PUNT-GUNS 175 



pared with that of muzzle-loaders. We advise that those 

 persons of moderate means desirous of purchasing a breech- 

 loading punt-gun should endeavour to secure a second-hand 

 one. Be sure it is efficient in its working. Nothing is worse 

 in practice than a bad-working punt-gun. Rather than this, 

 procure a muzzle-loader. The first breech-loading punt-guns 

 that came out were said to be heavy when compared with the 

 charge they fired, and they shot soft, besides being bad in 

 many other respects. I think this can hardly be applied to 

 our present-day punt-guns, thanks to the interest in punt- 

 guns that has been taken by such well-known gun-making 

 firms as Messrs. J. and W. Tolley, Holland and Holland, and 

 a few others. As a whole, ordinary gunmakers know nothing 

 about punt-guns, although many of them imagine they do. 

 There can never be any comparison between shoulder guns 

 and swivel-guns, so widely different are they in more than a 

 few respects. 



The most costly punt-guns are invariably plated with nickel 

 or silver and left dull. When the plating wears off, the gun 

 should, of course, be replated, though, failing this, they take 

 no harm if kept bright with emery (rust spots attended to 

 regularly and rubbed bright) and well greased. Muzzle- 

 loading swivel-guns and other less costly big guns are usually 

 painted either with ordinary white lead paint or some alu- 

 minium kind. This latter is capital stuff for painting a punt- 

 gun. 



Every care should be taken to keep punt-guns clean, both 

 inside and out. We may all know that punt-guns are subject 

 to very rough work, and, despite every effort to keep them 

 clean, rust is certain to appear. This is particularly so with 

 guns used on the tide. It would be well to remember that the 

 life of all swivel-guns depends greatly upon the amount of 

 care bestowed in keeping them clean. If neglected, a punt- 

 gun will soon rust into a dangerous condition. 



