146 



THE CHOICE OF GUNS.-V. 



THERE is not very mucli diUerence in quality, material 

 or workmanship between guns of equal price made by 

 machinery and turned out in large quantities for the general 

 trade by the difEerent American manufacturers. The work 

 of each establishment has its individual characteristics, and 

 these peculiarities, as they happen to be admired by one 

 sportsman and disliked by another, lead to opinions and 

 selections as diverse and numerous as the styles of the guns. 

 But some of these peculiarities add to, while others detract 

 fiom, the duralnlity and appearance and, consequently, the 

 value of the gun in which tliey exist. 



The principal American manufacturers of moderate-priced 

 hammer grins are the Parker Brothers, the Colt Patent Fire- 

 arms Manufacturing Company, E. Remington & Sons, the 

 American Arms Company, L. C. Smith, Harrington & 

 Richardson, the Ithaca Gun Company, Forehand & Wads- 

 worth and N. R. Davis & Co. 



Of all the guns mentioned, the Parker, as recently im- 

 proved, is perhaps the handsomest model, and it is fully as 

 well made and as neutly finished as any, and is perhaps as 

 well balanced as any of them except the old Fox gun, form- 

 erly made by the American Arms Company. Even before 

 the recent improvements which have been made in it, the 

 Parker, with its lifted action, its single lug, without binge- 

 check or extension rib, fairly held its own among American 

 guns; with its extended top rib, its improved checkbook, its 

 solid head plungers, its top levrr, its rebounding bar locks 

 and its hammers below the line of sight, it is very much im- 

 proved. 



The regular sizes of the Parker are 10 and 12 gauge, but 

 8, 16 and 30 gauge gnns are made to order at a slight ad- 

 vance on the price of the regular sizes of corresponding 

 grades. This gun is made as light as 7 pounds in 13-gauge, 

 and as light as 6 pounds in 16-gauge. 



The extension rib of the Parker is not of a shape to pos- 

 sess much holding power, and the improvement of the rib 

 would still further add to the merit of this excellent gun; 

 but the old Parker has proved its durability even without an 

 extended rib. Indeed, viewed from the standpoint of a 

 sportsman, I know of no foreign gun of any make whatever 

 costing net within 25 or 30 per cent, more than the $75 or 

 $85 grade Parker (which, by the way, I consider, compara- 

 tively speaking, price being kept in view, the most valuable 

 and desirable grades) that equals it, in workmanship, dura- 

 bility, shooting powers or in any otlier of those points which 

 commend a gun to the practical sportsman, the ajsthetical 

 sportsman to the contrary notwithstanding. This is high 

 praise, but the gun dese rves it, and it is not one whit stronger 

 than of riglit belongs to this excellent home-made gun. 



The Parker is not a double-bolted gun, but is strongly fast- 

 ened liy its single bolt locking into the rear bottom lug, at 

 the greatest distance from the hinge-joint, and there is little 

 danger of the gun becoming loose by any fair usage. The 

 forward lug has a shoulder which catches upon the hinge- 

 check, and admirably serves its jjurpose of taking the strain 

 off the hinge-joint, when the gun is opened. The locking- 

 bolt is held back by a tiip till the gun is closed. 



The thumb-piece" of the Parker hammers is hardly so long 

 as it ought to be, but it is not short enough to be seriously 

 objectionable. The hammers are fastened on with flat- 

 headed screws, which I have observed, in one or two guns, 

 to have a tendency to work loose from the manipulations of 

 the hammers. If screws with nut heads were used, as in the 

 Colt, Ihey would more nearly conform to my ideas of what 

 they should be; but this is an individual opinion merely, and 

 probably is not shared by many sportsmen. The patent 

 fore-end snap-fastening is used on the Parker, and it is both 

 convenient and durable. 



It is hardly necessary for me to say a word about the 

 shooting powers of the Parker. Indeed there is so little dif- 

 ference between the standard makes of American guns in 

 this particular, that it is hardly proper to mention the slioot- 

 iug of one without repealing the same language with respect 

 to all the others that I shall describe and recommend. 1 

 may say, however, that for field shooting no gun is superior 

 to the Parker. 



