Primer

An instrument for firing the cartridge in a gun.

A Percussion Primer is made of a quill tube, the lower end being closed. It is filled with powder, and capped with fulminating mercury and powder, and exploded by concussion.

A Friction Primer is made of a brass tube the size of a quill, filled with powder, and in the cap is a brass wire with teeth, the outer end of the wire having an eye formed by twisting. The cap is filled with sulphuret of antimony and chlorate of potassa. This primer is exploded by pulling the lanyard and breaking the primer, which causes the necessary friction.

A Quill Friction Primer is made of two quills, one inside of the other, and is filled with antimony tri-sulphide, potassium chlorate, flower of sulphur and a small proportion of gum arabic. Wires are contained within the quills, and the action of the lanyard is to withdraw these wires and explode the primer by friction.

Vent-Sealing Primer. A primer used in all modern B. L. R. guns, and is on the principle of a pistol cartridge. It is fired by a mechanism known as a "firing lock." The flame from the primer goes through the stem of the mushroom into the powder charge in the chamber of the gun, and the lead bullet closes the vent and prevents the escape of gas rearward.

External Friction Primer. The same as the vent-sealing primer, but is exploded by means of a wire and lanyard (the same as described for the ordinary friction primer) instead of a firing lock. This primer is used in the event of damage to the firing lock.

Electrical Primer. A quill primer filled to near the top with fine powder, and fitted to the size of the vent. Two wires pass into the primer and are bridged by a fine platinum wire with a slight wisp of dry gun cotton attached to the bridge. The outer ends of the wires are connected with a battery, and the primer is fired by closing the circuit, either at the rear of the gun or by the officer in the fighting tower.