IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE METHOD OF FIXING AND CARRYING FIRE-ARMS ON HORSE- BACK
Year: 1839

page_text: COLES SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
CHARLES BARWELL COLES, of Allsop Terrace, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-
third day of August, in the third year of Her reign, gave and
granted unto ine, the said Charles Barwell Coles, my exors, admiors,
and assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Charles Barwell Coles, my exors, adñiors,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Barwell Coles,
my exors, adiiors, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term of years in the said Letters Patent expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales,
and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in all Her said
Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE METHOD OF FIXING AND CARRYING FIRE-ARMS ON HORSE-
BACK;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso
obliging me, the said Charles Barwell Coles, particularly to describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, and to cause the same to be inrolled in the High
Court of Chancery within six calendar months next after the date of
the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the
said Charles Barwell Coles, do hereby declare that the nature of iny
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be per-
formed, are particularly described and ascertained, in manner fol-
lowing, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed by
the figures and letters marked thereon.
First. An apparatus whereby a gun is carried with the muzzle
upwards and before the rider. The general appearance of this
apparatus when attached to the saddle is seen in Figure 1 (covered),
and Figure 2 (uncovered). In this mode of carriage, the gun is
fixed before the rider, the butt placed between the stirrup and the
horse, the muzzle pointing forwards and rising any convenient
height above the pannel of the saddle. The different parts of
which this apparatus consists are as follows:-- An oblong rectan-
gular iron plate marked C, in Figures 3, 9, 10, and 11, about
two inches and a half in length, one inch and three quarters in
width, and one tenth of an inch in thickness. Into this plate are
rivetted two iron clamps marked a, a, in the said Figures, in the
position shewn by the same Figures; Fig. 9, shewing the clamps
as seen from above the said iron plate; Fig. 10, as seen from
the side thereof; and Figure 11, the appearance of one of the said
clamps as seen from the front of the said iron plate, the other clamp
being hidden by the one which is seen. The interior dimensions of
the said clamps are as follows:-The height above the said iron
plate (d, e, Figure 11), about two tenths of an inch; the width
(e, f, in the same Figure) about eleven twentieths of an inch; the
breadth of the said clamps (g, h, Fig. 9) is about half an inch. In
one of the said clamps works a screw (D), which can be turned
at pleasure, and thereby clevated from the said iron plate, or
depressed towards it. The said iron plate is fastened to the saddle
by four screws marked b, in Figures 9 and 10, which pass through
the tree of the saddle, and are secured in the inside of the tree by
nuts. The position of the said plate on the saddle is shewn in Figure
3, part of the skirt of the saddle being cut away. It is placed just
before the stirrup leather, near the place where the stirrup leather is
attached to the saddle, the longer edge of the said iron plate being

page_text: horizontal. This iron plate may remain permanently attached to
the saddle. A leather strap (g), about 6 inches in length, is
attached to the front of the saddle, about an inch above the plate C.
E, (Figures 3, 9, and 10,) is a bar of wrought iron, about 11 inches
in length, and of such width and thickness at one extremity as just
to pass without difficulty through the clamps a, a, but fitting closely
to them, and therefore being at that extremity about cleven twentieths
of an inch in width, and about two tenths of an inch in thickness.
The said bar tapers gradually to the other extremity, where it is
about half an inch in width, and three twentieths of an inch in thick-
ness. At the distance of about three inches from its larger extre-
mity the said bar is slightly bent, as seen in Figure 10. The plate
herein-before described being screwed to the saddle, the larger
extremity of the said bar is passed through the said clamps, so
that that extremity projects a little beyond the hinder of the said
clamps as seen in Figures 3, 9, and 10. The screw (D) being then
depressed, the bar is thereby immoveably attached to the saddle
until it is liberated by turning the said screw (D). The said bar is
bent more or less according to the shape of the shoulder of the horse,
so that it may be nearly parrallel nearly parrallel to the shoulder.
Next, a boot or case for the gun. This is made of stout leather in
three pieces, namely, a back, front, and bottom. The back and front
pieces are both seen laterally in Figure 6, marked A and B respec-
tively; the front piece and part of the back picce are seen in Figure 5;
and the back piece is seen in Figure 7; the bottom is seen in Fig. 8;
the front and back pieces are sewn together at the sides, as seen
in Fig. 6; and the bottom is sewed to the back and front pieces at
the bottom. The lower or hollow part of the said boot fits the butt
of the gun as exactly as will allow the gun to be drawn out of the
boot, and replaced therein, without difficulty. The length of the
back of the said boot is from twenty-eight to thirty inches. The
front piece is just long enough to cover the lock of the gun; the
width of each is about seven inches, but the exact width must be
determined by the size of the butt. In or near the middle of the
back piece of the boot there is a vertical slit e, about an inch in

