THE GVIK, 7 



object is, to impart substantial information, and to leave matters 

 of mere fancy and opinion to others. 



We must here make a few remarks on the douUe-harrelled gun. 

 The general use of this instrument in sporting has greatly increased 

 within the present centmy ; and it has, likewise, undergone numer- 

 ous important alterations and improvements. When iirst brought 

 into action one barrel lay over the other, each having a separate 

 pan, hammer, and hammerspring. The barrels were consequently 

 made to turn round at the spot where their breeches were fixed to 

 the stock ; and it was so contrived that, when one barrel was fired 

 off, the other was brought mto its place by the simple pressure of 

 a spring by the right hand, while, with the left, the barrels were 

 turned on their common centre. This kind of gun vras always 

 found a clumsy contrivance ; and the locks which were commonly 

 appended to them were of a complex description. The next step in 

 iniprovement was an instrument that did not allow the barrels to 

 turn round upon an axis • but, on the contrary, they were fixed one 

 over the other, and each had a separate lock and trigger, that 

 for the under-barrel being, consequently, placed lower than the 

 other. Still, although pieces of this construction possessed a great 

 advantage over those that turned romid, in the quickness of their 

 filing, yet they were subject to one inconvenience from wliich the 

 others were exempt, and which arose from the situation of the 

 under-barrel ; for tliat being fired under the same line of aim with 

 the upper-one, must necessarily shoot low. 



The present method of placing the barrels in juxtaposition with 

 each other side by side is_ a great improyement ; but there are still 

 many things connected with guns of this description which require 

 consideration, mth a view to readiaess of use, and facility of move- 

 ment. It has been often a matter of serious complaint that each 

 barrel is liable to be filed away so much at the breech, and L'ke- 

 wise at the muzzle, in order to bring these two parts of the barrels 

 as near together as possible. This renders the instrument unsafe. 

 There are, also, important questions connected with the use of the 

 double-barrelled gun, as to the way in which a true aim is to be 

 obtained by it. These questions have, at various times, given rise 

 to long discussions both in sporting joui-nals, and sporting books, 

 and very contrary opinions and suggestions have been the result. 

 Still, there has been much light thrown on the general question, 

 and decided improvements made witlnn the last few years. The 

 following question, in different forms, has often been asked : — 

 "What is the best method of making double-barrelled guns, so that 

 a correct aim may be taken from the centre of the barrels ? " The 

 following is the substance of the general replies : If the barrels 

 were placed parallel to each other, it would be but a small objec- 

 tion having the sight between them ; but as guns are commonly 

 made, the thickness between the bores of each at the breech is 

 three-sixteenths of an inch, and at the muzzle one-sixteenth. 

 Therefore, if the length of a pair of barrels was two feet six 



