Reincarnated as Napoleon

Chapter 63 Testing The New Rifle

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Under the scrutinizing gaze of Napoleon Bonaparte, the trio of astute workers at the motive power depot embarked upon the intricate task of fabricating the constituent parts for the revolutionary Norwegian Krag-Jørgensen 1895 repeating bolt-action rifle.

Napoleon observed the expertise of the skilled craftsmen during the manufacturing process. Etienne, the master of the lathe, skillfully machined the barrel and bolt handle. Pierre, the master of the milling machine, expertly shaped the exterior of the receiver, meticulously crafting the required contours, raceways for the bolt, magazine well, trigger housing, and bolt handle slot. Jacques, on the other hand, was responsible for forging the initial block from which the receiver was later machined.

The deadline that he gave the trio was three weeks. But it has only been ten days and they were able to fabricate the prototype of the Norwegian Krag-Jørgensen 1895. Surely, he had underestimated the capabilities and dedication of these exceptional craftsmen. The prototype stood before Napoleon, an impressive testament to their skill and efficiency.

Inspecting the rifle closely, Napoleon marveled at the intricate details and precision craftsmanship. The barrel, machined by Etienne, exhibited a flawless bore and rifling, promising exceptional accuracy. The bolt handle, also the work of Etienne's lathe, was ergonomically shaped, allowing for smooth operation and a comfortable grip.

Moving his gaze to the receiver, Pierre's meticulous milling work caught Napoleon's eye. The receiver's exterior boasted elegant contours, seamlessly merging form and function. Pierre's expertise was evident in the precisely crafted raceways that guided the bolt, ensuring seamless movement and optimal performance. The magazine well, trigger housing and bolt handle slot were flawlessly integrated, a testament to Pierre's mastery of the milling machine.

"What do you think, sir?" Etienne asked.

Napoleon took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding to Etienne's question.

"Etienne, Pierre, Jacques," Napoleon began, his voice filled with admiration. "What you have accomplished in such a short time is nothing short of remarkable. The prototype you have fabricated surpasses my expectations. The precision, craftsmanship, and attention to detail displayed in every aspect of this rifle are truly exceptional."

A smile played at the corners of Etienne's lips as he glanced at Pierre and Jacques, their faces beaming with pride. They had poured their skills and passion into this project, and now their efforts were being recognized by one of the popular generals of the French Republic.

"But, how about the cartridge? Where is it?"

Napoleon's question about the cartridge was met with a confident smile from Etienne. He motioned toward a nearby table where a stack of precisely manufactured cartridges lay neatly arranged.

"We were able to manufacture the cartridges in just a day," Etienne explained, a hint of pride in his voice. "However, due to a shortage of the smokeless powder you provided us two days ago, we were only able to produce a limited quantity of 20."

Napoleon nodded understandingly. He was able to give them 500 grams of smokeless powder as Antoine Lavoisier, the man he tasked to make the powder, had encountered challenges in producing a larger quantity in such a short time."

"It's okay everyone," Napoleon waved his hand dismissively, easing them of their worries. "We don't need a lot of them as we will still be testing it. Speaking of which, do you want to see how this rifle performs on the field?" Napoleon's question hung in the air, filled with anticipation.

Etienne, Pierre, and Jacques exchanged glances, their excitement palpable. This was an opportunity they couldn't pass up.

With a unanimous nod, they replied, "Yes, sir. We would be honored to witness its performance firsthand."

Napoleon led the way to a nearby field where a range had been set up for testing firearms. The trio followed closely behind, carrying the prototype rifle and a handful of cartridges.

On their way to the field, they came across Ciela and Henri, who were seemingly discussing something.

"Oh, Napoleon!" Ciela called, waving her hand. Her gaze landed on the rifle he was carrying. "I see that it was done way ahead of schedule."

"You are right…what are you two discussing?"

"Well, it's the same old story. The Directory has tasked us with constructing additional steam locomotives to facilitate the transportation of troops to the frontline," Henri explained. "They have also requested the expansion of the city's railway network, requiring the construction of more railroads. In return for our services, they are compensating us with bonds, assuring us of their redemption in the future," Ciela explained.

"I see, well keep at it. We are going to need those railways soon. I don't see the war ending anytime soon," Napoleon remarked with a hint of concern in his voice.

"Rest assured, Napoleon, we will work diligently to fulfill these requirements. By the way, can I come with you? I want to see the rifle perform."

"I don't see the reason why not," Napoleon replied and resumed their path toward the field.

As they reached the field, Napoleon motioned for Etienne to come forward.

"Give me six bullets," Napoleon commanded. Etienne handed him the requested ammunition. As Napoleon was about to feed the magazine with bullets, he noticed a curious expression on Etienne's face.

"What's the matter?"

"Well, sir, I'm curious. Shouldn't the bullets be in the form of balls?"

Napoleon paused, his brow furrowing with amusement. It is understandable that the people in this era would question the bullet used for the new rifle. After all, had grown accustomed to the traditional round musket balls used in firearms in this era.

"Etienne, you raise a valid point," Napoleon responded, "The cartridges for this particular rifle are indeed different from what we are accustomed to. They are not in the form of traditional round balls but instead utilize a more advanced design. The cartridges we have here are rimmed bottlenecked cartridges. The bullet, which is seated at the top of the casing, is designed to fit the rifling inside the barrel. This ensures a tight seal and allows for more accurate and stable flight. Before we begin, I want to ask you a question, what is the effective firing range of muskets?"

