MISCELLANEOUS HINTS. 405 



the lock were of the most perfect construction and put together in 

 the most artistic manner. This, however, is not the case with the 

 detonator ; a far inferior lock to those that were then manufactured 

 with so much care and skill will answer an equally good purpose. 

 Nevertheless, they require a considerable deal of care in their fabri- 

 cation to make them agreeable and serviceable to the sportsman. 



Gun-locks should be manufactured from the hardest metal, and 

 all their parts filed and fitted in the most beautiful manner, with 

 springs of the best construction and suitable strength ; every por- 

 tion of the machinery should work in perfect unison, and, when set 

 in motion, should glide over each other with the same smoothness 

 and evenness observable in the most elaborate pieces of mechanism. 



Greener remarks on the subject in the following words, and we are 

 sure that every sportsman will heartily respond to such sentiments : 



"I have always felt as great pleasure in handling a gun with a 

 pair of good locks as some would experience in listening to the 

 musical productions of the great Handel. There is to me a supe- 

 rior music in the tick of the scear on the tumbler, and the fine 

 elasticity of the mainsprings, moving with a sort of fine, oily feel, 

 though light, as sharp as the lightning playing in the heavens." 



Good locks can only be obtained from the best artisans, and, to 

 insure their quality, should be made to order by those only in 

 whom we have the utmost confidence. There is no part of the gun 

 that requires so much care and skill as the manufacturing of the 

 lock, and consequently there is no part in which there is so much 

 deception practised. It is impossible to judge of the quality of a 

 lock by a mere examination of its structure, as the spring, swivel, 

 or some other portion of it, may soon grow weak, or give way 



