248 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[OotobBB 27, 1881. 



Brooklyxu— JSdUor Forest and Stream : I notice in the last 

 issue of Forest and Stkeam that some friend of Frank N. 

 Beebe recommends him to leave the residuum from h dis- 

 charge in the barrels of bis gun until nest using them, as a 

 preventive against measles or rust. I had a friend, who in 

 an evil hour recommended me to do the same, and as a con- 

 sequence the breech and recoil block of my new " Colt " are 

 badly rusted and I have tried in vain to remove if. Last July 

 I paid Lake Hopatcong, N. J., a visit in the hope of bagging 

 a brace or two of woodcock and very carelessly left ray clean- 

 ing rod, rags and oil home, or 1 -would not have been so anx- 

 ious to take my friend's advice. The powder I used ('Haz- 

 ard's F. G. ) seemed to leave n Mack pasty substance Behind, 

 which I was rather afraid of at ihetinie, but concluded to 

 risk it. I think the fulminate in the caps has more effect on 

 the barrels than anything else, for the following reason. I 

 ■was overhauling my gun and rifles, a few days since, to make 

 sure they were not getting speckled, when a friend who had 

 dropped in while I was at it accidentally discharged au 

 empty shell which he was fitting in the gun. After remov- 

 ing the shell I carefully wiped it with a dry rag, oiled it and 

 put it in its case. Something prompted me a few days after 

 to look at thai chamber. Shade of Moses i what had got 

 into it ? About four inches of the barrel was black, and it 

 took an unlimited amount of wire brush and elbow-grease 

 to get it clean again. My experience is that constant atten- 

 tion is the best preventive against rust. If I had a "Saxon" 

 gun 1 might not think so. — O. B. H. 



Atlanta, Ga , Oct. 17. 

 Editor Forest, and Stream : 



I have noticed in several recent numbers a discussion on 

 the subject of rust in gun barrels and the best means of pre- 

 venting the same. 



"When I was a boy, my father, on a visit to Charleston, 

 bought me a fine silver-mounted, muzzle-loading (of course! 

 rifle. God gave me a good nerve and eye, and 1 became a 

 fine shot, probably the best in my county. Bat I was heed- 

 less and careless, as boys are apt to be. The young men and 

 boyB with whom I hunted often complained that their rifles 

 rusted in spite of wiping and oiling. I was in the habit of 

 leaving mine, when returning from a hunt or shoot, without 

 wiping or oiling, and with the powder-burn iu it. My gun 

 was always bright and clean when wiped out for use, and 

 never showed reel rust at all, and is free from it to-day, 

 though in use thirty yems ; and never had a drop of oil in it 

 all the time. 



I was in the infantry of Lee's army during the war, and, 

 having lost everything, had to work hard ; and hardly fired 

 a gun for a dozen years after the war ended. In fact, I lost 

 my taste for guns and bullets. But latterly, having gone on 

 the bench and leading a very sedentary life, the doctors ad- 

 vised me strongly to open air exercise. I bought a 12-bore 

 breach-loader, and I have, I think, the finest setter in the 

 State ; and soon the old passion for the field returned, and is 

 with me stronger than ever. 



But with years I fear I have not much improved in habits 

 of care for my gun ; and for the past four seasons I have 

 always left, the inside of my barrels, after a hunt, with the 

 powder-burn undisturbed ; and, in fact, left them so all sum- 

 mer, audit is literally tiue that when wiped out my gun 

 is now as bright as a mirrow. 1 am of the opinion tha 

 the Sethis from powder-burn forms a coating which, mo r 

 than any other known substance, will preserve a bright iron 

 or steel surface from rust ; and I give you the statement with 

 leave to publish it over my own name, unless your own 

 better knowledge shows you that I am mistaken. 



GEOBGB HlLLTEE. 



