CHAPTER VI.

THE PROOF OF GUN BARRELS.

For a considerable period subsequently to the introduction of the manufacture of gunnery into England, there existed no public proof, or test, for the goodness and safety of barrels; further than that the feeling of the maker induced him to protect the limbs of his customer. Even so early as the seventeenth century, the bias of human nature to evil began to be displayed in the production of materials for guns, the use of which was attended with loss of both life and limb. In consequence of the frequent bursting of inferior guns, the Company of Gunmakers of the City of London instituted a proof-house, to which the barrels of respectable makers were all sent to be proved. The East India Company required all their muskets to undergo the same test; hence it became a custom to have barrels proved there: many also underwent an extra test on the premises of the manufacturer; so jealous were sportsmen, and so necessary was it deemed to provide against any possibility of accident. Thus it was shown clearly that laws are not always required to carry out certain results, but that it is sometimes preferable to allow matters of this kind to be arranged according to the knowledge of the parties interested; for frequently when an individual is aware that there is a law under which, in case of need, he can shelter himself--as many do at this day in case of guns bursting--he becomes careless: he has always a ready answer, “I can assure you the barrel was proved; and there must have been some unfortunate cause for her going: you could not have rammed the wadding home, or you must have put in an extra charge,” and such like excuses. It is never for a moment supposed that there was any insufficiency in the proof.

The great demand for rubbish of a villanous description during the existence of the slave trade, induced some philanthropic gentlemen in Birmingham to found a Company, with suitable premises, for the proof of all gun barrels; and an Act of Parliament was obtained in the year 1813, incorporating the body. The first Act proved insufficient, as the Birmingham makers found easy means of evading it; so they had to obtain a fresh Act in 1815, by which parties receiving any barrel to rib, stock, &c., without its having previously been proved, became liable to a penalty of twenty pounds, and not less than twenty shillings: it also enacted that any person or persons making and selling any gun, the barrels of which had not been proved at either this or the London proof-house, became liable to the same penalty; and it further enacted, that any person or persons forging the stamps or marks of either of the two proof-houses, should be liable to the same penalties, and in default of payment, to a certain term of imprisonment, &c. It also ordered, that all barrels be proved with the quantity of powder in proportion to the various bores enumerated in the table.

The severe, but just, strictures cast upon the lax nature of this Act of Parliament, and the equally lax way in which its provisions were carried out (individual benefit being held to be the most important element in the interpretation), imperatively called for an immediate improvement. The heavy denunciations which I felt bound to visit on the defective working of this “miscalled proof of gun barrels” in my former works, at length opened the eyes, not only of the sportsman and the trade, but also of the Government; and (I believe in 1854) it was intimated to the proof companies of London and Birmingham that the time had arrived “_when gun barrels should be proved in reality_;” and that if the initiative was not taken by the trade, the Government were prepared to introduce a public Act of Parliament for that purpose. The natural consequence followed, and in 1855 an Act was passed entitled “The Gun Barrel Proof Act 1855,” by which most extensive powers are delegated to the two companies.

The clause of most vital importance enacts that all gun barrels shall be proved twice; first in the rough, which is called provisional proof; and secondly, when the barrels are soldered together, breeched, and percussioned. Thus, in a comparatively finished state, when all the necessary reductions and other operations have been effected, the barrels become properly tested. Not only the metal of the barrels and the soundness of the breeches, but the screwing in of the nipples is proved--a most important check on a very important branch of workmanship, and which if imperfectly done renders the gun dangerous.

The first regulation enacts that “barrels are not to be made up unless proved, and marked as proved.”

2nd. Small arms are not to be sold or exported unless proved, and marked as proved.

3rd. Barrels provisionally proved and reduced in strength are to be deemed unproved.

4th. Barrels reduced so that the mark does not represent the proof are to be deemed unproved.

5th. Barrels with marks defaced are to be deemed unproved.

6th. Barrels with marks removed are to be deemed unproved.

7th. Barrels are to be marked according to scale.

