Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-09-16
AN AMATEUR GUNMAKER


The following from tho New York For
est and Streon, one Of the leading sporting
journals Of tho country, will bo read with
interest by Prof. Halls many friends here.
The guns described are now Oh exhibition
in tho window Of Buchmiller's store. ON
North Queen street
Readers Of the Forest and Stream may
recall \ notice which appeared in these
columns some time since Of the work of
Prof. VIM. B. Hall, Of Lancaster, Pa, As
an amateur gunmaker. We have Just had
the pleasure of examining two new guns
recently completed by Prof. Hall, which
cMbOtly IN their plan something entirely
novel in the construction of fro arms.
We are aware that this is saying q great
deal, for vast amount Of inventive ingen-
uity has been expended upon such work.
The records Of tho patent office at Wash
ington contain thousands OF specifications
Of inventions designed to improve the
various styles Of fire arms aud efforts i'm
this direction have never been moro active
than during the last fow years since the
introduction and adoption Of the brooch
loading systems. In the matter Of breech
loading small arm alone, thero were filed
more than 500 inventions in the years Of
tho war and up to 1871.
Several of the novelties AMI improve
mcnts in the construction Of firearms have
been conceived by persons who were not
regular gunmakcrs. Another fact which
is illustrated by tho present instance is
this, that men who arc endowed with
special musical gifts arc apt to be also
gifted with mechanical ingenuity.
Prof. Hall is t:a,:i,.! -: vocal music,
having for IL time h,!,l ihIS chair in the
,A,Arx II
him mcchaui ical whsk las been Il passion
from bt,yi,Hhi. - sin' ,...I> .,.:.' i,e fitted
up il room at his, :.,.n - j, workshop,
fitting il out with :sn ux;.,,,vo assortment
Of tools, many Of which, tue to his bent,
he made himself. Ia this workshop tho
most of his leisure tino has been spont,
making this on that article, ~ his fancy
dictated.
Having bacn u sp1rts.ll,.n from early
yOnth-his first hunting grounds were in
that spOrtsmen's stronghold, Western
New YOrk-it was but natural that Prof
Halls mechanical genius should DO direct
ell to tho shotgun. Some seven years ago
he determined that the only gan fur him
to use in tho field WAS one which, should
have been constructed by his own hands.
Acting on this happy Thought. lac secured
4 pair of barrels i'll the rough, and having,
maize his own lock and the other
parts, tittcd them together. The first
gun, like several Others that fol
lowed, was simply copy, built
On the model of guns oil we'll known
makers. llo WAS soon convinced, how
ever, that the mechanism Of these models
Was too complicated. especially in the
locks. lie accordingly began t" study
the problem presented, ami d:ew several
patterns of new devices, all the time :sim
ing to reduce the number Of pieces ~ the
minimum consistent with strength ami
safety. The result now attained is shown
in tho guns Inspected by us last week.
One Of these il u semi hammer gun, the
rebOnnGing lock of which consists "f five
pieces and the other i hammeriess, the
rebOunding lock Of which is composed Of
four pieces. This is. SD far as We know,
the simplest mechanism employ ell in the
lock of any hammerless gun.
The gun is, besides being a most beau
tiful piece of work, q marvel OF simplicity
and safety in action. The old style OF
handspring having been entirely discard
ed. q straight piece or steel is substituted
in its place, this single piece acting ut once
Us tho handspring and the cooking lever.
The locks are very easily aud automatically
OR dropping the barrels. Openin. the
gun also automatically locks the triggers
SD securely that the gun canuOt be pre-
maturely discharged by any possible tam
perrin. with the triggers and owing to the
peculiar motion Of the scar, the bent
or notch in the hammer is so matte that
the scar hooks into it j.; this, with an ad
ditiOnal safety notch in the hammer. rem
ders i premature explosion by i jar alsn
impossible. The hammer AMI sears are
very solid, and the whole mechanism. OF
the locks appears to us to be strong AMI
durable, and not liable to get out Of order.
The opening lever, which also moves the
automatic safety stop which locks the
trigger, is SO placed that it may BE-
easily reached by tho fOrctinser of the
right hand Cor the hand with which the
triggers are pulled), AMI after the gun has
been closed again and the shooter is ready
to discharge it, the same finger removes
tho safety catch and unlocks the trigger.
The top Of tho gun, OF course. is entirely
free from projections OF any kind. Much
ingenuity is displayed by tho maker in
tho various devices for ready compensa
ton Of the wear Of any Of the pieces which
may be exposed to friction. In short,
Prof. Halls amateur made gun has I'M
pressed us as II beautiful pisc, oi mccha.,-
ism. This arm, by reason Of its simplicity.
strength, durability, ease: OF action, and
We should add, grace 0f outline and beauty
Of finish, is one that cannot fail to interest
all SpOrtsmen who may be So fortunate rs
to have the opportunity Of inspecting it.
The semi hammer gun is in principle the
same rs the hammOrless, save that it is
worked by the semi-hammers. which,
while to ono accustomed to tho usual
hammers they answer every purpose Ot
the old style, DO not riso above tho limo Of
sight on the top Of the gun.
To prevent any possible miscOnceptiOn.
wo repeat that Prof. Hall is y professions!
gentleman whose mechanical work is his
rest and recreation i'm leisure hours. lie
does not make guns to sell lie makes
them to crafty his own tastes it is his
amusement, and i most sensible and salts
flying style Of amusement. And having
made Il gun he knows how to use it. To
bring down bird with gun OF ones own
invention and construction is, perhaps, the
highest realization Of the truest pleasure
of tho field.
THIS Mornings Court.
This morning court met at 10 O'Clock
with both judges present.
Hall Nash, who Was arrested for failing
to pay money which he was ordered to do
by the court, was sentenced tO pay it.
Sarah Hinder was sentenced tn pay the
costs in case of assault and battery.
which she brought and which was ignored
by the grand Jury, which body put the
costs upon her. Both she and Nash went