THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 209 



the barrel ribbed, but made in the Ger- 

 man fashion ; silver escutcheons, thumb- 

 piece, star, &c. ; steel mountings, of the 

 usual rifle fashion, I think handsomest. 

 This, however, is a matter of taste, in 

 which any one can please himself. 



I once saw a rifle, made at Harper's 

 Ferry, in our States, by order of the then 

 Secretary-at-War, for an Indian chief, 

 who had distinguished himself at the 

 battle of the Horse-shoe. It was a splen- 

 did piece of workmanship. Instead of 

 the scroll guard, a limb which grew out 

 of the main stock, just below where 

 the right hand grasps the breech, was 

 fashioned to resemble the butt-end of a 

 pistol, handsomely chequered and capped 

 with silver. This enabled you to grasp 

 the gun with strength and steadiness, 

 and had a very handsome appearance. I 

 thought it an improvement. 



The thimbles for the ramrod should be 



