The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-03-06

during the past ten or fifteen years,
four or five high grade revolverS put
upon the market, only two remain, the
Colts and the Smith & Wesson. All
other revOlvers in use in America to-
day are limitations more or less worth
less of these two radically different
types.
A 3S-caliber revolver need not have a
barrel over three inches long. A barrel
of this length is just about as efficient
as a longer barrel, but not so accurate.
However. the difference in accuracy is
not perceptible at short range, up to
fifty feet, for instance. The best pocket
gun is, by all means, the SO Smith &,
Wesson, three-inch barrel, double ac-
ton, blued, hammer gun. Smith &
WesSon manufacture a hammerleSs gun
labeled as a Safety revolver This Is
the most dangerous revolver Smith &
Wei=son manufacture, their claims to
the contrary Notwithstanding. The
writer owned one once and several
times came near losing finger or two.
He then traded it for a hammer gun
of the same size and make, and has
never had an accident since. Every ac-
cident he ever had with a revolver, with
one exception, was with this so-called
safety hammerless." The gun, how
ever, was one of the most accurate the
writer has ever owned. If safety is de-
sired it can be had in a hammer gun
of any size or make by keeping all the
chambers loaded full. The violation of
this rule is the cause of nineteenth Of
all revolver accidents. Either keep
gun loaded full or keep it empty, and
never use a revolver for a plaything or
in fun in any way.
The Colts also manufacture 3S-cal-
iber revolver, that is now used in the
United States army and navy, but the
gun is practically a failure, because it
lacks killing power. 1t is as large, al
though not 50 heavy, as their 40 old
fashioned army gun, the best six-s,loot-
err made. The new army and navy re-
volver is neither a pocket nor holster
CUR. 1t is too large to be one and too
weak in execution to be the other. One
of these revolvers will not stop a charg-
ing man or horse, where the cid IS
would settle matters instantly.
If a man wants q pocket gun let him
cheese the SS Smith & Wecson. If he
| wishes holster gun then let him get
| 40 Colts, blued, single action, Az
! inch barrel.
HOW TO AIM A REVOLVER.
OF the four models of the IA and As
Colts six-shooter, the old-fashioned
style is the best. with the exception of
the "Bisley model" This is the best
gun that the Colts make. The only
objection that can be brought against
this style is that the stock or handle
is rather large for a small hand. But
for medium-siZed or large hand, the
"Bisley model" is perfection so far as
rapid and accurate shooting qualities
are concerned. The only objection there
is to the old-fashioned, single-action
style of six-shooter is that the handle
is not bent enough. In moments of
excitement the hand naturally assumes
its correct position. with the wrist
straight. This throws the muzzle of
the old army style upward. The num-
Der of shots that fly high from this
style of Cobs in a melee are thus ac-
counted for. In the "Bisley model" the
handle is bent more, and when the
hand is in its natural attitude the bar
rel of a "Bisley model Colts points
straight ahead, or even a little down
ward. which is much to be desired, as
in all quick work the tendency is to
shoot high. In all aiming with six
shooter at an upright human figure,
the points aimed at should be the stom-
ach. bowels or groin. Then a hit in a
vital spot is almost assured, even If
one does shoot high. There is little or
no danger of shooting too low. If this
should occur, then there are the lower
parts of the trunk and legs to strike.
In aiming quickly in the dark at man
some little distance away, the knees or
feet are the best points to aim at. AS
one almost always shoots high in the
dark, the bullet will then probably fly
on horizontal line. If one should
shoot too low the bullet would strike
the ground and then strike the mark
upon rebounding. A As bullet will still
retain plenty of powder to kill under
such circumstances.
Although a pearl-handled, nickel