Here follows a list of offences:--

XCIX. Every person committing any of the following offences shall for every such offence be guilty of a misdemeanour, and shall at the discretion of the court be sentenced to imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for not more than three years, to wit:

1. Every person who forges or counterfeits any stamp or any part of any stamp already or hereafter provided or used by either of the two companies for the marking of any barrel:

2. Every person who sells or parts with the possession of any such forged or counterfeit stamp or part of a stamp, knowing the same to be forged or counterfeit:

3. Every person who knowingly marks any barrel with any such forged or counterfeit stamp or with any part of such forged or counterfeit stamp:

4. Every person who makes up any barrel so marked, knowing the same to be so marked:

5. Every person who sells or parts with the possession of any barrel so marked, knowing the same to be so marked:

6. Every person who forges or counterfeits or by any means whatever produces an imitation upon any barrel of any mark or of any part of any mark of any stamp already or hereafter provided or used by either of the two companies for the marking of any barrel:

7. Every person who sells or parts with the possession of any such mark or part of a mark, knowing the same to be forged or counterfeit or an imitation:

8. Every person who transposes or removes from any barrel to any other barrel any mark or any part of any mark of any stamp already or hereafter provided or used by either of the two companies for making any barrel:

9. Every person who shall have in his possession or who shall part with the possession of any mark or any part of any mark so transposed or removed, knowing the same to be transposed or removed:

10. Every person without lawful excuse, the proof whereof shall lie on him, having in his possession any such forged or counterfeit stamp or part of a stamp, or any such forged or counterfeit mark or imitation of a mark, or any such transposed or removed mark, knowing the same respectively to be forged, counterfeit, imitated, marked, transposed, or removed:

11. Every person who cuts or severs from any barrel any mark or any part of any mark of any stamp already or hereafter provided or used by either of the two companies for the stamping of any barrel, with intent that such mark or such part of a mark be placed upon or joined or affixed to any other barrel:

12. Every person who places upon or joins or affixes to any barrel any such mark or part of a mark so cut or severed:

13. Every person who, with intent to defraud, uses any genuine stamp already or hereafter provided or used by either of the two companies for the marking of any barrel:

14. Every person who forges or counterfeits, or by any means produces an imitation upon any barrel of any mark, or of any part of any mark, of any stamp of a foreign country registered by the two companies pursuant to the provisions of this Act.

C. Every person committing any of the following offences shall for every such offence be subject to a penalty as follows, to wit:

1. Every person selling or exchanging, or exposing or keeping for sale, or exporting or importing, or attempting to export or import from or to England, or having in his possession without lawful excuse (the proof whereof shall lie upon him), any barrel having thereupon any mark of any forged or counterfeit stamp or part of a stamp already or hereafter provided or used by either of the two companies for marking any barrel, or having thereupon any forged or counterfeit mark or imitation of a mark of any stamp or part of a stamp so provided or used, or having thereupon any mark of any stamp or part of a stamp so provided or used, such mark having been transposed or removed thereto from any other barrel, shall for every such barrel so sold or exchanged, or exposed or kept for sale, or exported or imported, or attempted to be exported or imported, or so in his possession, forfeit not exceeding twenty pounds:

2. Every person selling or exchanging or exposing or keeping for sale, or exporting or attempting to export from England, any small arm, the barrel or barrels whereof are not under this Act duly proved and marked as proved, shall for every such barrel forfeit not exceeding twenty pounds:

3. Every person fraudulently erasing, obliterating, or defacing, or fraudulently causing to be erased, obliterated, or defaced from any barrel, any mark or any part of any mark of any stamp already or hereafter provided or used by either of the two companies for the marking of barrels, shall for every such offence forfeit not exceeding twenty pounds:

4. Every person delivering or sending or causing or procuring to be delivered or sent for sale, or under pretence of sale, or removing, consigning, or transmitting, or causing or procuring to be removed, consigned, or transmitted for sale, or under pretence of sale, any small arm, the barrel or barrels whereof are not duly proved at the Proof-house of the Gunmakers’ Company, or the Birmingham Proof-house, or some other public proof-house established by law, and marked as proved, shall, for every small arm so delivered or sent, or caused or procured to be delivered or sent, or removed, consigned, or transmitted, or caused or procured to be removed, consigned, or transmitted, forfeit not exceeding twenty pounds.

