18 
THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 
for a snap* shot, while the lighter Gun was carried before 
him constantly, with his left hand under the barrel, and 
his right on the checquer of the stock, so that he was pre- 
pared to take advantage of every bird, or other object which 
rose unexpectedly before him. The barrels should always 
be made of the finest twisted nails, taken from the feet or 
old shoes of horses, which are wrought in bars; they are 
collected by the apprentice boys of blacksmiths, through- 
out England, and carefully treasured up until the Bir- 
mingham trader makes his periodical visit, not for the sole 
purpose of buying these nails, but for obtaining orders; 
and having settled his business with the master, he applies 
to the boys, and inquires how man y pies they have to dis- 
pose of. These pies are bunches of nails enclosed in a 
small ring of iron, of about three or four inches in diameter, 
and for which the trader generally pays at the rate of from 
ten to twelve cents per pound, and is the apprentices per- 
quisite. This article, properly prepared, constitutes the 
strongest and best material known in the trade for Gun 
barrels, excepting the Damascus iron, prepared from old 
Damascus sword blades. 
The real twisted stub barrels, as they are called, are 
generally confined to the London market, and sell very 
high. Those Guns which find their way into this country, 
are only imitations of the London article, but being pre- 
pared from well wrought iron, they so closely resemble 
the former article, as to defy detection except by the most 
skilful connoisseurs; and indeed the imitation has some- 
what the advantage in its general appearance, over the real 
article, as it respects its beauty, for being welded with thin 
alternate bars of very soft iron, the browning acid acts with 
greater rapidity and throws out a more distinct figure of 
the twist. But in making choice of a Gun, the barrel 
should be carefully examined, and if any rotten weldings, 
called greys by the workmen, should appear on them, or 
in the neighbourhood of the breech, such barrels should be 
rejected; for although they may have withstood the proof 
charge, insisted on by an act of parliament, which is truly 
severe, they will not long resist the repeated insinuations of 
the saltpetre occasioned by numerous discharges, and is 
continually acting within the blemish, until sooner or later 
it will burst the Gun. These greys exist more or less in 
all twisted barrels, but least in the Damascus, on which 
account the latter are preferred, by many persons, to 
all others. The next in reputation are those which are 
termed the wire twist, and are known by their regular and 
formal lines, and are said to stand a very high proof 
charge. But it is of little importance to the sportsman, 
whether the barrels are made of twisted nails,. Damascus 
* A snap shot is that, when a Gun is brought to bear immediately on the object, 
at the moment it rests against the shoulder, and fired at the same instant. 
blades, or wire, unless indeed they are sound and perfect 
of their kind. The next quality requisite in the barrel, is 
a smooth cylindrical calibre, free from what is called ring- 
bore; and the breech (the patent breech) should be at its 
entrance a continuation of the calibre, without a shoulder 
or set-off, which is very seldom the case with the factors, 
or what is called the export guns. As an article of trade, 
the London Guns are too high for the American market, 
ranging in price from two hundred, to three hundred and 
fifty dollars. Sales of this article are chiefly effected in 
England, France, and the East Indies. 
The common mode of tapping the barrels to receive the 
patent breech, is to cut the thread of the screw at once, in 
the best London mode; it is a rule to cut out about one 
fourth, or one third of the thickness of the barrels, before 
entering the tap, so as to admit the breech being cupped 
the full size of the calibre; such Guns shoot much stronger, 
and place their shot more regular, whilst those Guns which 
are less perfect in this particular, throw their shot in clus- 
ters, and in some instances in such masses as to resemble 
bullets, which are serious defects, existing more or less in 
all Guns in proportion to the shoulder or set-off of the 
breech, and may be explained in the following manner: 
The first pressure or effect of the powder, is on the centre 
of the shot, which is started some distance before it can 
act on the whole charge; consequently, the shot on the 
sides of the barrels becomes jammed, and from the great 
pressure of the centre shot, is united in masses of lead; 
and another consequent evil is, that the Gun becomes so 
foul, as to endanger the safety of the shooter, and is one of 
the principal causes why so many accidents occur, espe- 
cially among the French and German Guns of the cheaper 
kind, with which the American market is glutted, and 
which the wise sportsman will scrupulously avoid. These 
remarks, however, are not intended to apply to the French 
or German Guns of the better kind, and of which we shall 
treat in some future remarks. 
In choosing a Gun, attention should be paid to the lock, 
the cock of which should rise from its resting place, the 
nipple, perfectly free, and rather light, with a regular and 
even purchase until it comes to the full bent, or cock; the 
sear or dog, telling in the tumbler two sharp and distinct 
strokes, clear and with a sort of ringing sound, which is 
the best criterion for persons not skilled in mechanics, 
although these qualities are sometimes found in very bad 
and unsafe locks. When the cock is drawn back to its 
greatest extent, the main spring should be perfectly 
straight, and when let down again, possessing a gentle 
curve; the spring should not be too strong, but very lively, 
and free from friction. The other materials should be 
made of steel, in place of case hardened iron, and consider- 
