BREECHING. 35 



centre hole, or chamber, not being so narrow as to 

 ignite the body of the charge so suddenly, in the 

 centre, as in the breeching of Mr. Joseph Manton. 



No. 4, Mr. Joseph Jkfanton 9 * breeching'. As a 

 proof, that this is by far the best of any, I need only 

 observe, that it is now adopted by Mr. John Manton, 

 who had always before used Nock's breeching (till he 

 intermediately brought out one of his own, which, 

 from proving unsafe, he was obliged to relinquish), 

 and no one can dispute the excellence of Mr. John 

 Manton's guns, although he may have left to other 

 makers the risk or merit of trying experiments, and 

 bringing out new patents or inventions. This breech- 

 ing was also patronized by the late Mr. Smith, who 

 originally worked under Mr. Nock, the patentee for 

 the other. (Mr. Smith was one of the most in- 

 dustrious men in the trade, uud latter! tj became an 

 excellent gunmaker. His second son carries on the 

 business, and is, I believe, giving universal satis- 

 faction.) In short, this breeching is so generally 

 adopted, that, after what has here been previously 

 said on its advantages, it will be sufficient to conclude, 

 on this and all the other breechings, by a reference 

 to the Plate. 



The first three breechings may be put, as they here 

 stand, to a common lock; but, with those of Mr. 

 Joseph Manton, the lock must be constructed on 

 purpose, unless you have an antechamber long enough 

 for the touchhole to reach to the pan without filing 

 away any of the metal. I should prefer this to having 



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