Improvements relating to Firing Mechanism for Small-arms.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1899-Accepted, 2nd June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Firing Mechanism for Small-arms.
I, ALLAN EDWARD LARD, of 801, Hall Street, St. Joseph, Buchanan County,
Missouri, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement: -
This invention relates to firing mechanism for fire arms of that class set forth
in my prior application, No. 16897 A.D. 1898, which describes certain improve-
ments relating to firing mechanism for fire arms and more particularly to that
class more commonly used in shot guns having a plurality of barrels, and in which
a single trigger is employed and the firing of the several barrels is accomplished
by successive movements of the single trigger. One object of the present improve-
ments is to avoid discharge of the arm through the involuntary pull which is
made without the knowledge of the shooter after the gun is fired, and which is due
partly to the rebound of the gun from the shoulder and partly to the action of
the muscles under the recoil, and another object is the doing away with any pre-
liminary travel or moving of the trigger before the firing lug comes into contact
with the sear, such as occurs in the mechanism described in said prior application.
The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and pointed out in the
appended claims.
The invention is herein shown in connection with a shot gun provided with
two shot barrels and locks or firing mechanism embracing two hammers, together
with means for actuating the same by successive pulls on the trigger. The inven-
tion, however, may be applied to fire arms of other kinds and to those having
more than two barrels.
In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention,
Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the breech mechanism of a double barreled
shot gun made in accordance with my invention, the locking plate together with
one of the hammers and its actuating spring and sear being removed to show the
main operative parts of the firing mechanism in side elevation.
Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figures 3 to 6 are views of the main parts of the firing mechanism illustrating
the several positions of the parts during the operation thereof.
Figures 7 to 10 are a similar series of views showing the same parts, together
with an additional feature not shown in Figures 3 to 6.
Figure 11 illustrates a modified form of device for giving a preliminary move-
ment to the detent which controls the movement of the firing plate.
Figure 12 is a detail plan view of the parts shown in Figures 1 and 2 for
changing the order in which the barrels are fired.
Figure 13 is a view of the slide on the side of the breech frame for actuating
the device shown in Figure 12.
Figure 14 is a plan view of the modified form of the device for changing the
order in which the barrels are fired.
Figure 15 is a detail view showing the same parts in side elevation.

page_text: Figure 16 is a view of the firing plate and connected parts, showing a spring
for directly actuating the firing plate as a substitute for the trigger spring.
Figure 17 is a view in side elevation of another form of device for changing
the order in which the barrels are fired.
Figure 18 is a plan section of the same taken on line 18-18 of Figure 17.
Figures 19 to 23 are views of a safety catch illustrating different positions of
the parts thereof.
As shown in the said drawings, A indicates the body or wooden portion of the
gun stock, B the breech frame, the barrels, which are pivoted to the forward end
of the breech frame, and D the fore-end which is detachably connected with the
barrels in the usual manner. E indicates the snap lever by which the locking
detent for holding the barrels in place is actuated. F indicates one of the lock
plates upon which the locks or striking mechanisms are mounted, and G is the
trigger plate to which the trigger is pivoted and upon which, in the particular
instance illustrated, the main parts of the firing mechanism are mounted. The
locks are shown as consisting of the usual hammer or tumbler F, main spring 1,
sear F and sear spring F. The breech frame is provided at its forward end with
two cocking levers D which extend into a recess d in the fore end 1) and which
are actuated in the depression of the forward end of the barrels at the time of
loading so as to cock or throw back the hammers, in the usual manner.
Now referring to the firing mechanism by which the sears F3 are actuated for
releasing the hammers, the same is, in the particular embodiment of my invention
herein shown, constructed as follows: J indicates the trigger, which is mounted
on a pivot in the trigger plate G and is provided with an upwardly extending
_trigger arm Jl. Kindicates a movable part or firing plate which is pivoted to
the trigger plate and is preferably mounted on the trigger pivot 7. Said firing
plate extends rearwardly and upwardly from the pivot and is provided with two
laterally projecting firing lugs kk which extend beneath and act on the sears.
