IMPROVE- MENTS IN BREAK-DOWN SNAP Guns
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Arthur Grant and William Adams both of
St. James' Street in the City of Westminster for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BREAK-DOWN SNAP Guns"
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Arthur Grant and
William Adams at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
25th April 1883.
SAMUEL ARTHUR GRANT and WILLIAM ADAMS, both of St James' Street in
the City of Westminster "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREAK-DOWN SNAP GUNS."
This invention relates to that class of break down sporting gun known as
"hammerless" guns, the object of the invention being to simplify the construction
of these guns and otherwise to improve the working.
In carrying out our invention we employ spiral springs as main springs to drive
the strikers or hammers.
On the pivot pin and in recesses one on either side of the lump recess we mount
a tumbler or lifter. This tumbler or lifter is conveniently connected to a second
tumbler which on one side of the gun is pivotted to a small cylinder and on the
other side is loose. This cylinder which is movable contains a pin on which the
main spring is mounted. This spring at one end has an abutment on the cylinder
end and at the other end on a shoulder on the pin. The opposite end of this pin
is pivotted to the striker or hammer.
On the other side of the gun the main spring is in like manner mounted on a
pin enclosed in a cylinder which is however fixed. The outer end of this pin is
pivotted to the striker or hammer the inner end being acted upon by the second
tumbler.
The abutments for the main spring are in this case the same as in the former
instance.
Underneath and between the barrels is arranged a forked slide which when the
barrels are applied to the action and the fore end is in position is forced forward,
causing the prongs to jam between the barrels and a flattened portion of the
[Price 6d1

page_text: tumblers. The slide thus becomes the long arm of a lever which as the barrels
are opened serves to rock the tumblers on the pivot pin and cock the gun. In one
case the rocking of the tumbler when opening the gun will cause the cramping of
the main spring on one side but in the other case the return motion of the
tumbler caused by the closing of the barrels will have the same effect on the
other side
.
The above described arrangement of lock is very simple and is not liable to get
out of order for even if the springs break in several places they will being mounted
on pins and enclosed in cylinders, still serve their purpose.
The cramping of the main springs at different times also serves to equalize the
labor in opening and closing the gun.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Samuel Arthur Grant and William Adams in the Great Seal
'Patent Office on the 25th October 1883.
°
SAMUEL ARTHUR GRANT and WILLIAM ADAMS both of St James Street in
the City of Westminster "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREAKDOWN SNAP GUNS"
This Invention relates to that class of breakdown sporting gun known as
""hammerless" guns the object of the Invention being to simplify the construction
of these guns and otherwise to improve the working
In the accompanying Drawing Fig: 1 is a side view of one side of a gun con-
structed according to this Invention with the side plate removed-Fig: 2 is a
similar view, partly in section, with the barrels open, shewing the parts in a
different position Figures 3 and 4. are corresponding views of the other side of
the gun.
In carrying out our Invention we employ spiral springs as main springs to drive
the strikers or hammers.
A. is the stock B. the barrels C. the fore end and D. the pivot pin
On the pivot pin D. and in a recess on either side of the lump recess we mount
a tumbler or lifter a.-This tumbler or lifter a. is conveniently connected to a
second tumbler b. On one side of the gun (see Figures 1 and 2-) this second
tumbler b. is formed to enter the end of a small cylinder or case c. which is fixed
'to the action and in which the spiral main spring is enclosed The spring is
mounted on a pin d. which is provided at one end with a shoulder or enlargement d'.
against which one end of the spring abuts-The other end of this pin d. is pivotted
to the hammer or striker e. The other end of the spring has its abutment on the
cylinder end-We may here remark that the form of the tumblers a and b, and
the mode of connecting them together will obviously admit of much modification,
but they must be so arranged that when the tumbler a. is moved by the opening
of the barrels, as will be hereafter explained, the tumbler b. will be rocked on its.
pivot and will be brought into contact with the end d. of the pin d. which will
thereby be pushed forward
This movement of the pin d. will cramp the main spring and cock the hammer
or striker e. see Fig: 2. The closing of the barrels will rock the tumbler a. in the
reverse direction which will cause the tumbler b. to return to its normal position
'as seen in Fig: 1.
