438 PROGRESS OF THE SMALL ARMS MANUFACTURE. 
duced in Birmingham by manufacturers, who make also sundry imple- 
ments connected with the trade, such as turnscrews, nipple keys, lock 
vices, &c. 
The bayonets required for the military trade, form an important 
branch : they are made in Birmingham and West Bromwich. The sword 
bayonet, which has been largely adopted, is generally produced by the 
same manufacturers. Scabbard making is a distinct branch ; scabbards 
are of two kinds, steel and leather. 
On reference to the Birmingham directory of the present year (1865), 
we find 599 names as manufacturers, engaged in the different branches 
of the trade. Of these 174 are gun makers. Of the remainder the 
greater number are makers of different parts of the gun. Others again 
are workmen, such as stockers, finishers, engravers, &c. These are of 
the class who are out-workers, employing a few assistants, and work at 
the same time for different masters. 
Gun making or " setting up," is again very much subdivided. It is 
only on the more important establishments that all the branches are 
carried on on the premises of the gun maker. More or less, outworkers 
are engaged in every branch. This system makes it extremely difficult 
to obtain a correct estimate of the number of workmen employed in the 
trade. Probably no master can tell how many hands he is employing 
at any given time, and the number varies from month to month with 
the demand. About ten years ago an endeavour was made to ascertain 
the number of hands engaged, and as the workmen themselves assisted 
in the enquiry, it was at the time no doubt a tolerably correct estimate. 
The number is less than at the present time, and probably it does not 
represent more than half the number called into requisition by the 
American demand during the war. With trifling exceptions, women are 
employed only in one branch, that of " making off," or giving the final 
sand papering and polish to the stocks, a light and not unsuitable em- 
ployment. A few women are employed in polishing and barrel boring. 
It is difficult to say why such work has fallen into their hands, as it is 
both dirty and laborious. 
The list of workmen employed estimates the total number at 7,340. 
Of these 3,420 are engaged in producing the materials, the barrel em- 
ploying 700, the lock 1,200, the bayonet 500, and so on. 
Setting up these materials into guns employ 3,920 men. Of these the 
three chief branches are the stockers, screwers, and finishers. Each of 
these branches, with its sub-branches, is estimated to employ 1,000 men. 
The stocker lets the barrel and lock into the stock, and roughly shapes 
the stock. The screwer lets in the furniture and remaining parts of the 
gun, and further shapes the stock. The finisher takes the gun to pieces, 
and distributes the several parts to the browner of the barrel, the polisher, 
the engraver, &c, &c, and when they are returned he puts the gun to- 
gether, and finally adjusts the several parts. 