The firing plate is movable relatively to and is also actuated or moved by suitable
connection with, the trigger in such manner-that-its-rear-end-rises and-its-upper
part moves forwardly in the act of firing the arm; the firing lugs being constructed
for successive contact with the sears, as such firing plate is swung or moved on its
pivot by the action of the trigger. The trigger is held normally at the forward
limit of its movement-by-a-trigger-spring-J-herein-shown-as-having-the_form_on
a leaf spring secured at its rear end by a screw to the trigger plate and bearing
at its forward end downwardly upon that part of the flat blade of the trigger
which projects rearwardly from the pivot j. L indicates a movable detent which
is movably supported on the firing plate and is herein shown as having the form
of a rearwardly projecting prong or spur on a lever N pivoted to the firing plate
near the top of the same, and is adapted to engage the holding or locking tooth m
formed on a post N attached to the trigger plate at the rear of the firing plate.
Said detent L is actuated from the trigger through the medium of a lever con-
nection or equivalent means, which serves to move or swing the detent when the
trigger moves relatively to the firing plate and which gives to the detent a much
greater amplitude of movement that that of the trigger itself. In the particular
construction illustrated the lever N is mounted on a pivot stud n on the firing plate
which engages said lever at a point near the upper end of the same and said lever N
is connected with the upper end of the trigger arm J¹ by means of a link N¹. The
detent L is held normally at the forward end of its movement, or in its retracted
position, by a spring N herein shown as having the form of a wire which is coiled
about a stud n¹ on the firing plate, is held from turning on said stud by a pin n
and is engaged at its upper or free end with the lever N below the pivot of the
same.
Provision is made for throwing the detent L rearwardly or into position for
locking engagement with the holding tooth m by means of actuating connections
operated by a part which is fmoved in the act of loading the arm. As shown in the
present instance such actuating device for the detent is operated from the snap

page_text: lever E through the medium of the rod E¹ which is attached to and moved by the
snap lever; said rod being provided with a lateral arm e which engages a notch
on a sliding bar H, which sliding bar rests and slides upon the trigger plate or
other suitable supporting or guide surface, and is provided at its rear end with an
arm which rises from its rear end and is adapted for engagement with a laterally
projecting pin on the lower part of the lever N. In connection with the device
for throwing rearwardly or into its locking position the detent L, I employ a stop
plate I having a rearwardly facing stop shoulder or surface i, a curved top sur-
face and an upward facing stop surface at its forward end. The stop surface
or shoulder is so located that when the detent is at the rearward limit of its
movement and beneath the holding tooth m it will engage said stop shoulder and
will be held by the same from forward movement under the action of the spring N2
and consequent disengagement from said tooth m, the said plate I being of such
height above the trigger plate at its rear end that the detent can pass over the
same only when the rear part of the firing plate is elevated far enough to fire
the first barrel, the parts being so arranged that the said rear end of the firing
plate can descend to its lowermost position only when the detent is thrust to the
rear of the stop plate I and is engaged with the shoulder i thereof. The upwardly
facing stop surface at the forward end of the stop plate I is so located that it
will be engaged by the detent L when said detent is fully retracted, or has been
swung forwardly far enough to be free from the holding tooth.
Figures 3 to 6 illustrate the operation of the part described in firing the arm
and the action thereof will be understood from the following: Figure 3 shows the
parts when the gun is ready to be "broken" for the insertion of the cartridges.
When the snap lever E is pushed back to "break" the gun, as said lever moves,
it causes the outer end of the arm e upon the lower end of the bolt E¹ to trave!
