CHOKE-BORES. 



289 



he would gain the reputation of superiority in some 

 branch of his business ; sportsmen then knew far less 

 of guns than now, and when his rival in trade by any 

 means came into the possession of any of these secrets, 

 instead of advertising them to the world, his course 

 was simply to " keep mum" and apply the knowledge 

 gained to his own practice. Thus was the knowledge 

 of the system so long kept hidden, and the true liis- 

 tory of its general dissemination, never before pub- 

 hshed, is as follows : 



During the season of 1869 and "70, I was hunting 

 ducks in the State of Illinois, with my friend and 

 comrade Fred Kimble. We were shooting muzzle- 

 loaders of 11 gauge and about 9 lbs. weight, bored on 

 the old plan, and though both were good shooting- 

 o-uns as guns were then rated, we often felt the need 

 of something that Avould "reach out" further after 

 the ducks. As a consequence we determined to have 

 made for the next season's shooting two heavier guns, 

 bored to shoot as close as possible. Fred gave his 

 order to Mr. 0. P. Secor, of Peoria, 111., one of the 

 very best gunmakers in the State, and wanted me to 

 do likewise ; but I, residing then in Boston, Mass., 

 made choice of Mr. Joseph Tonks, of that city. It 

 was a, matter of considerable rivalry between us as to 

 who would get the best shooting-gun, and before part- 



