BREECH-LOADERS. 59 



For sporting purposes, I consider the best 

 breech-loading system, both for guns and rifles, 

 to be that of Mr. Westley Richards ; as its con- 

 struction is a wonderful combination of strength 

 and simplicity, and it is in every way preferable 

 to any other system I have yet seen, " and their 

 name is legion." 



A gun or rifle, on this system, is very similar in 

 outward appearance, to an ordinary muzzle-loader, 

 having bar or front-action locks, and the grip or 

 fore-part being of wood. ( Vide Plate, page 58, 

 Figs. 1 and 2.) 



The mechanical arrangement (vide Plate) is 

 of a most safe and simple character. A self- 

 acting spring latch (b, c, Fig. 2) secures the 

 breech-end of the barrels, fitting into the solid 

 iron after loading. The barrels are released by a 

 simple action of the thumb, and the loading is 

 effected with the greatest ease. 



The barrels are secured to the body of the gun 

 by fastenings, both at the top and bottom, thus 

 disposing of the strength to the greatest possible 



