Action.—The iron bed attached to the stock of a breech-loading gun, into the recess of which the lump descends and is secured. The term is used generally as “side action,” “snap action,” etc. The word is also used to indicate the different form of gun locks, as back-action, bar-action, front-action, etc.
Anneal.—To render more soft, as in the case of iron and other metals.
Auxiliary Rifle.—A rifle-barrel some twenty inches in length, and so arranged that, like a cartridge, it may be slipped within the barrel of a breech loading shot-gun, thus at once converting the shot-gun into a rifle. The rifle-barrel, charged with its cartridge, may be placed in the shot-gun in a moment and at pleasure.
Back-action Lock.—A lock that is located entirely back of the barrel, being bedded in the stock alone.
Bar-action Lock.—When the lock is bedded partly back of the barrel and partly along side of it.
Barrel.—The iron or steel tube of the gun through which the charge passes in the act of firing.
Barrel-loop.—A metallic loop under the barrel, through which a small bolt passes to hold the barrel into the stock.
Bents.—The notches in the tumbler of a gun-lock.
Black-Walnut.—A tree, native to North America, whose wood is extensively used in the manufacture of fine gun stocks; the Juglans nigra of botanists.
Binocular Vision.—Seeing with two eyes.
Bolt.—The part which, in a breech-loader, passes into the lump of the barrel and holds it into the action when the gun is closed.
Bore.—The interior of the barrel along which the charge passes.
Bores are made of the following forms: True cylinders; cylinders enlarged at the breech; cylinders enlarged or freed at the muzzle; tapered to narrow at the muzzle; narrowed to close at the muzzle; cylindrical, with ring cut out near muzzle; narrowing the muzzle with depth cut out, modified, etc. Bores are also made elliptical, hexagonal, polygonal, etc.
Brazing.—Soldering iron with brass or copper as a solder.
Breech.—In earlier days all that portion of the gun back of the lock was considered the breech, but now a gun is regarded as having two breeches: the breech of the barrel, the place where the cartridge is inserted, as in the case of the breech-loaders, and the breech of the stock, being that part which comes against the shoulder.
Breech-bolt.—A small iron bar used in some make of guns to assist in holding the barrel secure to the action.
Bridle.—That piece in the lock connected with the tumbler as a kind of cap.
Browning.—A rust produced on the surface of gun-barrels by means of acids.
Bump.—The corner of the stock at the top of the heel-plate.
Burnisher.—A piece of smooth and hardened steel used in polishing the surface of metals.
Calibre.—The diametrical measurement of the bore of a gun barrel. Breech loaders are made of 10, 12, 14, 16 and 20 calibre. Muzzle loader of every variety of measurement.
Cap.—The metal covering placed on the end of a pistol handle. Also the small cup-like contrivance put on the nipple upon which the hammer strikes to fire the gun.
Carbine.—A short form of rifle; so made to be easily carried by persons who used them mounted on horses.
Cartridges.—The ammunition for a gun, contained in metal or paper cases. They are sized to regular numbers, as gauge 10 or 12, etc., and are of two kinds, central-fire and rim-fire.
Case-hardening.—A hardened, steel-like exterior given to iron by heating it in connection with animal charcoal, and then plunging while hot in cold water.
Central-fire.—Setting off the cartridge by striking it in the centre, where the fulminate is placed.
Chamber.—The enlarged space in the breech of the barrel wherein the cartridge is placed, or where the charge rests in the case of a muzzle-loader. The bores intended to receive the charge in the cylinder of a revolver. In loading a gun with coarse shot, if they rest in the barrel side by side in regular layers or strata, we say they chamber; but if they are a little too large for this, so that some of the shots must lie above the common level for want of space between other shots and the side of the bore to admit of their going down, we say the gun will not chamber shot of that particular size. A gun is not supposed to shoot shot to perfection which she cannot chamber.
Charger.—A small measure employed for measuring powder in loading a gun or cartridge-shell.
Chequer-work.—The chequered carving as made on the stock of a gun.
Cherry-mould.—A small spherical cutting-tool, used for enlarging the interior of bullet moulds. It may be bought of houses dealing in gunsmith’s materials, or it may be made by dressing a piece of soft steel down to proper shape, cutting file-teeth upon it and then hardening in the usual way. To use the cherry, close the mould upon it and then turn it round and round until the interior of the mould is cut out to the required size and shape.
Cherry Tree.—A North American tree, growing to about medium size and furnishing a hard, reddish and most beautiful wood, highly prized for fine gun stocks. It is now getting to be quite scarce. Botanical name, Cerasus serotina.