toward the butt end of the gun, thereby moving the slide bar H in the saine
direction. The rear end of said bar comes in contact with the stud n³ on the
lever N, so that when the snap lever is thrown over, said bar will push the lever N
rearwardly thus causing the lower end of said lever and the detent L thereon to
drop over the rear end of the stop plate I under the action of the trigger spring
which, by tending to throw the upper end of the trigger arm rearwardly, tends
also through the connection of the trigger arm with the upper end of the firing
plate, by means of the lever N and link N¹, to throw the rear end of the firing plate
downwardly. The position of the parts after the bar has been thrown rearwardly
and the detent engaged with the stop plate is shown in Figure 4. The cartridges
being inserted and the gun closed it is now ready to be fired; the said rod H
at this time being retracted as indicated in dotted lines in said Figure 4, thereby
leaving the detent free for subsequent forward movement. The trigger being
pulled, the firing plate moves upwardly and the first barrel is fired. The upward
movement of the firing plate is, however, arrested by contact of the detent L with
the tooth m before the second lug on the firing plate comes in contact with the
second sear; the position of the parts at the moment the firing plate is thus
raised being shown in Figure 5. The recoil has the effect of jarring or throwing
the gun rearwardly and the trigger finger away from the trigger and such recoil
jars the firing plate down carrying with it the detent, thus causing the said detent
to descend behind the end of the stop plate I and into the position shown in
Figure 4.
An involuntary pull invariably follows the first pull, probably by reason of the
rebound of the gun from the shoulder and to the action of the muscles under the
recoil. Under such involuntary pull the movement of the firing plate will be
again arrested before contact with the second sear takes place, as the parts will
be at this time still in the position occupied at the time of the first or intentional
pull, as shown in Figure 5. The above will be better understood by consideration
of the fact that the primary action of the recoil is to throw the entire arm rear-
wardly and this will tend to throw the top part of the firing plate forward but
any such movement thereof will be prevented by the engagement, at the instant

page_text: of the discharge, of the detent with the holding tooth. The secondary action of
the recoil will be a rebound or forward movement of the gun accentuated by the
reaction of the muscles which are held tense to withstand the blow of the recoil,
and this will produce a backward and downward movement of the firing plate
which will carry the lower end of the lever N or detent L (which at the instant
of discharge, is engaged with the tooth m as seen in Figure 5) downwardly and
behind the stop plate 1, thereby bringing the same into position to block the move-
ment of the ring plate under the immediately succeeding involuntary pull on
the trigger. The trigger being now released to a sufficient extent, say about one-
fiftieth of an inch, the lever N is thrown forward to the position shown in Figure 3
by the action of its spring and the detent L being then free from the holding
tooth m the second barrel can now be fired by again pulling the trigger. It would
seem to one not familiar with the operation of the device that when the trigger is
released preparatory to firing the second shot, the trigger spring would cause the
detent to descend behind or upon the stop plate I. This does not occur, however,
but, on the contrary, when the trigger is being released, the upper surface of the
detent L hugs closely the point or the tooth m as the detent moves forward and
the trigger spring does not throw the firing plate downward until after the point of
the detent has cleared the point of the tooth. The shape of the stop plate 1 is such
that the lower surface of the detent is just permitted to clear said upper surface
of the stop plate; the curved top surface being curved to correspond with the
path of the aetent. The stop surface upon which the detent rests when retracted
joins the concave surface , and is so located as to elevate the point of the detent
above the lowest point of the tooth m. When said detent is in its retracted position,
the contact of the detent with said surface serves to hold the firing plate in its
elevated position, as clearly-seen-in Figure 3. The action of said stop surface ³,
therefore, prevents the detent from being thrown back under the holding tooth-m
when the trigger is pulled to fire the second barrel and also holds the firing plate
in position with the second firing lug directly against the second sear, thus doing
away with the travel of the trigger, occurring in the device shown in my prior
application before the second firing lug comes in contact-with-the-second sear. The
action of the firing plate immediately after the detent clears the holding tooth m
is to jump or rise slightly, carrying the detent upward with it, so that the lower
end of the lever N is carried up on the slightly elevated stop surface where it
is held by the action of the spring No When-the-snap-lever_is_thrown to reload
the gun, the depressed or concave surface of the stop plate I permits the detent to
descend so as to enable its point to pass under the holding tooth m, as clearly seen in
Figure 6, which shows the detent.resting on the concave surface of said stop plate.