On the other side of the gun (see Figures 3 and 4) the spiral main spring is in
like manner mounted on a pin d². and enclosed in a cylinder or case o'. which in
this case is movable-The rear end of this cylinder is pivotted to the second
tumbler b.-The outer end of the pin d. is pivotted to the striker or hammer e¹.
the inner end being provided with a shoulder or enlargement d³. which forms one
abutment for the main spring, the other abutment being the end of the cylinder-
The movement of the tumbler a. will rock the tumbler b. which in turn will push
forward the cylinder c', and with it the pin d. which will cock the hammer e'.
Bee Fig: 4
The closing of the barrels will move the tumbler a. in the reverse direction and
will return the tumbler b. to its normal position-As however in this case the
tumbler b. will be connected to the cylinder c¹. the cylinder will also be drawn
back-This movement of the cylinder will serve to cramp the main spring, the
pin d. being held in the advanced position by the hammer or striker &¹. as seen
in Fig: 3
Underneath and between the barrels is arranged a forked slide E. which, when
the barrels B. are applied to the stock A. and the fore end C. is in position, is

page_text: forced forward and the prongs are caused to jam between the underside of the
barrels B. and the tumblers a.-The slide in conjunction with the barrels B thus
becomes the long arm of a lever which as the barrels are opened serves to rock the
tumblers a. on the pivot pin D. to cock the hammers as before explained.
At Figures 5 we have shewn in edge and plan views this forked slide E.-The
slide is secured by a screw between the barrels B. so as to be capable of sliding
and is provided at its rear end with an inclined downward projecting piece or
hook When the fore end is placed in position this hook enters an inclined slot
therein and the slide is thereby forced forward until each prong jams between the
underside of the barrel and a flattened portion of each tumbler a.-The slide in
conjunction with the barrels B as before explained thus becomes the long arm of a
lever which has its fulcrum at the pivot pin D.-A light spring h. is placed above.
the slide which will serve, so soon as the fore end C. is removed to force back the
slide E. out of contact with the tumblers a. and thus permit of the facile removal
of the barrels from the action.
The above described arrangement of lock is very simple and is not liable to get
out of order, for even should the springs break in several places, they will, being
mounted on pins and enclosed in cylinders, still serve their purpose.
As before, explained the opening of the barrels will cause the cramping of one
main spring and the closing of the barrels will cramp the other main spring and
this cramping of the main springs at different times serves to equalize the labour
in opening and closing the barrels.
It will of course be obvious that if desired both sides of the gun may
alike and that either arrangement of lock may be thus employed.
be made
Having now described the nature of our Invention for "Improvements in break
down snap guns" and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect We
claim
First In a break down snap gun, the combination with the hammer or striker è.
of tumblers such as a. b. cylinder or case c. pin d. d. spiral main spring, and
slide E. all arranged substantially as herein shewn and described with reference to
Figures 1. 2 and 5 of the Drawing, to effect the cocking of the hammer and
cramping of the main spring by the opening of the barrels as set forth.
Second In a break down snap gun, the combination with the hammer or
striker e'. of tumblers such as a. b. cylinder or case c'. pin d'. d. spiral main spring
and slide E. all arranged substantially as herein shewn and described with
reference to Figures 3. 4 and 5 of the Drawing to effect the cocking of the hammer
by opening the barrels and the cramping of the main spring by the closing of the
'same as set forth.
Third-In a double barrel break down snap gun, equalizing the strain due to
the cocking of the hammers and the cramping of the main springs on the opening
and closing of the barrels, in the manner substantially as herein setforth
In witness whereof we the said Samuel Arthur, Grant and William Adams
have hereunto set our hands and seals the Twenty fifth day of October in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
i