22 
THE COMPLETE WILDFOWLER 
sometimes get hold of a 14-bore gun in mistake fora 12, and find 
a difficulty in getting cartridges. 
and. Test the locks carefully, and note whether they are rebounding 
3rd. 
4th. 
5th. 
6th. 
yth. 
8th. 
oth. 
or otherwise. If not rebounding they can be altered at a cost 
of about 21s. for doing them in good style. Take the locks off, 
and see whether they have a 2, 3, or 4 pin bridle; the increased 
number of pins (or screws) in the bridle denoting the superior 
quality of the locks. 
Examine the action of the gun, and see that it is not cracked. 
Look to the firing pins, as in second-hand guns broken pins or 
strikers are often found. 
If light can be seen through the breech of the gun when the 
gun is held up to the light, it will cost about 1os. to have the 
breech tightened up. 
Note whether the fore-part has the old-fashioned bolt or the 
new patent snap fastener. 
Examine the butt carefully and see if it is cracked, or whether 
the wood runs straight in the hand, otherwise the butt is liable 
to snap off short. 
Try how the gun mounts in the shoulder. If the stock is too 
long, or not of the right bend, it can be altered at a cost of from 
5s. to Ios. 
HAMMERLESS GuNsS. Never buy a Hammerless Gun without 
submitting it to a good gunmaker for inspection (excepting, 
perhaps, the Anson-Deeley Patent Gun, which is about the 
most reliable, and which nearly always works well), as there are 
so many worthless Hammerless Guns offered for sale as second- 
hand, many of them bearing good makers’ names. 
Beware of New Guns which are practically ‘‘ wasters,” and 
which are often offered for sale as second-hand by dealers whose 
address is usually within a few miles of Birmingham. These 
guns are usually offered as wonderful bargains, with all the 
latest improvements, at prices ranging from 30s. to 60s., whereas 
they are barely worth that number of pence. 
In regard to the buying of new guns there is not so much 
to be said. A good shot can shoot with almost any gun in 
which the cast-off is fairly reasonable and the stock not too 
