62 MUZZLE-LOADERS AND BREECH-LOADERS. 



not be made to spring shut like the Lefaucheux, but 

 must be drawn back into place by a short lever. 



The price of a superior breech-loader, made by 

 Jeffery of Guildford, several of whose make have 

 been imported and given entire satisfaction, is thirty 

 guineas, and by Dougall of Glasgow about forty 

 guineas, although of course the price varies to suit 

 purses; and some of the best London makers, who 

 spare neither labor nor expense, and who turn out 

 work that is unsurpassable, charge double these 

 sums. It has even been asserted that Purdey has 

 received over a hundred pounds for a breech-loader ; 

 but this is merely a fancy price, and makes the gun 

 neither safer nor more useful than one at a third of 

 the cost. 



A breech-loader to shoot creditably must be well 

 made, and consequently is expensive ; and at the 

 best an extra quarter drachm of powder must be al- 

 lowed. This is supposed to be required by the 

 yielding of the comparatively soft material of the 

 cartridge-case, which must fit rather loosely in the 

 chamber of the barrel to allow of its ready insertion, 

 and any defect of workmanship increases this diffi- 

 culty materially. 



There are several descriptions of cartridge those 

 made by Eley of England or Gevelot of France 

 being the best. Eley manufactures two qualities at 

 different prices, and those persons who object to re- 

 loading their cartridges, may purchase the lower- 

 priced article, which is not intended to be used more 

 than once. The first quality cost three pounds a 



