Dreyse Needle Gun

The Dreyse Needle Gun was a military breechloading rifle used primarily by Prussia, who adopted it for service in 1841 as the Dreyse Zündnadelgewehr (roughly "needle ignition rifle"): it was more widely known as the Prussian Model 1841. It was developed by Johann Nikolaus von Dreyse in Sömmerda over a period from 1827 to 1840. The Dreyse was the first breechloading bolt-action rifle adopted by a major military. Production began in 1840: the gun proved slow to manufacture, with only 30,000 produced per year, and the low funding of the Prussian army meant that only 90 battalions had been issued the weapon by 1855. It was not able to completely replace the Model 1839 Potsdam caplock musket until the introduction of cast steel gun barrels in the 1860s. Other powers were skeptical of the new design, regarding a cartridge that was "always primed" as inherently dangerous, an attitude which had largely prevented military interest in the earlier pinfire cartridge. However, Prussian successes in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 led to interest in the system from other states: the French incorporated the technology into their Chassepot 1866. Even when the metallic cartridge was largely accepted, the paper cartridge's fragility kept this concern alive, making it impossible to ship cartridges trans-Atlantic when the rifles were surplussed and rendering them unable to be shot. This led to enough scams of rifles being sold with claims that cartridges could be obtained elsewhere that the Bannerman company printed a warning about such practices in their catalog.

Its name comes from the needle-like steel firing pin, 1mm thick and several inches long, which passed through the base of the waxed paper cartridge to impact a percussion cap attached to the base of the bullet. The operating method was a single-shot bolt action, with the cartridge placed into the open action manually. There are various quoted rates of fire for the weapon: one common figure is 10-12 rounds per minute, though British testing gave a rate of only 6. The system was functional but finicky, as the long firing pin and its small driving spring were prone to damage, the pin especially since it was surrounded by powder at the moment of detonation. Another result of this was the needle was inevitably heavily fouled with black powder and burned paper residue (requiring frequent replacement to prevent misfires, and careful cleaning to avoid locking up of the action). In addition, the paper cartridges were too fragile for mechanical loading, preventing the use of them with any kind of integral magazine.

The Dreyse was gradually replaced by the Mauser Gewehr 1871 as the standard service rifle for the German Army in the 1870s.

Dreyse Model 1841

Dreyse Infanteriegewehr Modell 1841 - 15.43mm

As early as 1827, Dreyse presented a muzzle-loader with needle ignition and developed in a unit cartridge in 1828, which contained for the first time detonator, propellant, and bullet. Consistent development and construction work with the system of needle ignition finally led to a military breech-loading rifle, which was tested from 1839 to 1840 at various Prussian units.

Finally, after successful testing by the Prussian army, on December 4, 1840, Prussian King Frederick William IV ordered the production of initially 60,000 Dreyse needle guns with appropriate ammunition. The production of these rifles was declared state secrets and received the designation of leichtes Perkussionsgewehr Modell 41 ("light percussion rifle") to disguise their nature. Production of the weapons began in the fall of 1841 in the newly-built factory Dreyse in Sömmerda. The finished rifles were initially stored in the Berlin arsenal but because of the revolutionary events in 1848 in Baden and Saxony, were moved to the Füsilierbataillone of the Prussian regiments. This model was first used in the First Schleswig War between Prussia and Denmark in 1848 with little success.

As the factory in Sömmerda was unable to meet the high demand (only 45,000 rifles had been produced by 1848), Dreyse agreed that state-owned factories should also manufacture the percussion-pin guns. This first took place in 1853 at the Königliche Preußische Gewehrfabrique factory in Spandau, then also in Danzig, Saarn, and Erfurt. Over the years, production became more industrial and efficient with the use of modern equipment such as lathes and milling machines, which allowed production to be increased.

