DETONATING SYSTEM. 73 



additional trouble in cleaning. The hole in the 

 nipple must not be too small, and well increased in 

 size downwards, or this deadly poison to all fire-arms 

 (the oxygen gas) will choke up the communication 

 wjth rust, and repeated missing fire will be the con- 

 sequence. A very strong mainspring will counteract 

 all the bad effects of a large hole, by firmly closing 

 it with the cock, in striking the very blow, as I before 

 observed, that puts the charge in motion. The nipple 

 (the only article that need be made to separate from 

 the breeching) must, of course, have a square base, 

 so as to be removable at pleasure, by means of a 

 little wrench. 



There are various opinions as to placing the nipple 

 or pivot. The favourite plan appears to be that of 

 having it perpendicular, for the convenience of putting 

 on the copper caps. For my own part, however, I 

 prefer it sloping, because, in the event of the copper 

 flying, the eye is not then parallel with the circle of 

 splinters, should one of them, by accident, escape 

 from the concave head of the cock or striker. 



THE COCK, OR STRIKER, 



SHOULD cover the nipple with a deep concave head, 

 so that scarcely any of the copper can escape, or a man 

 may lose his eye. Several accidents have happened 

 through the neglect of this. If, however, the concave 

 head of the cock is too small in diameter, or strikes 

 the least on one side, so as to cause any friction 



