GUNS 29 
for almost everything. If, as well, he can boast of an 8-bore, 
then he is completely equipped as far as necessities go, and 
everything else is luxury. 
Sir Ralph Payne-Gallwey says :— 
‘‘ A shore-gunner will do far better with a powerful 12-bore, bored 
for Kynoch’s brass cases, than with any other weapon. 
«¢, . . A double 12-bore gun of 74 lbs., carrying a charge of 
31 drs. of powder and 11 oz. of No. 4 shot, is as useful a gun as any 
shore-shooter can want, and powerful enough for anything, from a 
sandpiper toa swan. With sucha gun we have often killed a dozen 
and more duck and widgeon ata shot, and at other times fired at a single 
plover when with a larger gun we should have grudged the charge.” 
All this is perfectly true, and almost every writer on wild- 
fowling in modern times has said something like it. If Colonel 
Hawker were alive to-day he would say the same. 
Mr. William Evans, of Pall Mall, turns out a good heavy 
12-bore of this description and at a moderate price; but there 
can be no doubt that the finest long-chambered twelves to 
be obtained anywhere at all are those produced by Messrs. 
Tolley, of Birmingham. 
They were the pioneers of the movement which resulted 
in the popularity of guns of this calibre for wildfowling, and 
they have maintained the lead ever since. The ‘‘ Altro”’ gun 
made by them is famous all the world over. It can be bought 
plainly finished, but reliable in every way, for so low a sum as 
fifteen guineas, and is therefore within the reach of every one. 
I can speak from personal experience of this gun’s excellent 
qualities. My own weapon is the forty-five guinea quality, but 
I have made a point of shooting with the cheaper grades, and 
have nothing but praise for the ‘‘ Altro.”’ 
The gun is bored for both long and ordinary cases, and is 
equally effective with each, though I confess that I have not 
myself given it any exhaustive trial with short cases or as 
a game gun. Nevertheless I have used it on an occasional 
