264 



VARIETIES OF SHOT-GUNS, ETC. 



cheaux gun, has been very lately made in Belgium, its 

 chief peculiarity being part of a patent taken out some 

 years since in the name of Count Chateauvilliers. It is 

 now known as Bastiris breech-loader, and was tried under 

 that name recently at the Field gun trial held at Hornsey 



Wood House, where, however, it 

 performed badly. The arrange- 

 ment has, however, nothing to 

 do with the shooting, but only 

 with the closing of the breech; 

 and I am informed by the gen- 

 tleman who sent it, that it has 

 since shot extremely well. The 

 improvement has been suggested 

 by the objection which has been 

 made to the 

 crutch gun 

 of Lefau- 

 cheaux, that 

 in the ex- 

 plosion it is 

 apt to open 

 between the 

 barrels and 



the false breech. The Bastin 

 principle is also said to obviate 

 the wearing away of the bolt or 

 hinge connecting the two most 

 important parts, which would of 

 course, if it did take place, occa- 

 sion an open joint between them, 

 and consequent escape of gas. A 

 third advantage is contended to 

 exist, in its being so made as to 

 withdraw the cartridge case after 

 each discharge, by the act of 

 opening the barrels to load either 

 of them afresh. Whether all, or 

 indeed any, of these praiseworthy 

 intentions are successfully carried 



