28 STOCK. 



to every person who examined it in the ordinary way. 

 To inspect the inside of a barrel, raise it in like 

 manner, and if the stream of shade, as it were, flows 

 true and steady, the boring may be considered straight, 

 and free from any palpable defect. 



THE STOCK, 



To be neat in appearance, should be cut away, as 

 close as strength and safety will admit of, and well 

 tapered off at the locks. The but may be rather 

 full. A cheekpiece, however, is not only as frightful 

 as its usual companion, the scrollguard, but is 

 sometimes apt to give the very blow it is intended 

 to save. 



The stocks of single guns are generally tipped, or 

 capped, with horn ; but some makers have discarded 

 this, through fear of its being split by the recoil, and 

 either leave a clumsy continuation of the wood, or 

 tip the stock with a gingerbread-looking piece of 

 silver; whereas, if they would only leave a space 

 about the thickness of a shilling between the end of 

 the rib and the horn, the recoil, however great, could 

 have no influence on that part. 



The length, bend, and casting off Qi a stock, must, 

 of course, be fitted to the shooter, who should have 

 his measure for them as carefully entered on a, gun- 

 maker's books, as that for a suit of clothes on those 

 of his tailor. He has then only to direct, that his 

 guns may be well balanced; to do which, the maker 



