SHOTGUN. This repeating shotgun is the joint production of Messrs. C. M. Spencer and Sylvester H. Roper. The distinctive feature of the arm, as now manufactured by Mr. Francis Bannerman, of New York City, is that the left hand is available for something more than a support to the barrel and as a regulator of the aim; but retaining these functions, becomes an essential factor of the system, relieving its neighbor of a large portion of its duties while itself actuating the retaining cesses. The original model developing Messrs. Spencer and Roper's idea, carried rt cartridges, which could be discharged at "will" in 4 seconds. The model, as recently perfected, has a capacity of 6 cartridges (experience having strated that to be the suitable number for use and the best working of the piece), of which 5 are held in the tubular magazine beneath the barrel and i placed in the chamber. The gun has no fore-arm, or tip, of wood; but about 6 inches in front of the frame embracing the magazine, and well insulated from the possibly heated barrel, is placed a bulge, of the same material as the stock or of hard rubber, termed the hand-rest, which connects with the flat side-bars or switches, occupying the interval between the barrel and the magazine. The manipulation of the gun is exceedingly simple. When once the magazine is filled, the piece is brought to the
shoulder, and the fingers of the right hand in position about the trigger-guard, while the left hand grasps the hand-rest and poises the piece. A backward and forward movement of the hand-rest throws a cartridge into the carrier-block, cocks the hammer, projects the charge into the gun, and the trigger is pulled. The rapidity of emptying the magazine being limited only by the natural dexterity and experience of the operator.
The features of the late 190o model are shown in the drawing. Double ex tractors grip the cartridge shell on each side, making it almost impossible for nitro powder to expand the cartridge shell in the chamber of the gun. The maga zine on the model 1890 gun caused some inconvenience in taking the gun apart, owing to the spring and follower being detached. In this new model the spring and follower are fixed permanently in the magazine. The "Take Down" features consist of two thumb latches—one on the magazine screw, and the other on the screw that holds the barrel when in place. It is only necessary to tttrn these two latches in order to take out the magazine and unscrew the barrel.