1850 American Gold Tycoon.

Chapter 214 Dresser Needle Gun
After several rounds of consultations between Pan Zhengwei and the Fillmore cabinet, they finally led to the signing of the Qing-US Free Immigration Treaty.

The significance of this treaty is very great. After the signing of the Qing-US Free Immigration Treaty, except for California on the west coast, Chinese immigrants can freely live and live in other states as long as they obtain legal American citizenship.

As for whether those Chinese immigrants can gain a firm foothold in states other than California, it depends on their own abilities.

Liang Yao has tried his best to pave the way for them.

Not only Liang Yao and others were happy with the signing of the Qing-US Free Immigration Treaty.

The Fillmore cabinet and even the federal government were delighted too.

Fillmore even claimed that signing an equal treaty with a major eastern country and establishing diplomatic relations was a huge progress in the history of American diplomacy.

Moreover, a large number of Chinese immigrants are also conducive to the development of the vast western region. Unlike the Qing Dynasty, which lacks everything, except that there is no shortage of people, the United States has a huge demand for labor, especially in the central and western regions, with vast land waiting for it. Immigrants went to develop.

To Liang Yao's dismay, however, his request to lower the California tariff was denied.

Fillmore worried that once this opening was opened for California, other states would one after another ask their own state to set their own tariffs.

Tariffs are the largest fiscal revenue of the federal government. On the issue of tariffs, both Finance Minister Corwin and Fillmore are very resolute and unanimous in their attitudes, saying that there is no negotiation on the issue of tariffs, and that tariffs can only be set by Congress. No right to private tariffs.

While Walter was concentrating on making the pedal sewing machine, Liang Yao announced the winner of the first Liang Yao Invention Award to major newspapers.

Since Liang Yao announced that he set up a foundation with 100 million US dollars and used the income of the foundation to reward award-winning inventors.

The Liang Yao Invention Award has always been a hot topic among Americans.

Especially for those inventors, they are very excited about this award, hoping that they can become the winner of the Liang Yao Invention Award.

The third winner of the first Liang Yao Invention Award is Ericsson and Clover who have the most propeller patents.

The second place went to the team of Ward engineers who built the Pioneer locomotive.

The second and third place winners of the first Liang Yao Invention Award did not cause much controversy.

People still recognize the second and third place winners.

Walter, the first winner of the Liang Yao Invention Award, caused a lot of controversy. Even the Patent Office protested to Liang Yao, saying that Walter was not the owner of the sewing machine patent.

But Liang Yao was still unmoved, and the awards he spent money on were not up to the Patent Office to dictate.

The ones who reacted most violently were Alex and Isaac who went to New York to express strong protest to Liang Yao.

"Mr. Liang, I have to remind you that I am the legal owner of the sewing machine technology patent, and I have a patent number granted by the Patent Office!

If your award is fair, the first place should be awarded to the legal owner of the sewing machine patent!Otherwise this award will lose its authority! "

Erics showed Liang Yao his patent book and the patent number granted to him by the Patent Office.

"The Patent Office is nothing! The Liang Yao Invention Award is an independent and impartial award that is not subject to interference from outside factors. Not to mention the Patent Office, even the President cannot change my decision." Liang Yao's attitude was very firm.

"I have also seen the sewing machine produced by Bridgeport Company. To be honest, your sewing machine is outdated. If you are not convinced, bring your sewing machine to New York and compare it with Walter's newly invented sewing machine. See whose sewing machine is more efficient and more reliable."

Erics was taken aback, wondering if Walter had invented a new sewing machine again?

But after thinking about it, Alex felt that it was impossible. How could Walter invent a new sewing machine in such a short period of time? Besides, the circle of inventors is not big. If Walter invented a new sewing machine, he should have What you have heard is right.

"Okay, if I win the competition, you must award me the first place in the Liang Yao Invention Award." Erics said, he was very confident in his sewing machine.

"What if you lose?"

Liang Yao asked back.

"If I lose, I will give up the ownership of the sewing machine patent and will not appeal!" Erics said.

"I will also join this contest." Isaac on the side said that he would also participate in this contest.

"If I win, I hope you will keep your promise and award me the first place in the Liang Yao Invention Award. If I lose, I will also give up the appeal and give up the ownership of the sewing machine patent."

At this time, both the Bridgeport Machinery Company of Erics and the Singer Brothers Company of Isaac were small companies that had just started.

Singer, a giant in the sewing machine industry in later generations, is just a small factory with total assets of less than 2 US dollars at this time.

The prize for the third place in the Liang Yao Invention Award is US$1, the second is US$2, and the first is US$3.

Huge bonuses are a huge attraction for both Alex and Isaac.

The two were very excited when they heard that the first place in the Liang Yao Invention Award was awarded to the main improver of the sewing machine, and they salivated over this award.

If they can win this award, it will be both fame and fortune for them.

The bonus of 3 US dollars can be used to expand the factory, expand production capacity, and quickly seize the still almost blank sewing machine market.

Both Erics and Isaac were very optimistic about the market prospects of sewing machines, and bet all their belongings on sewing machines.

They all know whoever can take the lead in occupying the sewing machine market will become a future sewing machine industry giant and earn dollars lying down.

"No problem." Liang Yao said with a treacherous smile.

After Erics and Isaac left, Kony came to inform Liang Yao that the [-] Dresser needles he ordered from Prussia had arrived, and Liang Yao was very excited.

