The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-26

Is heard the frequent gun.
To be sure, while we have plenty of wheat
here, the old stubble is as bygone as the long
single-barrel fint-lock that the bard who penned
the foregoing lyric probably took pot shots with
at coveys on the ground. We have changed all
that in these days, and now down, charge" is
seldom heard, quick work is the order of the day,
and 'hie on, boys" the order of the horn on
wide prairie and in bosky wood. How long to
see the dogs quarter the ground in free ranging
strides, then halt and draw on the birds-whirr!
bang bang! and what stays behind goes to bag
But none of it this year for me-so went gun
ming in the stories by way of apleasant aggravat-
ing Of my misery. If you can't get a thing it is
some consolation to talk it over
The gun has evoluted marvelously in the past
twenty years. We can remember when the pin
fire first came In; then the central fire; and old
sportsmen patted their longtime friends and
scorned the guns that broke in two. When a
breech-loader went in the air, and q good many
of the early weapons were inclined that way
how the chorus of II told you so" rang out and
then. when choke bores came to the front, how
complete was the discontinue of the old boys
Now we have hammerless and magazine guns,
and, strange to say, we are getting back to the
small oores used by our grandfathers, for the
other day held in my hand twenty which was
listed at 1910, very suitable for lady," and any
number of sixteens about the same figure. That
was an imported gum but there are some mighty
good weapons made in this country, although
the great majority are imported, either finished
or in the rough, from the workshops of Birming-
ham and Liege.
the cheapest article on the market is whole
sailed at ST. go with a discount of % per cent for
cash, and is in high favor among the colored
population of the South. The next grades are
81 and So. %, and you can get q double barrel
for $40 These are muZzleioaders. The cheapest
breech-loader is musket converted with the
Sneider action. This will cost you So. 3d. and
is clumsy but strong weapon. There are a
snaps, and other snaps, ranging up to $40, but
none of which are of much account, and the
double guns which run from $11 up. A war
ranted gun of American finish can be purchased
from $50 to $75, which will do as good work as
anyone could ask.
But the coming gun is the hammerless, and
very handsome ones are finished in this country,
and wholesaled at from 500 to 1925 in the lower
grades, to 1926 for finest work. Magazine guns
are also coming TO the front, at about the same
figures, and although these latter are as yet some
what OF an experiment, the experience OF those
who handle rifles is in their favor.
A novelty this year is duck gun, composed of
seven 32-bore barrels nclosed in one which
shoots simultaneously seven long bullet cart
ridges, and will kill at 200 yards. Other new
ideas are combination shot and rifle barrels, side
by side, and. also. over and under, and new
double gun, which is choked and rified on the
choke, SO that bullet is twisted when fired.
Just one word to the wise: The list prices are
subject to very smart discounts and if you
make purchase do it regular" and make your
own bargain. GRAYDoN JOHNSTON.