io THE GUN: AFIELD AND AFLOAT 



with heavy charges fired in the first barrel. In the 

 result the one-triggered double hammerless gun, having 

 automatic mechanism for the ejection of exploded shells, 

 may be looked upon as the acme of perfection so far 

 attained in the evolution of the shot-gun. The man 

 who has but one trigger to pull is indisputably better 

 placed than his neighbour with the double triggers in 

 all situations where game comes thickly and flies fast. 

 His grasp has not to be loosened, nor his right hand 

 shifted, in pulling his one trigger ; consequently, the 

 gun is held with greater steadiness, and both a quicker 

 and a surer aim can be secured. 



I have several times had opportunities for giving 

 various forms of single-triggered guns a thoroughly 

 practical trial both at the shooting-range and in the 

 field in the latter case on driven partridges and other 

 game. It is of course one thing to work, or to see 

 worked, an innovation of the sort on a gun-maker's 

 premises, and quite another matter to handle such 

 weapon in the heat and stress of a partridge-drive. In 

 the first-named situation the coolness and deliberation 

 of the operator's movements are not so well calculated 

 to bring out any inherent defects ; but in the strong 

 searchlight of actual practice particularly amidst rain, 

 wind and fog a much better chance is presented for 

 the discovery of any failings or peculiarities in the 

 working of new guns. 



I had the good fortune to be present at what I believe 

 to have been the first successful public trial of a single- 

 triggered double gun. Some eight years or more ago 

 Messrs. Boss, St. James's St., W., invited me to witness 

 the shooting of a gun made by them on this principle. 

 The trial took place in the grounds of the London 



