Shot-gun.
A smooth-bore fire-arm for shooting small game.
Shot-guns are frequently made doublebarreled, and of late years the breech-loading principle of Lefaucheux and others has been extensively introduced.
Some breech-loaders, as
Maynard's, are provided with interchangeable rifle and shot barrels.
Fig. 5033 is the
Parker double-barrel, breech-loading gun, made by
Messrs. Parker Brothers,
West Meriden, Conn. A C show the barrels and mechanism in loading, and
B in firing, position.
For loading, the breech of the piece is placed under the right arm; by pressing on the finger-piece
a, the lifter
b is raised, and its beveled side, coming in contact with the screw
c, draws the bolt
d from a mortise in the lug
e, releasing the barrels, which, turning on the joint
j, are ready for the insertion of the cartridges.
In this position, a small hole in the under side of the bolt comes directly over the trip
f, which is thrown upward by the spiral spring
g, and holds it against the lifter, whose top now projects above the frame directly in the line of sight of the gun. After inserting the cartridges, the barrels are brought down by a quick motion with sufficient force to bring the top of the barrel in line with the top of the breechpin; the bottom of the lug
e strikes the trip
f, withdrawing it from the bolt
d, which then enters the mortise in the lug; the cartridges, coming in contact with the face of the frame, are forced into the chambers, and the gun is ready for firing.
As the action of the lifter not only withdraws the bolt from, but forces it into, the mortise of the lug, the fact of the top of the lifter being in place, so that the sportsman can sight along the barrel, affords an assurance that the gun is securely locked.
 |
|
Cartridge. |
An automatic extractor
h inserted in a hole drilled in the lug and extending around and into the chambers of the barrels, serves to withdraw the cartridge-shells.
Its front end rests against a snail on the joint
j, on which the barrels turn; so that in assuming the position
A C, it is forced backward, pushing out the shells sufficiently far to be readily withdrawn by the fingers.
The lock is of the rebounding class; the hammer being automatically thrown back to half-cock after firing by an arrangement which effectually prevents accidental discharge.
See Rebounder.
[
2167]
Fig. 5034 is the metallic shell used; it is made from one piece of metal, and reinforced by a
strengthener soldered to its bottom; the Berdan primer is used in connection therewith, and is pressed home upon the nipple, so as not to project beyond the bottom of the shell, by the device (
Fig. 5035).
 |
|
Capper. |
A reversible loading plug is employed, either for charging the shells or withdrawing the caps.
Fig. 5036 shows the case containing the gun and its appurtenances complete.
