WILD-FOWL GUNS 23 



suited to the build or requirements of the persons who 

 may have to use them. If as much care were now to be 

 given to the stocking and fitting of heavy wild-fowl guns 

 as has been bestowed upon their shooting qualities, I 

 venture to predict that this class would come to be used 

 far more extensively than it is at present. I am aware 

 that in order to avoid springing of the gun-stock, extra 

 timber has to be used in the stocking of wild-fowl guns 

 as compared with guns of smaller size ; otherwise, 

 4-bores and 8-bores that were small in the grasp would 

 on firing heavy charges be liable to have their muzzles 

 depressed and so throw their shot low. If this difficulty 

 could not be overcome by means of a carefully-devised 

 form of metal strapping, I would suggest that the grasp 

 or " hand " of the stock should be formed of some metal 

 in order to secure sufficient rigidity, and the same time 

 an entirely graspable and manageable gun-stock. If it 

 could not well be arranged to have the " hand " of the 

 stock formed of some material different to the butt, I 

 would have the entire gun-stock made of aluminium or 

 other metal which would lend itself to the formation of 

 light and hollow gun-stocks. I feel assured there is a 

 fortune before the gun-maker who will introduce a well- 

 devised gun-stock of the kind I have indicated. With 

 these stocks moulded to fit every length of arm and of 

 neck, slope of shoulder and width of chest ordinarily met 

 with upon sportsmen, and sized-up and numbered in 

 much the same manner as are boot-lasts, the gun-maker 

 having a supply of ready-made barrels and actions 

 would be able to fit up a customer to a nicety, and at a 

 moment's notice. Thereby also is presented a ready 

 way out of the difficulty experienced in turning out the 

 wooden stocks of guns and rifles by machinery. I would 



