§ MR. BROOKFIELD (Sussex, Rye)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he is aware that no revolver or pistol of any kind is at present included in the equipment of officers of Her Majesty's Army; and, whether, such being the case, he will permit this generally recognized as indispensable weapon to be officially recognized and prescribed for officers by regulation?
§ THE SURVEYOR GENERAL OF THE ORDNANCE (Mr. NORTHCOTE) (Exeter)The revolver is officially recognized as an arm for officers to take into the field, and ammunition for it is carried in all ammunition columns. Although not positively ordered to do so, as a matter of fact most officers do carry revolvers; but it is considered best not to prescribe positively that an officer should carry a pistol, because if we did so we should have to lay down the pattern; and it is desirable he should select for himself, when ordered on active service, what he 654 considers to be the best and handiest pattern of pistol.