Excitedly, he rode to New York Harbor to personally inspect and accept the rifles.

Arriving with the rifles were ten retired Prussian officers.

In the end, Prussia did not have trouble with gold, sold him the Dreiser firing needle gun, and agreed to the request to hire Prussian officers.

After installing these firing pin guns, the combat effectiveness of the California Infantry Regiment will be further improved!

"The Third Army of the Kingdom of Prussia, Retired Major Wilhelm Hans von Kruger of the 18th Infantry Regiment, it is an honor to serve you!"

Kruger, who was wearing a dark blue tunic uniform, gave a general military salute to Liang Yao.

Compared with the complicated numbers of other European countries, the numbers of the Prussian army are much simpler.

Basically, numbers are used as designations. Liang Yao glanced at the red epaulets on Kruger's shoulders, with the number 18 embroidered on it, representing the 18th Infantry Regiment before he retired.

Still looking comfortable in the general military salute, Liang Yao returned a military salute to Kruger.

Kruger was surprised by the standard of Liang Yao's general military salute.

Kruger introduced nine other Prussian officers to Liang Yao one by one.

Except for Kruger who is a school officer, the rest are lieutenants, and two are non-commissioned officers.

Using retired British Army officers was only an expedient measure. After all, Liang Yao could only hire retired British Army officers and American Army officers to help him train troops.

Compared with the British Army, the Prussian Army is more worth learning.

"Sir, where are these guns stored?" Kony asked, pointing to the wooden boxes being unloaded on the pier.

"Pull one box to the manor, and store the rest in the warehouse at the dock."

Liang Yao bought a warehouse at the New York Harbor Wharf to store his gold and Chinese goods brought from California.

The warehouse is manned 24-hour shifts by three companies of the California Infantry.

It is not a big problem to store the guns in this warehouse. These guns will also be transported to California in the future, and it is more convenient to store them in the warehouse at the dock.

Back in the manor, Liang Yao took a Dresser firing needle gun and played with it carefully in his hand.

This batch of Dresser firing pin guns was specially customized for Liang Yao, with a unique dragon head pattern printed on the bolts.

The whole gun of the Dreiser needle gun weighs 4.7 kilograms, and it will be heavier if the bayonet is installed.

The length is 142cm (54 inches), of which the barrel length is 91cm (36 inches), the caliber is 15.4mm, and the bullets used are acorn-shaped lead bullets, which are wrapped in paper shells.

Rotating bolt, breech loading, rifled, and full-loaded bullets, it can be said that the Dresser M1841 firing needle gun combines the most advanced firearm technology of this era.

You must know that the British army began to gradually replace the old brown bass front-loading muskets with front-loading rifles this year.

And the Prussians have pulled the big hitch.

Of course, there are also disadvantages to firing pin guns.

For example: the spring that pushes the firing pin is very fragile and easily damaged.

The firing pin is prone to misfire when it is not cleaned.

When the barrel expands with heat and gunpowder residue is attached to the barrel, it takes a lot of effort to pull the bolt, and the junction between the barrel and the barrel is prone to wear and tear.

After continuous shooting, the airtightness of the barrel decreases, and the leaked gunpowder gas can easily burn the shooter.

But in any case, this is already the most advanced rifle in active service in this era.

Liang Yao was not only satisfied with using the Dresser firing needle gun. Based on the Dresser firing needle gun, he developed a bolt-action rifle that used metal bullets, even if it was a single shot.

As for the trap gun, who would use the trap gun when there is a big bolt? The bolt mechanism of the trap gun is too complicated and the operation is cumbersome.

Liang Yao planned to make a lever-action rifle. Liang Yao bought out all Walter's patents, one of which was the lever-action rifle.

Originally, Colt was also very interested in Walter's lever rifle, but because the lever structure was too complicated and expensive, Colt still did not buy the patent in the end.

Although the power and range of the lever-type rifle is not as good as that of the needle-fired gun, it has a faster rate of fire. It is still very good to equip your own guards, and it has great prospects for sale in the civilian market.

Kruger explained to Liang Yao how to use the Dreiser firing pin gun.

Liang Yaozhao drew a gourd ladle, opened the safety with his thumb, turned the gun and pulled it back, took a bullet and stuffed it into the magazine, then pushed the bolt up, and aimed at a gun on the Hudson River through the V-shaped groove and the front sight. A duck pulled the trigger.

With a gunshot, the duck swimming on the river fell dead and floated on the water.

"Good gun!"

Liang Yao then fired continuously, and the reloading speed was not a bit faster than the muzzle-loading rifle (Springfield M1842) equipped by the California Infantry Regiment.

It only took Liang Yao 1 minute to fire the six bullets.

This is still when he is loading and aiming slowly. If he trains hard and shoots after a little aiming, it is not a problem to shoot 10-12 rounds a minute.

The skilled marksmen of the California Infantry Regiment using the Springfield M1842 can only shoot two or three bullets a minute.

However, the further the Dreiser firing pin gun hit the back, the feel of the bolt became more and more astringent, not as smooth as it was at the beginning, which made Liang Yao feel that it was a fly in the ointment.

Liang Yao pulled the bolt, only to see that there were a lot of unburned black powder residues in the magazine, which was the reason why the handle of the bolt was getting rougher and rougher.

In general, the performance of Liang Yao's Dreiser firing needle gun is still very satisfactory.

Expedition to Japan with this thing is not hanging a small Japanese hammer.

(End of this chapter)