W.W Greener wrote in Modern breechloaders: sporting and military in 1871:[9] This rifle is called No.2, to distinguish it from the first Comblain, which is a modification of the Snider principle.

The Comblain no 2 has the vertical sliding block and guard lever of the Sharp rifle; but the arrangement for exploding the cartridge is different.

The mechanism of the lock is fixed in the breech block, which consists of the ordinary main-spring acting upon a tumbler by a swivel.

By depressing the lever the breech block is brought down, the cartridge-case extracted and the rifle is cocked.

The hinge screw can be removed without the aid of a turnscrew, which arrangement allows the breech block and lock to be taken out for the purpose of cleaning.