The safety bolt placed upon hammerless shot guns is very necessary. It
ought, when placed at safety, to prevent the lock springs working, and
should prevent the possibility of the scear being released from the
catch, or bent, or scear catch. Mr. Robertson, proprietor of Messrs.
Boss & Co., has shown conclusively that a slight rap on the lock plates
will disconnect any scear catch, and so let off the gun when not at
safety, unless it is also protected with an interceptor, which is moved
out of the way of the falling tumbler, or striker, only by the pull of
the trigger. Mr. Robertson’s own single-trigger action is also a safety
action, even when very light trigger pulls, such as 1 lb., are employed.
The strength of barrels is assured by the proof of them at the London,
Birmingham, and foreign proof houses, with loads and charges larger than
for service. Anyone in doubt about purchasing guns and rifles would be
well advised to write to the Proof Master for the literary matter issued
for the protection of the public and guidance of the trade. This changes
from time to time, but at present it gives very full information of the
meaning of the various foreign proof marks as well as of our own.