Johann Nicolaus von Dreyse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Johann Nikolaus von Dreyse
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| Born | 20 November 1787 |
| Died | 9 December 1867 (aged 80) |
| Nationality | German |
| Occupation | Inventor, Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Designing the Dreyse needle gun |
Johann Nicolaus von Dreyse (born November 20, 1787 – died December 9, 1867) was a German inventor. He was famous for creating a special type of gun. This gun was called the Dreyse needle gun.
He showed his invention to the Prussian army in 1836. The army decided to use it in December 1840. They first gave it a secret name to hide its new design. Later, in 1855, it was officially named the Zündnadelgewehr M 1841.
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The Life of an Inventor
Dreyse was born in a town called Sömmerda. His father was a locksmith. From 1809 to 1814, Dreyse worked in a gun factory in Paris. This factory was owned by Jean-Samuel Pauly, a Swiss inventor. Pauly designed some early guns that loaded from the back, not the front.
After his time in Paris, Dreyse returned to Sömmerda in 1814. He started his own company there. His company made small parts called percussion caps for guns. It was in Sömmerda that he designed his famous needle rifle.
The Dreyse Needle Gun
Many people think the Dreyse gun was the first bolt-action rifle. This means it had a special sliding part (the bolt) that closed the back of the gun. This made it easier to load.
The bullets for the Dreyse rifle came in special paper cartridges. These cartridges held the bullet and the gunpowder together. When you fired the gun, a long needle went through the paper. It then hit and lit the gunpowder.
Why the Needle Gun Was Special
The Dreyse gun was quite simple to build. This made it easy to keep clean and working. If the needle wore out, you could quickly replace it. You didn't even have to take the gun apart.
This rifle was a big step forward for armies. It could fire much faster than older guns. Most armies at the time used guns that loaded from the front. With the Dreyse gun, soldiers could reload without standing up. This kept them safer during battles.
How the Needle Gun Was Used
The Prussian army used the Dreyse rifle in several wars. It was used in the Second Schleswig War, the Austro-Prussian War, and the Franco-Prussian War.
However, by the time of the Franco-Prussian War, the Dreyse gun was becoming old-fashioned. Other countries had started making newer, better guns. For example, France had the Chassepot rifle. Switzerland also developed a new bolt-action rifle called the Vetterli.
Later, Germany also moved on to a new gun. They started using the Mauser Model 1871 bolt-action rifle. Other countries like Great Britain and the U.S. also created new ways to load guns from the back.
After creating the needle gun, Johann Nikolaus von Dreyse was often known simply as Nikolaus von Dreyse.
Gallery
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The Dreyse mill in Sömmerda, where Dreyse worked.
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A Dreyse Zündnadelgewehr, also known as the Prussian Model 1841.
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A memorial for Dreyse was unveiled in Sömmerda in 1909.
