CHAPTER X 
CARE OF GUNS AND GEAR 
WE shall refer first of all to guns, as these are the most 
important things in shooting. The rough-and-tumble sort of 
treatment which guns aboard fowling punts are subjected to, 
to say nothing of the action of salt air and water with which 
they are unavoidably brought in contact, plays a serious part 
in shortening the time they will last, without accounting for 
their wear from shooting. It is, therefore, of interest to the 
users of fowling-pieces afloat, to look carefully after their 
weapons, since they are likely to rust out as soon as wear out. 
With regard to shoulder guns, nothing further than thorough 
and careful cleaning can be recommended.  ‘Cripple- 
stoppers,” as they are called aboard shooting-punts, are 
usually not many minutes in use until they are splashed either 
with mud, sand, or water, and, having to be handled, the 
grease or oil on them is soon rubbed off. Then, of course, 
they speedily rust. On landing each time after an outing, the 
“‘cripplers ” should be cleaned whether they have fired a shot or 
not. First clean inside the barrel or barrels by pushing through 
a tight-fitting cork slightly moistened. Dry out the barrel 
thoroughly and then oil with neat’s-foot, sperm, or Rangoon 
oil. All these oils are good. Gull fat rendered makes a very 
good oil both for preserving and lubricating the working parts 
of guns. Next rub all rust off the outside of the gun with a 
piece of tow saturated with oil. To finish, grease over with 
“‘Stauffer’s grease.” This latter is a capital lubricant not 
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