PROVING. 225 



3rd. Single barrelled shot guns. 



4th. Double barrelled shot guns. 



5th. Revolving and breech-loading small arms of every 

 description. 



The powder used is of government strength, and the balls 

 are all spherical and of lead. Barrels for the second and 

 fourth class, and for breech loading arms of the fifth class 

 shall be proved both provisionally and definitively; all other 

 arms shall only be proved definitively. 



Barrels for arms of the third class shall not be proved 

 until they are in a fit and proper state for setting up with 

 the permanent breeches in; and all barrels "lumped" for 

 percussion ing shall be proved by means of the nipple hole. 



In proving the second and fourth classes : 



(a) Provisionally. If of plain metal they shall be bored 

 and ground, having plugs attached, with touch-holes drilled 

 in the plugs of a diameter not exceeding y^th of an inch. 

 If any touch-hole shall be enlarged from any cause whatever 

 to a dimension exceeding in diameter T T th of an inch, the 

 barrel shall be disqualified for proof. Notches in the plugs 

 instead of drilled touch-holes shall disqualify for proof. If 

 of twisted metal they shall be fine-bored, and struck up with 

 proving plugs attached, and touch- holes drilled as in the case 

 of plain metal barrels. 



(b) Definitively. The barrels, whether of plain or twisted 

 metal, shall be in the finished state, ready for setting up, 

 with the breeches in the percussion state, breaks-off fitted, 

 and locks jointed; the top and bottom ribs shall be rough 

 struck up, pipes, loops, and stoppers on, the proper breeches 

 in, and the thread of the screws shall be sufficiently sound 

 and full for proof. 



Hun-els for revolving arms of the fifth class shall have 

 the cylinders with the revolving action attached and com- 

 plete. 



Barrels for breech loading arms of the fifth class shall be 

 subject to provisional proof according to the class to which 

 they belong, and to definitive proof when the breech loading 

 action is attached and complete. 



The proof marks differ according as they are made at 

 London or Birmingham. 



