Among the younger generation of riflemen there has been, until recently, an impression that telescope sights are suitable only for men whose eyesight is failing, and for the target-shooter, firing from a rest. This is, of course, a great mistak::, and the number of riflemen now using telescopes for hunting and off-hand work is constantly growing,. The tendency is toward telescopes of too high power. Glasses of 16 to 20 diameters are all right for the finest target work, but are unsuitable for hunting. Every error of holding is noticed and mag,nified. Then, too, the higher the power of the glass, the darker the field of ViSiOn. A glass of 4 to to diameters, especially designed for hunting, gives a large, bright field. In the woods, on a dark day, much better shootin,g is done with such a gdass than with open sig,hts; while many riflemen will get better results at the target also than with a high-power telescope. The Stevens Arms Company handle a large variety of telescopes. The features of the best glasses are, the arrangement for obtaining,- elevation, wide field of vision and brilliant illurninaticm—permitting a quick sight to be taken and good shooting to be done in light so dim that ordinary sights could not be used.
The Stevens New Model Pocket shot gun is the same as the New Model Pocket rifle, but bored smooth and choked. It uses special "Everlasting-" shells, .38 or .44 caliber, also made for .38-40 and .44-40 cartridges. This is an excel lent gun for taxidermists, as it can be carried conveniently, and with the ever lasting; shells one may load with any size of shot desired. The breech-loading single barrel shot gun is made in 12 and 14 gauge, 3o-inch barrel, and weighs 6 to 7 pounds. Also 12 gauge, 32-inch barrel, weighing; 7 pounds.
The famous Stevens single-shot pistols are made after several models for different purposes. The larg,est, the Lord model, is shown in Figure 9. It has a larger frame and a much larger handle than the other models. It is fitted vvith open wind-gauge rear sight and bead front sight and is tnade in two calibers—.22 long rifle rim fire and .22 rim fire. With a to-inch barrel, the weight is 3 pounds. This model can be bored and rifled for almost all of the American pistol cartridges, but few are made for larger than .23 caliber. The late Ira Paine used the Lord model pistol, in his exhibitions.
The Gould model, shown in Fig,ure io, is used by many experts. It is fitted with open wind-gaug,e rear sight and bead front sight, and is a light arm, neither burdensome to carry about, nor fatiguing for persons of moderate strength to shoot. It takes the .22 long rifle and .25 rim fire cartridges. IdVith a io-inch
barrel, it weighs about 2 pounds, and with a i2-inch barrel, it weighs about 2/ pounds. It is made to special order for the following center fire cartridges: .32 long, .38 long-, .32-34 S. & W., and .38-44 S. & W.
The Conlin model, shown in Figure II, is a duplicate of the Gould model, with the exception of the g-uard, this model having the spur-guard, which is preferred by many shooters.
The Diamond model, much smaller in size, is made in the following styles: No. 1, a 6-inch barrel, with globe front and peep sights, weight io ounces; No. 2, a 6-inch barrel, with open sights, weight io ounces; No. 3, a 6-inch barrel, with both open and peep sig-hts, weight io ounces; No. 4, a to-inch barrel, with globe front and peep sights, weight 12 ounces; No. 5, a io-inch barrel, with open sights, weight 12 ounces; No. 6, a io-inch barrel, with both open and peep sights, weig.-,ht 12 ounces.
There are two other models made by the Stevens Arms Company, which have barrels 3 and 3} inches in length, and consequently they do not shoot with the accuracy of the other models. They weigh one pound and are good, reliable pocket pistols, combining compactness with accuracy.
To operate these pistols, half cock the arm and press the stud on the side which releases the barrel, which will tip down, thus exposing the chamber in which the cartridge is placed. The action is then closed, the hammer cocked, and the arm discharged.
The Stevens Maynard, Jr., rifle, shown in Figure 12, recently introduced, is a thoroughly accurate and reliable arm. It is designed to replace the world re nowned Maynard rifle, the first breech-loading rifle made, and retains that rifle's style of action. It is machine made and all parts are true to gauge and inter changeable. It has an 18-inch half-octagon barrel, measures over all 33 inches and weighs pounds. The barrel is accurately bored and rifled, and chambered for the .22 short rim fire cartridge.
The new Crack Shot rifle is highly praised for accuracy and penetration. It has an automatic safety, positive in action, sliding into a notch in the hammer, thus making it impossible to discharge the arm until we arc ready to do so.
The Stevens new single barrel shot gun, Figure 13, has just been perfected. It is bored for nitro powder and made in 12, i6 and 20 gauges, with barrels ranging in length from 26 to 32 inches. It has an automatic shell ejector, and a special device by which the operator can at will change the gun from an ejector to an extractor by two turns of the screw.