_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.