880 lewis' AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



Gunsmiths of England have arrived at sucli perfection in their 

 profession that they actually measure their customers with as 

 much precision as a flash Tailor does a Dandy, for the purpose 

 of ascertaining the style of stock best suited to their handling; 

 the length of the arms, neck, height and general carriage of the 

 body are all noted, and the stock is made in accordance with 

 the measurement. A clever Gunsmith, who understands his 

 business thoroughly, will also observe his customer's mode of 

 raising and presenting the gun, his manner of holding his head 

 while taking aim, and many other little indescribable etceteras 

 which are always overlooked by a common workman, but are 

 sources of much information to a shrewd mechanic. 



All Sportsmen know the advantage of using a gun that 

 "comes up to the shoulder right;" they also know the incon- 

 venience as well as difficulty of shooting with a weapon, the 

 stock of which is formed different from that which thev have 

 been accustomed to use. 



It is natural to conclude that a tall, long-limbed man will 

 require a longer stock than a shorter person, also that a straight 

 stock will answer better for a short-necked, high-shouldered 

 man, than for a long-necked, low-shouldered person. 



A stock rather long is decidedly better than one too short, 

 and we would prefer a stock rather crooked to one too straight. 



A straight stock is much more suitable for a short-necked, 

 high-shouldered person, than a bent one, for the simple reason 

 that, in fast-shooting, the point of sight at the end of the gun 

 would come up to the range of the eye before the butt could be 

 placed full against the shoulder, and the consequence would be 

 that the piece, not being held firmly against the person, would 

 unpleasantly recoil at every discharge. 



Moreover, the gun not being held on a perfect level, but the 

 point of the muzzle actually higher than the stock, the conse- 

 quence will be that the load will be likely to be carried over 

 the object. All this can be fully ascertained by a few trials ; 

 and, moreover, that with an over-straight stock, it will be 

 difficult to bring the head down to its proper level, even in 

 deliberate shooting. 



The present fashion of having the stocks made straight and 

 rather short, is very much opposed to good shooting with the 



