Brings the Lightning (The Ames Archives Book 1) by Peter Grant Read Free Book Online Page A

have been well cared for, Mr. Ames. Your handiwork?”
    “Yes. I learned how to look after them from our unit armorer. If they came to me in good condition, I kept them that way.”
    “You were fortunate in your instructor. I see many firearms whose owners failed to clean them properly, leading to corrosion and pitting from blackpowder salts. What do you want to buy?”
    “It’s a long list. First off, I want three of the Remington New Model Army & Navy .44 revolvers, the 1863 model with the safety notches cut in the cylinder, plus a spare cylinder for each of them.”
    Fitch frowned. “I have one, but two more may be hard to source in a hurry if you’re leaving soon. I may have to recommend you to someone else to buy them.”
    “I’ll let you source them for me, Mr. Fitch, even from a competitor if necessary, in order to keep things simple. I’ll even accept a lightly used example if necessary. My time here is limited, so I’ll trust you to do the best you can for me.”
    The gunsmith nodded. “Thank you. I appreciate your trust. If I may ask, why the Remington revolvers? Many people prefer the grip shape and slightly lighter weight of the Colt Army model.”
    “I do too, but the Colt’s got three shortcomings. First, you’ve got to lower the hammer on an empty chamber to carry it safely—the pins between each chamber simply don’t hold it securely enough. That means it’s a five-shooter unless you have enough warning to load the sixth chamber, and that doesn’t often happen before danger strikes. With the Remington you can load all six chambers, then lower the hammer into a safety notch between them. Second, the Colt mechanism binds up particularly badly if a spent percussion cap falls into the action. I had the opportunity to try one of the Remingtons last year, and found it wasn’t affected as much by that problem. Finally, the Colt has an open frame. If you have to whomp someone over the head with the barrel, you might bend it. The Remington has a top strap, which makes it much stronger.”
    Fitch smothered a smile. “I daresay it is. You appear to have far more extensive experience with weapons than my average client. If I may ask another question, why three revolvers?”
    “Spares are always useful. I may be a long way from a gunsmith out West. Also, I may need to arm a companion in an emergency.” He didn’t explain his real reason; that he’d habitually ridden with three revolvers for most of the past two years. There had been one or two times when he’d shot all three dry, and wished he’d had a fourth.
    “That’s true. Next?”
    “I need a repeating rifle. I used a Spencer cavalry carbine during the war, and liked it, but a couple of times I came across Henry rifles that held more than twice as many rounds.” He didn’t bother to explain that they’d been in the hands of his foes, and had made life miserable for him and his comrades. “I’d like one of them.”
    “I have one, but I must warn you that it’s a particularly fine example, and therefore more expensive than usual.” He took down a rifle from a rack. “It has a twenty-four-inch octagonal barrel and a specially selected, highly figured walnut stock. It’s forty-two dollars.”
    Walt mentally winced at the price as he accepted the rifle, looked it over, worked the lever action, and sighted down the barrel. “Yes, that’s costly, particularly when you consider the Henry’s shortcomings. The powder charge is too light for use at longer ranges, and the slot in the loading tube for the follower can get clogged with dirt very easily. Still, in a close-range fight where you’ve got to put out a lot of lead in a hurry, you can’t beat having sixteen rounds on tap. I’ll take it. I want a lot of shells for it, too. I’ve got to learn how it shoots, and that means burning powder. There’s no other way to get to know a rifle. I also want to take plenty of ammunition with me.”
    “I can accommodate you, even if I have