The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-20
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PISTOLS ARE PRETTY THINGS.
characterization oflsmalI Arms Mt an
Advanced stage These Days.

AuNunteu surge 4 AcSG
From the New York Tribune.
A peep at the showcase where the gilt
taring beauties of the most modern Amer
lean revolver are displayed in any of the
great firearms stores of lower Broadway
suggests strongly the magnitude of the
change that the last decade or two has
brought in the vital art of killing. One
is struck especially by the increasing
slimness of the barrels, which appear to
be approaching without limit the diameter
of an ordinary fountain pen.
DO you sell these things principally for
defense against burglars?' the inquisitive
one asks.
I'VE don't ask any questions of custom
ers" replies a salesman who has been sell
ing firearms for forty years. 81 dare say
most of the reviewers bought by peaceful
citizens are intended as protection against
burglars Then good many people-boJh
men and women-enjoy target shooting
The latter information threw an interest
ing light on the progress OF the falr sex
toward emancipation. But, in view Of re-
cent discussions at The Hague ana all over
the world anent the stopping powers of
the dunn dunn bullet, The question present
ed itself; How would these pretty things
do in sudden tete-a-tete with deter
mined burglar? Would such a bullet
"stor" a burglar so that he would be be-
yond the power of replying in kind?
"CertainIv il would" said tie veteran
salesman "Of course, everybody knows
that the larger the bullet the greater the
shock. Eut these are quite large enough.
You are thinking Of what they talk about
me military rifles. aren't you? Stories
about soldiers beiug shot through and go
ing on as if moth ne had happened? HoI
are leaving cut Of account me dttereht
powers of the powders used. Inc krag-
Jorgensen and the Lee-Metford drive their
buIIets at a muzzle velocity away beyond
arvtbinp Won get from oae Of these re-
vovers. and that is why the bullet can
make clean little hole through a man
thaf he VIII hardly notice. The revolVets
we sell now are mes ~ g and & cafbres
Wei. that is a much larger calbre man
the army aud navy rifles have, and the
noVder used does not give near.y as hig1
a velocity. The conse quence is, the WounI
is much more llcerat5d.'
From which IL appear that the strength
of The common domestic revolver IS, like
womans in lis weakness. The smoke
+-ss Dowder Of the army and navy is so
powerful and produces sucn Vl9Ient I'M
nact on brecch-blocks, that standing or
der in the two services cautions an VINO
,,sa reviewers not to ~ empty revolver
cartridge shells with long range arms row
der. The smokelCss powder used in the
tralo Cor revolver target practice and anti
burg,q ar cartridges is much less violent
COMPOUND
Il may be that the steady Improvement
in the appearance Of revolvers has
charmed women. but. upon inquiry. il turn
ed ont that women are beginning to buy
REVIEWERS for purposes less sporuve than
target practice IN this show case.
meme The pearl handled articles Of often
Give and defensive luxury, with the chase /
barrels and plated fittings, were one or two
tiny things chat could not have been made
for target practice, because their barrels
were too short.
"T,adics carry those things in their
nuffs sometimes" said another salesman,
"and sometimes in satchels."
.s,r,,,o nerves of the sex are getting
stranger | suppose" said the inquisltive
| one. -, re - T.,
| ,...toria ms gone out of fashion. or these
things would be just so many tragedies in
embryo"