Wiard rifle
Encyclopedia
The Wiard rifle is a semi-steel light artillery piece invented by Norman Wiard. About 60 were manufactured between 1861 and 1862, at O'Donnell's Foundry, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

: "although apparently excellent weapons, [they] do not seem to have been very popular".

Wiard described two calibers: a six-pounder rifle with a 2.6 inch bore and a twelve-pounder smooth bore with a 3.67 inch bore.

The six-pounder's tube was 53 inches long, weighed 725 pounds and had an effective range (at 35°) of 7000 yards, with a standard powder charge of 0.75 lbs and 6 lb. Hotchkiss
Hotchkiss et Cie
Société Anonyme des Anciens Etablissements Hotchkiss et Cie was a French arms and car company established by United States engineer Benjamin B. Hotchkiss, who was born in Watertown, Connecticut. He moved to France and set up a factory, first at Viviez near Rodez in 1867, then at Saint-Denis near...

 bolts.

The Wiard rifle was cast in puddled wrought-iron (semi-steel
Semi-steel casting
Semi-steel casting is a lower cost method to produce a casting that is not quite as strong as a steel casting but less expensive to manufacture. It was used more commonly as a marketing term....

) and was mounted in a special Wiard field carriage that was unique in its design. The rim base was spaced farther apart than any diameter of the tube, permitting unrestricted rotation on the trunnion
Trunnion
A trunnion is a cylindrical protrusion used as a mounting and/or pivoting point. In a cannon, the trunnions are two projections cast just forward of the centre of mass of the cannon and fixed to a two-wheeled movable gun carriage...

s without interference from the undercarriage. Wiard altered the shape of the carriage's cheeks, relocated the axle and provided a long elevating screw; this made firing at elevation of up to 35 degrees possible. It also meant that one carriage could slide beneath the next, allowing for more efficient storage and transportation.

Other innovations included a flat trail plate with a metal keel (preventing the rifle digging itself in the ground upon recoil), and a better system for braking the carriage without damaging the iron tires.
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