Choke-bore.—A gun-bore slightly larger at the breech than at the muzzle.
Choke-dressing.—Dressing out the bore of a gun so as to make it slightly larger at the breech than at the muzzle.
Clamp, Mainspring.—A mainspring clamp is a kind of vise used by gunsmiths for clamping the mainspring preparatory to taking it from the lock.
Cock.—In flint-lock guns, that part of the lock which holds the flint. The name is also often applied to the hammer of percussion and other locks of more modern make. When the hammer has been pulled back to its last catch, we say the gun is cocked, or at full-cock; when pulled back to the catch next preceding the last, we say the gun is half-cocked, or at half-cock.
Comb.—That portion of the stock upon which the cheek rests at the time of firing.
Cone.—See Nipple.
Countersink.—The recess in the chamber in which the rim of the cartridge fits.
Cross-Fire.—We say a rifle “crosses fire” when it plays the balls on the same level without varying upward or downward.
Curled Maple.—This is not a species of growth, but an unexplained condition to be met with in the wood of the maple, most commonly in that of the sugar or hard maple (the Acer saccharinum of botanists), though occasionally in Acer rubrum, or red maple. The grain of the wood lies in regular waves, presenting a most beautiful appearance when nicely dressed up. It is very popular for fine gun stocks.
Cylinder.—That part of a revolver in which the charges are placed. In the older make of percussion lock guns a short plug screwed into the side of the barrel at the breech, in which was placed the cap-tube or nipple, and through which the fire from the cap was communicated to the charge.
Damascus.—The variegated appearance on gun barrels, produced by welding together metals dissimilar, as steel and iron, and then, while heated, twisting these metals into various tortuous forms and re-welding. The colors of the dissimilar metals are brought out by browning mixtures.
Direct Fire.—That arrangement in a breech-loader by which the plunger lies and strikes the ignition horizontally.
Dog.—That part of the gun-lock acted upon by the trigger to release the tightened mainspring and set the hammer in motion. Earlier gunsmiths called it by this name, but it is now usually called the sear.
Double Triggers.—Often called set-triggers. A pair of triggers arranged to a rifle, occasionally, to admit of setting it off with but slight pressure. The triggers are located one in advance of the other under the guard. To operate pull upon the rear one until it “clicks” and is “set,” after which cock the gun. The slightest pressure upon the front trigger springs the “set,” which acts suddenly upon the sear, releasing the mainspring.
Drop.—Distance measured from the top of the butt of a gun stock to a line drawn rear-ward from the top of the barrels, usually from 2 to 3½ inches.
Elevated Rib.—The raised rib on top of and between the barrels of a shot gun.
Escutcheons.—Pieces of metal, through which the bolt to hold the barrel to the stock, is passed.
Extractor.—An automatic working rod in central fire guns, by which the empty cartridge is partly withdrawn from the chamber.
False Breech.—A piece of iron permanently screwed to the stock to fit squarely against the breech of the barrel. In the modern muzzle-loader the barrel is secured against it by hooks. It is also called a patent breech, also a standing breech.
Fastenings.—Mechanism for holding the barrel of breech-loaders securely to the frame or action when the barrel is in position for firing.
Flash.—In the days of the old flint-lock a gun was said to “flash” when the priming ignited in the pan but failed to fire the charge.
Flux.—A substance or mixture used to facilitate the melting of metals or minerals, as glass, borax, and the like.
Fore Piece.—That portion of the stock lying under the barrel, forward of the lock, called also fore-end and fore-arm.
Fore Sight.—The sight located nearest the muzzle end of the barrel.
Forge.—A furnace with its accompaniments where iron or other metals are wrought by heating and hammering. When a piece of metal is hammered into some required shape, the operation is termed “to forge it.”
Fowling Piece.—A smooth bored gun, used for hunting small game, shooting shot or small pellets.
Freeing.—Slightly enlarging the bore of a gun at the muzzle.
Frizzen.—In the old flint-lock the steel plate that covers the pan and stood up in front of the flint, against which the flint struck to produce fire to ignite the priming.
Grip.—A name usually applied to the round part of a gun stock just back of the locks. It is also applied to the handle of a pistol.
Guard.—The piece of metal which curves around the triggers and protects them.
Half Stock.—A gun stock that does not extend the full length of the barrel.
Hammer.—That part of the gun-lock that strikes the plunger or cap, or other form of ignition. See cock.
Hammer-Gun.—A gun whose lock works with a hammer.
Hammerless Gun.—A gun whose arrangements for setting off the ignition are contained inside the breech mechanism, and not visible when the arm is ready for use.
Handle.—See grip.
