Descriptionary

quillons two side projections at the guard or hilt.

rondel a medieval dagger having a disklike pommel and guard and a narrow blade, used from 1320 to 1550.

skean Irish and Scottish dual-edged dagger.

stiletto dagger having a very narrow blade for stab­bing or thrusting only.

swordbreaker a dagger having a deeply notched blade for catching and breaking the blade of a sword.

guns and bullets

assault rifle any automatic rifle intended to be used for an assault or attack on humans.

automatic any gun that fires continuously while the trigger is pressed.

barrel the metal tube through which bullets are pro­jected after firing.

baton rounds shotgun projectiles that stun but do not kill; used in riot situations.

bayonet a knife mounted on the barrel of a rifle for use in hand-to-hand combat.

bead a small projection on the muzzle of a gun, used for sighting.

birdshot small shotgun pellets used in bird hunting; may also be used to control a crowd in riot situations.

bluing the colored finish on the metal parts of a gun.

bolt a sliding rod that pushes a cartridge into the firing chamber.

bolt-action a gun having a manually operated bolt.

bore the inside portion and diameter of the barrel, extending from the breech to the muzzle. Also known as the gauge.

box magazine a rectangular or square magazine.

brass catcher a firearm attachment that catches spent cartridges ejected from an automatic or semi­automatic rifle.

breech the rear portion of a gun, behind the bore.

buck and ball a cartridge having a round ball and three buckshot.

buckshot large shotgun pellets used for large game.

bullet, cannelured an elongated, grooved bullet.

bullet, elongated a long bullet, as distinguished from a round one.

bullet, flat-point a bullet having a flat nose.

bullet, hollow-point a bullet having a hollow nose; it produces a wider area of damage on impact.

bullet, metal-case a bullet in which a metal jacket covers the nose.

bullet, soft-point a bullet having a lead tip; it pro­duces a wider area of damage on impact.

bullet, wad-cutter a cylindrical, flat-topped bullet noted for making clean holes, used for target practice.

bullpup a firearm in which a magazine is inserted in the buttstock, behind the trigger mechanism.

butt the bottom of the grip on a pistol; the portion of a rifle placed against the shoulder when firing. Also known as the buttstock.

caliber the diameter of the barrel hole.

carbine a rifle having a barrel less than 22 inches in length.

cartridge the container holding the explosive charge.

centerfire cartridge a cartridge having its primer in the center of its base.

chamber the rear portion of the barrel; it receives the shell or cartridge.

choke a device that alters a shotgun muzzle to achieve a desired shot pattern.

clip a receptable used to hold several cartridges that are loaded simultaneously.

cock a hammer.

cylinder a revolving cylinder containing several car­tridge chambers.

derringer a single-shot, pocket-sized pistol having a short barrel, the ultimate firearm for concealment.

double-action of a revolver capable of firing succes­sive shots simply by pulling the trigger without hav­ing to first cock the hammer.

drift deviation laterally of a bullet's trajectory.

drum a round, spring-loaded magazine.

duckbill choke a muzzle attachment on a combat rifle used to spread shot in a wide line to hit more than one advancing target.

ejector a device that ejects a cartridge case.

firing pin the projection on the firing mechanism that strikes the primer or cap to detonate the powder charge.

flash hider a muzzle attachment used to conceal the flash of firing, especially at night.

flechette a finned projectile used in a combat shot­gun to produce greater wound penetration.

gauge the interior diameter of a shotgun barrel. Also known as the bore.

grip the handle on a pistol.

hair trigger a sensitive trigger requiring only a light pull to release it.

hammer the cock or lock portion that strikes the primer of a cartridge to fire it.

jacket a covering on a bullet.

kick the recoil after firing.

lock the mechanism that detonates a charge. Also, to engage the safety.

machine pistol a compact, automatic, or semiauto­matic firearm.

magazine in a repeating firearm, the receptacle or clip that holds and advances the ammunition to the chamber.

muzzle the mount or front of the barrel, from which the bullets emerge.

muzzle brake a rifle attachment that reduces recoil by diverting internal gases.

muzzle velocity the speed of a bullet as it emerges from the muzzle.