IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADNG SMALL ARMS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Daniel Fraser, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid
Lothian, North Britain, Gun and Rifle Maker, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADNG SMALL ARMS."
LETTERS PATENT to Daniel Fraser, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid
Lothian, North Britain, Gun and Rifle Maker, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADNG SMALL ARMS."
Sealed the 10th August 1877, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, and
dated the 13th April 1880.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Daniel Fraser at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th December 1879.
DANIEL FRASER, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain,
Gun and Rifle Maker. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING SMALL ARMS."
This Invention relates to breech-loading small arms of the kind sometimes
termed "drop-down guns," and bas principally for its object the application of
improved mechanism which in a simple and satisfactory manner renders the gun
self-cocking," or in other words causes the cocking to be effected by the action of
opening the breech. The Invention also comprises improved arrangements of the
lock details.
"
In carrying out the Invention what is known as the "hammer-less or concealed-
hammer gun is by preference adopted, but the Invention is also applicable to
guns of the more common kind having outside hammers. A bar is fitted to slide
longitudinally in or on guides beneath or at the lower part of the action, and the
front end of this bar is acted upon by a tappet or suitable projection fixed to the
part of the hinge or joint moving with the fore end of the stock, the turning down
of the barrel or barrels on opening the breech causing the tappet to push the bar
backwards. The weight and leverage of the barrel or barrels are thus utilised for
cocking the gun, which action is effected by the backward movement of the bar.
The bar may be arranged with its inner end bearing directly on the hammer, it is,
however, preferred to interpose a lever or tumbler which, being acted upon near its

page_text: fulcrum by the bar, acts at a point further from its fulcrum on the hammer, and
thereby in a convenient manner throws back the hammer to the extent necessary
for obtaining an effective forward stroke, and certainty of ignition. When the
breech is closed the intermediate lever or tumbler is moved forward out of the way
of the hammer by a spring, and it moves the sliding bar forward also
'The hereinbefore described improvements may be applied to breech-loading guns
having topside or under "double grip" levers, and may be modified to suit other
arrangements.
One improvement in the lock details, and comprised in the Invention, consists
in arranging the main and sear springs at the back part of the lock and behind
the hammer when this is of the concealed kind. In one modification the springs
are placed horizontally, or nearly so, and in a second modification the main spring,
or both it and the sear spring, are placed in inclined positions. In a third modifi-
cation a single volute spring placed round the axle of the tumbler is applied so as
to serve as both a main spring and a sear spring. These arrangements of the
springs are designed to avoid the weakening at the fore part of the action or
breech piece, which is caused by existing arrangements. The arrangement of the
self-cocking details is also designed so as to avoid weakening of the action.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and
of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Daniel Fraser in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th August 1880.
DANIEL FRASER, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain,
Gun and Rifle Maker. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING SMALL ARMS."
My said Invention relates to breech-loading small arms of the kind sometimes
termed "drop-down guns," and has principally for its object the application of
improved mechanism which in a simple and satisfactory manner renders the gun
self-cocking," or, in other words, causes the cocking to be effected by the action of
opening the breech. My Invention also comprises improved arrangements of the
lock details.
In carrying out my Invention what is known as the "hammerless" or concealed-
hammer gun is by preference adopted, but my Invention is also applicable to guns
of the more common or older kind, having outside hammers. A bar is fitted to
slide longitudinally in or on guides beneath or at the lower part of the action, and
the front end of this bar is acted on by a tappet or suitable projection fixed to the
part of the hinge or joint moving with the fore end of the stock, the turning down
of the barrel or barrels on opening the breech causing the tappet to push the bar
backwards. The weight and leverage of the barrel or barrels are thus utilised for
cocking the gun, which action is effected by the backward movement of the bar.
Between the bar and the hammer I interpose a lever or tumbler, which being acted
on near its fulcrum by the bar acts at a point further from its fulcrum on the
hammer, and thereby in a convenient manner throws back the hammer to the
extent necessary for obtaining an effective forward stroke and certainty of ignition.
I proposed to effect the return of the intermediate lever or tumbler, and through it
that of the sliding bar, by means of a spring, but I have improved my arrangement
by adding a locking appliance which prevents the trigger or triggers from being
moved until a small external lever is moved so as to release them, and then the
consequent return of the locking appliance causes the return of the intermediate
lever or tumbler and sliding bar.
My hereinbefore described improvements may be applied to breech-loading guns
having topside or under "double-grip" levers, and may be modified to suit other
arrangements,
My Invention also comprises improvements in the lock details, such improve-
ments having for object better arrangements of the main and sear springs.
And in order that my said Invention, and the manner of performing the same,
may be properly understood, I hereunto append two Sheets of explanatory
Drawings, to be hereinafter referred to, and representing examples embodying my
improvements. In these Drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark
the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
Figure 1, on Sheet 1, of the accompanying Drawings is a side elevation of part
of a double-barrelled breech-loading hammerless gun as made with my improve-
ments, and Figure 2 is a corresponding longitudinal vertical section, the breech,
being represented as closed in these Figures, and the section in Figure 2 being for
the most part as taken centrally between the two barrels. In Figure 8, on Sheet 2,
of the Drawings, which Figure is a sectional side elevation, the breech is shown
open, and the covering or lock plate is supposed to be removed to show the lock
details on one side in the positions they assume on the breech being opened;
Figure 9 is a side elevation with the covering or lock plate removed, and showing
the positions of the lock details when the gun has been discharged, but before the
breech has been opened; Figures 3 to 7, on Sheet 1, are hereinafter specially
referred to.

