70 DETONATING SYSTEM. 



Nock, except being contracted towards the top. He 

 has published a well- written pamphlet, in order to state 

 and explain its advantage, in strength, over other 

 breechings. But further experience will best show 

 whether or not this is more difficult to clean, or gives a 

 more severe blow to the shoulder ; and whether this, or 

 opening the barrels behind, is the best mode of gaining 

 strength by retardation. Perhaps Mr. W. will give 

 the barrels an increased weight of metal, in order to 

 avoid the risk of additional recoil, as the best means of 

 getting his breeching into repute. The other gun- 

 makers say, " This is as old as the hills ! " Well, and 

 what of that ? was it ever tried with detonaters be- 

 fore ? Whenever people abuse any thing, be sure that 

 they have no sinister motive in so doing before you 

 attend to them. 



VENT-HOLE. 



A detonater without a vent-hole, though perhaps it 

 may shoot a little stronger, is very liable to corrode, 

 and recoils most cruelly. The best vent-hole, to my 

 fancy, is a fixed one of platina, similar to a touch-hole ; 

 as vent-screws, I find, are liable to rust in ; and, unless 

 lined with platina, are either soon choked up with rust 

 and dirt, or blown too large by repeated shooting. 



THE NIPPLE, OR PIVOT, 



Is best plain or polished ; the caps, if made well, will 

 always keep on ; but when the pivot is made like a 