page_text: length; through this is passed a strong steel hook (F), seen in
Figures 5 & 6, but on an enlarged scale in Figures 12, 13, and 14.
One extremity of this hook expands into an oblong ring or eye
(f) (different views of which appear by Figures 6, 7, 12, 13, & 14,)
immoveably attached to the said hook, and in fact forming there-
with but one piece of metal. The dimensions of the said hook are,
length (a, b, Figure 13) about two inches; opening (c, d, in the
same Figure) about 3-20th of an inch; interior length of the eye
(f) (a, b, Figure 14), about seven tenths of an inch; interior width
of said cye (b, c, Figure 14) one quarter of an inch; thickness of
said right (a, b, Fig. 12), about two tenths of an inch. If the said
ring be passed on to the bar (E), the said bar being horizontal, the
said hook takes the position seen in Figure 15. The said hook is
attached to the said boot, by being passed through the slit (e) in
the back piece thereof, and is further secured by a small leather
thong, which is passed through two holes (1, m) in the back piece
of the said boot over the branch of the said hook lying against the
said back piece, the extremities of the said thong being knotted
together on the other side of the said back piece, as seen (at n, m,
Fig. 7). The position of the said hook, when so secured, is seen in
Figure 6. G, is a buckle fastened by a short leather strap to the back
piece of the boot, about an inch above the said slit, as seen in Figure
6 and 7, and capable of receiving the said strap (g), Figure 3. H, H,
(Figure 7,) are two leather straps, about six inches in length, at-
tached by one extremity to the sides of the said back picce, about
twelve inches from the bottom. h, h, are two buckles attached to the
sides of the said back piece about seven inches from the bottom, and
capable of receiving the unattached extremities of the said straps
H, H. K, K, K, (Figures 6, 7,) are three straps of leather (each
about 11 inches long and three quarters of an inch broad), arranged
vertically, one in the middle and the other two at the sides of the
said back pieces, as seen in Figure 7; cach of these straps is sewed
to the said back piece at its upper extremity for the length of
about one inch; there is then left a length of about one inch and a
half of the strap unattached to the said back piece; then the said

page_text: strap is sewed to the said back piece for the length of about onc
inch, and so on to the end of the said strap. In this manner each
of the said straps is attached in four places to the said back, and
four portions of each are unattached therefrom. This is seen best in
Figure 6. I, is a stout leather strap about an inch broad, with a
buckle at one extremity, of sufficient length (about sixteen inches)
to buckle round the said boot, as seen in Figure 5. L, is another
stouter strap (Figures 5, 6, 7, &c.), about eighteen inches in length,
having a loop at one extremity, through which the strap (I) can be
passed, as seen in Figures 6 and 7. The strap (1) having been passed
under two of the straps marked K, as seen in Figure (7), the loop
of the strap L is slipped on to the strap (I); and the strap (I) is
then passed under the remaining strap marked K, as seen in the
same Figure. The strap (I) is then buckled as seen in Figure 6. In
this manner the strap (I) may be placed at four different heights on
the said boot.
are seen in the last men-
A cover for the muzzle of the gun is shewn in Figures 19, 20, 21,
consisting of four parts, namely, P, Q, R, and S.
The shape
and dimensions of the pieces P &
tioned Figures. The pieces P and Q are made of leather; the
piece Reither of leather or of water-proof cloth; the latter is
preferable. S is a leather cap, the top of which is circular; this
cap is made a little larger than the muzzle of the gun. The parts
P, Q, R, and S, are strongly sewed together. r and r, are two brass
rings about three quarters of an inch in diameter, attached to the
leather (Q) near the bottom thereof, so as to run upon the straps
H, H, when secured to the back, the buckles, h, h, the leather P is
laced to the back of the boot by a leather thong p, p, p, Figure 20.
The leather Q is not attached to the boot except by the rings r, r
as before mentioned. T is a leather ring just of such size as to
confine the cover; when drawn over the gun; Figure 1, it is made
to run between two leather straps, Figure 19. The width of the
piece R is as seen in the Figures 19, 20, 21; its length must
be such that when the cap S is raised from the boot as high
as the straps H, H, will permit, the said cap will just clear the..

