ADDITIONAL HINTS. 5/1 



best preventive of rust, and is cheap and easily applied by mixing 

 it in sperm oil, and passing it through the barrels a few times with 

 a rag. Sperm oil is best for gun locks ; wipe it on with a scrap of 

 chamois. The rust which is sometimes found on the bright part 

 of locks is easily removed with a slip of oilstone, and the gummed 

 oil and dirt with an old tooth brush dipped in benzine or naphtha 

 which evaporates and cannot hurt the metal. 



To Preserve Iron and Steel from Rust. — Take rosin 120 parts ; 

 sandarac, 180 parts ; gum lac 50 parts. Heat gradually, and add 

 120 parts of turpentine. Heat again and add 180 parts of alcohol. 

 Filter and cork tightly. 



To Soften a Leather Gun Case. — Soak it in water until it is 

 wetted through, hang it up mouth downwards for two or three 

 hours ; then by stretching it over a hay fork handle or round, 

 straight stick, whip it into shape ; next pour into the case as much 

 castor oil as is necessary to thoroughly cover or grease the inside 

 of the case, and apply the oil to the outside as often and as long 

 as the leather will absorb it ; dry in the sun, or a warm room, oc- 

 casionally rubbing and bending the case with the hands. After 

 this treatment it will be more soft and pliable than when first 

 made. 



Lacquer for Guns. — To prevent guns rusting in sea air, lac- 

 quer them on the outside with a very thin varnish of shellac and 

 alcohol. This should be laid on quickly with a brush, and will be 

 almost imperceptible. A dose of the same will not hurt the 

 mountings, but will effectually prevent their rusting, even if the gun 

 is dipped in salt water ; and remember that no matter how care- 

 fully you clean the inside of the barrels after a day's shooting on 

 the coast, you will do well to watch your gun for a day or two 

 and remove the rust which is found to form, which, if neglected 

 will eat in and leave an ugly mark. 



Pad for Target. — The best substitute for a Pettit pad (not 

 made in this country), is stiff hardware paper ; of this thirty sheets 

 would be good penetration, and have them large enough to adnvj* 

 Df a thirty-inch circle being drawn from the centre. 



