252 VARIETIES OF SHOT-GUNS, ETC. 



one side, and proceed to wash out the barrels. For this 

 purpose take the cleaning-rod, which is armed with a brass 

 roughly-notched end on purpose, wrap round this some tow, 

 and then placing the barrel's muzzle upwards in a bucket 

 half full of cold water, proceed to wash them well out by 

 working the tow up and down in them. Remove the tow 

 in a short time, and apply fresh as long as the barrels 

 stain it, then take them out, pour some boiling water through 

 them, and set them to drain by the fire till quite dry. 

 Lastly, take a piece of rag (not tow), wrap it round the 

 cleaning-rod, touch it slightly with the proper oil (neat's-foot 

 clarified by suspending pieces of lead in it for two or three 

 months), then pass it up and down each barrel once or 

 twice, oil the inside of the screw in which the nipple fits, oil 

 the nipple, and reapply it with the wrench, when the opera- 

 tion is complete. 



.To clean tJie locks, first remove them by unscrewing the 

 head of the screw, which is just in front of the hammer at 

 half-cock, when the two locks will come out readily, both 

 being secured in their places by this long screw passing 

 through the stock, and called the " side nail." The inside 

 of the lock is then exposed, as shown in Fig. 28, page 238. 

 If any grit has got in, which it ought not to do in a well- 

 fitted lock, it may be removed by an oiled feather, or if the 

 members are rusted by damp, they may be wiped with a piece 

 of leather, then applying just enough oil to lubricate them, 

 the locks are restored to their places and the side-nail screwed 

 home. Sometimes, however, from neglect, the various mem- 

 bers may have become so rusty, that they require to be taken 

 to pieces, which may readily be done by cramping the main- 

 spring at full-cock, screwing the little cramp sold for the 

 purpose on to the spring, and keeping it on while the various 

 screws shown on the bridle are removed, when the swivel is 

 unhooked from the spring, and all the parts are loose, and 

 can be cleaned separately. Should the plate be so rusted 

 that the spring cannot play freely upon its surface, the latter 

 also must be removed by inserting a turnscrew under it, and 

 lifting out, when the plate being cleaned, it may be restored 

 to its place. Unless, however, the owner of the gun has 

 some considerable mechanical skill, he had better not at- 