page_text: muzzle of the gun placed in the boot. M, (Figure 16, 17, 18,) is a
broad ring of iron, about an inch in width, and one twentieth of an
inch in thickness, and made to fit the gun about 12 or 14 inches
from the muzzle. To the said ring M is welded a piece of iron
(N), of the shape seen in Figures 16, 17, 18; the distance a, b,
(Figure 16,) being about 4 inches; the distance, c, d, Figure 17,
about three quarters of an inch. The iron N is rounded, and of
such thickness as to pass with a slight exertion of force on to the
hook F; the said ring M is placed on the gun, so that the iron N
may be on either side of the gun. Figure 17, shews the position of
the iron M, when the gun is held with the muzzle upwards; the said
ring remains on the gun when taken out of the boot and fired. It
must be observed that the place in which the slit e, is to be made,
depends upon the length of the gun. The distance of the upper end
of the slit (e) from the bottom of the boot must be equal to the dis-
tance of (d), the middle point of the iron N (Figure 17) from the
butt when the ring M is in its proper position on the gun. The
saddle should be provided, on the side opposite to that on which the
gun is to be carried, with an extra girth, terminating in a buckle
fit to receive the strap (L); or the strap (L) may be looped, so as
to receive the ordinary girth. To attach the boot to the saddle,
the iron E being secured to the saddle as seen in Figure 3, and the
hook F, attached to the boot in manner before described, slip the
eye f, on to the iron E, until the edge of the back piece of the boot
is in contact with the saddle; and buckle the strap g, to the buckle
G; then buckle the strap L to the extra girth of the saddle, having
previously placed the strap I, as low on the boot as is compatible
with the strap L lying close to the body of the horse; the boot is
thus firmly attached to the horse, as seen in Figures 1 and 2. The
ring M having been fixed on the gun, the gun may now be dropped
into the boot in the position shewn by the dotted line in Figure 2.
When the butt has reached the bottom of the boot, by pressing the
muzzle forwards and against the back piece of the boot, the iron N
catches the hook F in the manner shewn in Figure 22, where the
book F and iron N are supposed to be seen from behind (the back of

page_text: the boot having been removed); the cover R is now drawn over the
muzzle of the gun, covering the iron E and the back piece of the boot;
the leather Q is pulled down as low as possible, and the cover being
wrapped closely round, the gun is seured in that position by draw-
ing down the ring (T), Figure (1). To take out the gun, the ring
T and the cap s are raised, and the cover thrown from the rider;
the muzzle of the gun is drawn a little towards him, by which the
iron N is liberated from the hook F, c, the gun may be lifted out
of the boot. The use of the bend in the iron N, which catches the
hook (Figure Q), is to prevent the gun being thrown up in the
boot by the motion of the horse. The advantages of this mode of
carrying fire-arins on horseback over those which have hitherto been
adopted are, first, that the gun is fixed firmly in a situation where
it does not occasion inconvenience either to the rider or to the horse,
instead of being attached loosely to the one or the other, fatigueing
both by its motion, and impeding the actions of the rider by its posi-
tion; second, that a gun, though not rifled, may be carried loaded,
which cannot be done in the ordinary modes of carriage (in which the
muzzle of the gun is inclined downwards), without danger of the
charge being shaken out by the motion of the horse; third, that the
gun may be brought from the position of carriage to that of firing,
and vice versa, more rapidly than when carried in any of the ordi-
nary modes; fourth, that the gun is protected from rain.
Second. An appartus whereby the gun is carried with the
muzzle upwards, but behind the rider. The only variations which
it is necessary to make in the former apparatus in order to adapt
it to carry the gun behind the rider are as follows:- The plate
C is made broader (Figure 25), and is fastened by two screws
only to the tree of the saddle, as seen in Figures 24 and 25. The
position of the hook (F), and consequently of the holes l, m, is re-
versed, and (the position of the iron N on the gun is also reversed)
the shape of the cover must be reversed, so as to fall backwards or
away from the rider when removed from the muzzle. The appear-
ance of this apparatus attached to the horse, and the position of
the
gun when placed therein, are seen in Figure (23).