Said concave surface- of the stop plate affords a means of holding the detent in
position to lock or block the firing plate from movement under the involuntary
pull referred to, should the jar of the recoil fail to throw said detent so far to
the rear as to pass behind the stop plate. This will be understood by reference
to said Figure 6 from which it will be seen that should the detent fail to descend
behind the stop shoulder i under the jar of the recoil, the rearward and downward
movement of the firing plate occurring in the recoil, assisted by the action of the
trigger spring, will bring the detent against the top surface of the stop plate with
the effect to arrest its movement before its escape from the holding tooth, the
result being that in the second or involuntary pull occurring at the time of firing,
the detent will still be in position to engage the holding tooth and the second
barrel cannot be fired until the pressure on the trigger is released and the detent is
allowed to swing forward and reaches its fully retracted position.
The stop plate I is shown as being attached to the trigger plate by the same
screw which secures the trigger spring to said plate. Said stop plate may, however,
be otherwise attached to the trigger plate or it may be attached to some other
part of the breech frame, or it may have the form of an integral projection on the
trigger plate or other part of the frame. Moreover, the rearwardly facing stop
shoulder and the upwardly facing stop surface may be formed on separate pieces
or parts or by separate projections on the trigger plate or breech frame; these

page_text: surfaces being formed on a single plate I, in the construction shown in the draw-
ings, merely as a matter of convenience.
In order to make the descent of the detent upon or behind the stop plate I more
positive and certain, I provide an additional device as follows: On the rear part
of the firing plate is pivoted a lever T having on its upper end a weight or leaden
ball T and on its lower end below its pivot, a stud which projects laterally there-
from into the path of the lever N. The distance from the pivot to the upper
end of the lever T is considerably greater than the distance from the pivot to the
stud on its lower end. The movement of the lower end of the lever T toward
the muzzle is limited by contact with said firing plate and the stud is held against
the edge of the firing plate by means of a very light spring T2 herein shown as.
having the form of an open spiral spring, held in compression between the upper
part of said lever and the firing plate. In order to make this spring very resilient
I give it additional length by inserting it in a recess in the firing plate as shown
in dotted lines in Figure 7. The operation of the lever T is illustrated in the
several views. Figures 7 to 10. When the gun is ready to be fired the lower end
of the lever T is free to move toward the lever N, as seen in Figure 8, against
the action of the spiral spring T. When the first barrel is fired the upper part
of the lever will be thrown by the recoil toward the muzzle of the gun and the
pin will be carried against the lever N, as seen in Figure 9. The impact of the
said pin against the lever will prevent any forward movement of the latter and
cause it to descend behind the stop plate I to the position shown in Figure 8 where
it will be held by the action of the trigger spring until the involuntary. pull has
been given, after which, when the trigger has been released, the second barrel
may be fired as before. Obviously, the lever T will be returned by the action of the
spring to its normal position from the position shown in Figure 9 instantly
after the recoil takes place, so that the pin t will be out of the way of the lever
when the latter is retracted preparatory to firing the second barrel. It will, of
course, be understood that this movement takes place in an exceedingly short
interval of time and so much more quickly than the human muscles can operate
that no blocking of the pull for firing the second barrel can possibly occur.
If, for any reason, the lever N should fail to be jarred over the rear end of the
stop plate I or the stud t should arrive too late or lack sufficient power to drive
the said lever over the end of the stop plate, then the said stud will meet the
lever as it swings forward to carry the detent from under the tooth m and the
impact will stop the lever and throw it against the upper surface of the stop plate
where it will be held by the trigger spring until the involuntary pull is given, as
clearly seen in Figure 10, which shows the parts at the moment of impact of the
stud against the lever. The said stud t will of course, be thrown forward away
from the lever by the action of the spring T2 and immediately after the moment
of contact and the detent will be held in position to engage the tooth m by its
frictional engagement with the top surface of the stop plate in the same manner
as before described in connection with Figure 6.
