342 STANCHION, OR PUNT-GUN. 



to take off the recoil in the best manner? I mentioned 

 the experiment of the swivel to several of the leading 

 gunmakers, and, although they had all plenty to say on 

 the subject, I could not meet with one who was able to 

 do any thing towards the proper attainment of the 

 object. 



It would take pages to state their different plans. 

 But enough of them : a few lines are sufficient ; and 

 these to say that however plausible their inventions 

 may appear in a counting-house conversation, not one 

 of them would answer all purposes, when fairly brought 

 to trial. 



I was, therefore, notwithstanding all their consulta- 

 tions, turned adrift to seek my own means of accom- 

 plishing the object ; and I shall therefore, under the 

 next head, give a sketch of the plan to which I have 

 had recourse. 



(I must crave the indulgence of nine-tenths of my 

 readers for having trespassed on them with this insipid 

 detail, as I have some few brother sportsmen in this 

 way, who would value it more than all the rest of the 

 book put together. Moreover, it may be the means of 

 preventing accidents, which frequently happen to those 

 who use swivels, and particularly if they do not fix 

 them with judgment.) 



The barrel of a punt-gun, to be in good proportion, 

 should, I conceive (including the patent plug, of about 

 six pounds weight, and from two to three inches in 

 length), be about seventy or eighty pounds weight, 

 from seven to nine feet long, and from an inch and a 

 quarter to an inch and a half bore, according to the one 

 length and weight, or the other. 



The smaller the bore is, in reason, the further you 