Editor Forest and Stream: An old gun repairer and excel- 

 lent hunter once said : "I never clean my gun when I put it 

 away after the hunting season is over. It will keep in better 

 order by letting the powder dry in the barrels than in any 

 other way." I have practiced his method for years, and 

 never had occasion to regret it. The difficulty is largely 

 that; of putting the gun away in a damp or wet condition. If 

 put awa} r dry and kept in a warm and dry place, I think there 

 will be no rust found upon wiping out when the hunting 

 season again arrives. Everything depends upon having the 

 the gun dry, and kept not only dry but warm, during the rest- 

 ing season. It is well that we cannot look into our old 

 muzzle-loaders as we do into our breech-loaders ; so many 

 old scars would appear we would be frightened at the small- 

 pox appearance of our old favorites that kept tiie spots and 

 dirt out of our sight. I have found the best castor oil the 

 best oil for a gun — for every part except the locks. It has 

 a body that does not disappear readily, and will keep the 

 barrels frum rusting when iu the rain longer aud better than 

 any I ever used.—* 



Monroe, -N. C— Editor Forest and Stream: "Spots in 

 gun barrels" has brought out quite a number of receipts for 

 its prevention. I have had no trouble in that line. I clean 

 my gun thoroughly, and then swab the inside of the barrel 

 with lard oil, using a wire brush for the purpose. I find 

 after shooting two or three days that the gun is very little 

 fouled, and 110 dry powder cake is about it, and with a wire 

 brush and rag I can clean it bright as a dollar in five min- 

 utes. Try it— be convinced.— Colt. 



Boston, Oct. 10.— Editor Forest and Stream: After many 

 years' experience with gun barrels I have come to the con- 

 clusion that the -secret of the trouble is in the polishing of 

 the barrels on the latbe. No matter how finely and care- 

 fully this is done it always leaves an immense number of 

 small rings on the inside : and in these rings the minute par- 

 ticles of the residuum adhere, and there the rust trouble be- 

 gins. Let any of your readers who have trouble with their 

 guns look into the barrels carefully aud they will see these 

 rings. I send you a piece of gun barrel split open to show 

 this. The remedy for this is the draw polishing, but gun- 

 makers do not care to do this, because it is a hard and long 

 operation.— E. H. EDTEimttouK. 



New Bbitain, Conn.— Edil..>: ' ' 1 ' -v. »•<?</«. : "For a 

 protection against rust nothing simpler or belter adapted to 

 general use has been discovered than the compound of lard 

 and resin recommended by Prof. OJmstesd. of Yale College 

 (author of ' Olmslead's Natural Philosophy '), and used by 

 him for the preservation of scientific apparatus, Takeauy 

 quantity of good lard, and to every hall pound or so add of 

 o< minion resin an amount about equal to half the size of au 

 egg, or less— a little more or I- as is Of DO e.onsei jnence. Melt 

 them slowly together, stirring as they cool. Apply this with 

 a cloth or otherwise— Just enough to give a thin coaling to 

 the metal surface to be protected. It can be wiped off nearly 

 c l can 1,. 1 ■ : wil] bo undesirable, ;ts ui the 



case of knives and fmhs, etc.. The resin prevents rancidity, 

 and the mixture obviates the ready access of air and moist- 

 ure. A fresh application maybe needed when the coating 

 is Washed off by the friction of beating storms or otherwise. 

 There was talk of patenting this recipe at one time, but 

 Prof. Olmstead decided to publish it for the general good." 

 I take the above from ray scrap book, but havo forgotten 

 Where- 1 first found it. I have used the compound for years 

 on a tine gun and other highly-polished surfaces of steel and 

 iron. It is as sure a preventive of rust as Prof. Olmstead 

 Claims. A thin film is produced which is a complete protec- 

 tion against moisture. For cleaning I think the compound 

 is improved by adding crude pretroleum that has been well 

 filtered. But to prevent rust the first essential, as some of 

 your correspondents have said, is to thoroughly clean and 

 dry the surface to be protected. If oxidation has begun, no 

 matter how slight, a coat of Unseed oil, baked on in a kiln, 

 or best japan even, will not stop its action — it will continue 

 its work aud throw off the coating.— J. W. T. 



Amesbury, Mass. — Editor Forest and Streams Three 

 years ago this winter I bought me a Parker gun, Damascus 

 barrels, aud a nicer polish I never saw inside of gun barrels. 

