THE GUN. II 



Tumhler-screio. — Tliis fastens on the cock. 



/^<?/i^-/zo/5.— Sometimes there are two or three vent-holes which 

 are intended to let out the gas in a detonator, and thus to lessen 

 the recoil. 



Worm. — The screw at the end of the ramrod. 



It is now requisite to make a few observations on the best 

 methods of preserving guns, and keeping them in a clean and 

 working order ; and here it may be remarked at the outset, that a 

 real sportsman ought to look to this part of his duty himself, and 

 not to depend upon others for its effective and faithful discharge. 

 In fact, such an instrument as a gun should never be placed under 

 any one's care but the person himself who is to use it. Every 

 one who has had any extensive acquaintance with the management 

 of fowling-pieces, knows that great carelessness is displayed in 

 reference to them by the majority of servants. 



All fowling-guns require to be taken completely to pieces at 

 stated times, to be regidated by the frequency of their use, or the 

 situation in which they may have been kept. Twice a year is con- 

 sidered not too often to look into every crevice of the instrument, 

 taking most especial care to overlook notliing — not even the 

 smallest screw or spring. To do this work completely, and in a 

 masterly style, the sportsman should obtain the use of a bench, 

 vice, turnscrews of various dimensions, from an eighth to half an 

 inch, the latter size being required for the cock-screw, breech- 

 screws, and for raising the bolts which bind the barrel to the stock. 

 The spring-cramp is a necessary article in this matter of overhaul- 

 ing the entii'C fabric of a fowHng-piece. When a sportsman is not 

 situated in the immediate vicinity of an experienced gunsmith, he 

 ought to have by him at aU times duplicates of all the necessary 

 parts of his instrument, and these will supply him on aU contin- 

 gencies with what may be requisite to keep mm in working order. 



The following instructions may prove of service. In taking off 

 the mainspring, let the lock be placed on full cock ; then cramp the 

 main-spring ; when this is effected, let down the cock, and the main- 

 spring wiU faU off. When the lock has again to be fitted in, let the 

 cock be left down ; then hook the end of the main-spring on the 

 swivel or chain ; move it up, and place it into a position on the 

 lock-plate. When this is done, unscrew the cramp, and the lock is 

 once more fit for use. When the hammer has to be taken off, first 

 shut it do-\vn carefully, cramp the spring until, by shaking the lock, 

 the hammer is heard to rattle. Stopping here, take out the screw 

 behind, and the hammer will fall off. The replacing it again only 

 requires the putting it in its former situation, turiung the screw, 

 and setting the spring at liberty. If it be requisite to take the 

 hammer-spring out, the hammer must first be released, and the 

 main-spring likewise, to enable the operator to get at the screw 

 behind. The hammer-spring must then be cramped, till it is taken 

 Out and put on again to receive the hammer. 



To take to pieces aU the smaU springs of the lock, requires con- 



