MUZZLE versus BREECH LOADERS. 75 



not load so well after being once fired. These Eng- 

 lish tipping guns, therefore, do not seem to me to an- 

 swer as wholly satisfactory weapons, on account of 

 their peculiar construction on the one hand, and their 

 decidedly objectionable ammunition on the other. 



Is there, then, no satisfactory breech-loading shot- 

 gun, and have we only an impracticable theory for 

 such a weapon ? Before deciding this question let us 

 examine carefully an American gun, a breech-loader, 

 manufactured by Messrs. Ethan Allen & Co., of 

 Worcester, Massachusetts. A superficial examination 

 shows us that this gun equals in its finish the English 

 guns, and at the same time is made of as good mate- 

 rials. Having found fault with the tipping breech- 

 loaders, we look to see if there is any modification of 

 the principle in this American gun. Certainly there 

 is. . The barrels of this gun do not tip at all. In fact, 

 they do not move at all in loading, but are secured 

 in their position in a way that does not admit of the 

 slightest spring or straining by any conceivable use. 

 Of course, it being a breech-loader, there must be means 

 of opening or getting at the breech-ends or chambers of 

 the barrels for purposes of charging. This is done by 

 making what I may call false chambers in the barrels 

 of about two and a half inches in length, with an open- 

 ing on the top for the purpose of slipping the cartridges 

 into their real places or chambers. When the car- 

 tridges are properly placed in the real chambers of 

 the barrels, the false or open chambers are firmly closed 

 by a piece of iron fitting perfectly to its place, and 

 with its attachments filling the space of the false 