The preceding list of offences against the proper conducting of the gun manufacture have been found, after nearly three years’ experience, to fulfil the intentions of the framers[12] of the bill. Undoubtedly a much more healthy tone has been given to the constitution of the trade; and it is to be fervently hoped that it will entirely eradicate the evil of producing such a vast amount of worthless and dangerous guns. The double-proof has been too much for many of the “sham damns.” No doubt much remains to be done even yet; but the trade is progressing towards convalescence, after this severe purging. With these remarks I shall introduce schedule B of the new Act.

[12] I had the honour of being one of a committee to frame the clauses.

SCHEDULE (B.)

RULES AND REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO THE PROOF OF SMALL ARMS.

_Classification of Small Arms._

_First Class._--Comprising single-barrelled military arms of smooth bore.

_Second Class._--Comprising double-barrelled military arms of smooth bore, and rifled arms of every description, whether of one or more barrels, or constructed of plain or twisted iron.

_Third Class._--Comprising every description of single-barrelled birding and fowling-pieces for firing small shot; and also those known by the names of Danish, Dutch, Carolina, and Spanish.

_Fourth Class._--Comprising every description of double-barrelled birding and fowling-pieces for firing small shot.

_Fifth Class._--Comprising revolving and breech-loading small arms of every description and system.

_Rule of Proof._

The gunpowder used for proof shall be of equal quality and strength with that which is now used by the Honourable Board of Ordnance.

The balls used for the proof of barrels of all classes shall be of lead, and spherical, and of the size and weight prescribed by the scale for proof.

Barrels for arms of the second class and of the fourth class, and for breech-loading arms of the fifth class, shall be proved provisionally and definitively, and barrels for all other arms shall be proved once definitively.

_Conditions precedent to Proof._

Barrels for arms of the first class shall not be qualified for proof until they shall be in a fit and proper state for setting up.

Barrels for arms of the third class shall not be qualified for proof until they shall be in a fit and proper state for setting up, with the proper breeches in; and all barrels lumped for percussioning shall be proved through the nipple hole, with the proper pins or plugs in.

Barrels for arms of the second and fourth classes:

For provisional proof:--If of plain metal, shall be bored and ground, having plugs attached, with touch-holes drilled in the plugs, of a diameter not exceeding one-sixteenth of an inch. If any touch-hole shall be enlarged, from any cause whatever, to a dimension exceeding in diameter one-tenth of an inch, the barrel shall be disqualified for proof. Notches in the plugs instead of drilled touch-holes shall disqualify for proof. If of twisted metal, they shall be fine-bored, and struck up, with proving plugs attached, and touch-holes drilled as in the case of plain metal barrels.

For definitive proof:--The barrels, whether of plain or twisted metal, shall be in the finished state, ready for setting up, with the breeches in the percussioned state, break-offs fitted and locks jointed; the top and bottom ribs shall be rough struck up, pipes, loops, and stoppers on. All rifle barrels must be rifled; the top and bottom ribs of double barrels shall be struck up, pipes, loops, and stoppers on, the proper breeches in, and the thread of the screws shall be sufficiently sound and full for proof.

Barrels for revolving arms of the fifth class shall have the cylinders with the revolving action attached and complete.

Barrels for breech-loading arms of the fifth class shall be subject to provisional proof, according to the class to which they belong, and to definitive proof when the breech-loading action is attached and complete.

_Marks of Proof._

The marks applicable to the definitive proof shall be the proof and view marks now used by the two companies respectively.

The marks applicable to the provisional proof for the Gunmakers Company shall be the letters (G.P.) interlaced in a cypher surmounted by a lion rampant, and for the Birmingham Company shall be the letters (B.P.) interlaced in a cypher surmounted by a Crown.

_Mode of affixing Proof Marks._

On arms of the first and third classes the definitive proof mark and view mark shall be impressed at the breech end of the barrel, and if the barrel be constructed with a patent breech, the view mark shall be also impressed upon the breech.

On arms of the second, fourth, and fifth classes, the provisional proof mark shall be impressed at the breech end of the barrel; the definitive proof mark and view mark shall be impressed upon the barrel above the provisional proof mark; and if the barrel be constructed with a patent breech, or with revolving cylinders or chambers, the view mark shall be also impressed upon the breech, or upon each of the cylinders or chambers with which the barrel is connected, as the case may be.

