PUNT-GUNS 175 
pared with that of muzzle-loaders. We advise that those 
persons of moderate means desirous of purchasing a breech- 
loading punt-gun should endeavour to secure a second-hand 
one. Be sure it is efficient in its working. Nothing is worse 
in practice than a bad-working punt-gun. Rather than this, 
procure a muzzle-loader. The first breech-loading punt-guns 
that came out were said to be heavy when compared with the 
charge they fired, and they shot soft, besides being bad in 
many other respects. I think this can hardly be applied to 
our present-day punt-guns, thanks to the interest in punt- 
guns that has been taken by such well-known gun-making 
firms as Messrs. J. and W. Tolley, Holland and Holland, and 
a few others. As a whole, ordinary gunmakers know nothing 
about punt-guns, although many of them imagine they do. 
There can never be any comparison between shoulder guns 
and swivel-guns, so widely different are they in more than a 
few respects. 
The most costly punt-guns are invariably plated with nickel 
or silver and left dull. When the plating wears off, the gun 
should, of course, be replated, though, failing this, they take 
no harm if kept bright with emery (rust spots attended to 
regularly and rubbed bright) and well greased. Muzzle- 
loading swivel-guns and other less costly big guns are usually 
painted either with ordinary white lead paint or some alu- 
minium kind. This latter is capital stuff for painting a punt- 
gun. 
Every care should be taken to keep punt-guns clean, both 
inside and out. We may all know that punt-guns are subject 
to very rough work, and, despite every effort to keep them 
clean, rust is certain to appear. This is particularly so with 
guns used on the tide. It would be well to remember that the 
life of all swivel-guns depends greatly upon the amount of 
care bestowed in keeping them clean. If neglected, a punt- 
gun will soon rust into a dangerous condition. 
