Improvements in Sword-bayonets and in Means for Attaching the same to Military Rifles.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 12th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 5th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sword-bayonets and in Means for Attaching the
same to Military Rifles.
I, JOHN RIGBY, M.A. of Enfield Lock, in the County of Middlesex, Superintendent,
Small Arms Factory, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in sword-bayonets and in means for
attaching the same to military rifles, whereby the said sword-bayonets can be secured
close under the barrels of the rifles, instead of to one side thereof as heretofore. For
this purpose, I form a central hole longitudinally in the hilt or handle of the
sword-bayonet, and I form on or secure to the nose-cap of the rifle a strong stud or
projection of dovetail, rectangularly grooved, or other suitable section, through which
a hole is drilled for the passage of the cleaning-rod. When the cleaning rod is in
place, its head projects beyond the top of the aforesaid stud, and both the stud and
the projecting head of the cleaning-rod enter the aforesaid central hole in the hilt
of the sword-bayonet, when the latter is fixed to the barrel of the rifle. The hole
in the hilt of the sword-bayonet is shaped to fit steadily on to the stud, and a
spring catch firmly secures the bayonet in place. The cross piece of the sword-
bayonet has a ring into which the muzzle of the rifle enters. This ring is preferably
arranged so as to project slightly beyond the muzzle in order to protect the latter
from injury. The head of the cleaning-rod serves as a guide to the hilt and facilitates
the act of fixing bayonets.
The stud or projection may be connected with the nose-cap close to the barrel,
and so that the cleaning-rod does not pass through it as above described, or, if
preferred, the said stud or projection may be brazed to the barrel of the rifle, in
which case a nose-cap is not necessary; but in all cases the central hole in the hilt
forms a convenient receptacle for the upper end of the cleaning rod, and enables the
bayonet to be fixed close under the barrel of the rifle.
Dated this 10th day of November 1888.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sword-bayonets and in Means for Attaching the
same to Military Rifles.
I, JOHN RIGBY M.A. of Enfield Lock, in the County of Middlesex, Superintendent,
Small Arms Factory, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying sheet
of Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon that is to say :-
This invention relates to certain improvements in sword-bayonets and in means
for attaching the same to military rifles, whereby the said sword-bayonets can be
secured close under the barrels of the rifles instead of to one side thereof, as
heretofore. For this purpose I employ the arrangements illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings in which Figure 1 shows the end of a rifle with a sword-bayonet
attached thereto, part of the hilt or handle of the sword-bayonet being in section.
Figure 2 is a partial elevation of the sword-bayonet detached from the rifle, Figure 3

page_text: is an end view of the sword-bayonet looking from the hilt and towards the point,
Figure 4 is a sectional view on line X X of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a side elevation
of the upper part of the nose cap of the rifle, and Figure 6 is a corresponding
view of same at right angles to Figure 5. I form a central hole A longitudinally
in the hilt or handle B of the sword-bayonet C and I form on or secure to the
nose-cap D of the rifle a strong stud or projection E of dovetail, rectangularly
grooved, or other suitable section, preferably placed parallel to the barrel of the
rifle and through which a hole F is drilled for the passage of the cleaning rod G.
When the cleaning rod G is in place, its head G₁ projects beyond the top of the
aforesaid stud E and both the stud and the projecting head of the cleaning rod
enter the aforesaid central hole A in the hilt B of the sword-bayonet, when the
latter is fixed to the rifle. The outer part of the hole A, in the hilt of the sword-
bayonet, is shaped to fit steadily on to the stud E and a spring catch H in the
hilt takes into a notch I on the said stud and firmly secures the bayonet in place.
The cross piece J of the sword-bayonet has a ring K into which the muzzle L of
the rifle enters. This ring is preferably arranged so as to project slightly beyond the
muzzle, as shown in Figure 1, in order to protect the latter from injury. The
head G¹ of the cleaning iod G serves as a guide to the hilt B and facilitates the act
of fixing bayonets.
The stud or projection E may be connected, if preferred, with the nose cap D close
to the barrel L, instead of at some little distance therefrom as shown and so that
the cleaning rod G does not pass through it as above described, the outer end of
the hole in the hilt of the sword bayonet being shaped accordingly; but in all cases
the central hole in the hilt forms a convenient receptacle for the upper end of the
cleaning rod, or for the pin which is sometimes placed in the same position for the
purpose of assisting in the operation of piling arms when there is no cleaning rod,
and enables the bayonet to be fixed close under the barrel of the rifle.
By the above described arrangements, the sword-bayonet is fixed under the barrel
and close to it and in such manner that when the bayonet is being used its thrust is
taken directly on the fore end of the stock and not on the barrel. One collateral
advantage of fixing the bayonet under the barrel is to cause the rifle to shoot in
better line than when the bayonet is fixed to the side of the barrel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would have it under-
stood that I believe it is not novel to place the bayonet under the barrel, but
heretofore, so far as I am aware, when the bayonet has been so placed it has been
secured solely to the barrel or to an extension of the upper band and 1 make no
claim generally to such arrangement of the bayonet with reference to the barrel,
nor to such method of fixing the bayonet, but I declare that what I do
claim is :-
First The improved means of attaching a sword-bayonet under the barrel of a
rifle, which consists of a stud or projection formed on or secured to the nose-cap
in a position preferably parallel to the barrel, and a hole formed longitudinally in the
hilt of the sword bayonet, the said hole being of a shape suited to pass over and
to fit steadily on to the said stud or projection on the nose-cap, whereby while the
sword-bayonet is held securely on and under the rifle, its thrust when in use is
received directly on the fore end of the stock, substantially as hereinbefore described,
and illustrated in the Drawings hereto annexed.
Second-The nose-cap of a rifle constructed with a stud or projection placed
preferably in a position parallel to the barrel and adapted to enter a longitudinal
hole in the hilt of the sword-bayonet substantially as hereinbefore described, and
illustrated in the Drawings hereto annexed, and for the purposes specified.
Third-The hilt of a sword-bayonet constructed with a longitudinal hole therein
adapted to pass over and to fit steadily on to a stud or projection formed on or

page_text: secured to the nose-cap of a rifle, and to pass over the head of the cleaning rod or
other projecting pin, substantially as herein before described, and illustrated in the
Drawings hereto annexed, and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 10th day of Angust 1889
J. RIGBY.
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.