On all barrels the gauge size of the barrel shall be struck, both at the provisional and at the definitive proof.

_Scale for Proof._

The Scale following shows the Proportions of Gunpowder applicable under the foregoing Rules and Regulations to the Proof of the various Classes of Arms as distinguished by the Trade Numbers indicating the Calibre.

+------+------------+------------+---------++------------------++ | | | | ||Charges of Powder || |Number| Diameter | Diameter |Weight of|| for Proof. || | of | of Bore by |of Balls for|Balls for++------------------++ |Gauge.|Calculation.| Proof. | Proof. || First Class. || | | | | ++------------------++ | | | | ||Definitive Proof. || +------+------------+------------+---------++------------------++ | | inches. | inches. | grains. ||grains. ozs. drs. || | 1 | 1·669 | 1·649 | 6752 || 4812 11 ... || | 2 | 1·325 | 1·305 | 3342 || 2324 5 5 || | 3 | 1·157 | 1·107 | 2211 || 1531 3 8 || | 4 | 1·052 | 1·032 | 1649 || 1176 2 11 || | 5 | ·976 | ·956 | 1315 || 930 2 2 || | 6 | ·819 | ·899 | 1090 || 766 1 12 || | 7 | ·873 | ·853 | 931 || 656 1 8 || | 8 | ·835 | ·815 | 812 || 602 1 6 || | 9 | ·803 | ·783 | 720 || 492 1 2 || | 10 | ·775 | ·755 | 646 || 465 1 1 || | 11 | ·751 | ·731 | 586 || 437 ... 16 || | 12 | ·729 | ·709 | 535 || 437 ... 16 || | 13 | ·710 | ·690 | 493 || 410 ... 15 || | 14 | ·693 | ·673 | 457 || 383 ... 14 || | 15 | ·677 | ·657 | 425 || 383 ... 14 || | 16 | ·662 | ·642 | 399 || 369 ... 13-1/2|| | 17 | ·649 | ·629 | 374 || 369 ... 13-1/2|| | 18 | ·637 | ·617 | 352 || 342 ... 12-1/2|| | 19 | ·626 | ·606 | 334 || 301 ... 11 || | 20 | ·615 | ·595 | 316 || 273 ... 10 || | 21 | ·605 | ·585 | 300 || 273 ... 10 || | 22 | ·596 | ·576 | 287 || 246 ... 9 || | 23 | ·587 | ·567 | 274 || 246 ... 9 || | 24 | ·579 | ·559 | 262 || 232 ... 8-1/2|| | 25 | ·571 | ·551 | 251 || 232 ... 8-1/2|| | 26 | ·563 | ·543 | 242 || 232 ... 8-1/2|| | 27 | ·556 | ·536 | 231 || 232 ... 8-1/2|| | 28 | ·550 | ·530 | 223 || 232 ... 8-1/2|| | 29 | ·543 | ·523 | 214 || 205 ... 7-1/2|| | 30 | ·537 | ·517 | 207 || 205 ... 7-1/2|| | 31 | ·531 | ·511 | --- || 205 ... 7-1/2|| | 32 | ·526 | ·506 | 194 || 205 ... 7-1/2|| | 33 | ·520 | ·500 | --- || 191 ... 7 || | 34 | ·515 | ·495 | 182 || 191 ... 7 || | 35 | ·510 | ·490 | --- || 191 ... 7 || | 36 | ·506 | ·486 | 172 || 191 ... 7 || | 37 | ·501 | ·481 | --- || 191 ... 7 || | 38 | ·497 | ·477 | 162 || 178 ... 6-1/2|| | 39 | ·492 | ·472 | --- || 178 ... 6-1/2|| | 40 | ·488 | ·468 | 154 || 178 ... 6-1/2|| | 41 | ·484 | ·464 | --- || 164 ... 6 || | 42 | ·480 | ·460 | 146 || 164 ... 6 || | 43 | ·476 | ·456 | --- || 164 ... 6 || | 44 | ·473 | ·453 | 139 || 164 ... 6 || | 45 | ·469 | ·449 | --- || 150 ... 5-1/2|| | 46 | ·466 | ·446 | 133 || 150 ... 5-1/2|| | 47 | ·463 | ·443 | --- || 150 ... 5-1/2|| | 48 | ·459 | ·439 | 127 || 150 ... 5-1/2|| | 49 | ·456 | ·436 | --- || 150 ... 5-1/2|| | 50 | ·453 | ·433 | 122 || 150 ... 5-1/2|| +------+------------+------------+---------++------------------++

