40 SPRINGS. 



name as a caution to a slovenly shooter, and not as 

 an imperfection in the plan. 



SPRINGS. 



IF the mainspring be too strong, in proportion to 

 that of the hammer, the cock is often broken for want 

 of resistance ; and, if the hammer or feather-spring 

 be too stiff, or should shut down with too much' force, 

 it becomes difficult to throw it, even with a strong 

 mainspring. Here, till very lately, most f the gun- 

 makers were in the dark ; as nothing was more ad- 

 mired in a lock, than the hammer shutting down 

 with great velocity. This is not only, for the reason 

 already mentioned, a sad fault ; but the hammer by 

 thus coming down escapes, in a certain degree, from 

 the influence of the spring ; and, consequently, loses 

 its pressure on the pan ; by which the priming is not 

 so closely covered, and the hammer is apt to react, 

 instead of obeying the mainspring. In a word, let 

 your hammer shut down dull, and fly back smart. 

 The mainspring, to be well regulated, should at first 

 pull up very hard, and then draw progressively easier : 

 because it requires an accession of force after it has 

 recovered the first sudden escape from the scear- 

 spring, otherwise it will go slow with a flint, and be 

 liable either to cause a snap, or allow the cock to be 

 blown back, with a detonater. 