In order to provide for firing either barrel first, a device is provided which is shown
in Figures 2, 12 and 13 and in another form in Figures 14 and 15. As shown
in Figures 2, 12 and 13, the upper contact surfaces of both the firing lugs
are arranged at the same elevation and in connection with said lugs is provided
a lever R which is pivoted centrally to the firing plate and the ends of which are
arranged to swing horizontally over the firing lugs, and are so disposed that when
one end of the lever is over one of the firing lugs, its opposite end will be free from
the other firing lug. An operating device is provided by which the said lever can
be actuated from the outer surface of the breech frame. The lever R illustrated,
has the form of a bent lever pivoted centrally by means of the pivot stud r to the
firing plate. Upon the side plate or lock plate of the breech is located
a slide R similar to the ordinary safety slide, but having an inwardly
extending forked projection 1 adapted to engage an arm 2 on one end
of the lever R. Assuming the ends of the said lever to be one-sixteenth of an inch
thick and the slide R¹ pushed rearwardly, the same being on the left hand side of the

page_text: gun, when the gun has been cocked, the sear for the left hand barrel will be one-
sixteenth of an inch above the left firing lug and the right sear in contact with
the end of the lever R, which is over the right firing lug. Now, if the trigger
be operated, first the right and then the left barrel will be fired. If, however,
the slide Ri be pushed forward, the lever R will be swung into a reverse position
and the one-sixteenth of an inch space which existed between the left hand sear
and its firing lug will have been filled up by the left hand end of the lever, while a
space of one-sixteenth of an inch will have been left between the right sear and its
firing lug by the removal of that end of the lever. If the trigger be now pulled,
the left hand barrel will be first fired, its sear being lifted by the action of the
lever end resting over the left firing lug. When the trigger is again pulled, the
right barrel will be fired, its sear being lifted by contact therewith of the stationary
part of the right firing lug. The letters R and L, will be preferably arranged
at opposite ends of the path of the slide R', so that one or the other of the said
letters will be covered by the ends of the slide, thereby indicating that either the
right or left barrel will he fired first, according to the position of the slide.
In Figures 14 and 15 I have shown a modification of this construction adapted
for use in guns where the very limited space necessitates extension of the firing lugs
to the rear of the lever N. In this instance a lever S will be pivoted transversely
to the firing plate forward of the lever N and to the ends of said lever will be
pivotally connected sliding bars S1, S2, the rear ends of which are adapted to slide
over the top surfaces of the firing lugs guided by guiding pins 2 in the said lugs,
and one or the other of which may be placed in position to act upon the sear in
the same manner as before described. In said Figures 14 and 15 a guide Sis pro-
rided for operating the lever S, the same being located at the side of the breech
frame near its top. In this instance the slide is connected-with-the-lever-S-by
an upright lever S pivoted on the firing plate, engaged at its lower end with a
holes in said lever S, and having its upper end bent or extended laterally toward
the side of the breech frame and engaged with a forked projection s¹ on the said
slide in the manner clearly shown-in-the drawings..
In guns where the bolt of the snap lever does not pass through the action of
the gun, the construction shown in Figure 11 may be used in which a stud e² is
attached to the hear end of the bolt E2 which locks the barrels when the gun
-is-closed. Said-bolt.is_the_one employed to operate the safety slide or catch and is
usually located about three-fourths of an inch above the trigger plate, and when
such a stud e is used, it extends rearwardly from said bolt to a point opposite the
lever N and a stud is provided on said lever opposite the end of the stud e³, so
as to be engaged therewith in the same manner as hereinbefore described in con-
nection with the slide bar H.
-
Figures 7 to 10 illustrate a modification of the detent L and plate I in which
these parts are provided with serrated or toothed contact faces. This insures a
more positive engagement of the detent with the top surface of the stop plate
than is secured by frictional engagement of the parts.
If, by reason of personal peculiarities of the shooter the involuntary pull here-
inbefore referred to, should not occur, I omit the trigger spring and insert a very
light lifting spring between the firing plate and trigger plate. In Figure 16 a
light, openly coiled, spiral spring U, is inserted between the right firing lug and
the trigger plate, its upper end engaging a stud on the lug and its lower end
entering a recess in the trigger plate. The purpose of this spring is to supply
an involuntary pull, the tension of the spring being just sufficient to lift the
firing plate and the parts attached thereto. Obviously such a spring must not
be strong enough in its action to lift the sears. When the first barrel is fired,
the recoil will overcome the tension of the spring thus arranged and the parts
will operate as before. In this construction the pressure of the tail of the sear
upon the firing lug will hold the lever N down behind the end of the stop
plate I.