+------+---------------------------------------------------------++ | | Charges of Powder for Proof. || |Number+-------------------------------------++------------------++ | of | Second Class. || Third Class. || |Gauge.+------------------+------------------++------------------++ | |Provisional Proof.| Definitive Proof.|| Definitive Proof.|| +------+------------------+------------------++------------------++ | |grains. ozs. drs. |grains. ozs. drs. ||grains. ozs. drs. || | 1 | 4812 11 ... | 2406 5 8 || 3850 8 12-3/4|| | 2 | 2324 5 5 | 1162 2 10-1/2|| 1859 4 4 || | 3 | 1531 3 8 | 766 1 12 || 1225 2 12-3/4|| | 4 | 1176 2 11 | 588 1 5-1/2|| 941 2 2-1/2|| | 5 | 930 2 2 | 465 1 1 || 744 1 11-1/4|| | 6 | 766 1 12 | 383 ... 14 || 612 1 6-1/2|| | 7 | 656 1 8 | 328 ... 12 || 525 1 3-1/4|| | 8 | 602 1 6 | 301 ... 11 || 481 1 1-1/2|| | 9 | 492 1 2 | 246 ... 9 || 394 ... 14-1/2|| | 10 | 465 1 1 | 232 ... 8-1/2|| 372 ... 13-1/2|| | 11 | 437 ... 16 | 219 ... 8 || 350 ... 12-3/4|| | 12 | 437 ... 16 | 219 ... 8 || 350 ... 12-3/4|| | 13 | 410 ... 15 | 205 ... 7-1/2|| 328 ... 12 || | 14 | 383 ... 14 | 191 ... 7 || 306 ... 11-1/4|| | 15 | 383 ... 14 | 191 ... 7 || 306 ... 11-1/4|| | 16 | 369 ... 13-1/2| 185 ... 6-3/4|| 295 ... 10-3/4|| | 17 | 369 ... 13-1/2| 185 ... 6-3/4|| 295 ... 10-3/4|| | 18 | 342 ... 12-1/2| 171 ... 6-1/4|| 273 ... 10 || | 19 | 301 ... 11 | 150 ... 5-1/2|| 241 ... 8-3/4|| | 20 | 273 ... 10 | 137 ... 5 || 219 ... 8 || | 21 | 273 ... 10 | 137 ... 5 || 219 ... 8 || | 22 | 246 ... 9 | 123 ... 4-1/2|| 197 ... 7-1/4|| | 23 | 246 ... 9 | 123 ... 4-1/2|| 197 ... 7-1/4|| | 24 | 232 ... 8-1/2| 116 ... 4-1/4|| 186 ... 6-3/4|| | 25 | 232 ... 8-1/2| 116 ... 4-1/4|| 186 ... 6-3/4|| | 26 | 232 ... 8-1/2| 116 ... 4-1/4|| 186 ... 6-3/4|| | 27 | 232 ... 8-1/2| 116 ... 4-1/4|| 186 ... 6-3/4|| | 28 | 232 ... 8-1/2| 116 ... 4-1/4|| 186 ... 6-3/4|| | 29 | 205 ... 7-1/2| 102 ... 3-3/4|| 164 ... 6 || | 30 | 205 ... 7-1/2| 102 ... 3-3/4|| 164 ... 6 || | 31 | 205 ... 7-1/2| 102 ... 3-3/4|| 164 ... 6 || | 32 | 205 ... 7-1/2| 102 ... 3-3/4|| 164 ... 6 || | 33 | 191 ... 7 | 96 ... 3-1/2|| 153 ... 5-1/2|| | 34 | 191 ... 7 | 96 ... 3-1/2|| 153 ... 5-1/2|| | 35 | 191 ... 7 | 96 ... 3-1/2|| 153 ... 5-1/2|| | 36 | 191 ... 7 | 96 ... 3-1/2|| 153 ... 5-1/2|| | 37 | 191 ... 7 | 96 ... 3-1/2|| 153 ... 5-1/2|| | 38 | 178 ... 6-1/2| 89 ... 3-1/4|| 142 ... 5-1/4|| | 39 | 178 ... 6-1/2| 89 ... 3-1/4|| 142 ... 5-1/4|| | 40 | 178 ... 6-1/2| 89 ... 3-1/4|| 142 ... 5-1/4|| | 41 | 164 ... 6 | 82 ... 3 || 131 ... 4-3/4|| | 42 | 164 ... 6 | 82 ... 3 || 131 ... 4-3/4|| | 43 | 164 ... 6 | 82 ... 3 || 131 ... 4-3/4|| | 44 | 164 ... 6 | 82 ... 3 || 131 ... 4-3/4|| | 45 | 150 ... 5-1/2| 75 ... 2-3/4|| 120 ... 4-1/2|| | 46 | 150 ... 5-1/2| 75 ... 2-3/4|| 120 ... 4-1/2|| | 47 | 150 ... 5-1/2| 75 ... 2-3/4|| 120 ... 4-1/2|| | 48 | 150 ... 5-1/2| 75 ... 2-3/4|| 120 ... 4-1/2|| | 49 | 150 ... 5-1/2| 75 ... 2-3/4|| 120 ... 4-1/2|| | 50 | 150 ... 5-1/2| 75 ... 2-3/4|| 120 ... 4-1/2|| +------+------------------+------------------++------------------++

