CLEAN8IN0.] 



BY FIELD, WOOD AND WATEK. 



[CLEAJJSINO. 



Scear. — That wliicli catches the tunihlcr for half 

 or whoU'-cock, ami bt-ini; pushed up by the Irijj^'er. 



Sceai-:<prini/.- — Tlic spriiij; wliicli hi»Uls tlie (.ctar 

 in the notclies of the tuiuhler at either half or 

 w hole-cock. 



iSidf-iutil. — A screw whicli fastens on the lock. 



Si(/ht. — A jjutch of metal, usually of silver, 

 placed near the gun-barrel, to direct the aim. 



Sprini/.crcnnp. — A useful instrument, to assist 

 botli in taking to pieces and putting together the 

 parts of the lock. 



Titil. — The neck, shoulder, or arch of the hammer. 



Ti)p-])ii'ce. — Tliis opjioses the rib which unites 

 the lower arches of the barrel. When it is very 

 prominent behind, it is called the elevated rib. 



IViijijer-pUite. — The trigger works in it. 



IViijl/er-spriiu/s. — Are small springs found in 

 some "highly-finished locks, and are intended to 

 keep the triggers close to the screw. 



Tumbler. — Tiie movable centre-piece of a lock 

 which falls with, and is subservient to, the cock. 



Tumbler-screw. — This fastens on the cock. 



F(?H^/jo/e.— Sometimes there are two or three 

 vent-holes, which are intended to let out the gas in 

 a detonator, and thus to lessen the recoil. 



Worm. — The screw at the end of the ramrod. 



Every sportsman should look to his own gun, 

 as it is he who is to use it, and as it is to him 

 that an accident is most likely to happen, 

 should it not be in proper order for shooting. 

 There are few who have had an extensive 

 acquaintance with guns, -who are not aware of 

 the carelessness and negligence of many ser- 

 vants in getting a gun into proper order, even 

 for their master's use. 



All fowling-guns require to be taken com- 

 pletely to pieces at stated times, to be tho- 

 roughly examined, and every part of them put 

 into such a state as to render them fit for use 

 .it any moment. Twice a year is considered 

 not too often to look into their every crevice, 

 taking most especial care to overlook nothing 

 — not even the smallest screw or spring. To 

 do tliis work well, the sportsman should 

 supply himself with a bench, vice, turnscrews 

 of various dimensions, from an eighth to half 

 an inch ; the latter size being required for the 

 cork-screw, breech-screws, and for raising the 

 bolts which bind the barrel to the stock. The 

 spriug-cramp is a necessary article in this 

 matter of overhauling the entire fabric of a 

 fowling-piece. When a sportsman does not 

 reside in the immediate vicinity of an expe- 

 rienced gunsmith, he ought to have by him 

 duplicates of all the necessary parts of his 

 instrument, that he may be able to supply him- 

 self, on all contingencies, with what may be 

 requisite to keep it in working order. 



CLIiANSl.NG OF GUNS. 



The following instructionH, altered from tlio 



Encycloptcdia of liural Sports, arc well worth 



remembering: — 



In taking off the main-sprimj, let the lock he 

 placed on full.cock ; then cramp the main-spring; 

 when this is efftcted, let down the cock, and the 

 main-spring will fall oil'. When the lock has again 

 to be litted in, let the cock be left down ; then 

 hook the end of the main-spring on the swivel or 

 chain ; move it up, and place it intu a position on 

 the lock-plate. Wtien this is done, unscrew the 

 cramp, and the lock is once more fit for use. 

 When tlie hammer has to be taken off, first shut it 

 down carefully; cramp the spring until, by sh iking 

 the lock, tlic iiammer is heard to rattle. Stop|)irig 

 here, take out the screw behind, and the hammer 

 will fall off. The replacing of it only requires 

 the putting it in its former situation, turning 

 the screw, and setting the spring at liberty. If it 

 be requisite to take the hammer-spring out, tho 

 hammer must first be released, and the main- 

 spring likewise, in order to get at the screw be- 

 hind. The hammer-spring must then be cramped, 

 till it is taken out and put on again to receive the 

 hammer. 



To take to pieces all the small springs of the 

 lock, requires considerable care. The several 

 screws must be kept distinct; and any little mis- 

 take in this matter may produce serious results. 

 When the main-spring is taken off, unscrew and 

 take out the scear, by half cocking the lock. 

 Clasp the fore part of the lock firmly ; at the same 

 time press the thumb against the back part of the 

 cock, directing it forward; while the scear, and 

 scear-spring, being now pressed together by the 

 fore-finger and thumb, will readily enable the 

 operator to take out the scear-screw. When this 

 is done, undo the two screws, take off the bridle, 

 and then unscrew and take out the scear-spring. 

 The cock must next be unscrewed, which will 

 readily separate from the tumbler, if it be gently 

 shaken or tapped. Take out the tumbler, and tho 

 lock is separated into its component ])arts. 



When it has to be reconstructed, ])ut the tumbler 

 in its place, and screw on the cock ; do the same 

 thing with the scear-spring, and set on the bridle 

 with the two upper screws. Put in the scear; but 

 in order to open a clear passage for the screw of 

 the scear, see that you again, as before, press the 

 fore-finger and thumb on the scear and scear-spring, 

 and likewise that you again push tlie cock forward 

 as when in the act of taking off the scear. Unless 

 there be a pressure of this kind, it is not easy to 

 ])lace the hole of the scear opposite the hole of the 

 bridle ; and without this is effected the scear-screw 

 will not enter. Great trouble often ensues from 

 want of attention to this and other trilling points. 

 After this, the cock must be let down to admit of 

 ])uttiiig on the main-spring; and then the process 

 is finished. 



In a detonating gun there is not near the same 

 amount of troul)le in dismembering the fowlini;- 

 piece. The pivot, or nipple, should be now and 

 then removed, and carefully examined, that the 



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