CHAPTER X 



CARE OF GUNS AND GEAR 



We shall refer first of all to guns, as these are the most 

 important things in shooting. The rough-and-tumble sort of 

 treatment which guns aboard fowling punts are subjected to, 

 to say nothing of the action of salt air and water with which 

 they are unavoidably brought in contact, plays a serious part 

 in shortening the time they will last, without accounting for 

 their wear from shooting. It is, therefore, of interest to the 

 users of fowling-pieces afloat, to look carefully after their 

 weapons, since they are likely to rust out as soon as wear out. 

 With regard to shoulder guns, nothing further than thorough 

 and careful cleaning can be recommended. "Cripple- 

 stoppers," as they are called aboard shooting-punts, are 

 usually not many minutes in use until they are splashed either 

 with mud, sand, or water, and, having to be handled, the 

 grease or oil on them is soon rubbed off. Then, of course, 

 they speedily rust. On landing each time after an outing, the 

 ** cripplers " should be cleaned whether they have fired a shot or 

 not. First clean inside the barrel or barrels by pushing through 

 a tight-fitting cork slightly moistened. Dry out the barrel 

 thoroughly and then oil with neat's-foot, sperm, or Rangoon 

 oil. All these oils are good. Gull fat rendered makes a very 

 good oil both for preserving and lubricating the working parts 

 of guns. Next rub all rust off the outside of the gun with a 

 piece of tow saturated with oil. To finish, grease over with 

 "Stauffer's grease." This latter is a capital lubricant not 



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