+------+-------------------------------------+ | | Charges of Powder for Proof. | |Number+-------------------------------------+ | of | Fourth Class. | |Gauge.+------------------+------------------+ | |Provisional Proof.| Definitive Proof.| +------+------------------+------------------+ | |grains. ozs. drs. |grains. ozs. drs. | | 1 | 3850 8 12-3/4| 2406 5 8 | | 2 | 1859 4 4 | 1162 2 10-1/2| | 3 | 1225 2 12-3/4| 766 1 12 | | 4 | 941 2 2-1/2| 588 1 5-1/2| | 5 | 744 1 11-1/4| 465 1 1 | | 6 | 612 1 6-1/2| 383 ... 14 | | 7 | 525 1 3-1/4| 328 ... 12 | | 8 | 481 1 1-1/2| 301 ... 11 | | 9 | 394 ... 14-1/2| 246 ... 9 | | 10 | 372 ... 13-1/2| 232 ... 8-1/2| | 11 | 350 ... 12-3/4| 219 ... 8 | | 12 | 350 ... 12-3/4| 219 ... 8 | | 13 | 328 ... 12 | 205 ... 7-1/2| | 14 | 306 ... 11-1/4| 191 ... 7 | | 15 | 306 ... 11-1/4| 191 ... 7 | | 16 | 295 ... 10-3/4| 185 ... 6-3/4| | 17 | 295 ... 10-3/4| 185 ... 6-3/4| | 18 | 273 ... 10 | 171 ... 6-1/4| | 19 | 241 ... 8-3/4| 150 ... 5-1/2| | 20 | 219 ... 8 | 137 ... 5 | | 21 | 219 ... 8 | 137 ... 5 | | 22 | 197 ... 7-1/4| 123 ... 4-1/2| | 23 | 197 ... 7-1/4| 123 ... 4-1/2| | 24 | 186 ... 6-3/4| 116 ... 4-1/4| | 25 | 186 ... 6-3/4| 116 ... 4-1/4| | 26 | 186 ... 6-3/4| 116 ... 4-1/4| | 27 | 186 ... 6-3/4| 116 ... 4-1/4| | 28 | 186 ... 6-3/4| 116 ... 4-1/4| | 29 | 164 ... 6 | 102 ... 3-3/4| | 30 | 164 ... 6 | 102 ... 3-3/4| | 31 | 164 ... 6 | 102 ... 3-3/4| | 32 | 164 ... 6 | 102 ... 3-3/4| | 33 | 153 ... 5-1/2| 96 ... 3-1/2| | 34 | 153 ... 5-1/2| 96 ... 3-1/2| | 35 | 153 ... 5-1/2| 96 ... 3-1/2| | 36 | 153 ... 5-1/2| 96 ... 3-1/2| | 37 | 153 ... 5-1/2| 96 ... 3-1/2| | 38 | 142 ... 5-1/4| 89 ... 3-1/4| | 39 | 142 ... 5-1/4| 89 ... 3-1/4| | 40 | 142 ... 5-1/4| 89 ... 3-1/4| | 41 | 131 ... 4-3/4| 82 ... 3 | | 42 | 131 ... 4-3/4| 82 ... 3 | | 43 | 131 ... 4-3/4| 82 ... 3 | | 44 | 131 ... 4-3/4| 82 ... 3 | | 45 | 120 ... 4-1/2| 75 ... 2-3/4| | 46 | 120 ... 4-1/2| 75 ... 2-3/4| | 47 | 120 ... 4-1/2| 75 ... 2-3/4| | 48 | 120 ... 4-1/2| 75 ... 2-3/4| | 49 | 120 ... 4-1/2| 75 ... 2-3/4| | 50 | 120 ... 4-1/2| 75 ... 2-3/4| +------+------------------+------------------+

