2 THE GUN: AFIELD AND AFLOAT 



The fact that the gun is a lethal instrument should 

 never be lost sight of, and, above all else killing power, 

 quickness, handiness, and so forth it is incumbent on 

 those who shoot in company to see to it that the guns 

 they carry shall in no respect be a source of danger to 

 those about them. The gun with outside hammers dies 

 a hard death ; still, in course of time it must inevitably 

 become obsolete. Already it has of necessity to be 

 relinquished in those quarters where heavy bags of game 

 and rapid firing are the order of the day. With this 

 form of gun there remains the risk of a slip, particularly 

 in cold or wet weather, whilst lowering the hammers 

 with moist or benumbed fingers a fruitful source of 

 danger, and one that has caused several accidental dis- 

 charges in the shooting-field. Thus the gun with its 

 hammers on the outside of the lock-plates is in this 

 respect a less safe weapon to handle and use in the field 

 than is the improved type of gun which has its hammers 

 inside the lock-plates, the so-called hammerless gun, 

 in fact. 



It is intended that this recommendation of the ham- 

 merless action should apply only to those guns which 

 are of sound construction and thoroughly reliable in 

 every respect. Hammerless guns of faulty design or 

 defective workmanship are things as much to be avoided 

 as are rattlesnakes. Of two evils, I would far rather 

 handle or be in the company of those handling a 

 distinction with a considerable difference, by the way 

 faulty hammer guns than in the presence of others using 

 defective hammerless arms. With the former the state 

 of the locks can, at least, be seen or felt, but with con- 

 cealed hammers or tumblers and an inefficient " safety " 

 bolt there is bound to be trouble sooner or later. 



