204 



THE GROUSE 



the gunmakers, but in justice to an old- 

 established and honourable trade, I think 

 the following figures are worth considera- 

 tion. They are taken from the books of 

 one of our leading West End gunmakers, 

 and show the actual wages paid by the 

 firm for the making of a best-class gun : — 



Barrels 



Action 



Stocking 



Ejectors 



Engraving 



Locks 



Regulation 



If you add some allowance for 

 accessories, rent, and a reasonable profit 

 for the gunmaker, it is clear that even at 

 the top price most of the money you pay 

 for a pair of guns goes into the guns, and 

 not into the gunmakers pockets. 



Cheap guns are to be had, and they 

 may serve their purpose after a fashion, 

 but they can never give the uniform and 

 satisfactory results over a long period of 

 years, which may be confidently expected 

 from the handiwork of any of our leading 



