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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
barrel. Should rust have eaten in too deeply it cannot be repaired, 
but otherwise it may be repaired by the process of “ leading,” or by 
“ lapping.” 
Plugs are issued to test enlargement in the bore—which is more likely 
to be found in wrought-iron than in steel barrels. Should the rejecting 
plug pass into the bore, it does not follow that the barrel should be con¬ 
demned, unless at trial at a target the shooting of the piece is found 
to be wild or unsatisfactory. 
A dent can generally be repaired, but a bulge cannot. 
Wrought-iron barrels are frequently bent from the soldiers using their 
rifles for slinging or carrying weights over their shoulders. Barrels so 
damaged can be straightened again. 
The sights, if broken, can be renewed. 
As to the furniture and cleaning rods, broken parts should be renewed. 
All minor repairs of arms in use—such as furbishing, cleaning, 
browning, repairing locks, and supplying deficient parts—are executed 
by armourer-serjeants, who must perform free of charge all repairs 
required to the arms (including lances, pistols, swords, and scabbards) 
in possession of their respective corps; and to this end they will 
examine and clean them periodically, and. brown the barrel of each 
rifle every second year, or oftener if necessary. 
The sums to be levied against a regiment or corps on the return of 
arms into store will be only for the cost of such repairs as ought to 
have been executed by the armourer-serjeant, or for the repair of damage 
done through carelessness or intentionally. 
Not only a forge and set of tools, but a box containing a certain per¬ 
centage of the various parts of rifles, pistols, swords, &c., are supplied at 
the public expense to armourer-serjeants of the regular service for the 
repair of arms. 
A complete list of these articles, interchangeable and non-interchauge- 
able, together with general instruction for the repair of arms, will be 
found in the Royal Warrant and “ Regulations for the Equipment of 
Her Majesty^s Army,” Yol. III., 1870; and the cost of the various parts 
of the arms will be found in the “ Priced Yocabulary of Stores used in 
Her Majesty^s Service, 1875.” 
The following “ Instructions for Armourers,” signed by Lieut.-Col. 
Close, R.A., Supt. Royal Small-Arms Factory, have recently been 
issued by the War Office :— 
CARE, REPAIR, &c., OF THE MARTINI-HENRY RIFLE, MARK I. 
1. All parts connected with the breech action should be kept perfectly clean; 
but all cutting substances, such as emery, sand-paper, &c.,' are to be strictly avoided 
in cleaning. The buff stick must not be used to any part of the action, 
2. Oil onlv should be used in cleaning the parts. 
3. Care must be taken not to injure the face of the block in cleaning, especially 
the striker hole. 
4. A damp rag, flannel or tow, is all that is usually required to clean the barrel 
out. If much water is used, it is liable to run into the action. The butt should 
be raised when washing out. After washing out, an oily rag or flannel should be 
