 SARDINIA
Tamisier - The Sardinians also used a pillar breech rifle with
the Tamisier bullet stated to weigh 700 grains. No specimens of
this weight have been noted. It may well be that they used French
ammunition. The Sardinian Tamisier is stated to have a more rounded
ogive to the nose.
Sardinian Nessler - This closely resembles the French Nessler
but has a rounded nose instead of a slightly flattened one. The
weight is around 450 grains and the length is slightly less than
the diameter.
Sardinian Bersaglieri rifle - Known as the La Marmora rifle
after the Bersaglieri general who introduced it. The caliber is
.665 with eight grooves and an unusually fast twist for the period,
that being one full turn in 17 inches. The rifle utilizes the first
system of expansion to be developed, the Delvigne or chamber breech.
A powder chamber in the breech was reduced to .44 and the bullet,
when resting on the shoulder of the chamber thus formed, was expanded
by blows from the ramrod. The bullet is of quite unmistakable shape.
Two examples weigh 550 and 553 grains. Instead of using cartridges,
the Bersaglieri carried these bullets loose and unpatched and the
powder was loaded from a powder flask. |
