THE GUN. 13 



the sportsman, or any other person using a gun, from accidents 

 Amon^ the yanous contrivances of this sort, we mav mention the 

 safety lock of Dr Somerville, that made by Baron 'De Bereno-er 

 Mr Bedford s lock Mr Gelding's safety gun, and the safety and 

 graduating stops of Mr. Manton. There is something good m aU 

 these: but the mam object or aim of them all has not as yet been 

 attained. Most of the improvements of this stamp have been in- 

 dn^ectly useful, not only as affording valuable suggestions on the 

 lock generally, but m reference to other parts of the fowlin^-- 

 ^^m^ ^?^ immediately connected with the instrument of ignition 

 Ihe GuNSTOCK IS an important section of the fov/ling-piece lu 

 faxing upon the length, bend, and cutting of the stock, there has 

 been much nicety laid down for the guidance of gun-makers. Col 

 Hawker mamtams that the framing of a stock of a gun should vary 

 jath the precise make of the man who has to use it. It should be 

 fatted to the shooter, who should have his measm-e for its several 

 parts as tormaUy entered mto the gunsmith's books as a man has 

 m fais tailor s for a suit of clothes. Some manufacturers have a 

 machme, or stoc^ gauge, by which they measure the outhne of their 

 customers as regards their length of arm, neck, &c., so as to furnish 

 each man with a gun-stock that will agree with his peculiar bodily 

 conformation. This has sometliing like common sense to recom- 

 mend it. _ It has been justly observed that there is fuU as much 

 skill required to fit a man with a gun-stock, in agreement with his 

 make, as there is to fit a dandy with a complete suit of clothes 



VVe have now gone through a partial notice of the three chief 

 portions or members of the fowling-piece : the barrel, the lock, and 

 the gmistock A general knowledge of the nature and power of 

 these several agents is absolutely necessary for the effective and 

 sate use of aU sportmg projectiles. There are other minor matters 

 connected with the gun, with which all who use it should be famihar 

 by name, and these are the technical terms applied to its numerous 

 parts. An acquaintance with these smooths the intercourse be- 

 tween sportsmen themselves, as well as between the gunsmith and 

 them, by whom they are constantly used. We shall here tran- 

 scribe them. 



^0/^5.— Irons which enter the loops or eyes of the barrel to 

 lasteu it to the stock. 



bridle— K polished piece of steel which caps the tumbler, and is 

 secured by two screws. It like^vise receives the scear-screw. 

 Biitt of Stock.— T[\Q shouldered extremity of the stock. 

 Cap.— It covers the ramrod screw-cap: is also used for the tip 

 of the stock. 



Castmg <?/.— The outward inclination given to the butt-end of 

 the gun being intended to incline the line of aun inwards. 



Chain or Swivel— K small catch suspended from the neck of the 

 tumbler, to receive the extremity of the mainspring. 



Chamber.— ThQ central cavity within the breech to receive the 

 powder. The ante-chamber is the small one which connects these 

 with the touch-hole. 



