184 MUZZLE-LOADERS AND BREECn-LOADEKS. 



It will foul about the working parts of the breech 

 when it is used hard without cleaning, so that the 

 springs will not act, and a premature discharge may 

 follow, and it sometimes catches on the edge of the 

 bent in the tumbler without slipping into it. As 

 soon as these defects are absolutely remedied, the 

 graceful and convenient hammerless gun Avill take 

 the place of all others. I know yery well it is claimed 

 that these, and all other defects have been removed 

 by the introduction of the safety block, which in- 

 terposes before the tumbler, and thus between the 

 strikers and the cap, and I do not intend to enter 

 into an argument which would lead to no practical 

 result. There are men ever ready to take certain 

 risks in order to be ahead of their fellow^s. Let such 

 disregard the advice, which common sense suggests, 

 and make experiments, from which they cannot be 

 dissuaded, and by which others may profit. I would, 

 however, say that I am sustained in my objections 

 by so high an authority, as ^^Stonehenge," but am 

 willing to admit that even as they are, I think a 

 hammcrless gun is safer than a central fire, for they 

 avoid one of the greatest risks which the sportsman 

 runs, that of the trigger catching on a twig as he is 

 going through the bushes. Those who have used 

 them sufficiently to get accustomed to them, say 

 that they can shoot better Avith them than with the 

 old gun, a fact which they attribute to the absence 

 of the hammers. 



