IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Syme, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS AND IN
APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
Sealed the 13th January 1865, and dated the 19th July 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Syme at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 19th
July 1864.
I, JAMES SYME, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS AND
IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates first to the stock and breech of fire-arms. The main
portion of the stock is composed of a metallic tube, by preference steel; this
tube is bent into the desired form to suit the hand and eye; in the front end
next the barrel a screw is formed which receives the back end of the breech-
piece which projects behind the barrel. so far as to allow a sufficient length
of screw to be formed thereon to render the hold sufficiently firm, the front
end of the 'breech-piece screws into the barrel which is recessed out and
screwed for the purpose of fixing the barrel to the breech and stock in such
manner that when all are properly screwed together no part of the breech
will be seen, that is the ends of the stock and barrel abut. After they are
screwed together they appear as if the stock was a portion or a mere con-
[Price 8d.]

page_text: tinuation of the barrel or stock; but in order to afford sufficient surface in the
butt plate to rest against the shoulder, 1 form a piece of thin sheet metal into
shape, and secure it to the back end at the under side of the tube, on the rear
of that the butt plate proper is secured. The tube or principal portion of the
stock is bent from the breech. downwards only so far as to allow it to be
properly grasped by the hand, it is then turned upwards and backwards until
the upper or tube part is in a line or nearly so with the line of barrel; this
allows the recoil to be thrown on to the shoulder nearly in the line of fire.
For some kinds of fire-arms I make a movable butt or kicking plate in
such manner that at its upper end it is hinged or jointed to the back end of
the tube portion of the stock the lower end of the plate has also a joint or
hinge formed on it to which a ştay is jointed or hinged; this stay at its front end
is secured to the under side of the stock by a thumb-screw. Holes are formed
in the stay or barrel, or in both, so that the thumb-screw can be inserted in
either, the butt or kicking plate can thus be made to assume any angle to suit
the shoulder of a person using it in any position. The lock plate is made of
such form that when inserted in the recess formed in the stock to receive it, it
shall present a smooth surface or nearly so, and appear as a part of the tubular
portion of the stock. The back sight is secured to the tubular portion of the
stock or barrel. The portions of the stock and barrel where they are grasped
by the hands have their surfaces roughened or covered with fish skin or other
suitable material, so that they will not be so liable to slip through the hands.
I make the fore sight of a piece of metal secured to the barrel or formed out
of the barrel, this is the main portion of the sight piece but to make it per-
fect I form the side of it nearest to the eye at an angle of about fifteen degrees
with a vertical line, or seventy-five degrees with the line of sight more or less.
The back of the sight from the eye I likewise make at an angle of any suitable
number of degrees, both these angular faces are formed between two ridges
one on each side for protecting the adjusted portion of the sight about to be
explained. On the side next the eye in a recess I insert and secure a piece of
white metal or material in the centre and from the top of this white metal or
material I make a fine vertical dark or black line, the upper end of the line and
top of metal or material being the proper line of sight. By making this metal or
material stand at such an angle the dark line is seen distinctly. Of I use a
small bead on the top of the white metal right over the dark line. On the under
side of the barrel I secure a tubular-shaped piece of metal to hold the ramrod;
this tube passes through the fixed portion of the strap swivel keeper secured
near the muzzle. I make a double muzzle protector and after placing it on
the ramrod I secure a small washer close to the screw on the smail end of the

