6 4 



RECREA TION. 



They reply, in substance: To successfully 

 brown Damascus steel requires technical 

 knowledge and experience. The first step 

 is to thoroughly cleanse, and polish the 

 barrels. They are then treated to an acid 

 bath twice each 24 hours, for from 4 to 6 

 days; the time required depending on at- 

 mospheric conditions. This is called " rust- 

 ing," and brings out the pattern or figure 

 of the metal. After each bath, the barrels 

 are scratched bright with a metal scratch- 

 card. The following is a formula some- 

 times used for the acid bath: 



Tincture muriate of iron, 1 ounce; nitric 

 ether, 1 ounce; sulphate of copper, 4 scru- 

 ples; rain water, 1 pint. If the process is to 

 be hurried, add 2 or 3 grains oxymuriate of 

 mercury. When barrels are colored, place 

 in lime-water to neutralize the acid; then 

 rub well with iron-wire scratch-brush. 



I notice H. F. Chase's letter in regard to 

 the advanced prices of nitro powders. If it 

 is a fact that the manufacturers of nitros 

 can and do furnish the Government powder 

 at 20 cents a pound, why should sports- 

 men be compelled to pay 2 or 3 times as 

 much? Why we should be charged any 

 more than they charge the Government, is 

 a question I should like to have answered 

 by some powder manufacturer. I hesitated 

 long before giving up the use of black 

 powder, but after a thorough trial of the 

 nitro I found that in all respects, it was 

 better than black. I shall use nitro as long 

 * as I own a gun and have enough money 

 to buy it, but should like to see the price 

 come down to a level with our bank ac- 

 counts, at least. 



John Sallman, Shelby, la. 



Small steel articles — parts of firearms, 

 etc. — may be blued by the following 

 method. Remove all grease from the steel 

 by washing with benzine, or rubbing with 

 clean cotton waste. Put a peck of finely 

 sifted, thoroughly dried wood-ashes, in an 

 iron kettle. Bury the steel to be colored in 

 the ashes, and place the kettle on a stove 

 over a hot fire. Watch the progress of the 

 coloring from time to time, by uncovering 

 a small part of the steel. It will' first turn 

 yellow, then purple, then blue. When blue, 

 take out and place in fine, dry wood-ashes, 

 until cold. 



By this method I have obtained a beauti- 

 ful rich, dark blue, perfectly even in color 

 over all the pieces in the ashes. 



John W. Bowman, Lancaster, Pa. 



I wish to thank Mr. Minsker, Mr. Peter- 

 son, and " 16 Gauge," for their information 

 as to 16 gauge guns, which was published 

 in Recreation, in answer to my query in 

 the August number. 



I should like to ask these gentlemen what 

 black powder loads they use, and if they 

 found same satisfactory? 



In answer to Sandpiper, Osage, Iowa, as 

 to why the Colt people do not advertise in 

 Recreation, would say the same question 

 has puzzled me for a long time. They have 

 been in business many years, and possibly 

 do not try to compete with Marlins, Win- 

 chesters 'or other high grade arms. It 

 seems the same may be said of Hopkins & 

 Allen who seem afraid to advertise in com- 

 petition with other gun makers. Many 

 readers will remember the end of a firm 

 who handled their goods, almost exclu- 

 sively, and who refused to advertise in Rec- 

 reation. 



In my estimation Recreation is the best 

 advertising medium there is, for guns and 

 fishing tackle. 



C. R. Wagner, Oak Park, 111. 



I see that Mr. H. F. Chase, of Amesbury, 

 Mass., protests against the advance in price 

 of nitro powder. I heartily indorse Mr. 

 Chase's kick. I have been a great lover of 

 these powders, but have quit the use of 

 them. I can get black powder for 40 cents 

 a pound that is good enough for me. Nitro 

 powder costs no more to make now, than 

 it did a year ago. 



I. M. Gregory, Lansing, Mich. 



Replying to R. B. B. who asks about Ly- 

 man sights; would say I have had con- 

 siderable experience with both open, and 

 Lyman sights, in hunting large game and 

 at the target. Would advise him to remove 

 his rear open sight, for good shooting. In 

 deer-hunting at dusk, it is impossible to 

 see any rear sight, and I always turn it 

 down and use the bead alone, with fine re- 

 sults. Adirondack. 



Will some sportsman who has used 

 patched bullets, cast in an Ideal cylindrical 

 adjustable mould, in a 30-30 smokeless, 

 Marlin or Winchester rifle, please tell me 

 what effect such bullets have on game? 

 R. M. C, Unity, Pa. 



Would like to know, through Recrea- 

 tion, what its readers have found to be the 

 best load for a gun choked from a 10 gauge 

 breech to a 12 gauge muzzle, using black 

 powder. 



J. H. Haxby, Jacksonville, 111. 



An Australian Mosquito-Proof Tent for 

 10, 15 or 25 subscriptions to Recreation — 

 according to size of tent. Send for circu- 

 lar. This tent is light, compact, water- 

 proof and insect-proof. 