In Figures 17 and 18 is shown a device for firing either barrel first which has

page_text: the advantage of being somewhat more simple in construction than those shown
in the preceding figures. In this instance a bent lever Q is pivoted transversely
to the firing plate and is arranged in the same manner as is the lever R of
Figure 12 and a device is provided for actuating the same consisting of a lever Q',
pivoted to the side of the firing plate near its lower edge and connected at its
upper end by a link q with the said lever Q. At its lower end the lever Q¹
extends downwardly through a hole in the trigger plate, and is provided with a
head or finger piece q¹.. A leaf spring Q2 is pivoted to the firing plate by means of
a pivot stud located above the pivot of the lever Q'. The lower end of said
spring is engaged with a notch in the upper end of the, said lever, and is.
adapted to swing or move with the same; the upper end of the spring turning
on its pivot when its lower end is thus moved. The spring Q is made of such
length that it will be straight or nearly so when the lever Q₁ is at either limit
of its movement and said spring is so made that it will be flexed between its ends
when its lower end is brought nearer its upper one in the swinging of the upper
end of the lever Q over its pivotal point. The spring thus arranged obviously
serves to hold the lever Q¹ at either limit of its movement, while permitting it to
be easily moved by the hand from one position or the other. The lever Q operates
in this instance in connection with the firing lugs in the same manner as before
described in connection with the similar lever shown in Figure 12.
25
In Figures 19 to 23 I have illustrated a safety catch or detent adapted to
engage the firing plate when it is desired to lock the same from movement to
prevent the gun from being fired and which is adapted to be operated automatically
when the gun is broken or opened, in such manner that when the gun is opened
after firing one or both barrels, the safety slide will be pushed back into its "safe
position to lock the firing plate, while at the same time it will be left free to be.
thrown into its unlocked position by the shooter at any time desired. The device
is shown in said Figures 19 to 23 as applied to a construction in a gun, such as is
shown in Figure 11, where the bolt of the snap lever does not pass through
the action of the gun and a stud is attached to the bolt E which locks the
barrels when the gun is closed and which is moved rearwardly, through the action
of the snap lever, when the latter is operated to open the gun. As shown in said
Figures 19 to 23, V indicates a rearwardly projecting rigid arm on the firing plate
provided with a laterally projecting stud v. Windicates a slide mounted on the
top of the breech frame and provided with a depending detent or locking arm con-.
sisting of two section WW2 which are connected by means of a hinge w located
at the forward side of the abutting ends of said sections, so that the lower section
may swing forwardly on said hinge but will be prevented from backward move-
ment when the two sections are in alignment with each other; the upper section W
being rigidly attached to the slide W. The lower end of the lower section W2 is
arranged in position to engage the stud when the slide is at its rearward or safe
position. A spring w' is attached to the upper section WI of the locking arm and
acts on the lower section thereof in such manner as to hold it normally at the
rearward limit of its movement, or in alignment with the upper section. Attached
to the stud e² is a rearwardly extending actuating rod which extends past the
stud n' on the detent lever N (Figure 11) and the rear end of which is in position
to press against the front face of said locking arm near the hinge w.
じ
*
The slide W is provided with two depending lugs w² which project downwardly
through the slot, which is provided in the breech frame or tang for the passage
of the holding arm, and said lugs. are provided with cross pins 3 arranged to
engage the lower surface of the said breech frame or tang at either side of the
said slot so as to lock or hold the slide from rising under the upward pressure of
the firing plate if an effort be made to pull the trigger when the slide is in its
safety" position and the holding arm is engaged therewith.
