194 THE COMPLETE WILDFOWLER 
this is so, and the best of material used in its construction, 
there is danger of a breakage occurring with the gear, which 
is a matter almost too awful to think of in the case of a very 
large weapon fully loaded. 
A word should be added on the subject of the boot-jack 
recoil. The arrangement may be easily enough understood by 
reference to our sketch. The recoil board (elm) may be 
varied in length according to the depth of the punt in which 
this gear is to be employed, and the bend of the gun-stock. 
The longer the board is, the less recoil will be felt. This 
length, however, must be determined according to the depth 
of punt, etc. About seventeen inches is the average height. The 
padding of the cushion is best of horsehair, covered with 
leather. Wool loses its elasticity to an appreciable extent 
when wet, and canvas is not so lasting as waterproof leather. 
Thus it is inadvisable to use either of these materials in 
making the cushion. The board is slightly hollowed to take 
half of the cushion. The boot-jack is attached to the gun- 
stock by a through-pin with a nut. The double-eye of the 
board when the nut is tightened holds the pin, this latter 
turning in the single-eye of the gun-stock end, which is fitted 
with a brass bush. Thus all wear takes place in the brass 
bush. This can be easily renewed. If much used where sand 
abounds, the gear wears slack in a few seasons if used a good 
deal. If the gear is not well fitted up, and ‘‘play”’ exists in 
the pin-hole of the gun-stock, a nasty jar will be felt when 
the gun is fired. All in order, a gun carrying from seven to 
twelve ounces of shot (never more) may be comfortably used 
by means of this recoil gear. The double-eye of the board 
is fenced with a copper band to strengthen it. The con- 
necting-pin should be made of wrought mild steel. The 
lower edge of the board is rounded so as to slide smoothly 
along the floor of the punt. 
Although we come across punt-guns of bores 1% in. 
