RIFLES AND GUNS 



in the case of dangerous game, or who want to 

 make the best use of their opportunities in the 

 case of other animals, would care to trust to single 

 barrels. 



The process of laying together a pair of barrels, 

 so that both will shoot accurately from the same 

 sight, is a laborious and expensive operation ; while 

 the skilled, and therefore highly-paid, labour which 

 must be employed in securing that extreme nicety 

 of fitting of the different parts a sine qua non in 

 securing absolute smoothness and uniformity in 

 working, perfect balance, and longevity precludes 

 the possibility of any gunmakers being able to turn 

 out the very best class of weapon at even a com- 

 paratively cheap price. 



None of the leading firms, whose reputation 

 amongst sportsmen is known all over the world, 

 will allow a weapon which has not been thoroughly 

 proved to leave their establishments ; so that in 

 buying from one of the leaders of the profession 

 the purchaser can be sure of obtaining a really 

 reliable rifle. With regard to rifles burning nitro 

 powders, it would be most dangerous to purchase 

 from any but the very best makers. 



In the case of guns for small-game shooting, the 

 sportsman will find that, to a great extent, the same 

 principles apply ; and although numbers of even 

 country gunmakers can turn out good-shooting, 

 good-looking, and reliable guns, at prices, too, to 

 suit the respective pockets of their various cus- 

 tomers, a great difference will be apparent between 

 the cheaper and the more highly priced weapons 



447 