The Colt is of more recent origin than the Parker, and has 

 always had severaP of the improvements which are new to 

 the Parker. It was formerly made with small-headed firing 

 pins and without the extension of the top rib, but it now has 

 solid firing-pins and extended rib, and has, and always had, 

 double bolts, top lever, patent fore-end, rebounding bar 

 locks, and automatic firing pins. The act of opening the 

 breech withdraws the firing-pins by a positive motion with- 

 out springs, thus avoiding the danger of premature explosion 

 by the contact of the points of the pins with the primers. 



The Colt is well made and of great durability and shoot 

 iug powei's. For hard work it has no superior of its class. 

 It is not so symmetrical imd handsome a gun as the Parker, 

 nor I think, hardly so well balanced. Its high and rather 

 awkward looking hammers and its huge top-lever with im- 

 mense screw head, detract considerably from its appearance; 

 and in my opinion the high hammers are a serious objection 

 to the gun for wing-shooting. 



On some grades of the Colt gun there is used an excellent 

 device for taking the strain oil of the hinge-joint when the 

 gun is opened. I do not like the check so well as the 

 iNichol's Linge-check used on the Parker and Lefever guns, 

 as it is not so simple, and is, consequently, more likely to get 

 out of order, but it seems to answer the purpose very well. 

 I think the Colt hinge-check is only used on their guns of 

 the ^70 grade or upward. It ought to be placed on all 

 grades. The company can very well afford to do so, as the 

 profit on all machine-made guns is larger than it is popularly 

 supposed to be. The failure to place the hinge-check on the 

 cheajjer guns (where perhaps its need is greatest) ought to 

 detract from their sales, for the gun is not complete Avithout 

 it. The Colt check consists of a shding bolt attached to the 

 forward lug which projects against the bottom of the slot in 

 tlie frame when the gun is opened. The extension of the 

 top rib of the Colt is of the doll's head form, which, for rea- 

 sons already indicated, is objectionable. But I do not wish 

 to be understood as saying tliai the Colt is not a good gun, 

 quite the contrary. It stands in the front rank, and it and 

 tne Parker are among the most popular of them all with 

 sportsmen. 



The Colt is only made in 10 and 12 gauge, and I believe 

 7i pounds is the lightest weight in 12-bores, and 8^ the hght- 

 est 10-bore. 



The Remington model of 1882 is somewhat similar in 

 general appearance to the Colt, but it is hardly as well 

 finished, and does not present quite so neat an appearance. 

 As formerly made, the gun was opened by lifting the lever, 

 but now it has the regular top lever and is opened by press- 

 ing the lever to the right. The Remington has large head 

 strikers, patent fore-end, extension rib, and is double bolted. 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



The extension is a doll's head, and there is no barrel check. 

 It is a close, hard shooter. 



The lowest grade Remington is made with plain decar- 

 bonized steel barrels, and they are claimed to be safe, sound 

 and durable; but I cannot believe that such barrels as are 

 used in this grade possess any great tenacity, and would not 

 advise their use. They are undoubtedlv safer than the 

 "Fme Damascus Steel Barrels" so often found on the cheap 

 imported guns, but are not equal to the plainest genuine twist. 

 The higher grades of the Remington are well worth the 

 prices at which they are usually sold. The Remington is 

 made in 10 and 12 gauge, but not lighter, I think, than 8 or 

 8}j pounds. 



The Baker gun, manufactured by L. C. Smith, has long 

 stood _ pre-eminent for its fine shooting powers, especially 

 adapting it for water-fowl. It opens by pressing forward 

 the front trigger. The point of locking is at great distances 

 from the hinge, and it has an extension of the top rib dove- 

 taihng into the solid breech. It has rebounding locks with 

 very high hammers, and is made in 12 gauge from 8 to 9 

 pounds, and in 10-gauge from 9 to 11 pounds. The Baker 

 is also made with three barrels, a rifle barrel, chambered for 

 the .44-cal. Winchester cartridge, underneath the shot barrels 

 in the place of the bottom rib. This three barrel gun is made 

 with either 10 or 12-gauge shot barrels so light as 9 pounds. 

