268 



VARIETIES OF SHOT-GUNS, ETC. 



accustomed to this prominent feature in the flint and per- 

 cussion guns. There is also a necessity for an increase of 

 total length to give room for the lock, which lies between 

 what may be called the false breech arid the barrels, and not 

 outside both, as in the ordinary forms. This increase is, 

 however, not to be reckoned at the total length of the lock, 

 but only at about half of that measure namely, two inches 

 the difference being accounted for by the fact, that the 

 false breech is placed farther back than usual. There is also 

 a projection on each side in front of the trigger-guard, which 

 is the lever employed to open the breech. Above and behind 

 this, on each side, is a recess in what appears to be the 

 barrel, but which is only a continuance of that tube; and 



BREECH PLUG AND LOCK, SCREWED UP. (HALF SIZE.) 



in this lies a strong cylinder of iron, which is at once the 

 lock and the breech plug. (See fig. 40.) By turning up- 

 wards the lever this part is shortened, the object* being 

 accomplished by making it in two parts, and the front being 

 screwed on to the back, it is so arranged that while the latter 

 is fixed, the former is screwed backwards or forwards as the 

 lever is turned up or down. (See fig. 41). When, there- 



Fig. 41. 



BEEECH PLUG AND LOCK-CYLINDER. (HALF SIZE.) 