The rifle was used in the German-Danish War of 1864, but the evaluation remained inconsistent. This was due to the fact that only small skirmishes were fought on the open field in this war, as most of the fighting involved defending or storming fortifications. It also happened that some Prussian units wasted their ammunition in encounters. The critics of the needle gun repeatedly pointed out this problem. With their numerical superiority, the Prussians were able to replace these units with ammunition; however, this would not have been so easy with an equal opponent. It was not until the Prussian successes in the 1866 Austro-Prussian War (especially in the decisive battle of Königgrätz) against the Austrians that other countries were convinced of the advantages of rifles with breech-loading. It was during this war that the needle rifle earned its special reputation.

Relatively large quantities were produced; at the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War in 1870, there were 359,951 M/41s in the troop and 88,559 in the artillery depots. After mobilization was completed (end of July 1870), there were still 65,999 rifles in the artillery depots. The M/41 was gradually replaced by the improved M/62.

Specifications

(1841 - 1876)

• Type: Bolt-action rifle

• Caliber: 15.43mm

• Weight: 4.9 kg

• Length: 55.7 in (141.5 cm)

• Barrel length: 34.1 in (86.5 cm)

• Rate of fire: 6–12 rounds/min

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

• Effective range: 600 m (650 yd)

• Feed system: Single-shot bolt-action

• Sights: V-notch and front post

The Dreyse Model 1841 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:

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Film

Title	Actor	Character	Notes	Date
Hui Buh		Ghost Police		2006
Ludwig II	Tom Schilling	Prince Otto of Bavaria		2012
		Bavarian soldiers

Television

Title	Actor	Character	Notes / Episode	Date
1864	Ludwig Trepte	Heinz		2014
	Roland Schreglmann	Ludwig
		Prussian soldiers
Madame Nobel		Russian soldiers	Standing in for Berdan Rifles	2014
Oktoberfest: Beer & Blood		Actors in a parade	Ep. 4 "Anstich"	2020
Imperial Game		French and Prussian soldiers		2021

Dreyse Model 1862

Dreyse Infanteriegewehr Modell 1862 - 15.43mm

In the early sixties of the 19th century, it was felt that it was time to introduce a new model. Based on the experience gained in the infantry and new manufacturing resources, the new model was to bring improvements in armament. After corresponding developments and tests, it was decided on July 28, 1862, to introduce a new firing needle rifle with the designation M/62, while the production of the M/41 expired at the same time.

The changes of the M/62 against the old M/41 included, inter alia, technical improvements, a reduced overall length (approx. 70-80 mm, almost consistent weight), another cleaning and discharging rod, and moving the front sight forwards towards the muzzle, it also served as a bayonet lug.

In order to ensure a simultaneous and above all uniform armament of the troops, the M/62s finished in the rifle factories were first delivered to the depots. Apart from that, some were tested in the 1864 Second Schleswig War. It was only in 1867 that the new rifles were first issued to the Füsilierbataillone of the 32 infantry regiments, while the other battalions of the regiments received the new weapons only one year later.

At the time of the mobilization against France in 1870, the troops had 137,339 M/62s, while another 254,474 were waiting to be used as a reserve in the Prussian depots. The rearmament of the Guards Infantry, Guards Grenadiers and the other infantry regiments with rifles modified according to the Beck system, which had already been ordered for the fall of 1870, could no longer be carried out due to the war.

Specifications

(1862 - 1876)

• Caliber: 15.43mm

• Weight: 4.81 kg

• Length: 53.5 in (136 cm)

• Barrel length: 31.5 in (80 cm)

• Rate of fire: 6–12 rounds/min

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

• Effective range: 600 m (650 yd)

• Feed system: Single-shot bolt-action

• Sights: V-notch and front post

The Dreyse Model 1862 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:

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Television

Title	Actor	Character	Notes / Episode	Date
Lock 'n Load With R. Lee Ermey	R. Lee Ermey	Himself		2009

