LOCK. 37 



Notwithstanding, however, that almost every country 

 maker can turn out a tolerably well-filed lock, yet 

 few, even in toivn, have the knack of making the 

 springs to go so pleasant to the touch, and (if I may 

 use the expression) feel so oily, as those made by the 

 two Mr. Mantons, Mr. D. Egg, Mr. Nock, Mr. Smith, 

 Mr. Purdey, and some few others. I mean, that 

 many, even of the best finished locks, have an un- 

 pleasant harshness, which is hot only disagreeable 

 to feel; but, by reason, not so ready to action. 



The plate of a lock should be so far substantial as 

 to be insured from bending, which, if it occurred, 

 would be the means of injuring all its movements. 



Although, for large breechings, a long plate is 

 required, yet it is not necessary to put such very 

 clinnsy locks as we sometimes see, on even highly- 

 finished wildfowl guns. 



As remarked at the time when I wrote my former 

 editions, many attempts were then in vogue for 

 making the locks water-proof, and all of them equally 

 frightful and ridiculous. That they might avert a 

 fi-w drops from an immediate entrance to the pan, 

 there could be no doubt, and they might keep the 

 powder dry somewhat longer than locks with the 

 hammers on the common construction ; but, that they 

 could so completely resist the effect of a damp atmo- 

 sphere on the nitre, as always to keep their priming 

 dry throughout a rainy day, I denied ; although it 

 might be very easy, by way of showing off' the lock 

 in a shop, to pour water over it without wetting the 



