4.2 COCKS AND HAMMERS. 



cock, the resistance from the hammer-spring, to prevent its breaking, 

 must be so great, that you would soon wear out your hammers, by 

 being obliged to use an immoderate quantity of flints. With this 

 another part of the lock also is safer, because the solid cock is re- 

 ceived on a firm support annexed to the pan; while the one on the 

 other construction suddenly catches the lock-plate, and is therefore 

 liable to jar, and break either the tumbler itself, or the pin of the 

 tumbler. A solid cock has many other advantages, from its dura- 

 bility and strength : it is proof against all awkward hands, and par- 

 ticularly desirable on guns which are liable to meet with rough 

 usage in a boat. 



The reason why some gunmakers object to it is, that it is not so 

 easily regulated to strike higher or lower with new hammers as the 

 other. New hammers! for which most of them have had some 

 patent or fancy of their own j and with this they took care to ac- 

 commodate you on every favourable opportunity. Add to this, the 

 solid cock is not apt to break like the other, and is therefore not so 

 good for trade. With due submission, however, to the superior 

 judgment of those in the business, I must beg to observe, that I have 

 always found an old hammer new steeled to fire belter than a new 

 hammer j insomuch, that I have had new hammers new steeled be- 

 fore I ever used them ; and surely an old hammer, if sound, must 

 go pleasanter than a new one, which has scarcely been used enough 

 to get rid of its harshness. The reason why new facing does best is 

 this : in making new hammers, the steel is welded and incorporated 

 with the iron ; the process of which requires so much heat, that it 

 softens and reduces the quality of the steel; whereas, by putting 

 only new faces, this evil is avoided, and the steel may be kept in 

 the best possible temper. Gunmakers know this perfectly well ; but 

 whatever may be their abuse of one another, to customers in their 

 shops, yet they have the sense to agree on one point, namely, to keep 

 among themselves this, and other little secrets belonging to the 

 trade. 



On the other hand, I shall now recommend something to their 

 advantage ; which is, that every sportsman be at first equipped with 

 extra hammers and extra springs to his gun ; so that, by being 

 provided with a spring cramp, and shown how to use it, he may be 

 able to remedy an accident with his own hands, which might other- 

 wise oblige him, from the midst of good shooting, to send away his 

 fowling-piece, to be left at the mercy of a gunmaker's punctuality, 



