16 SHOOTING. 



siderafcle care. The several screws must be kept distinct: any 

 little mistake is tMs matter may produce serious results. When 

 the main-spring is taken oft^ unscrew and take out the scear, by 

 half cocking the lock. Clasp the fore part of the lock firmly, at 

 the same time pressing the thumb against the back part of the 

 cock, directing it forward, while the scear, and scear-spring, being 

 now pressed together by the forefinger and thumb, will readily en- 

 able the operator to take out the scear-screw. When this is done, 

 undo the two screws, take off the bridle, and then unscrew and 

 take out the scear-spring. The cock must next be unscrewed, 

 which will readily separate from the tumbler, if it be gently shaken 

 or tapped. Take out the tumbler, and the lock is now analysed 

 into its component parts. 



When it has to be reconstituted again, the following directions 

 should be sedulously attended to. Put the tumbler in its place, 

 and screw on the cock ; do the same thing with the scear-spring, 

 and set on the bridle with the two upper screws. Put in the scear, 

 but in order to open a clear passage for the screw of the scear, see 

 that you again, as before, press the forefinger and thumb on the 

 scear and scear-spring, and likewise that you again push the cock 

 forward, as when in the act of taking off the scear. Unless there 

 be a pressure of this kind, it is not easy to place the hole of the 

 scear opposite the hole of the bridle ; and without this is effected 

 the scear-screw will not enter. Great trouble often ensues from 

 want of attention to tliis and other trifling points. Now the cock 

 must be let down to admit of putting on the main-spring ; and then 

 the process is finished. Li a detonating gun there is not near the 

 same amount of trouble in dismembering the fowling-piece. The 

 pivot, or nipple, should be now and then removed, and carefully ex- 

 amined, that the first approaches of corrosion may be removed be- 

 fore any injury is inflicted. When a gun is pui'chased, it ought to 

 be provided with spare pivots, all mathematically adjusted to the 

 barrel. It is likewise a good practice to put a little olive-oil with a 

 camel's-hair pencil on the pivot-nail, or centre of the tumbler, on 

 which almost all the works of both flint and percussion guns move. 

 The same may be applied witli advantage to the lock -plate under 

 the works. In flint-guns a little oil under the hammer is likewise 

 useful. ^Ir. Lancaster, in his printed directions given to gentle- 

 men who buy percussion guns, gives us the following directions : — 

 "Always clean those parts of the barrels and locks that the deto- 

 nating powder acts upon vnth a wet rag ; then rub them dry, and 

 leave them in oil to prevent rust. The pegs should not be "taken 

 out too often. Before you take out theoarrels, bring the locks to 

 half-cock. The locks do not require to be taken off every time the 

 gun is used ; once a fortnight is quite sufficient. Put a little fine 

 oil to the parts where there is friction • but if the gun has been 

 used on a wet day, the locks should be taken off to be cleaned, and 

 oiled immediately." "When, by accident or neglect, a lock becomes 

 completely rusty, both within and without, it ought to be plunged 