 In shifting from muzzle-loader to breech-loader I followed the 

 advice of friends who owned breech-loading guns, and used 

 coarser powder, which some of our club boys were using. 

 In less than three months my barrels were spotted badly iu 

 spite of the best of care; gun never remained over night 

 without thorough cleaning. I carried a pocket cleaner, and 

 after each discharge in the brush would draw it through the 

 barrel. It was of no use. With the most thorough cleaning 

 at night the barrels continued to rust or spot until they were 

 so bad I had them rebored in about six months after first 

 using gun. After reboring I shifted to finer grain powder 

 of same grade, determined, if possible, to now retain the 

 fine polish. It was the same old story, the spots began to ap- 

 pear, and at the end of six months more the gun was as bad 

 as ever, using extra care in the meantime. Once more I had 

 barrels bored out, feeling most digusfed with breech-loading 

 gun in general, as the best part of the guns in our club 

 spotted the same way, and it was the universal opinion of 

 the club that it could not be helped. I continued to use the 

 same powder which, by the way, was good, strong, clean 

 burning powder, moist, and would not cake in muzzle, and 

 was used by most of our boys. After another six months or 

 thereabouts I had barrels again bored for the third time. I 

 had made up my mind to rebore as long as barrels would 

 stand it, and then get another pair of barrels. At this time 

 I came to the conclusion that the powder was the great cause 

 of the spots, and calling to mind the length of time I used 

 my muzzle-loading gun without spotting, I immediately pro- 

 cured some of the old powder, which always gave best of sat- 

 isfaction. At the same time I was called to the fact: that one 

 of our boys who had continued to use the old powder after 

 using breech-loading gun for year or more did not show the 

 least speck in his barrels. 1 have continued to use this pow- 

 der up to the present time in my- breech-loading gun, and 

 the barrels are in as good condition to-day as when they 

 were last bored. In cleaning nry gun all I am obliged to do 

 is to just push through cotton flannel rag, and then another 

 rag with sperm oil. I can clean the gun in this way after 

 firing five or fifty shots, and without hot or cold water, inside 

 of five minutes. In truth I have not used a drop of water in 

 my gun for over six months, and the same polish is there 

 without spot or blemish. Our club are mostly using this 

 powder with best results, and some of them do not clean 

 their gun for over a week after using, and still no spots ap- 

 pear. I can assure you there is great satisfaction in looking 

 through a smooth pair of gun barrels. I do not care a tinker 

 for any powder manufacturer in this country. All I have 

 written is for the benefit of sportsmen who see their guns rot- 

 ting every day. Shift on your powder, for I will wager my 

 gun against a box of cap3 that certain grades of powder spot 

 your guns. I take great pride in showing my gun barrel to 

 the boys every chance I get, for they have not spotted for 

 most a year now, and I tell you no elbow grease or eternal 

 vigilance is required to keep barrels in prime condition. I 

 will say nothing in regard to powder which I claim has 

 spotted the barrels in our club so badly, for a great many 

 sportsmen are using it, and like its shooting qualities very 

 much, but I would say to those who complain of the spots — 

 Change your powder, for the powder is what is spotting your 

 gun so badly. The powder I am using is Oriental Western 

 Sporting F. G.— G. F. G. 



THE IHJRTLING GROITSE. 



Pennsylvania, October 28. 

 Editor Forest a/n$ Stream : 



While reading your interesting issue of the 20th inst. 

 mv attention was called to an article, furnished by "L. J. 

 F.," entitled " The Hurtling Grouse." Among other things, 

 he says, he "would be williDg to grant that title (of artist) 

 to anyone who could make one successful flying shot in 

 twenty at our grouse." 



