IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OP DISCHARGING CANNON, AND IN APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE PROPER AIMING WITH FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1861

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Coope Haddan and Carlo
Minasi at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition,
on the 3rd October 1861.
We, JOHN COOPE HADDAN, of Bessborough Gardens, Pimlico, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, and CARLO MINASI, of No. 3, Saint James's
Terrace, Kentish Town Road, in the same County, Professor of Music, do
hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE
OP DISCHARGING CANNON, AND IN APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE PROPER AIMING
WITH FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
Firstly, the Invention has reference to an improved mode of discharging
cannon, and comprises the adaptation and use of a rod or sliding plunger
passing through the vent of the vent pieces of breech-loaders, such as the
Armstrong guns, or through the vent of other cannon, the which rod may
carry on it a percussion cap or other igniting contrivance, or which may be
caused to strike on or against a cap or igniting contrivance placed on a nipple,
or otherwise placed within the vent piece or the gun itself, the intended effect
of which is to prevent or lessen the injurious heating of the vent. Also the
Invention comprises the constructing the stocks or supports to or upon which
the barrels of rifles are mounted with the butt or a part of the butt hinged
or jointed to the remainder or barrel-holding portion of the stock, so that by
adjusting the position of the butt, the rifleman, whether firing at short range or
at long, or at any intermediate range, may be enabled, while properly sighting

page_text: the object aimed at, to place his eye or cheek low down, or as nearly against
his shoulder as may be convenient, instead of as at present (wben firing at
other than short ranges) being obliged to raise his eye or cheek for properly
sighting the object. In other words, this improvement is intended to afford
him the convenience of handling and facility of aiming when sighting distant
objects, which, as respects proper firing, might improperly be obtained with an
ordinary rifle, by placing the butt somewhat down upon the breast instead of
properly against the shoulder.
It is intended to employ a screw or other equivalent for effecting the
adjustment and for maintaining the hinged portions firmly together in any
position within the limits of adjustment; also indexes or guages for showing
the
è proper amount of adjustment for different ranges. Also as a substitute
for or in combination with the hinging the butt to the remainder of the
stock.
The Invention comprises the adapting to the butt a sliding or other
adjustable bearing piece for bearing or supporting, or holding it against the
shoulder in a suitable or proper position for firing, without having, when
sighting distant objects, to keep the eye or cheek elevated instead of low down
as above explained.
Also the Invention comprises the adapting to ordinary rifled or other gun
barrels an apparatus for discharging darts by means of a spring, and giving to
them a twist or rifle motion, so that for practice in aiming, when using reduced
or miniature targets at short distances and without using powder the effect of
the aiming may be recorded or indicated upon the targets by the darts so
discharged.
And in combination with this improvement is also comprehended the
constructing such apparatus, so that the wind or gas evolved when firing a
percussion cap may release or liberate the spring and effect the discharge of
the darts.