552 FOREST, FIELD, AND PRAIRIE. 



nent of Europe. It is a remarkable fact, which can be verified by 

 reference to the collection of arms in the Tower of London, that 

 the periods of excellence in the manufacture of arms have been in- 

 termittent, and that modern superiority seems to have been merely 

 the revival in great part, of what at sundry previous times would 

 appear to have been almost a lost art. 



In the purchase of guns sportsmen must be governed by their 

 pecuniary resources ; and as all cannot afford to purchase the 

 highest priced English guns which cost at least two hundred and 

 fifty dollars in our markets, including their fixtures, they naturally 

 inquire if an American gun equally good cannot be bought at a 

 price much less. Undoubtedly, we have as competent gunsmiths 

 here as any abroad, and inasmuch as most of the materials used 

 by them are of foreign production, imported in a crude state, it is 

 reasonable to suppose that they can be and are perfected and em- 

 bodied in the completed gun at a much less expense than the 

 imported gun would cost. Such a gun, when obtained, is a treas- 

 ure. But it happens that a great many inferior low priced guns 

 are placed upon the market under the pretentious titles of " Stub- 

 twist," " laminated steel," " Damascus," and the Hke,* retailing 

 at from thirty to seventy dollars ; so that one is liable to be de- 

 ceived unless he is a good judge. The only safety in purchasing, 

 therefore, is to obtain reliable counsel, and to deal with honest and 

 responsible parties. 



Inasmuch as good muzzle loaders can be bought at very low 

 prices, there is a prevalent disposition to have them altered to 

 breech-loaders, for the sake of convenience and safety ; but we 

 would not advise this change except in special cases, as the expense 

 of altering will nearly equal the additional cost of a new breech- 

 loader. Choice of guns depends upon the habits "and quests of the 

 shooter. For a man who shoots but little, and seldom on the wing 

 a muzzle-loader is as good as need be required. For a man who 

 wants a general service gun, for field, cover and trap shooting, 

 a breech-loading gun of eight and a half pounds weight, thirty 

 inch barrels, and ten gauge is the proper tool. It will answer 



* In the twist barrel the lines run with perfect regularity ; the laminated bar- 

 rel being hammered, the surface presents an irregular appearance. In a stub 

 twist barrel the material is rolled as in Damascus or laminated, but less twisted 

 The common twist is made of inferior metal and scraps, but is also twisted. 