 In many respects it is a remarkable gun, and, in certain 

 localities, must be a desirable one. 



The rifle hammer of the three-barrel Baker is hung in the 

 trigger-plate, and extends upward between the two shotgun 

 locks. I' is operated by cocking the left hand shotgun lock 

 and pushing forward "the thumb piece of the rifle hammer, 

 which stands immediately in front of the triggers and inside 

 the trigger guard. Pulling the rear trigger throws the rifle 

 hammer and causes it to strike its firing-pin and stop, thus 

 not allowing the left hammer to reach its firing-pin. After 

 tiring the rifle, the cocking of the left hammer throws the 

 rifle lock out of gear, and renders the shotgun locks entirely 

 independent of it. The acUon of the three-barrel is the same 

 as that of the double-barrel Baker gun. 



I believe the manufacture of the Baker double-barrel gun 

 has been discontinued, as the maker has made a very great 

 improvement upon ii in the inti-od action of the Smith gun. 

 This gun is the latest American model, combines all the 

 recent improvements in hammer guns, and, according to my 

 notions, is constructed upon sounder mechanical principles 

 than any other. Manufactured l)y the maker of the Baker 

 gun and bored in the same way, its shooting powers are 

 assured, while the principles of its action must give it great 

 strength and durability. 



In all guns which are fastened by means of bolts locking 

 into bottom lugs, the metal of the frame is necessarily more 

 or less cut away to receive the lugs and bolting mechanism. 

 The Smith gun is not bolted by means of a bottom lug; it 

 has a powerful extension of the top rib, brazed between the 

 barrels and extending backward into the standing breech, 

 and is locked by a double cross-locking rotary bolt. This 

 rotary bolt is made from one solid piece of steel, and has a 

 square forward arm which passes completelj'' through the 

 mortise made for it in the extension of the rib and under the 

 metal of the frame, three-sixteenths of an inch. The rear 

 flange of the bolt pas.ses through the slot in the end of the 

 extension. Thus, it will be seen, the gun is bolted at the 

 greatest practical distance from the hinge-joint. 



The gun is unlocked by means of a top lever having a 

 post extending downward; by pressing the lever to the right, 

 a coupler, attached to the post and straddling it, forces the 

 locking-bolt back, where it is held by a trip until the barrels 

 are closed, thus avoiding one-half the wear and reducing the 

 force necessary to close the gun. The coupler is provided 

 with a hinge-screw to hold it in position, which compensates 

 for wear. "The spring which throws the bolts home is made 

 long, so as to increase its elasticity and lessen the danger of 

 its being broken ; but if it should get broken in the field, the 

 gun could still be operated. 



In the Smith gun, the metal of the frame in front of hinge- 

 joint center is not cut away, but the solid cross-section of 

 the frame is left intact to support the hinge-roll the entire 

 length of the surface which comes in contact with the lug. 

 The lug, which turns upon the hinge-pin, or roll, passes 

 entirely through the frame and is well fitted ; thus the bear- 

 ing surface of the lug is increased, and any dirt or obstruc- 

 tion may pass through the frame. 



The frame of the gun has a slot for receiving the eccentric 

 pin of the rotary joint-check. The ejector passes through 

 the diameter, and is operated by the rotation of the eccentric 

 joint-check. When the gun is opened to load, the weight of 

 the barrels is taken off the hinge-joint by the eccentric pin 

 of the joint-check catching agamsi the angle of the receiving 

 slot in the frame. The point of the ejector, when the bar- 

 rels are thus caught and held, has passed just beyond the 

 point of the ejector rod, so that, if desired, the cartridges 

 may be pushed entirely home in the chamber before the gun 

 is closed. 



The locks of the gun are rebounding bar locks, with the 

 mainspring let into the lock-plate to a sufficient depth to 

 bring the center of the spring on a line with the center of 

 the tumbler; the hammers are low, cocking beyond the line 

 of sight, and the gun is provided with large-head, direct 

 strikers. The hammers and strikers are almost identical in 

 arrangement and appearance with those of the Pai kei-. 



