THE GUN, AND HOW TO CHOOSE IT. 63 



mere fancy and fashion. It is true that, so soon as he has 

 gone out of the shop with his bit of Birmingham, the seller 

 will laugh at what he has just been saying with the man 

 who happens to be buying copper caps for the London 

 gun, which he imported the other day on his own hook. 

 But then the buyer of the bit of Birmingham does not 

 hear the laugh. 



Therefore, dear reader, I believe the best gun is that 

 which you can buy of the best London maker, for some- 

 thing between fifty and sixty pounds sterling ; from two 

 hundred and fifty to three hundred dollars, including case 

 and appurtenances, made to your own order. 



The London makers, stated by Stonehenge, in the 

 work quoted above, of the present year, 1856, to be repu- 

 ted the first, are, alphabetically placed, Lancaster, Lang, 

 Moore, Purday. The second is somewhat cheaper than 

 the others ; but Stonehenge rates his work at cash prices; 

 and it is well known that all makers give a discount for 

 that indispensable article. Purday has, perhaps, the widest 

 reputation. I have my own favorite, as every sportsman 

 naturally has ; but as the preference is, perhaps, more in 

 taste than in stern judgment, 



" Between two blades, which has the better temper," 



it is not desirable to insist on it. From any of the four, 

 there is no doubt that an undeniable piece may be pro- 

 cured. 



Many of the old names, famous in the gun trade, are 

 extinct, or exist as names only ; the present owners of 