I reside in a portion of this State where the hawks, owls 

 and hard winters do uot give quail much chance to multiply ; 

 woodcocks are scarce, and there are no lakes or streams of 

 sufficient size to attract geese or ducks in numbers to justify 

 hunting them, and so ruffed grouse, whose hardy nature en- 

 ables tliem to cope with all the enemies named above, are 

 about all the game we have to amuse us during these delight- 

 ful autumn days. Now, I believe, (I am open to conviction 

 if wrong! that our grouse fly as swiftly and through as dense 

 covert as do the Canada birds of the same species, yet I 

 assure ' L. .1. F." that were he in this vicinity he would lose 

 that five dollars every day he desired to see the operation 

 performed of knocking a grouse over once in six shots; and 

 the number of sportsmen iu this aud in the adjoining coun- 

 ties, who would bear the title "artist," if the test were only 

 such as "L. J. F." would make it, would be amazing. I 

 know l hat persons who shoot and fish some are pronounced 

 by the heartless world prevaricators, to draw it mildly, yet I 

 1 11 1 tier assert, and can be borne out in the assertion, that I 

 nave seen three consecutive shots at grouse kill three grouse, 

 these being at single birds, and have known the same gentle- 

 man to kill, in my presence, eight grouse, single birds, in 

 twelve consecutive shots, in the liuibcr- 



I do not presume that the last named gentleman is a better 

 shot on other game than "L. J. F.," but, as I before stated, 

 i about ihe only game bird that he has prac- 

 ticed "11, : ■.!.! this may account for his success in this par- 

 ticular branch of game shooting. Goto. 



Specimen copies of the •Forest and Stream will '« 

 to tiny address upon application. 



WORCESTER SPORTSMEN'S CLUB. 



IS TUB FIEIB AND AT TIIE TABLE. 



WoEOKSTEii, Mass., Oct, 18, 

 Editor Forest and Stream : 



The annual hunt of the Worcester Sportsmen's 0WU, for 

 the game supper to be given by the losing side at the Bay 

 State House, took place to-day. The schedule of game and 

 count it wasdecided should be as follows: Ruffed grouse, 35 ; 

 woodcock, 20 ; quail; 20 ; English snipe, 20 : wild duck, 50 , 

 wild goose, 100; hawk, 50; owl, 50; fox, 800; 'coon, 100; 

 rabbit, 15; gray squirrel, 15; mink, 100; weasel, 50; wild 

 pigeon, 20. The captains of the two sides were Mr. A. B. F. 

 Kenneyand E. S. Knowles, and the result of the hunt was as 

 follows : 



E, S. KNOWL-ES 1 SIBE. 



E. S. Kuowlos, 7 woodcock, 1 ruffed grouse 105 



N. W. Eager, 7 quail, 5 woodcock -in 



G. F. Huge. 3 quail 



J. A. Ca8B,l quail - 90 



L Allen, 2 gray 81 inirrel '. 30 



•I. M. Drennan, -J .'lucks 100 



J, B. Garland. 2 thicks 100 



O.W.L. Xcft. 2 ducks 100 



If. S. Perry. 1 fox, 1 raffed grouse , $33 



P. A. Benoit, 1 rabbit, 1 ruffed grouse, J woodcock (in 



, D. ftilman. 1 ruffed grouse, 1 qnail, 1 rabbit GO 



Houghton,* 1 rati. : ■ use. 1 m -1. 7 ••,!■■.. v.. ck 300 



Holman, 1 ruffed grouse, 1 on, i , I ro I ^luinvl 155-1715 



THe details ottlils score cane, ui ri a ■. 



N. S. Johnson, 3 ruffed grouse, 1 gray HrairreJ On 



W. N. Cole, 1 grav squirrel, 1 woodcock S3 



S. Clark, 1 rabbit, 1 woodoock 35 



E. T, Smith, 1 rabbit, 1 woodcock, 2 raffed grouse, 1 gray 



squirrel 100 



C. F. Darling, 1 rabbit, 6 woodcock 1 rriffedgronse, 2 



gray squirrel, ' ISO 



R. B. Claihn. 1 woodcock 20 



C. E. Maun.'l ruffed grouse, 1 rabbit 40 



Cr. McAleer, 2 quail . .' 40— 650 



It will be seen that Mr. A. B. F. Kenny's name is not in 

 the list of those of his side and has no score. This can be 

 explained from the fact that Capt. Kenny went for foxes 

 alone. His dog started the fox and ran it, but the gun missed 

 fire, or the man behind the gun missed— one or the Other - 

 hence a blank score. Judging from the woodcock killed, 

 their condition, etc., the 'flight must be Just begin 

 come in. Homo. 