Figure 19 of the drawing shows the parts in position with the slide drawn
rearwardly into its "safety" position and the holding arm engaged with the firing
plate so as to prevent the same from being lifted and either barrel from being

page_text: 1. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a firing
mechanism embracing a single trigger, a firing plate which moves with, but has a
movement relatively to the trigger, means acting to arrest the movement of the
firing plate, after each lock has been actuated, means operated by the recoil of the
arm in firing acting to hold the trigger and firing plate from movement under
the involuntary pull on the trigger following that by which the arm is discharged
and means operated through relative movement of the firing plate and trigger,
acting to release the firing plate preparatory to a succeeding discharge.
2. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a single
trigger, a firing plate which moves with but has movement relatively to the trigger,
a detent which controls the movement of the firing plate and which is moved into
its releasing position by relative movement of the firing plate and trigger, and
means acting on said detent to temporarily retain the same in its holding position.
during the involuntary pull on the trigger, occurring at the time of firing the arm.
3. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a single
trigger, a firing plate which moves with and has movement relatively to the trigger,
a detent which controls the movements of the firing plate and which is moved
into its releasing position by relative movement of the firing plate and trigger and
a stop plate located in position to engage the detent when pressure on the trigger
is released after firing the arm, and to thereby block the movement of the firing
plate under the succeeding involuntary pull on the trigger occurring at the time
of discharge.
4. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a single
trigger, a firing plate which moves with and has movement relatively to the trigger,

page_text: a detent which controls the movement of the firing plate and which is moved into
its releasing position by relative movement of the firing plate and trigger and a
stop located in position to engage the detent when the latter is in its retracted or
releasing position and acting to hold the firing plate in position for actuation of a
second one of the said striking mechanism.
5. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a single
trigger, a firing plate which moves with and has movement relatively to the
trigger, a detent which controls the movement of the firing plate and trigger, and
means operating independently of the trigger for throwing said detent into its
holding position before the trigger is operated.
6. A breech loading fire arm comprising a plurality of locking or striking
mechanisms, a single trigger, a firing plate which is moved by and has move-
ment relatively to the trigger, a detent which controls the movement of the firing
plate and trigger, and which is actuated to release the firing plate through the
relative movement of the firing plate and trigger, and means for throwing the
detent into its holding position prior to the first operation of the trigger, having
operative connection with a part which is moved during the performance of the
acts required for loading the arm.
7. The combination with a breech frame, gun barrels hinged thereto, a breech
locking device and a snap lever for operating the same, of a plurality of locks or
striking mechanisms, a single trigger, a firing plate which is moved by and has
movement, relatively to the trigger, a detent which controls the movement of the
firing plate and which is moved out of its holding position by relative movement
of said firing plate and trigger, and means operated by the snap lever acting to
throw said detent into its holding position before the first action of the trigger.
8. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a
single trigger, a firing plate which moves with and has movement relatively to the
trigger, a detent which controls the movement of the firing plate and is pivoted to
the latter, and means for throwing said detent into its holding position embracing
an endwise sliding rod engaging the said detent, and a snap lever having operative
connection with and giving endwise movement to the said rod.
9. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a single
trigger, a firing plate which moves with and has movement relatively to the
trigger, a detent pivoted to the firing plate and having operative connection with
the trigger, said detent being provided with a curved holding prong, a holding
tooth on the breech frame adapted for engagement with the prong of the detent,
and a shouldered stop or projection on the breech frame located in position to
engage the detent when in its holding position.
10. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a
single trigger, a firing plate which moves with and has movement relatively to
the firing plate, a detent which controls the movement of the firing plate, a stop
plate located in position for contact with the detent when the latter is in its
holding position, and a movably supported weight which acts upon the detent
to throw the same into its holding position when the arm is fired.
11. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a single
trigger, a firing plate which moves with and has movement relatively to the
firing plate, a detent which is pivoted to and controls the movement of the firing
plate, a stop plate located in position for contact with the detent when the latter
is in its holding position and a weighted lever pivoted to the firing plate and acting
on the detent.
12. The combination with a plurality of locks or firing mechanisms, of a single
trigger, a firing plate which moves with and has movement relatively to the firing
plate, a detent which is pivoted to and controls the movement of the firing plate,
and a stop plate having a stop shoulder at its rear end and a concave upper surface
for engagement with the said detent.
13. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a
single trigger, a firing plate which moves with and has movement relatively to the

page_text: firing plate, a detent which is pivoted to and controls the movement of the firing
plate, and a stop plate which has a stop shoulder at its rear end, a concave top
surface and an elevated stop surface at its forward end adapted to engage the
detent when in its retraced position.
14. The combination with locks provided with sears, of a trigger, a firing plate
provided with lugs or contact surfaces for engagement with the sears, and which
are adapted to act successively on the sears, said lugs embracing shifting parts
which form the contact faces of the said lugs, and operative connections for
actuating said shifting parts.
15. The combination with locks provided with sears, of a trigger, a firing plate
provided with lugs or contact surfaces for engagement with the sears and which
embrace shifting parts which form the contact faces of the lugs, said parts being
connected by a transversely arranged lever pivoted to the firing plate, and a slide
on the breech frame having operative connection with said lever.
16. The combination of a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a single
trigger, a firing plate which moves with, but has movement relatively to the trigger,
a spring applied between the firing plate and breech frame operating to lift the
firing plate, a detent which controls the movement of the firing plate and which
is moved into its releasing position by relative movement of the firing plate and
trigger, and means acting on said detent to temporarily retain the same in its
holding position during the involuntary pull on the trigger occurring at the time
of firing the arms.
17. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a
firing mechanism embracing a single trigger, a firing plate which moves with but
has movement relative to the trigger, means acting to arrest the movements of
The firing plate after each lock has been actuated, a safety catch consisting of a
slide provided with a holding arm adapted to engage the firing plate, and means
for automatically moving the safety catch having operative connection with a part
which is moved during the performance of the acts required for loading the arm.
18. The combination-with-a-plurality of locks or striking mechanisms,_of_a
firing mechanism embracing a single trigger, a firing plate which moves with but
has movement relatively to the trigger, means acting to arrest the movement of
the firing plate after each lock has been actuated, a safety catch consisting of a
slide provided with a holding arm_adapted_to_engage_the_firing plate, and means
for actuating said catch embracing an endwise movable rod adapted to act upon
the holding arm, and a snap lever having operative engagement with and giving
endwise movement to said rod.
19. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a
firing mechanism embracing a single trigger, a firing plate which moves with: but
has movement relatively to the trigger, means acting to arrest the movement of
the firing plate after each lock has been actuated, a safety catch consisting of a
slide provided with a holding arm adapted to engage the firing plate, said arm
being hinged and provided with a spring holding its hinged parts in alignment
with each other, and means for automatically moving the safety catch having
operative connection with a part which is moved during the performance of the
acts required for loading the arm.
20. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a
firing mechanism embracing a single trigger, a firing plate which moves with, but
has movement relatively to, the trigger, means acting to arrest the movement of
the firing plate after each lock has been actuated, a safety catch consisting of a
slide provided with a holding arm adapted to engage the firing plate, said arm
being hinged and provided with a spring holding its hinged parts in alignment
with each other, and means operated by the snap lever and acting on said catch to
actuate the same automatically.
21. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a
firing mechanism embracing a single trigger, a firing plate which moves with,
but has movement relatively to, the trigger, means' acting to arrest the movement

page_text: of the firing plate after each lock has been actuated, a safety catch consisting of
a slide provided with a locking arm, which locking arm is provided with a hinge
and with a spring tending to hold its parts in alignment with each other, and means
for actuating said catch embracing an endwise movable, actuating rod adapted to
engage said holding arm and snap lever having operative engagement with and
giving endwise movement to said rod.
22. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a
single trigger, a firing plate which moves with, but which has movement relatively
to the trigger, a detent which controls the movement of the firing plate, operative
connections between the said detent and trigger embracing means by which the
detent is given a greater amplitude of movement than the trigger, and means acting
on said detent to temporarily retain the same in its holding position during the
involuntary pull upon the trigger occurring at the time of firing the arm.
Dated this 22nd day of February 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.