page_text: ramrod to prevent the muzzle protector from falling off. By this double pro-
tector I protect the bore of the piece from damage, either while in the act of
loading, cleaning out the barrel, or during other exercises. The front end of the
ramrod keeper is made slightly trumpet mouthed so that the ramrod may be
put in its place more readily, I leave both ends of the ramrod keeper open so
that no dirt or water can collect therein.
Figure 1 is a side view of a musket or fire-arm constructed according to my
Invention; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section; Figure 3 is a section of a por-
tion of the muzzle on a larger scale; Figure 4 is a cross section of the same
looking forward; Figure 5 shows the double protector on the ramrod, and
Figure 6 is a view of the butt end of a stock with a movable butt or kicking
plate; similar letters refer to similar parts in all the Figures.
A is the barrel secured to the stock B by means of the breech-piece, C; D is
the portion of the stock made hollow likewise, to which the butt or kicking plate
is secured; E is the back sight, secured to the top of the stock; F is the
fore sight, made angular as shewn; G is the white piece of metal or material
on which the black line of sight is drawn or engraved; H are the projections,
which protect it from injury. The barrel and stock are roughened or covered
with fish skin or other proper material at I and J; K is the tube for holding
the ramrod L, and formed slightly trumpet-mouthed nearest to the muzzle
protector; M is the muzzle protector on the ramrod L, which is at liberty to
slide to either end of the rod. but is prevented from falling off by the small
washer N; this muzzle protector is made double, instead of single; O is the
strap swivel and keeper through which the tubular keeper which holds the
ramrod passes; P, Figure 6. is the movable butt or kicking plate, jointed or
hinged to the tubular portion of the stock at Q; R is the stay, which is
jointed or hinged to the lower end of the butt or kicking plate at S; T is the
thumb-screw which secures the front end of the stay to the stock at U. This
thumb-screw can be shifted into either of the holes which may be formed in
either the stock or stay so as to fix the butt plate at any requisite angle; V is
a bayonet fixing block.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Syme in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
January 1865.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said James Syme, Her special licence that I, the said James
Syme, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said James Syme, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS. AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the
condition (amongst others) that. I. the said James Syme, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed.
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Syme. do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, that
is to say:
My Invention relates, first, to the stock and breech of fire-arms. The main
portion of the stock is composed of a metallic tube, by preference steel; this
tube is bent into the desired form to suit the hand and eye. In the front end
next the barrel a screw is formed, which receives the back end of the breech-
piece, which projects behind the barrel so far as to allow a sufficient length of
screw to be formed thereon, to render the hold sufficiently firm. The front
end of the breech-piece screws into the barrel. which is recessed out, and
screwed for the purpose of fixing the barrel to the breech and stock in such
manner that when all are properly screwed together no part of the breech will
be seen, that is the ends of the stock and barrel abut. After they are screwed
together they appear as if the stock was a portion or a mere continuation of
the barrel or stock; but in order to afford sufficient surface in the butt plate
to rest against the shoulder I form a piece of thin sheet metal into shape, and
secure it to the back end at the under side of the tube, on the rear of that the
butt plate proper is secured. The tube or principal portion of the stock is

page_text: bent from the breech downwards only so far as to allow it to be properly
grasped by the hand; it is then turned upwards and backwards until the
upper or tube part is in a line or nearly so with the line of barrel; this allows
the recoil to be thrown on to the shoulder nearly in the line of fire. For
some kinds of fire-arms I make a movable butt or kicking plate, in such
manner that at its upper end it is hinged or jointed to the back end of the
tube portion of the stock; the lower end of the plate has also a joint or hinge
formed on it, to which a stay is jointed or hinged; this stay at its front end is
secured to the under side of the stock by a thumb-screw. Holes are formed in
the stay or barrel, or in both, so that the thumb-screw can be inserted in either;
the butt or kicking plate can thus be made to assume any angle to suit the
shoulder of a person using it in any position. The lock plate is made of such
form that when inserted in the recess formed in the stock to receive it, it shall
present a smooth surface, or nearly so, and appear as a part of the tubular
portion of the stock. The back sight is secured to the tubular portion of the
stock or barrel. The portions of the stock and barrel where they are grasped
by the hands have their surfaces roughened or covered with fish skin or other
suitable material, so that they will not be so liable to slip through the hands.
I make the fore sight of a piece of metal, secured to the barrel or formed out
of the barrel; this is the main portion of the sight piece, but to make it
perfect I form the side of it nearest to the eye at an angle of about fifteen
degrees with a vertical line, or seventy-five degrees with the line of sight,
more or less. The back of the sight from the eye I likewise make at an angle of
any suitable number of degrees; both these angular faces are formed between
two ridges, one on each side, for protecting the adjusted portion of the sight
about to he explained. On the side next the eye. in the recess, I insert and
secure a piece of white metal or material; in the centre. and from the top of
this white metal or material I make a fine vertical dark or black line, the
upper end of the line and top of metal or material being the proper line of
sight. By making this metal or material stand at such an angle the dark
line is seen distinctly. Or I use a small bead on the top of the white metal
right over the dark line. On the under side of the barrel I secure a tubular-
shaped piece of metal to hold the ramrod; this tube passes through the fixed
portion of the strap swivel keeper, secured near the muzzle. I make a double
muzzle protector, and after placing it on the ramrod I secure a small washer
close to the screw on the small end of the ramrod to prevent the muzzle
protector from falling off. By this double protector I protect the bore of the
piece from damage either while in the act of loading, cleaning out the barrel.
or during other exercises. The front end of the ramrod keeper is made slightly

