Needle gun

Up to now, all military small arms needed to be muzzle-loaded. The needle gun was a significant advancement in military firearms, enabling faster reloading with its breech-loading mechanism and the use of a needle to ignite the primer.
 Johann Nikolaus von Dreyse Germany 1841 Needle gun

Up to now, all military small arms needed to be muzzle-loaded. The needle gun was a significant advancement in military firearms, enabling faster reloading with its breech-loading mechanism and the use of a needle to ignite the primer.