Hazel Nut.—A small shrub growing abundantly in many portions of the United States. The Corylus of botanists, divided into two species, Americana and Rostrata.
Head.—In a gun stock, the part where the breech end of the barrel rests against.
Heel Plate.—The metal piece terminating the breech end of a gun stock.
Hind Sight.—The sight upon the barrel, nearest the breech.
Hinge Pin.—A pin fixed in the action on which the barrel plays.
Ignition.—Any chemical combination which can be caused to explode and fire the charge, as in a cap or cartridge, for instance.
Kentucky Rifle.—A form of rifle, once very popular with Western hunters, and now used to some extent. It is muzzle loading, and the great length of the barrel was one great peculiarity.
Kick.—When a gun rebounds at firing the term is used “it kicks.”
Land Space.—The space in the bore of a rifle between the grooves.
Lever.—The bar or rod the working of which locks or unlocks the action of a breech-loader, enabling the operator to open or close the gun. As top-lever, side-lever, under-lever, etc.
Lock Plate.—The flat plate to the inside of which all the other parts of the gun-lock are secured.
Loop.—The projection under the barrel to which the fore end is fastened. See barrel loop. They are of two kinds, wire and bolt loop.
Long Fire.—When a noticeable space of time intervenes between the striking of the hammer and the explosion of the charge, hence the term, the gun has made “long-fire.”
Lower Rib.—The rib underneath and between the barrels of a shot gun.
Lump.—The iron piece soldered to the barrel of a breech-loader, which descends into the action and is there secured preparatory to firing.
Magazine Rifle.—A rifle provided with an interior magazine for containing cartridges, and so made that they are passed automatically into a chamber ready for firing.
Mainspring.—The large spring in the gun-lock which imparts action and power to the hammer.
Monocular Vision.—Seeing with only one eye. When one eye is closed, as some do in taking sight with a gun, it is a case of monocular vision.
Mould.—An implement for moulding bullets. The plural form is generally given to it, as bullet moulds.
Musket.—A form of gun, smooth bored and formerly used for military purposes. When grooves are cut in the interior of the barrel, it is called a rifle.
Nipple.—In a percussion-lock gun, the tube upon which the cap is placed. In the central-fire breech-loader, the tube through the standing breech in which the striker or plunger works.
Nipple Wrench.—An implement used for screwing the nipples into position or out. It is often called a tube-wrench.
Oblique Fire.—Indicates that the plungers of a breech-loader lie and strike the ignition obliquely.
Pan.—A small pan-like outside on the flint-lock, which holds the priming, and in which the latter is ignited by a spark from the flint striking the frizzen.
Patent Breech.—See false breech.
Pepper Box Pistol.—One form of revolver pistol, in which the barrels are made full length from one piece of metal. The rotation of the barrels and the action of the lock to fire the arm was produced by pulling the trigger.
Picker.—A small wire implement hung to the shot-pouch of the hunter in the days of the old flint-lock, and used when occasion required for picking priming into the touch-hole of the gun.
Pipes.—Short tubes attached to a barrel or to a rib attached to the barrel to receive the ramrod and hold it in place.
Pistol.—A small variety of fire-arm, so made as to be easily carried in the pocket or a holster, and readily manipulated and fired with one hand.
Pistol Grip.—A gun stock whose grip inclines to turn down like the handle of a pistol, is said to have a pistol grip.
Play.—A rifle which does not shoot with regularity is said to play its balls.
Plungers.—The pins which are struck by the hammers, in breech-loaders, and which in turn strike and explode the ignition.
Powder Bed.—The chamber, in a muzzle-loader, where the powder lies when the gun is charged.
Priming.—The powder in the pan of a flint-lock gun.
Proof Marks.—Impressions of stamps made in gun barrels to indicate that they have been proved.
Proving.—Firing gun barrels with very heavy charges of powder and balls to ascertain if they are of proper strength.
Ramrod.—A rod with which the tightly fitting portions of the charge are pushed home in loading a muzzle-loader.
Rebounding Lock.—A lock which has the top of the mainspring and crank of the tumbler lengthened to such an extent that when the trigger is pulled the hammer delivers its blow and immediately rebounds to the half-cock.
Rib.—The metallic strip lying between and connecting the barrels of a shot-gun. See lower rib and upper rib.
Rifle.—A gun having grooves cut parallel with each other along the interior of the barrel. They usually take a more or less spiral course for the purpose of imparting to the bullet thrown a whirling or twisting motion on its flight through the air. The grooves thus cut are sometimes called rifles.
