STAINING BARBELS. 479 



vented from making them weaker by filing and brazing after the 

 proof is stamped on them. 



STAINING BAERELS. 



There are a great many modes adopted as well as receipts given 

 for the staining of gun-barrels : the basis of all, however, is the 

 action of acids on the metal. Great numbers of inferior barrels 

 are thus colored to resemble those of a superior quality, and these 

 deceptions are very difficult to be discovered by inexperienced 

 eyes. It was formerly supposed that the presence of " smoke-brown 

 staining" was a positive guarantee of the quality of the metal from 

 which the piece was manufactured : such, however, is no longer the 

 case, as the gunsmiths are now enabled to produce this particular 

 coloring even on the most ordinary barrels. In fact, so numerous 

 and artful are the tricks now resorted to by the Birmingham people 

 to deceive their customers, that the only safe plan left by which 

 to secure a good and trusty gun is to order one of " a competent 

 and honorable artist," of whom there are several on this side of the 

 water as well as on the other. 



THE METAL USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GUNS. 



Very few sportsmen are acquainted with the peculiar kinds of 

 iron used in the manufacture of gun-barrels. Although they fre- 

 quently make use of the terms "stub-and-twist," "wire-twist," 

 "Damascus barrels," &c., they are generally quite ignorant of the 

 real meaning of these terms, and know nothing of their import, 

 origin, or application; in truth, they palaver often like parrots, 



