COCKS AND HAMMERS. 41 



COCKS AND HAMMERS. 



IF the sportsman has no objection to its clumsy 

 appearance, I should be inclined to recommend the 

 solid cock which falls on its end, instead of being 

 stopped in the middle by the lock-plate. It will 

 therefore admit of mawwpring* as strong as you 

 please ; and, by this means, add considerably to 

 quickness in firing. But, if you have very strong 

 mainsprings, with the common cock, the resistance 

 from the hammer-spring, to prevent its breaking, 

 must be so great, that you would soon wear out your 

 hammers, by being obliged to use an immoderate 

 quantity of flints. With this another part of the 

 lock also is safer, because the solid cock is received 

 on a firm support annexed to the pan ; while the 

 one on the other construction suddenly catches the 

 lock-plate, and is therefore liable to jar, and break 

 either the tumbler itself, or the pin of the tumbler. 

 A solid cock has many other advantages, from its 

 durability and strength : it is proof against all awk- 

 ward hands, and particularly desirable on guns which 

 are liable to meet with rough usage in a boat. 



The reason why some gunmakers object to it is, 

 that it is not so easily regulated to strike higher or 

 lower with new hammers as the other. Neiv ham- 

 mers ! for which most of them have had some patent 

 or fancy of their own ; and with this they took care 

 to accommodate you on every favourable opportunity. 