Rifle.—A gun with grooves cut in a twisted or spiral-like manner on the interior of the barrel, for the purpose of giving the projectile a rotary motion on its axis during its flight. The design being to give greater accuracy to the course of the bullet.
Rifle Cane.—A metallic walking staff, which is virtually a rifle, capable of shooting with much force. The lock works internally, and everything is so arranged as to pretty effectually conceal the true character of the arm, it, at a casual glance, presenting only the appearance of a neat walking-stick.
Rifle Guide.—An implement used by the gunsmith to guide the course of his rifle-saws in cutting grooves in the bore of a barrel.
Rifle-Saws.—Short files made to fit in the grooves of a rifle. They are usually attached to a rod, near the end, and drawn to and fro through the gun for the purpose of filing the grooves down to greater depth, where such a thing is required. In cases where new grooves are to be cut in a smooth-bore, the rod passes through a rifle-guide, which forces the saws to take the proper twist through the barrel.
Rim-Fire.—A cartridge whose ignition is around the rim instead of in the centre, and which, consequently, can be used only by some arm striking the cartridge at the rim.
Rouge.—A fine powdery material, used for putting a high polish upon the surface of well-finished metals. It is usually applied by rubbing in connection with soft leather, either in the form of a buff or otherwise.
Saturated Solution.—A liquid holding in solution as much of some particular soluble chemical as it will dissolve. For instance, if salt be put in water until a portion remains undissolved at the bottom of the vessel, there is in the liquid a saturated solution because it holds in suspension all the salt that it can dissolve.
Scatter.—When a shot gun throws the pellets over a range of space unusually wide, it is said that it scatters.
Scroll Guard.—An extension downward from the trigger guard, to steady the hand. It is designed to answer the same as pistol grip.
Sear.—Sometimes called dog, which see.
Sear-Spring.—The small spring in a gun-lock which presses the sear into the notches of the tumbler.
Set-Triggers.—See double-triggers.
Side-Lever.—A lever which works at the side of a breech-loader.
Side-Screw.—The long screw holding the lock to the stock.
Slack-Tub.—A vessel containing cold water, to be used in suddenly cooling hot metals, as in hardening steel, for instance.
Smooth Bore.—A gun for throwing single bullets, made on the plan of a rifle, but having no grooves in the bore. It is sometimes called a “smooth-bore rifle.”
Standing Breech.—See false breech.
Steady-pin.—The small projection on the mainspring which fits into the lock-plate.
Strap.—The metal strip in a breech-loader which runs from the breech-works down the stock, in place of the tail, or the old fashioned breech-pin.
Strikers.—See plungers.
Sugar Maple.—A tree indigenous to the United States, whose wood is extensively used in the manufacture of gun-stocks. See curled maple.
Swivel.—The small piece in a lock connecting the tumbler and the mainspring.
Tear.—When a bullet makes a hole larger than its own diameter, particularly in the flesh of an animal, the gun from which it was shot is said to tear.
Tenons.—Iron projections on the lump of a breech-loader, to fit into corresponding spaces in the action.
Thimbles.—The metallic loops on the under side of a muzzle-loader, made to hold the ramrod when not in use.
Toe.—The extremity of the breech which rests nearest the armpit when in the act of taking off-hand aim.
Top Lever.—The lever of a breech-loader, which works on the upper side of the gun, just back of the hammers.
Trigger.—The small lever under the gun, upon which is pressed with the finger to release the confined mainspring and allow the hammer to descend.
Trigger-Plate.—The iron plate in which the trigger works.
Trigger Spring.—A small spring to keep the trigger pressed close to the sear.
Tube.—The modern gunmaker calls the gun-barrel a tube; in old times the only tube known to the gunsmith was that projection upon which the percussion cap was exploded. See nipple.
Tube.—See nipple.
Tumbler.—That part of the lock directly connected with the hammer, and in which are the two set notches.
Tumbler-Screw.—The screw on the outside of the lock, passing through the hammer and holding it securely in its connection with the tumbler.
Upper Rib.—The rib above and between the barrels of a double-barrel shot-gun.
Vent.—A small hole in side of the gun breech communicating with the interior or powder chamber.
Vise.—An implement for clamping or holding.
White Maple.—The Acer dasycarpum of botanists—a near relative of the sugar maple. Common in many parts of the United States. Called soft maple in some localities.
Whole-Stock.—A gun-stock extending the entire length of the barrel.
Wiper.—A long ramrod used only in wiping out and cleaning the bore of a muzzle loader. Also a small spiral implement made to screw on the end of a ramrod for the purpose of boring into and drawing a wad from a gun, or for holding material for wiping. Sometimes called a wormer.
Wormer.—See wiper.