• Variants: Model 41, Model 54, Model 57 Cavalry Carbine, Model 60 Fusilier Rifle, Model 65 Jäger Rifle

• Cartridge: Acorn shaped lead bullet in paper cartridge

• Action: Bolt action/breech-loading
• Rate of fire: 10–12 round/min

• Muzzle velocity: 305 m/s (1,000 ft/s)

• Effective range: 600 m (650 yd)

• Feed system: Single-shot

• Sights: V-notch and front post

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The Dreyse Needle Gun and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:

Dreyse Model M/41

Dreyse Infantry Rifle M1841 - 15,4 mm

The first military-usable breechloading bolt action rifle. This model was introduced to secrecy as a "leichtes Perkussionsgewehr" ("light percussion rifle"). This model was first used in the First Schleswig War of 1848 with little success. The superiority was seen during the Second Schleswig War of 1864 with light upgraded cartridges.

Film

Title	Actor	Character	Note	Date
Paths of Glory		French soldier		1957
Ludwig II	Tom Schilling	Prince Otto of Bavaria		2012
		Bavarian soldiers

Television

Show Title	Actor	Character	Notes / Episode	Date
1864	Ludwig Trepte	Heinz		2014
	Roland Schreglmann	Ludwig
		Prussian soldiers

Dreyse Model M/62

Dreyse Infantry Rifle M1862 - 15,4mm

This model was introduced in 1862, while the production of the model M / 41 expired at the same time. The changes consisted, inter alia, of improvements in production technology, a reduction in the overall length, a new discharge stand and a more solid bayonet fastening.

Film

Title	Actor	Character	Note	Date
The Captain from Köpenick		German soldiers		1956
Mark of Cain (Kainovo znamení)		Prussian soldiers		1989

Television

Show Title	Actor	Character	Notes / Episode	Date
Lock 'n Load With R. Lee Ermey	R. Lee Ermey	Himself		2009
1864	Ludwig Trepte	Heinz		2014
		Prussian soldiers