Tour correspondent having been an iaviti 111 trf the 

 Club can vouch for the following account, of the SB] 

 taken from the Spy of the following day: 



The annual supper of the Worcester Sportsmen's Club was 

 held at the Bay State House last evening, and, including the 

 guests, just forty sat down to the table. The members of 

 the Club assembled early in the evening in the parlors, aud 

 an hour was passed in recounting the many incidents of the 

 huut of the day, each telling of some fine stints made, or or 

 the number of birds started that they failed to get. The 

 guests of the evening were Mayor Kelley, lion. D. B. Pratt, 

 Hon. T. J. Hastings, John D. Washburn, Esq.., Gen. A. B, 

 11. Sprague, Col. J. A. Titus and Henry Woodward, 

 AtS:30 the party proceeded in couplesto the south dining 

 room, where the tables were spread. Landlord Shepard had 

 prepared the game brought ill by the sportsmen in a manner 

 to tempt the epicure, and presented the following menu : 

 ieratm H UMSfcCU. 



SOup— HDCk Turtle. 

 Boast Partridge, Larded. 



Urnileil W'jO'Im ;i T ' 1 'i 



Stewed Squirrel, a In Man re ,i tin" 1 



Fricassee 01 Kaohtt, ' 



vegetables. 



Ice Cream. cliarlntte Basse. 



Assorted Coke. Fruit. 



Nuts and Eatstns. 



,,', .. 



Ex-Mayor Pratt presided, and after the removal of the 

 cloth called for order, and said he was happy to be on the 

 winning side, as he knew lie should be, and then introduced 

 as the first speaker Mayor Kelley, who said he was present 

 for the first time at the annual supper of the Bp irtsmeu Of 

 Worcester. He was surprised, as well as happily gratified. 

 to see so many of the representative business men interested 

 in the exciting sport of the field and cover. lie regretted 

 not being an expert in the use of the gun, but hoped before 

 the next shoot that he might be. 



Col. John D. Washburn was introduced as one who knew 

 all "about it." He said he came to make a speech, but in 

 the shape of the counsel for the fox, for whom 1 kUted 

 150 points granted on three different points; one on moral 

 grounds, one in relation to civilization and good 

 and the olher in reference to the boot in; - . ■ . : 

 ceeded to illustrate each point in h m ■ ■ that 



kept the company in continual laughter, and all conceded 

 the requested 450 points. 



The next speaker was introduced as one who had been in 

 jail for over four years— Sheriff A. B. R. bpragge— "who said, 

 although not a sportsman, he did havo something to do with 

 " birds." He related his early and brief experience in shoot- 

 ing, as a boy, at which he made no ilist n< -i ive mark. 



The president of the evening then said the club intended to 

 petition the next legislature Hurt they might be exempt from 

 taxation, and therefore, they had invited to be present with 

 them one who had made taxation a study, aud he then intro- 

 duced Senator T. J. Hastings, who said he. knew something 

 of the value of the sport, and said the State would always 

 keep open the rights of the forest and laud and then 

 tires. The sport" of hunting was n manly aud healthy out-of- 

 door exercise, aud lie was glad to see sj many interested in it. 



Col. J. A. Titus was introduce! I ' feei I upon the 



sportsmen of the city as a representative olass of men. He 

 considered it a duty thai man owed i" f ani family to 



preBervevigoroushealt.il, and that cou'd be obtained by the 

 healthful recreation of hunting tor game. He spoke of the 

 need of revision iu some '1 b at 9 the legislature in re- 

 gard to hunting and fishing, and to the trespass act. The 



latter he said was not right wl lonesl itu 



men went out to hunt, for the malicious work done was uot 

 by them, but by bad boys. 

 "Mr. Henry Woodward was the next one called upon, hut 

 evadeda speech in a neat man 



Rev. J. A. Cass was introduced, ' ' m gre&l 



pleasure to belong to so honorable a class of men ;.s the Wor- 

 cester Club, and to be able to have attended the hunt and the 

 supper. The sport in this city was elevated to so high a 

 position that it was an honor to belong to the oiuta 



