peashooter85:The Bavarian M1858/67 Podweils-Lidner rifle,Used by Bavarian forces during the Franco P
peashooter85:The Bavarian M1858/67 Podweils-Lidner rifle,Used by Bavarian forces during the Franco Prussian War, the Podweils rifle was a bolt action breechloading percussion rifle similar to the Palmer rifle used in the American Civil War. It featured a turnbolt system which opened the breech, into which the user placed a paper cartridge (13.7mm or .54 caliber). The cartridge was treated with potassium nitrate to make it highly combustible, thus discharging the powder charge without leaving pieces of paper behind in the breech. Once loaded, the user cocked the hammer on half cock, placed a percussion cap, then cocked the hammer fully and pulled the trigger. The striking of the percussion cap drove a spark into the chamber which ignited the cartridge.The Podwiels rifle came about in response to the Prussian Dreyse and French Chassepot rifle. While an excellent design, it could not compare in terms of performed with either. Most Podweils rifles were conversions of older Bavarian Model 1858 percussion muskets, thus it was easy to produce the rifle. During the Franco Prussian War the were issued alongside the Bavarian Werder rifle. -- source link