page_text: trumpet-mouthed, so that the ramrod may be put in its place more readily.
I leave both ends of the ramrod keeper open, so that no dirt or water can
collect therein.
In order to shew more clearly the manner in which I carry my Invention
into effect, I now proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to
the Drawings hereunto annexed.
With regard to the first part of my Invention, which relates to the stock,
breech, and barrel portions of muskets or fire-arms, Figure 1 is a side view of
a musket or fire-arm constructed according to my Invention; Figure 2 is a
longitudinal section, Figure 3 is a section of a portion of the muzzle on a
larger scale; Figures 4 and 5 are cross sections of the same looking forward.
Similar letters refer to similar parts in all the Figures.
A is the barrel, secured to the stock B by means of the breech piece C.
The stock B is composed of a metallic tube, by preference steel. The breech
piece C has an external screw thread cut on it. The front end of the stock
piece B has an internal thread cut in it, into which the breech piece C is
screwed. The breech end of the barrel A has a similar internal screw cut in
it, which also is screwed on to the breech piece C until the ends of the stock
and barrel abut against each other, and are so held fast. The tubular
portion B is bent as shewn, so as to afford a good grip for the hand, and at the
same time allow the hand to be quite out of the way, and not interfere with
the line of sight. I fix to the back end of the portion B a hollow portion D.
I fix on both the portions B and D the butt or kicking plate D¹. Instead of
making the portion D to fit to the under side of the tubular portion B, I some-
times modify it, as seen in Figures 6 and 7, and slit up the tubular portion B
from the butt end forward a certain distance, and then separate or draw the
two halves or legs a suitable distance apart at the butt end, and so fix the
hollow angular portion D between them; the kicking plate D' is then fixed
over all. Instead of keeping it hollow, I sometimes fit pieces of wood between
the two halves or legs of the tubular portion B, and then fix the butt or kicking
plate D over the ends of the wood and metal or whichever way may be most
convenient. I prefer to keep the upper side of the upper portion of the slit
tube straight, and to run parallel with the barrel, or nearly so, and at a suitable
distance lower than the barrel upper surface, so as not to interfere with the
line of sight.
Figure 8 is a view of a musket or fire-arm, having the butt end of its stock
mounted with a movable adjustable butt or kicking plate. P is the movable
butt or kicking plate which is jointed or hinged to the tubular portion of the
stock at Q; R is the stay, which is jointed or hinged to the lower end of the

page_text: butt or kicking plate at S; T is the thumb-screw, which secures the front end
of the stay to the stock at U; this thumb-screw can be shifted into either of
the holes which may be formed in either the stock or the stay so as to fix the
butt or kicking plate at any requisite angle, or a long slot may be formed in
the stay R so that it may pass over the stem of the screw to the proper
distance and be tightened by the thumb-screw T, and thereby keep the butt
or kicking plate to the proper angle. The lock plate U¹ is made of such form
that when inserted in the recess formed in the stock B, to receive it, it shall
present a flush smooth surface or nearly so, and appear as a part of the
tubular portion of the stock B; V is the bayonet fixing block, which may be
formed or fixed as usual; E is the back sight secured to the top of the stock:
F is the fore sight, made angular as shewn; it may either be fixed on the top
of the barrel, or forged with and form part of it; G is the white piece of
metal, ivory, bone, or other suitable material, in which the dark or black line
of sight is drawn or engraved. This piece of white metal or other material
is fixed in a recess in the foresight block between two projections H, H, and
stands at an angle of about 15 degrees from a vertical, or about seventy-five
degrees from a horizontal line. I sometimes make use of a small bead, not
shewn in the Drawings, on the top of the white metal over the upper end of
the dark line. The projections H, H, protect the sight from injury. In
Figure 4 I shew the foresight block F of such breadth as to be only a portion
of the diameter of the barrel, but I prefer it to be as in Figure 5, where I shew
it of the full diameter of the barrel, so that the sides of the foresight block F,
and the sides of the barrel, will be flush. The barrel and stock are roughened
or covered with fish skin or other suitable material at I and J; K is the tube
for holding the ramrod L; this tube is properly secured to the barrel, and is
open at both ends so, that no wet or dirt may collect in it. It is formed
slightly trumpet-mouthed at the fore end so that the ramrod may be put into
its place more readily, and likewise to allow the ramrod to be bent and jammed
by the muzzle protector, or the head of the ramrod, so that it will be kept in
its place without a spring specially made for the purpose; O is the strap
swivel and keeper, through this keeper the tube K, which holds the ramrod
L passes, and is otherwise secured to the barrel A; M is the double muzzle
protector, which may be made of boxwood, ebony, ebonite, or other suitable
material, it is shewn on a large scale in Figure 9. This muzzle protector is
made double instead of single, and is at liberty to slide to either end of the rod,
but is prevented from falling off by means of a small washer N fixed up against
a shoulder on the ramrod I, while the corner or angle of a another shoulder

page_text: is rivetted or burred up against it to keep it in its place. The end of
ramrod L which projects through the washer is screw-threaded so that a
screw cleaner or other necessary apparatus may be fixed thereon.
Figure 10 shews the small end of a ramrod, made hollow as at W, so that
it can be made use of in loading muskets or fire-arms without having to
reverse the ramrod or turn it end for end. The muzzle protector is or may be
put on or mounted on the ramrod and the bulged or enlarged portion in which
the hollow W is formed may be screwed or otherwise fixed on the ramrod and
thus keep the protector M on the rod.
I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not confine myself entirely to
the different modifications herein-before explained and shewn, as many modi-
fications may be made without departure from the principles or main features of
my Invention.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in. what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my "Improve-
ments in Fire-arms, and Apparatus connected therewith,"
First, forming the stocks of fire-arms of a tubular piece of metal in such
manner than the tubular portion will appear as a continuation of the barrel
and of such form that the recoil of the piece will be thrown on to the shoulder
in or nearly in the line of fire, as herein-before described and shewn in the
Drawings hereunto annexed.
Second, the construction of stocks for fire-arms, with movable, adjustable,
butt or kicking plates, as herein-before described with reference to the Draw-
ings hereunto annexed.
J
Third, making fore sights of fire-arms in such manner that the face of the
sight nearest to the eye shall stand at an angle of about fifteen degrees from
a vertical or about seventy-five degrees from a horizontal line, as herein-before
described with reference to the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Fourth, inserting in the angular face of the fore sight nearest to the eye a
piece of white metal, ivory, bone, or other suitable material, on which the fine
sight-line is engraved, all as herein-before described with reference to the
Drawings hereunto annexed.
Fifth, the employment of a bead in connection with such fore sights for fire-
arms as are herein-before described.
Sixth, protecting sights for fire-arms by means of projections, one on each side
as herein-before described, with reference to the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Seventh, making ramrod holders open at both ends so as to prevent dirt or
water accumulating therein.

page_text: Eighth, constructing double muzzle protectors so that either end may. be
inserted in the muzzles of fire-arms as herein-before described, with reference
to the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Ninth, mounting muzzle protectors on ramrods, and forming ramrods for
mounting the same as herein-before described, and shewn in the Drawings
hereunto annexed.
Tenth, forming ramrods as herein-before described, and shewn in the
Drawings hereunto annexed, so that either end can be used in loading.
Eleventh, the general arrangement and construction of the various parts of
and apparatus connected or relating to fire-arms herein-before described, and
represented in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Syme, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of January One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-five.
JAMES SYME. (L.S.)