page_text: The gun is represented as having what is known as a topside lever 11 with
"double-grip" locking parts 12 for securing the breech when closed. The stock
fore end 13 which is attached to the barrels is formed with the usual metal part 14
fitting upon the front of the main hinge pin 15, and this metal part 14 is formed
with a spur or projection 16 to serve as a tappet or pusher. A longitudinally
sliding bar 17 is fitted in a guide groove formed for it beneath or at the lower part
of the action, being protected by a cover 18, fixed by means of a screw pin which
passes through a slot in the bar 17, and this bar 17 is acted on by the spur 16 80
as to be pushed backwards by it when the barrels are turned down in opening the
breech. The sliding bar 17 extends back to a position under the spindle of the 1
top locking lever 11, and its back end is made with a raised part 19 for acting
on the intermediate lever, through which the movement is communicated to the
hammer or hammers. The gun being double-barrelled the intermediate lever has
to be made duplex to act on both hammers, and it is shown detached in back
elevation in Figure 5, being made with a boss or spindle, having at its middle a
short arm 20 on which the back end 19 of the sliding bar 17 acts, whilst there are
formed in the same piece two longer arms 21 with antifriction rollers at their
upper ends to act on the hammers 22. The hammers 22 are placed much as usual
in concealed-hammer guns, being represented as of the kind acting on striking
pins 23, and having fixed on each of their centre pins or journals an index 24,
which is outside of the lock and shows the position of the hammer. When the
intermediate lever piece 20, 21, is turned backwards by the action of the sliding
bar 17, 19, on opening the breech the back of the part 20 acts on a slide 25, which
locks the triggers 26 whenever the hammers are cocked. The arrangement of this
locking device is shown separately in plan in plan in Figure 6 and in side elevation
in Figure 7. The slide 25 is vertically slotted along its middle, and its back end is
guided and held down by a screw-pin. The triggers 26 extend up through the
slot in the slide 25 and their upper edges are notched at one part so as to allow
them to rise without hindrance from a bar 27 formed across the slot of the slide 25
when that bar is over the notches. When the hammers are being cocked the
slide 25 is at the same time moved back into a position in which its cross bar 27
is over unnotched parts of the triggers 26, and the triggers are thereby locked.
For releasing the triggers there is provided a small external lever 28, on the spindle
of which there is fixed a short forked lever 29 engaging with the back end of the
slide 25, and when the slide is moved forwards by means of the levers 28, 29, its
front end turns the intermediate lever piece 20, 21, forwards out of the way of the
hammers 22. The lever 28 is a spring lever, its end engaging in a depression in
the plate, out of which it has to be sprung with a little force, so that the triggers
are not liable to become unlocked accidentally. The slide 25 may be linked to
the arm 20 so as to hold back the lever piece and thereby assist in preventing
accidental release of the hammers.
The main spring 30 and the sear spring 31 are placed behind the hammers in a
manner that will be best understood from Figures 8 and 9 on Sheet 2 of the
Drawings, in which they are shown in nearly horizontal positions. The main
spring 30 may be placed in an inclined position, as shown in Figure 3 on Sheet 1
of the Drawings. In a third modification, which is shown in Figure 4 on Sheet 1
of the Drawings, a single volute spring 32 placed round the axle or boss of the
hammer 22 is applied so as to serve as both a main spring and a sear spring. The
inner end of the volute spring 32 bas formed or fixed to it a pin or projection
which engages in a hole or notch in the boss of the hammer, and the outer end of
the spring is curved, as shown, so as to bear downwards on the sear 33. These
arrangements of the springs are designed to avoid the weakening at the fore part
of the action or breech piece which is caused by some existing arrangements, and
in contributing to that object they combine with my improved self-cocking details,
which are arranged principally with the same view.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner of

page_text: performing the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but that what I believe to have been novel
and original at the date of my application for Letters Patent, and claim as secured
to me by and in terms of the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1. The combination of a spur or tappet (16) projecting at the under part of the
fore end of the stock at the breech hinge of a breech-loading gun with a longi-
tudinally sliding bar (17) moving beneath or at the lower part of the action, and
with an intermediate lever or lever piece 20, 21, which last acts on the hammer or
bammers, the parts being arranged and operating substantially as and for the
purposes herein before described.
2. The combination of the trigger locking slide (25) with parts substantially
such as those forming the subject of the first claim, such slide moving forward tho
lever or lever piece (20, 21,) when moved itself in unlocking the triggers,
substantially as herein before described.
3. The combination of the arrangement of the main and sear springs, hereinbefore
described with reference to Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying Drawings, or that
hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 3, with the self-cocking details
forming the subject of the first claim.
4. The application of a volute spring to serve both as a main and sear spring,
substantially in the manner hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 4 of
the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Daniel Fraser, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
D. FRASER. (L.S.)