N.B.--Revolving Arms of the Fifth Class shall be proved once only, and such Proof shall be by the Scale laid down for definitive Proof of the Fourth Class.

As soon as a number of gun barrels are loaded according to the foregoing scale, they are taken to a house or detached building, standing apart from other offices. (The woodcut represents the interior accurately.) The house is lined throughout with thick sheet iron, and the windows, which resemble Venetian blinds, are constructed of the same metal. Iron frames are laid the whole length of the room; on these the barrels of various qualities, when about to be fired, are placed. In the front of these frames lies a large mass of sand, to receive the balls. Behind the frame, on which the twist barrels are fixed, lies another bed of sand; in which, on the recoil, the barrels are buried. Behind the frame, on which the common barrels or muskets are tried, a strong iron bar is placed, having a number of holes large enough to receive the tang of the breech, but not the barrel. The barrels being thus fixed, it is impossible for them to fly back. A groove runs along the whole length of each frame, in which the train of powder is strewed to ignite the charges, upon which the barrels are laid, with the touch-holes downwards.

When everything is ready for the proof, the windows are let close down, the door is shut and secured, and an iron rod heated red hot is introduced through a hole in the wall. On igniting the train, a tremendous explosion takes place. The windows are then drawn up, the door opened, and the smoke dissipated. The twist barrels are found buried in the sand, the common ones are thrown forwards; some are found perfect, others burst to pieces. It is rarely that best barrels are found burst; more frequently they are bulged, or swelled out, in places which are faulty, or of a softer temper. Those that are found perfect, are then marked with the provisional punch of different sizes (but having the same impression), according to the quality of the barrel. In London and Birmingham they have now an additional punch, containing the number of the bore by which the barrel has been tried. This mark easily enables the observer to discover whether the barrel has had any considerable quantity bored out after proving. Those that are bulged are sent to the maker, who beats down the swellings, and sends back the barrels to be proved again. They generally stand the second proof, though we have known a barrel undergo four proofs before it was marked. The common barrels are required to stand twenty-four hours before they are examined; when, if not burst, any holes or other material imperfections are made quite apparent by the action of the saltpetre. Such barrels are, of course, sent back unmarked. Those that are found satisfactory are duly stamped and taken home.

The importance of the gun trade to England may be estimated from the number of barrels proved during the last year, 1857, of which the following is a correct statement:--

_Provisional Proof._

Plain iron barrels 185,776 Twisted barrels 136,804 Saddle pistol barrels 33,480 Best pistol barrels 962 Common pistol barrels 2,066 Revolving and double barrel pistols 57,106 ------- Total 416,194

Definitively proved, 70,100, being principally double barrels.

This is in Birmingham alone; no doubt the London Company prove to the extent of 200,000 yearly, which may also be debited to Birmingham, as the barrels are all welded, bored, and ground before being sent to London. In addition to these may be counted the Government contracts of some hundred thousands yearly.

The passing of this Act of Parliament levelled all distinctions between London and Birmingham proved barrels; they are now treated precisely alike, and one is equally good with the other.