44 COCKS AND HAMME11S. 



for the original invention is due to Mr. Joseph Man- 

 ton, I shall chiefly confine my description to the 

 hammer for which he got the patent. The object 

 attained by this is, that when you ram down the 

 wadding, the air passes through the small perfora- 

 tion at the lip of the hammer, and goes out through 

 a groove in the bottom of the pan : yet this hole in 

 the lip is so small as not to admit the powder. This, 

 although apparently a trifling alteration from what 

 had been before adopted, is a very great advantage, 

 and the first attempt that ever had the desired effect. 

 That some air, in all locks, must pass, it stands to 

 reason ; but, if the powder also passes, it must be 

 recollected, that, in coming from the chamber of 

 breechings on Mr. Joseph Manton's construction, it 

 leaves a vacuum ; whereas, with this improvement, 

 the chamber is always kept so full of dry powder, 

 that not a grain can be lost, or even out of its place, 

 and thus there is produced a sudden and instanta- 

 neous fire. The forcible passing of this current of 

 air also effectually dries the powder in the touchhole. 



N. B. Whatever new hammers may have since 

 been brought out, for new fashion, or, in other words, 

 for the good of trade, yet, after all, I find that this 

 hammer is decidedly the best, and produces by far 

 the quickest ignition. 1826 ! 



In this improvement of a gun-lock, Mr. John 

 Manton so far imitated his brother, that a trial, 

 which took place in the court of common pleas, was 

 chiefly relating to his alleged infringement on the 



