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The Austro-Hungarian Montigny differs in that it is chambered in centerfire 11.15x42mmR caliber as used in the Austrian Werndl-Holub Model 1867 rifle then in service, it has a 37-barrel group fired through the use of a lever, and the gun carrier was adapted from the M1863 80mm cannon. The group consists of 37 rifled barrels mounted parallel, in a hexagonal shape, surrounded by a cover, with a post front sight and ladder rear sight. It feeds from reloadable steel loading plates that are able to hold 37 cartridges, and a slot is located in the face of the breech block for the loading plate to slide in from the top by hand through the use of gravity. Once loaded, firing is performed through the use of a rear mounted lever (or firing arm) which is pushed downwards by the user to push the rounds into their respective chambers, and once they reach the end of their travel and enter their chambers, all 37 cartridges are detonated at the same time through the use of 37 firing pins! The spent shells are removed while still attached to the loading plate and a new plate is able to be inserted.
These Austro-Hungarian Montigny volley guns typically had 3 operators and 4 ammunition suppliers. The gun carriage has two large fixed wooden crates attached that carry 10 loading plates each, which means it has the capability of carrying 740 rounds of ammunition on this gun carriage alone, and was typically accompanied by an attached ammunition cart (not included) that could reportedly carry an additional 13,200 rounds, and a gun train (not included) able to carry 2,590 rounds. The operators were able to load 8-10 loading plates per minute, sustaining a firing rate of 296-370 rounds per minute, which was certainly devastating to anyone on the receiving end if used properly.
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A symbol of a crown above a lion and “L.CHRISTOPHE & J.MONTIGNY/No 4/BREVETES” is marked on top of the breech block. “No. 84/G. SIGL/ WIEN PATENT” embossed on an oval bronze plate affixed to the top of the housing. The carriage has a clever flip open door with a range chart on the underside. Includes 14 of the 37-round loading plates in total housed in the two crates attached to the axle of the carriage, and various period tools inside a compartment of the carriage.