page_text: Third. An apparatus for carrying the gun with the muzzle
downwards. The appearance of this apparatus when attached to the
saddle, and the position of the gun placed therein, are seen in Figure
28. Here the muzzle of the gun is enclosed in a case or boot, which,
like the boot used in the former mode of carriage, is placed between
the stirrup and the horse. This boot is also inade of three pieces, a
back, front, and bottom. The front piece is of length just sufficient
to cover the lock, and the back piece about six inches higher. The
boot fits as closely to the gun as is compatible with the gun being
readily drawn out of the boot or placed therein. The butt of the gun
rests against the back piece of the boot. The plate C, and the iron
E, remain the same in all respects as in the preceeding apparatus.
The eye f, remains the same as before, but instead of the hook F, it
is attached to a square plate G, Figures 29, 30, 31, by which it is
fixed or buttoned to the said back piece. The buckle G, and the
strap g, remain unaltered. The position of the slit in the back piece
of the boot must in this apparatus be nearly opposite to the top of
the front piece. The straps K, K, K, are retained disposed at equal
distances from each other round the boot. The straps J and L, and
the extra girth of the saddle, are also retained, the length of the
strap J not being greater than sufficient to allow it to buckle round
the boot. The position of the strap J is determined, and the boot
is attached to the horse, in precisely the same manner as herein-
before described with respect to the former apparatus. The cover in
this apparatus is constructed in the same manner as in the former,
but so as to fit to the butt of the gun. The ring used to fasten the
former cover is here unnecessary. The ring and iron M, N, are en-
tirely dispensed with when the gun is carried with the muzzle
downwards. This apparatus possesses all the advantages over the
ordinary modes of carriage above mentioned to belong to the former
apparatus, with the exception of the second.
The Figures 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 28, are drawn
on the scale of two inches to the foot or thereabouts. The Figures
9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, and 31,
are drawn on the scale of six inches to the foot or thereabouts. The

page_text: strength and dimensions of the various parts of the apparatus must
be different, according to the weight and size of the gun intended
to be carried. The dimensions above given are intended for ordi-
nary fire-arms. The iron E, by being bent downwards, will admit
of the inclination requisite for carrying the longest arms.
I claim so much of and in the said apparatus as my Invention, as
herein-after is mentioned to be claimed by me, and no more, that is
to say: In the said first and second apparatus, I claim as my
Invention the combination of the boot A, B, the iron E, the hook F,
and the ring and iron M, N, whereby a gun can be placed with
facility in such boot, so as to be immovable therefrom by the motion
of the horse; but so as to be readily removable from such boot by
the rider. Next I claim as my Invention, as well in the said first
apparatus as in the said third apparatus, the arrangement of the
parts thereof respectively, whereby the gun is fixed to the horse in
the position herein-before mentioned, that is to say, with the lower
part thereof between the stirrup and the side of the horse, and the
upper part near the shoulder of the horse.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Barwell Coles, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day
of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and forty.
DUCKWORTH.
D AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-second day of
February, in the year of our Lord 1840, the aforesaid Charles Barwell
Coles came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and
acknowledged the Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing

page_text: therein contained and specified in form above written. And also
the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of
the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Twenty-second day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty.