IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Wyley, of Aston Manor, in the County of
Stafford, Geological Surveyor, and John Grainger, of Handsworth, in
the County of Stafford, Gun Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 2nd December 1864, and dated the 1st July 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Wyley and John
Grainger at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 1st July 1864.
We, ANDREW WYLEY, of Aston Manor, in the County of Stafford, Geological
Surveyor, and JOHN GRAINGER, of Handsworth, in the County of Stafford,
Gun Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "In-
PROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
Our Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described in con-
structing that class of fire-arms in which the cartridge is inserted at the
breech, the said breech being closed by a valve having an angular motion
transverse to the barrel. Some of our improvements may also be applied to
other fire-arms.
We will describe a breech-loading fire-arm containing our improvements.
At the rear end of the barrel and at right angles thereto an oblong lump is
formed. A deep groove is made in this lump, the said groove being also at
right angles to the barrel, the said groove quite severs the lump, with the
exception of a narrow band at the upper part. Into this groove a flat valve

page_text: is fitted, the said valve having an angular motion on a stong pin or axis which
crosses the groove immediately under the barrel, and serves to tie together the
two portions of the lump divided by the groove. The upper part of the
groove and of the valve are formed of a circular curve struck from the centre
of the valve axis, the upper edge of the valve working in contact with the
upper part of the groove, or nearly so. The valve is extended downwards
into a handle or lever, by which the valve can be moved through a quarter of
a circle. In one position of the valve it closes the charge chamber, in another
it permits the cartridge to pass into the charge chamber, suitable stops being
used to limit the motion of the valve, and to retain it at the two positions.
Channels are formed on the valve for lubrication, and a channel is formed
partly in the lump and partly in the face of the valve to catch the fouling.
The valve is easily withdrawn from the groove, and may be made to act as a
nipple key. The opening in the rear of the lump through which the charge
is introduced is enlarged so as to allow the finger to push in the cartridge,
and from this opening a scoop-shaped channel extends backwards, and forms
the upper strap by which the lump and barrel are attached to the stock. The
lower strap extends backwards from the bottom of the lump and acts as
trigger plate. Instead of these two lateral straps may be used, one forming
the lock plate of the gun. The stock is divided by the lump into two parts;
the front part may be dispensed with; when used it is attached in the ordinary
way. The head of the tie pin assists in keeping it in its place, and a strap
may be added extending from the fore part of the lump, to which it may be
attached by a sling pin. In attaching the sling an arrangement is used which
is more convenient than the ordinary swivel.
This part of our Invention is constructed as follows:-A cylindrica! pin is
cut nearly half through at the middle part, and is passed through the head of
the sling pin, and a round loop.formed in the end of the sling, which last is
cut away in the middle, so as to let the head of the sling pin enter. When
the notched pin has entered so that the notch embraces the lower and forward
portion of the ring forming the sling pin head, it has little or no tendency to
lateral movement, which may be quite prevented by so making the notch in
the sling that it exerts an elastic pressure on the outside of the sling pin ring.
A similar attachment may be used for the fore part of the sling. This part
of our Invention may be applied to other fire-arms. The lock is of the
ordinary backwork kind, and the valve lever may be made to bring the
hammer to half cock. . The nipple may be placed in advance of the groove,
the fire of the percussion cap striking through the paper of the cartridge in
front of the wad, attached as usual to the rear of the cartridge, or the nipple

page_text: may be inserted in a nearly horizontal position, either in the fore part of the
lump, or partly in the fore part and partly in the back part. When the
nipple is inserted in the fore part we cup its under side into a conical figure,
making the said cupped part rest on a corresponding cone standing up from
the nipple seat. By this construction the communication or nipple fire may
be bent at an angle of about forty-five degrees with the axis of the nipple.
The said communication is made by forming a groove on the conical nipple
seat, and in continuation of this a hole is drilled into the barrel. This form
of nipple and bed may be applied to other fire-arms. The lock may be
placed in the middle of the stock, and the nipple sunk in the valve in a line
with the barrel's axis. The hammer is so shaped that when at full cock it is
not in the way of the cartridge. The hammer is held back and set free by a
trigger detent engaging in its circular head. Pin cartridges may be used, as
in Lefaucheux guns, the hole in the lump being in this case opened out
sufficiently to allow the flange of the cartridge to pass, a long groove being
cut for the passage of the pin. Other methods of firing, such as a percussion
tube placed in a touch-hole on the side of the barrel, may be used.
Double-barrelled fire-arms may be constructed according to our Invention,
the barrels being brazed into holes in the lump, and an intermediate tang or
strap used in place of that herein-before described. The junction of the
barrel or barrels and lump with the back part of the stock may be made by a
dovetail joint, so as to admit of the removal of the barrels. The back sight
may be of an inverted U shape, rising vertically, as in the sight described in
the Specification of Letters Patent granted to Andrew Wyley, and dated the
2nd of October 1861, No. 2453, the bed or frame of the sight being formed
in the shape of a flat ring encircling the barrel, and having two projections
at the sides level with the outside of the stock. A lengthening bar or rod
may be used to adapt the sight to greater ranges. A retractile fore sight
similar to that described in the Specification already referred to may be used,
but mounted on a broader bed sliding transversely in a dovetail. In the case
of double-barrels the retractile sight spring may be attached to a small block
piece, filling up the space between the rib and the barrels, and fixed by a
screw; the visible part of the sight rises through a small slot in the rib. The
bead may be perforated for a plug of white enamel, as in some of the sights
described in the Specification already referred to, excepting that one end of
the plug is made black; either end may be placed next the eye, or two
different plugs may be employed. For shooting against light-colored objects
a conical hole drilled a short way into the bead, and either left open or filled
with black varnish or sealing wax, will generally be found sufficient. As
As a

page_text: back sight for rifles not required to shoot at very long ranges, a long spring
blade turned up at one end to form the sight may be used, the said spring
blade lying close to the barrel (or to the rib in double-barrels), to which
barrel or rib it is attached by a dovetail saddle formed in one piece with the
blade, the junction between the two being made in the form of a circular
Joop, so as to give increased play to the spring. The central part of the loop
is cut away, so that the line of sight may be brought down nearly to the
level of the barrel or rib. A groove is cut in the middle of the barrel or rib,
the said groove deepening backwards, and sliding in this groove is a wedge-
shaped piece, by which the sight blade is elevated. The spring blade is made
of a dovetail form on the edges, and a leaf slides nearly its full length. To
this leaf the wedge-shaped piece is fixed, so as to admit of being adjusted
laterally to correspond with any adjustment of the saddle. This may be
dispensed with if the wedge piece is made somewhat narrower than the
groove in which it slides.
fire-arms.
The sights described are applicable to other
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Andrew Wyley and John Grainger in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 29th December 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ANDREW
WYLEY, of Aston Manor, in the County of Stafford, Geological Surveyor,
and JOHN GRAINGER, of Handsworth, in the County of Stafford, Gun Maker,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First 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 us,
the said Andrew Wyley and John Grainger, Her special licence that we,
the said Andrew Wyley and John Grainger, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said Andrew Wyley and John
Grainger, our 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,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Andrew Wyley and

page_text: John Grainger, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under our or their hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us
or them, 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 Andrew Wyley, on behalf of myself
and the said John Grainger, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that is
to say :-.
Our Invention consists principally of the improvements herein-after described
and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in constructing that class of
fire-arms in which the cartridge is inserted at the breech or rear end of the
barrel, the said breech being closed by a valve having an angular motion
transverse to the line of the barrel.
We will describe a breech-loading fire-arm containing our improvements,
reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 5 are side elevations of different modifications of our
improved fire-arm; Figures 4 and 6 are partial sections of other forms;
Figures 7, 8, 12, 14, 15, and 16 are elevations or views of the rear of the
said fire-arms at a point immediately behind the lump. The lower strap or
trigger plate is supposed to be cut away. In Figure 11 the rear of the lump
is cut away to shew the removeable valve. Figure 13 is a plan of the fire-
arm represented in Figures 3 and 12. The wood of the stock is supposed to
be removed in some cases, in others not. In Figure 6 the cock is added for
the purpose of shewing its position; Figures 9 and 10 represent back and
front views of the valve as used in the construction shown in Figure 1;
Figure 17 shews in plan part of the mainspring represented in Figure 4;
Figures 18 and 20 represent in perspective other details; Figure 19 represents
a tool for shaping the upper part of the valve groove; Figures 21 and 22 are
side and front elevations of the back sight and improved sight seat; Figure 24,
a modified form of sight; Figure 25, a plan of bolt to suit the said sight seat;
Figures 26 and 27, a side view and perspective of an escutcheon for the bolt,
Figure 25; Figures 28 and 29 are front and side views of a lengthening
piece for the said sight; Figures 30 and 31 are front and side views of the
improved retractile sight bed; and Figure 36, a side view and plan of sight
blade; Figures 32 and 34, front views of a similar sight applied to double
barrels; Figures 33 and 35, side views of same partly in section; Figures 37,

page_text: 38, and 39 are enlarged side views of the visible sight head variously modi-
fied; Figures 40 and 41 are end and side views; and Figure 42 is a plan
of another back sight applied for the most part to double barrels; Figure 43
is a modification of the loop of the said back sight; Figure 44 is the elevating
wedge attached to the sliding leaf of the same; and Figure 45, the said leaf
and wedge made in one piece; the two last Figures being in perspective.
At the rear end of the barrel A (Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the
Drawing) and at right angles to said barrel an oblong lump B is formed, or
the said lump B may be attached to the barrel by brazing or screwing. In
this lump B a deep groove is cut, also at right angles to the barrel, severing
the lump with the exception of a narrow band at the upper part. Into this
groove a flat valve D is fitted, the said valve having an angular motion on a
strong pin or axis C, which crosses the groove immediately under the barrel
or barrels A, and serves by means of a screw as in Figures 1 and 2, or a
.cotter as in Figures 4 and 6, to tie together the two portions of the lump B
divided by the groove. The upper part of, the groove and of the valve D are
formed of a circular curve struck from the centre of the valve axis C. The
valve D is extended downwards into a handle or lever H, by which it can be
moved through a quarter of a circle. In certain cases, as in the construction
represented in Figures 2 and 11, the range is limited to the sixth part of a
circle, and intermediate ranges may be used.
In one position of the valve, shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7, it closes
the cartridge chamber; in another position of the valve, shown in Figures 8,
.6, and 14, it permits the cartridge to pass into the said chamber, a piece
being cut out of the edge of the valve as shown. Suitable stops E, E', and
Es are used to limit the motion of the valve D. The stop E is a screw
pin, the end of which enters a shallow circular groove F in the valve, Figure 9.
The stop E, Figures 2 and 11, shown also in Figure 18, is a dovetail piece
sliding in a dovetail groove, so that it may be easily pushed out of the way.
It is best fitted with a friction spring. The stop E³, Figures 5 and 15, is a
pin pressed by a blade spring E³ into holes in the valve, keeping it stationary
at the closing position, and in the positions for opening the right and left hand
chambers. To permit the necessary traverse the sides of the holes are inclined
so that the pin can rise out of them when the valve is turned with some force.
The small angular projection at one of the upper corners of the valve D also
serves as a stop in the closing position. Channels g (Figures 9 and 11) are
cut in the valve D for lubrication, and a channel G is formed partly in the
valve and partly in the lump to catch the fouling and direct escaping gas away
from the axis. Instead of this a channel g' in the valve, indicated by dotted

page_text: lines in Figure 10, may be used. A channel h is cut on the upper curve of
the valve to allow any gas to escape. By removing the pin C, and bringing
the stops clear of the valve face, the valve D can be withdrawn.. The removal
of the valve is much facilitated by cutting an opening in its lower part, as
shown in Figure 11. When the stop E is drawn back the valve can be turned
round far enough to slide out of the groove without removing the pin C. The
lever H is formed so as to pass through the groove, and its end may be made
into a nipple key, as shewn in Figure 11.
The opening in the rear of the lump through which the charge is introduced
is made as large as possible to allow the cartridge to be pushed in by the
thumb or finger, and from it a scoop-shaped channel L extends, forming the
upper strap by which the lump is attached to the stock. It is sometimes
made in a separate piece, and attached by screws, as in Figure 5 and 15.
The lower strap K (usually screwed to the bottom of the lump) acts as
trigger plate; or two lateral straps may be used, one fixed and forming the
lock plate of the gun, the other moveable and attached by screws to the oppo-
site side of the lump. The plates are brought tightly up to the wood by a side
pin. The stock is divided by the lump into two parts. The fore part may
be dispensed with, as shewn in Figure 3. When used it is attached in the
ordinary way by a loop and bolt, or by a screw, as shewn in Figures 21 and 22.
The head of the tie pin C assists in keeping it in place (Figures 2 and 5),
but as it is sometimes convenient to turn the tie pin the reverse way a tail
is formed on the latter, as in Figure 1, which serves the same purpose. The
holes shown in the tail part allow of its being screwed up. on removing the
fore end of the stock. A strap M may also be used, extending from the fore
part of the lump, to which it is attached by a serew, or by the sling pin N.
In attaching the sling a round pin O, Figures 1 and 28, is cut nearly half
through at the middle, and is passed through the eye of the sling pin N, and a
round loop formed in the end of the sling, which is cut away in the middle to
receive the eye of the sling pin N, Figure 23. When the pin O has entered
so that the notch is opposite the lower portion of the sling pin eye, it
embraces the latter, and lateral motion may be entirely prevented if the gap
in the sling is so cut that it exerts an elastic pressure on the lower part of
the sling pin eye. A slip of india-rubber i is sometimes inserted in the sling
to produce the same effect. The fore part of the sling is sometimes attached
in the same way. The lock is of the ordinary backwork kind.. To make
room for it, it is sometimes necessary to cut into the head of the pin. C, or the
side of L, Figures 7, 8, and 4. The valve lever may be made to raise the
cock or hammer to half cock by means of the projections on each shown in

page_text: Figures 2 and 11. In this case, in opening the chamber the lever H is
moved from left to right; in the usual construction the motion is the
opposite way. The cock, if placed as in Figure 1, cannot then fall on the
cap till the valve is in the closing position. The fire of the cap strikes
through the paper of the cartridge in advance of the closing wad as in other
breech-loaders. The nipple is placed in advance of the groove, as in Figure 1,
or a projection may be formed for it on one side of the lump B, as in Figure's
When the nipple is placed in the fore part of the lump, as in
Figure 2, we cup its under side into a hollow cone. This rests on a corre-
sponding cone standing up from the bottom of the nipple seat. A groove is
formed along one side of the cone, and a hole in continuation of the same
drilled into the barrel. This enables the cap fire to be bent at an angle of
about 45 degrees where it leaves the nipple, and continued direct into the
barrel.
2 and 3.
In the construction shown in Figures 3, 12, and 13, a long nipple is screwed
into the back part of the lump B and into an intermediate block piece P, its
conical end just entering a recess in the fore part, from which a hole is drilled
at an angle of about 45 degrees with the barrel; strong caps are used. The
valve D is cut away where it interferes with the above nipples and the said
valve opens to the left. The nipples are slightly inclined inwards.
The lock may be placed in the middle of the stock, Figures 4 and 14, and
the nipple slightly sunk in the valve in the line of the axis of the barrel.
A passage for the projecting part of the nipple is cut on the inside of the back
part of the lump. The cap is put on when the valve is open, or in the position
shown in Figure 14. The nipple is preferably screwed.from the front of thes
valve. A copper disc 1 and tubular ring k, of steel or copper, may be used,
to be replaced when worn. A skin cartridge is used without closing wad, or
a paper cartridge with a thickened ring at the rear end. From an exami-
nation of Figure 4, the lock will be seen to resemble that described in the
Specification of Letters Patent granted to Andrew Wyley, and dated the 2nd
of October 1861, No. 2453, and shown in Figures 1 and 2, Sheet I. of the
Drawings accompanying the same. In the present case the mainspring is
attached to the under side of L, as shown in Figure 4, and its longer arm is
forked so as to permit the head of the cock to pass through it, see Figure 17.
The double cranked-shaped swivel is hooked on to the back of the radius arm s
of the cock. There is no half cock, and at full cock the flat face of the cock
lies in a recess cut in the upper part of the channel L, in the rear of the hole
through which the circular head of the cock plays. A pin cartridge may
be used, as in Lefaucheux guns, the channel L and hole in the lump being

page_text: enlarged so as to permit the flange of the cartridge to pass (see Figures 6
and 16). A slit is made in the upper part of the lump to admit the cartridge
pin. By the said pin the cartridge is pushed in and withdrawn. Other
methods of firing, such as a percussion tube, may be used. This is shown as
applied to a double-barrel in Figures 5 and 15. Screw plugs of hardened
steel m, Figures 5 and 20, perforated for the tubes, are cut away on the head
so as to form anvils against which the tubes are struck by steel pins working
freely in holes in the upper corners of the lump B'. These pins are struck by
the cocks and are brought back by spiral springs working against their collars
or shoulders in recesses in the fore part of B, as shown by dotted lines in
Figure 5. The valve represented as closed moves about 60 degrees to the right
and left to open each charge chamber, and thus has three positions. The barrels
are brazed into the lump. The general construction will be understood from
the Figures 5 and 15. The fire-arm may be made to divide into two parts,
the junction being made by a taper dovetail joint, such as is sometimes used
in portable furniture and shown in Figures 3, 12, and 13. When the barrel
is lowered into its place, the pin C is screwed up and its end crosses the joint
and makes all fast. If this joint be applied to double-barrels, the stop E' and
its spring are placed in the fore part of the lump under the wood of the stock,
and act on the front of the valve D.
The back sight, Figures 21 and 22, may be of an inverted U shape, rising
vertically like the sight described in the Specification No. 2453, already
alluded to, and shown in Figures 36 and 87, Sheet II. of the Drawings
accompanying the same. The seat of the sight in this case is a flat ring of an
internal diameter slightly larger than the outside of the barrel, and encircling
the latter, and having at the sides two projections level or nearly level with
the outside of the stock. Grooves are formed in these in which the legs of the
sight, in this case of a rectangular or dovetail section, slide, and the grooves
are continued through the stock. The scale is marked on one leg. At the
bottom of the ring is a lump into which a screw enters from the bottom of the
stock, as in Figures 21 and 22, or a loop through which is passed the modified
bolt, Figure 25. If a bolt is used the middle parts of the escutcheons are
cut away, or they are recessed as in Figures 26 and 27. A pinching screw may
be used to keep the ring fast (p, Figure 22), or the ring may be soldered to
the barrel. In this form it is applicable only to strong barrels having little
expansion externally, for weaker barrels it is divided as indicated by horizontal
dotted lines in Figure 22; or the top of the ring may be cut away before
being soldered to the barrel. This allows it to pass over any lumps on the

page_text: latter. Figure 24 shows the same sight and its seat modified to admit of a
greater rise. A lengthening bar may be used to adapt the sight to greater
ranges. It may be formed, as shewn in Figures 28 and 29, to clip the sight
head by spring action. A scale for the sight thus lengthened may be cut on
the other leg. A retractile fore sight, such as described in the Specification
No. 2453, before referred to, may be used, but in an improved form. It is
mounted on a broad bed, sliding transversely in a dovetail cut in the barrel,
Figures 30 and 31, or in both barrels and rib in the case of double-barrels.
Figure 36 shows the sight spring, which is kept in its place by the dovetail.
In double-barrels with hollow rib a retractile sight spring may be used,
bent as in Figure 33, and carried by a small block piece which fills up the
space between the barrels and rib, Figures 32 and 33, and is fixed by a screw.
In case of a solid rib, a round or taper hole is bored to contain the spring, the
lower blade of which is set in a groove extending some-way along the lower
side of the hole, and kept in place by a screw plugs, as shewn in Figures 34
and 35. The sight in both cases is sprung into its place, and the visible part
rises through a small slot cut in the rib. The "bead" of these sights may be
perforated and fitted with white enamel, as described in the Specification No.
2453, before referred to, with this difference, that a reversible plug is used,
one end black and the other white.
securely, shewn enlarged in Figure 37.
white as before, and another with the
enlarged in Figure 38, may be used.
The tubular bead is slit to hold it more
Instead of this, separate plugs, one
part next the eye black, as shown
;
For shooting against light-coloured objects, such as ordinary targets, a
conical hole drilled a short way into the bead, as in the enlarged Figure 39, is
sometimes used; it may be left empty or filled up with black varnish or sealing
wax. As a back sight for rifles not required to shoot at great ranges a long
spring blade turned up at one end may be used. It is shown as applied to
double-barrels in Figures 40, 41, and 42, but is applicable to octagon single-
barrels when sufficiently thick. The spring blade is attached to a dovetail
saddle piece by a round loop, as in Figures 41 or 43, so as to give increased
play. The central part of the loop is cut away, that the line of sight can be
brought low. A groove a, Figures 40 and 41, is cut along the barrel or rib,
deepening towards its rear end, and sliding in this is a wedge-shaped piece v, by
which the sight plate r is elevated. The last is made of a dovetail form on
the edges, and a leaf t slides nearly its whole length. The wedge piece v
may form part of the leaf, as in Figure 45, in which case it is made some
what narrower than the channel x, to allow of the saddle being slightly

page_text: The
adjusted, or the wedge v may be connected with the leaf t by a cross piece
sliding tightly in a dovetail in t immediately below the sight blade r, Figures 41
and 44. In its ordinary point blank state the leaf t is at the rear of the
blade r, and the barrel or rib is recessed for it, as shown in Figure 41. A
special tool (Figure 19) is used for shaping the upper part of the groove in
the lump B after it has been cut as far as a circular cutter can enter.
body of the tool is flat, of a thickness to fit the groove, and has a toothed steel
cutter let into its curved end. A die is fitted into it somewhat as in an
ordinary screw stock. When the tool is passed into the lump, the die being
as near the cutting part as it will go, the tie pin C is screwed or driven inte
its place, being made to pass through a hole in the said die. By means of the
lever handle a reciprocating movement is given to the tool and cutter, which
is fed up to its work by the screw.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that we do
not claim closing the breech by a flat valve having an angular motion. But
we claim as our Invention,-
Firstly, constructing the said flat valve and the groove or seat in which it
is placed in the manner before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawing, the said flat valve having its centre of motion below the barrel.
Secondly, the several methods of applying the said construction of valve and
groove or seat to fire-arms, herein-before described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawing.
Thirdly, we claim the conical nipple seat, nipple base, and communication
herein-before described and illustrated in Figure 2 of the Drawing, and its
application to all fire-arms using the common nipple whenever it is desirable
to bend the cap fire at about an angle of 45 degrees direct from the axis of
the nipple.
Fourthly, the method of constructing the seat or frame of the back sight
herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 21 and 22, and its applica-
tion to all rifles with moderately strong barrels, having a sufficient section of
stock at the point where the back sight is usually placed.
Fifthly, the method herein-before described and illustrated of fitting the
sling to the sling pin as being more compact than the ordinary swivel.
Sixthly, the improved methods of fitting and mounting the retractile sight
herein-before described and illustrated, and their application to all rifles,
military excepted.
Seventhly, we claim the method of constructing the spring blade sight with
a loop to give increased play, and the particular construction of travelling leaf

page_text: and the adaptation of the rib or barrel thereto, as herein-before described and
illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said. Andrew Wyley, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
: GEORGE SHAW.
ANDREW WYLEY. (L.B.)