Anime

Title	Character	Notes	Date
Undead Girl Murder Farce	Heulendorf residents		2023

Dreyse Model 1857/67

Zündnadelgewehr Modell 1857/67 U-M - 15.43mm

In the battle of Tauberbischofsheim in the Austro-Prussian war, it was shown that a fast-firing breech-loader with less accuracy is extraordinarily superior to a muzzle-loader that fires accurately but too slowly. General conscription with a two-year period of service was decided and the firing pin system and the drill regulations of Prussia were introduced concerning a uniform armament and caliber unit of the states of the Confederation. For the training of the Württemberg soldiers, Prussia provided 6000 Kurhessian firing pin rifles on loan, which had previously been lent to Baden. However, as the anti-Prussian mood at court and in the country meant that Prussian instructors did not dare to be appointed, Baden officers and non-commissioned officers were brought into the country to practice the rifle grips and the Prussian drill regulations. Württemberg officers were also trained in Prussia.

The Infanteriegewehre M 1857 (Vereinsgewehr) rifles were bored to the firing pin caliber of 15.43mm, fitted with the bolt of the Prussian Jägerbüchse M/65 and partially re-barreled. All fitting parts were used, and the ramrod was changed to a cleaning/unloading ramrod. The Quadrantenvisier of the 1857 rifle initially remained, albeit slightly modified.

24,500 rifles were modified and after the Franco-Prussian War, the percussion-pin rifles in Württemberg were also fitted with the improved breech according to Beck.

Specifications

(1867 - 1876)

• Caliber: 15.43mm

• Weight: 4.52 kg

• Length: 55.9 in (142 cm)

• Barrel length: 36.2 in (92 cm)

• Rate of fire: 6–12 rounds/min

• Feed system: Single-shot bolt-action

• Sights: Quadrant sight; 200 to 900 paces

The Dreyse Model 1857/67 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:

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Television

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

Dreyse Ö/M

Dreyse Zündnadel-Defensionsgewehr Ö/M (Österreichisches Modell) - 15.43mm

After the victory against Austria, many weapons found their way into the Prussian depots. Of the Lorenz Model 1854/II alone, almost 36,000 adapted rifles were issued to Landwehr troops for mobilization against France in 1870. These were rebuilt in the years 1867-1869 using modified Zündnadelkarabiner M/57 locks. The original 13.9 mm barrel was drilled to the Prussian caliber and redrawn. To the right and left below the sleeve, the shaft was reinforced with carefully adapted, glued wooden panels. Two wooden dowels go in the holes of the previous wood screws across the shaft and the two attached wood panels. These defensive rifles were used mainly by the Prussian Landwehr Regiments, Gardegarnisons, and Provinzialgarnisons-Bataillonen. The conversions were made by Simson & Luck in Suhl and the rifle factory in Herzberg.

Relatively large quantities were rebuilt; at the outbreak of the Franco-German War on July 15, 1870, there were 425 Ö/M rifles in the troops and 35,174 in the artillery depots. At the end of the mobilization (at the end of July 1870) there were still 21,784 rifles in the artillery depots.

Specifications

(1867 - 1876)

• Caliber: 15.43mm

• Weight: 3.85 kg

• Length: 52.2 in (132.5 cm)

• Barrel length: 34.8 in (88.5 cm)

• Rate of fire: 6–12 rounds/min

• Feed system: Single-shot bolt-action

• Sights: V-notch and front post

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

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Film

Title	Actor	Character	Notes	Date
The Captain from Köpenick		German soldiers		1956
Paths of Glory		A French soldier		1957

Dreyse Model 1835 Pistol

Dreyse Model 1835 needle pistol - .38

The Dreyse Model 1835 Needlefire Breechloading Pistol is a single-shot breechloader, using the same concept of a needle-firing mechanism and paper cartridges as Dreyse rifles. The pistol wasn't issued to any military but found some commercial success, especially as a dueling gun.

The Dreyse Model 1835 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:

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Film

Title	Actor	Character	Notes	Date
The Duelist (Duelyant)	Pyotr Fyodorov	Pyotr Yakovlev		2016
	Martin Wuttke	Baron Staroeh
	Pavel Tabakov	Prince Tuchkov
	Pierre Bourel	Prince Rayn
	Igor Khripunov	The second of Prince Rayn
	Anton Kuznetsov	The owner of gun store