I ought to mention that the gun has the patent detachable 

 fore-end, provided with a compensating spring to take up the 

 wear. The Smith is made 10 and 12 gauge, from 71 to .11 

 pounds' weight. 



The Smith gun has hardly been long enough before the 

 public to have its durability thoroughly tested by actual 

 use — the surest and best of aU tests — but 1 do not hesitate to 

 predict for it great popularity among those who desire to 

 possess a gun constructed upon correct mechanical prin- 

 ciples; nor do I hesitate to assert that these principles, com- 

 bined with good material and workmanship, must of neces- 

 sity give the Smith gun great durability, and great power to 

 withstand the strains and wear and tear of constant, and not 

 unf requently rough, usage, 



I have now noticed those American machine-made guns, 

 manufactured for the trade, which seem to me to possess 

 most merit. The Ithaca gun, made by the Ithaca Gun Com- 

 pany, deserves, however, more than a passing notice . For 

 the quality of the work it seems to be remarkably cheap; and 

 I do not know that I would not select the Ithaca if low price 

 were a prime object. I have never used the gun, but those 

 who have used it speak in high praise of it. It is the inven- 

 tion of the patentee of the Baker gun. and is an improve- 

 ment on it. It is a strong and durable top lever gun, with 

 low hammers and rebounding locks. It has a "self-compen- 

 sating" fore-endj but no hinge-check. It locks in the rear 

 bottom lug, as did the old Baker. The extension of the top 



fSEPT, 17, 1886. 



rib is like that of the Baker, and does not possess any special 

 merit. ^ 



The Davis gun is sold at a low price, and is wed worth it. 

 It is by no means a handsome model, appearing particularly 

 awkward through the frame. I have used one of these guns 

 and found it a serviceable, sound gun. It has a long and 

 very strong frame and wide and sohd lug, large'' head 

 plungers, and low rebounding hammers. For rough work, 

 where beauty is no object, it is doubtless a good gun for the 

 money. 



The Harrington & Richardson hammer gun and the new 

 gun which Forehand & Wadsworth have recently put upon 

 the market, are similar in appearance, are of the ordinary 

 top-snap model, with doll's head extension of the top rib, 

 sohd head strikers, rebounding locks, no hinge-check, etc. 

 They have no special merit— no extra meritorious features— 

 that require special notice, They are, doubtless, sound guns; 

 but, with the Ithaca and the Davis, just mentioned, belong 

 to tlic "top snap" family, without special features to dis- 

 tinguish them. 



It is hardly necessary for me to say that the Smith, the 

 Parker, and the Colt are my favorites among the American 

 hammer guns. They are not only top snaps like the other 

 guns mentioned, but possess valuable features not possessed 

 by any of the others, and are certainly as well made as any. 

 The reasons for my preference I have endeavored briefly to 

 point out. Every merit which the other makes of American 

 guns have, the Smith, the Parker and the Colt possess, and 

 in addition they have features of value in the order in which 

 these three makes of guns are mentioned. 



But of the old Fox gun it is but just to say, that of all 

 American machine-made guns it is tlie best balanced, and, 

 when closed, the handsomest. But its action always con- 

 demned it in my eyes. It is opened by means of a thumb- 

 piece placed on the back-strap. Pressing this forward with- 

 draws the bolt, and the barrels, instead of tilting forward, 

 tm-n outward by a lateral motion. The gun is no longer 

 manufactured; but for the quality of its material and work- 

 manship it deserves high praise. Notwithstanding the in- 

 convenient action with which it is handicapped, it is abund- 

 antly worth the greatly reduced price at which the guns re- 

 maining on hand are sold, and it would be hard to get more 

 value for your money than by buying a Fox. But the action 

 is a long way behind the times and will hardly find 

 favor with smy but those whose long use and famiharity 

 with its peculiarity have overcome its awkwardness. If the 

 makers of the Fox would bring out a gun constructed on 

 principles which the progress of the times demands, and 

 build it with that honesty and care which have always 

 characterized the material and workmanship of the Fox, it 

 could not fail to meet with the success to which its merits 

 would entitle it. 



