The Dreyse Needle Gun, officially the Zündnadelgewehr, was the revolutionary bolt-action rifle that gave Prussia decisive military advantages in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 and Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Designed by Johann Nikolaus von Dreyse, it used a long needle to pierce through a paper cartridge to ignite a primer at the base of the bullet. Though inferior in many ways to the Chassepot that replaced it, the needle gun's breech-loading advantage over muzzleloaders was decisive at Königgrätz. Type: Rifle Action: Bolt-Action Caliber: .433 Needlefire Capacity: 1 Year introduced: 1866, Prussia Weight: 10 oz Overall length: 52" Status: Discontinued Military use: Yes Intended use: military, collector, historical