178 THE COMPLETE WILDFOWLER 



by the double gun would only occur when both barrels were 

 discharged simultaneously^ or nearly so. 



There is no doubt that a double punt-gun is a more deadly 

 weapon (weight for weight) than a single, especially where 

 fowl are exceedingly numerous. First cost, however, is an 

 important item. In spite of all the advantages claimed for the 

 double gun, we must add that, although these advantages may 

 appear far ahead of any of those to be found in other punt- 

 guns, they are most assuredly paid for at the outset, for double 

 punt-guns are not weapons which are made and kept on stock 

 by any gunmakers. We cannot state definitely the cost of 

 a modern double punt-gun, because so many items are brought 

 into account, any one of which might easily add ^lo or 

 ;^20 to the cost of the gun. We should think ;^i5o a fair 

 price for a i^-inch bore double punt-gun of modern con- 

 struction and built to specification. To those who can aff^ord 

 to enjoy their sport properly, the matter of £ s. d. is not 

 of so great a consideration as with those less favoured 

 individuals who have to cut according to circumstances. 

 Poverty is said not to be a sin, but we must admit it is 

 inconvenient — very. 



Our sketch roughly shows the outline of our ideas of 

 a double punt-gun up to i| in. bore. We should not advise 

 a larger bore. As we stated, the design here depicted is 

 necessarily copied from existing double swivel-guns, some of 

 which we have had the good fortune and pleasure to personally 

 inspect. Some alterations have been made at the suggestion of 

 a gunner who has had a weapon of this kind for several seasons. 

 These alterations we figure in our sketch. The stock is com- 

 plete in itself with the locks and pulling mechanism. The 

 action of the locks should be such that, with one trigger only, 

 the right may be fired without the left, or the left alone, or one 

 after the other or both practically together. Unless there is 

 a light breeze to clear the smoke quickly, there is little chance 