Although writing of double gun,s, it may not be improper 

 to say in this connection that the American Arms Co. (the 

 makers of the Fox gun) are now making a single barrel gun 

 that surpa.sses any other single gun of which I have any 

 knowledge. It is "half hammerless;" that is, it is cockecE 

 by an outside lever, while the hammer is internal. It is made 

 in 10 and 12-gauge to weigh from 6 to 9| pounds. 



Ah-Pj3. 



. A VERACIOUS RELATION. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



As we had no dog to use for grouse we concluded to make 

 the hunt include everything in the shape of game or vermin. 

 Our object in taking a week for an outing was to enjoy our- 

 selves in any and every way practicable. And whether we 

 hunt or fish, he around in the woods and loaf, gather wild 

 cherries and wild herbs, we are sure to be benefited there- 

 by. Jack carried a 10 gauge cylinder while the one that I 

 used belonged to a friend. I liave re-bored it for him and 

 take it on this trip to test it on game. My orders were to 

 "bore the right barrel full choke and the left chock full." 1 

 had little faith in this kind of gun for wing-,shooting, but. 

 have a better opinion of it now. I used brass shells, 4^ 

 drams Hazard sea .shooting powder, one pink-edge wad on 

 powder and one on shot, 1 ounce No. 4 chilled shot. This- 

 gave a good pattern, a good killing circle, together with 

 tremendous penetration. 



The sun was just rising above the mountains when we 

 entered the woods. We saw some squirrels, etc., but not a 

 grouse did we find until after 9 o'clock. Jack suggested 

 that we "try the berry pasture at the edge of the wood, for," 

 said he, "we shall be apt to find the birds where there is 

 something for them to eat." We made for a pasture where 

 blackberry briers were plenty on a side hill near the woods, 

 and Jack's suggestion proved to be a good one, for on tramp- 

 ing through the blueberry bushes and briers we soon found 

 them, and whirr — whirr — whirr went six or eight of them 

 on a bee line for the woods. Jack raised his gun and coolly 

 knocked over two of them, one with each barrel, while I 

 scored a couple of the most unpardonable misses that I ever 

 made in my life. " WeU," said Jack, "it may be none of my 

 business, but if that is the way you kill your birds, it is far 

 different from your stories about your killing four or five in 

 succession." I must acknowledge that I winced some under 

 this keen thrust, but Jack was smarting under his defeat of 

 the day before, and so I forgave him. The fact was that I 

 was too sure of the birds and so did not hold on them, but I 

 did not forget those two blunders the rest of the trip. 

 "Now," said Jack, "we are not going to find many single 

 birds, for the c<weys are not scattered yet, so when we do 

 start them doubles will be in order." In a short time we 

 found four more and this time 1 made a double shot, and 

 both of them were killed clean at the longest range that I 

 ever dropped a bird. I will not teh a great story about the 

 distance, for I did not measure it exaeily, but one thing 1 

 did note, that is, No. 4 chilled shot will do great execution 

 when there is plenty of powder behind it. Meanwhile Jack 

 was not idle, for although making a miss with the first bar- 

 rel he winged the second one, and after a lively chase through 

 the briers he managed to catch hi m and wring his neck.. 

 We were in good spirits now, for we had made a good morn- 

 ing's work. 



As the sun was pretty warm out in the open we thought 



we would take to the shade, and as we had as many birds 

 already as we cared for then, we did not hunt for them 

 longer. But late said otherwise, for just as we reached the 

 other side of the field another large covey flushed and again 

 I got a double, while poor Jack, i never shall forget the look 

 that he gave me when he found that he had missed both 

 ^irds It was then that we compared notes as regards the 

 merits of choke and cylinder boring and we both came to 

 the conclusion that the full choke is the best thing for a 10- 

 gauge, for if you want to shoot ducks, foxes or large game 

 you have a good gun for such work, while if you wafit to 

 shoot grouse, etc., in cover, you can use light charges of 