Etienne pondered for a moment and then answered. "About 100 yards?"

"You are correct," Napoleon confirmed. "Now, I want you to guess about the effective firing range of this rifle?"

"Maybe 200 to 300 yards?" Etienne guessed.

"Well, let's see if your guess is correct," Napoleon's lips curled to a smile as he glanced over one of the trio. "Jacques, I want you to position the target dummy at 550 yards."

When Napoleon said the distance, the trio's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Sir…that's too far! I don't think the rifle would be able to hit a target at that distance," Jacques voiced his concern, his brows furrowed.

Napoleon chuckled, thoroughly enjoying the skepticism in their expressions.

"Do you really think so? Well, why don't you place it now and see if it can't reach it," Napoleon goofily said, playfully challenging Jacques.

With a mixture of apprehension and excitement, Jacques followed Napoleon's instructions and positioned the target dummy at the specified distance.

As Jacques retreated to a safe distance, Napoleon inserted six bullets into the magazine well of the rifle and cocked it.

With a steady hand, Napoleon shouldered the rifle, aligning his eye with the iron sights. He took a deep breath, calming his racing heart. He exhaled slowly, his finger caressing the trigger,

With a gentle squeeze, he sent the first shot echoing across the field. The crack of the rifle cut through the silence, followed by a collective gasp from the onlookers.

The bullet soared through the air, its trajectory guided by the rifling in the barrel. Time seemed to slow as the projectile traveled the vast distance towards the target. And then, to the amazement of everyone, a resounding thud marked the impact as the bullet found its mark.

"I forgot to bring my binoculars. Can someone get me some binoculars?" Napoleon's request for binoculars prompted Pierre to head back to the depot to search for a pair.

Five minutes later, Etienne returned with a pair and handed it to Napoleon who then quickly peered through the binoculars, his eyes fixed on the target dummy. A smile slowly spread across his face as he witnessed the result of his shot. The bullet had struck the target with remarkable precision, hitting it square in the chest.

"Do you want to see, Etienne?" Napoleon offered, handing Etienne the binoculars. Etienne eagerly took them and focused on the target dummy. As he peered through the lenses, his eyes widened in astonishment.

"It's incredible, sir!" Etienne exclaimed, passing the binoculars to Pierre and Jacques so they could witness the remarkable shot as well. Both craftsmen were equally amazed by the accuracy of the rifle at such a great distance.

The trio exchanged excited glances, their pride, and joy evident in their expressions. They had crafted a weapon that surpassed their wildest expectations, and now they were witnessing its extraordinary performance firsthand.

Napoleon, still grinning from the successful shot, turned to Ciela and winked.

"Ciela, do you want to see it?"

"No I'm good darling," Ciela replied with a playful smirk. "I already know how skilled you are with a rifle. But feel free to impress me again."

Napoleon chuckled, his eyes sparkling with mischief. He turned his attention back to the rifle, preparing for another shot.

"You three, you might want to stand back," Napoleon said and the three promptly took a step back.

When they were at a safe distance, Napoleon spoke. "You three, I want to ask you another question. How long does it take for a skilled musketeer to reload their musket?"

Etienne, Pierre, and Jacques exchanged glances, pondering Napoleon's question. They had witnessed firsthand the time-consuming process of reloading a musket, involving measuring out the powder, placing the ball, and priming the pan. The entire procedure could take up to a minute, sometimes even longer if the soldier was inexperienced or under pressure.

After a moment of reflection, Etienne ventured a response, "Sir, it usually takes a skilled musketeer around one minute to reload their musket."

Napoleon nodded in acknowledgment, a knowing smile playing on his lips. He was aware of the limitations of muskets in terms of rate of fire and efficiency.

"Well, my friends, I believe it's time for another demonstration," Napoleon declared, his voice filled with anticipation.

Etienne, Pierre, and Jacques exchanged intrigued glances, their curiosity piqued. They knew that Napoleon had something remarkable in mind, and they were eager to see what it was.

With a swift motion, Napoleon rotated the bolt handle, unlocking the bolt and allowing it to slide back. The trio watched with rapt attention as the spent cartridge casing was propelled out of the rifle. The bolt, aided by a powerful spring, moved smoothly and swiftly, ejecting the empty casing. As the bolt reached its rearward position, it engaged the follower, which pushed a fresh cartridge up from the magazine. With precise timing, the bolt returned forward, locking into place and readying the rifle for the next shot.

Napoleon pulled the trigger, and the three were stunned again.

"Did you see it?" Etienne gasped.

"He fired another round within seconds!" Pierre exclaimed, his eyes wide with amazement.

"Also, did you also notice that there's no thick smoke coming out from the barrel? Do you think it's from the smokeless powder?" Jacques' question hung in the air, and Napoleon's smile widened at the astute observation. He nodded in confirmation.

"Yes, Jacques, you are correct. The absence of thick smoke is indeed due to the use of smokeless powder. Compared to traditional black powder, smokeless powder burns more efficiently, producing significantly less smoke and residue. This not only improves visibility for the shooter but also reduces fouling in the barrel, allowing for more consistent and accurate shots. Now that concludes the demonstration. As promised, I will be giving you your two month's salary. Not only that, you'll be offered a position to work on a new enterprise that Ciela is going to establish."

"New enterprise?" The three intoned.

"That's right," Ciela spoke. "We will start making these rifles on a large scale for the French Army. And you three will be its first employees. But first. Darling, I think it is prudent if we show it to the Ministry of War first."

"Very well, we'll go now."