SHOT-GUNS. 



parently no amount of jarring can disengage 

 this safety arrangement. A drawing of the 

 principal parts of the lock is given herewith 

 (Fig. 8). but for the sake of simplicity some of 

 the devices are omitted, as, for instance, the in- 

 dicator pins, which show either to eye or touch 



775 



forging bars of steel and iron, and tin- well-known 

 etched surface of such product is a.-lmnu-t.TM j<- 

 of most of the best gun barrels. Iron 

 mostly for cheap guns. Steel is probably H..- 

 best material, but it is imnos.sjbl,. f,, r any but ,-x- 

 perts to judge of its quality, and the guarantee 



whether the hammers are at full cock or not ; 

 the simple, direct mechanism by which the tilt- 

 ing action of the barrels at once throws back and 

 locks the hammers ; and the triple connections 

 that render the barrels exceptionally secure when 

 in position for firing. 



As in all the best hammerless guns, the lever 

 that disengages the barrels for loading is upon 

 the bend of the stock, just in rear of the false 

 breech (Fig. 1). This position has been selected 

 after numerous experiments with side and other 

 levers, which are more or less liable to catch upon 

 or be impeded by outside objects. 



The invention of choke-bores is of American 

 origin. They were introduced and practically 

 perfected here some years before they made their 

 way into the more conservative English market. 

 They were introduced into England by Mr. 

 Pape, of Newcastle, and were subsequently tested 

 and approved by Mr. Greener in 1874. The 

 choke-bore is in effect a contraction of the inte- 

 rior diameter of the barrel near its muzzle ; this 

 contraction is only from five to forty-one one 

 thousandths of an inch, according as the bore is 

 a full or modified choke. The effect of such con- 

 traction is obvious. The shot being of necessity 

 crowded together at the moment of leaving the 

 muzzle of the gun are thus sent on their flight in 

 a more compact bunch than when discharged from 

 a true, cylindrical barrel. This undoubted im- 

 provement had, like all others, to make its way 

 against prejudice and conservatism. It was held, 

 and no doubt with some degree of truth, that the 

 increased friction at the moment of discharge 

 diminished the effective range of the gun, but 



FIG. 4. PERCUSSION LOCK, 1830. 



of a trustworthy dealer should always be required 

 in selecting a gun of this kind. 



In choosing a gun the first thing to be consid- 

 ered is the weight, which should be such that the 

 sportsman can carry it all day without trouble 

 or fatigue, and can* handle it with perfect ease, 

 quickness, and dexterity. Next, is the model. 

 A gun should fit its owner like a coat or a hat : 

 the bend of the stock and its dimensions should 

 correspond with his length of arm, breadth of 

 shoulder, and natural poise of head and neck. 

 The only sure test is repeated trials at aiming. 

 Fix the eye upon an object, either at rest or in 

 motion, and throw the gun up to the shoulder, 

 as in act of firing; if, after repeated trials of 

 this kind, it appears that the gun points true, it 

 may be assumed that it fits : if not, no amount 

 of practice will render it a sure weapon. An ex- 

 pert adviser is to be decided when purchasing a 

 gun. An experienced gun maker or dealer will 

 judge the points of a customer and by certain 

 tests and measurments can make a gun, or can 

 select one, that will fit him. Sportsmen to whom 

 expense is no consideration often have their guns 

 " built " to suit them as regularly as most men 

 have their clothes and boots made to measure. 

 A gun should balance at a point a little in front 

 of the trigger guard, and should have its general 

 weight so distributed that when held against the 

 shoulder and subjected to the jar of discharge it 



in 1875 a test trial showed that for all distances 

 the choke-bore was superior. At 40 yards, the 

 choke placed from 180 to 200 shot in a 30-inch 

 target, while the cylindrical bore averaged only 

 130 to 140 shot. The choke-bore, however, calls 

 for better marksmanship, and for this reason is 

 not always sought by sportsmen who are not sure 

 of their aim. 



Gun barrels are made of Damascus twist steel, 

 of iron, and of pure steel. Of these the first 

 named is the favorite, partly because of its beau- 

 tiful external surface, and partly because that 

 surface, to a large extent, guarantees the excel- 

 lence of the metal. It is made by twisting and 



FIG. 5. HAMMERLESS LOCK, 



will show no tendency to roll or shift from side 

 to side in the holder's hands. 



Whatever objections maybe made to the love of 

 gunning and certainly the desire to kill simply 

 for the sake of killing is inexcusable it is certain 

 that a very large percentage of men delight in fir- 

 ing guns. So general is this propensity that a large 

 number of tradesmen and artisans gain there 

 livelihood thereby. The diary of the late Lord 



