AUXILIARY SIGHTS FOR FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Macredie Mure, of Newtownards, in the
County of Down, Ireland, Lieutenant and Musketry Instructor in
the 34th Regiment of Foot, for the Invention of "AUXILIARY SIGHTS
FOR FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 15th March 1872, and dated the 16th December 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Macredic Muro
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 16th December 1871.
I, JOHN MACREDIE MURE, of Newtownards, in the County of Down,
Ireland, Lieutenant and Musketry Instructor in the 34th Regiment of
Foot, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "AUXILIARY
SIGHTS FOR FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to the employment of auxiliary sights for fire-
arms, that is to say, certain sights in addition to the ordinary sights..
The auxiliary sights are placed upon the fire-arm, and by their use the
instructor or any one placed behind a "firer" or person holding the

page_text: arm in shooting position, either standing, kneeling, or lying down, is
enabled to at once overlook the aim of the "firer," the instructor or
overlooker occupying a position "corresponding to that_of_the "firer,"
that is to say, standing, kneeling, or lying down, respectively.
The means constituting the Invention consists of a second back and
second fore sight, which are movable, so that they may be attached to
the fire-arm, and their position thereon adjusted at any moment required.
The auxiliary sights are placed on the right side of the weapon, and
project therefrom by means of arms or brackets to a sufficient distance
from the side to enable the instructor or overlooker to look through
the auxiliary sight while the "firer" is taking his aim through the
proper sight of the weapon.
SPÉCIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Macredie Mure in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th June 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
MACREDIE MURE, of Newtownards, in the County of Down, Ireland,
Lieutenant and Musketry Instructor in the 34th Regiment of Foot, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
34th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Macredie Mure, Her special
license. that I, the said John Macredie Mure, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I; the said John Macredie: Mure,;
my executors, administrators, or 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

page_text: 'AUXILIARY SIGHTS FOR FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst others)
hat I, the said John Macredie Mure, by an instrument in writing under
ny hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
ormed, 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
aid Totters Patent

page_text: elevation of one arrangement of-my auxiliary back sight, and. Figure 2
ista front elevation of one arrangement of my auxiliary fore sight with
the fittings necessary to be applied to fire-arms, as herein-before
described.
The metallic clip springs A, A, shewn at Figures 1 and 2, are con-
structed to hold upon the stock of the fire-arm. As shewn at Figure 1,
the auxiliary back sight B projects from the right side of the weapon,
and is attached to the clip springs A by the arm or bracket D, and the
sight bar B may be adjusted upwards or downwards by sliding it upon
the vertical framing E as required. The auxiliary fore sight C, Figure 2,
is likewise constructed to project from the right side of the weapon,
being carried by the arm F, which is formed with a screw thread, and
is attached to the clip spring A, as shewn, and the fore sight C may be
adjusted by screwing it to the right or left as required on the arm F.
Figures 3 and 4 shew the application of this arrangement of my
auxiliary back and fore sights to the fire arm R, R. Figure 3 is a plan
of the fire-arm, and Figure 4 a side elevation of the same, with the
auxiliary back sight B-and-auxiliary fore sight C shewn attached thereto.
The line G, H, shewn at Figures 3 and 4, is the line of aim taken by
the instructor or overlooker through the auxiliary sights B and C, while
the "firer is taking his aim through the ordinary sights 8, s, of the
weapon, shewn by the line I, K, on Figure 3.
"
In lieu of forming the auxiliary back sight with a clip spring in con-
junction therewith, by which to attach it to the stock of the fire-arm,
as shewn at Figures 1, 3, and 4, the arm A of the auxiliary back sight
may be fixed to or formed on a bracket B, by which the auxiliary sight
may be attached to the casing C of the back sight proper, as shewn in
side elevation at Figure 5; in end elevation at Figure 6; and in position
on the fire-arm at Figures 7 and 8. As shewn by these Figures, the
auxiliary back sight is retained in position by means of a punching
screw x passed through one side of the bracket B, and bearing on the
side of the casing C of the back sight proper.
.
Another modification of my auxiliary back sight. is illustrated, in
end elevation at Figure 9, and-in plan at Figure 10-of the Drawings.
Under this arrangement the vertical frame adjustment for the auxiliary
back sight, shewn at Figures 1, 5, and 6, is dispensed with, the auxiliary
back sight being adjusted simultaneously with the sight bar A of the
.

page_text: back sight proper, to which it is attached by means of a bracket B and
pinching screw a. Two notches b and c, shewn respectively at Figures 9
and 10, are formed at right angles to each other on the extremity of the
auxiliary back sight C.. When the back sight proper of the fire-arm
is in its raised position, that is to say, when the "firer" is shooting at
a long range, the instructor or overlooker looks through the notch b,
and when the "firer" is shooting at a short range, and the back sight
proper is at its low or folded down position, the instructor or overlooker
looks through the notch c. On the bracket B of the auxiliary back sight C
a sight D is formed through which the "firer" looks when shooting at
a short range.
Figures 11, 12, and 13, represent in plan other modifications of my
auxiliary fore sight, which may be employed in lieu of the auxiliary
fore sights herein-before described. Under these arrangements the
arm A of the sight C is attached to a ferrule or ring B, which is placed
on the muzzle of the barrel D, and the ferrule or ring B is formed with
a slot at its upper part, the sides of which bear against the sides of the
fore sight proper of the fire-arm, as shewn at Figures 7 and 8, whereby
the auxiliary fore sight is firmly retained in position.
On Figures 7 and 8, as on Figures 3 and 4, the line G, H, is the line
of aim taken by the instructor or overlooker, and the line I, K, that
taken by the "firer."
It is to be understood that instead of attaching the auxiliary back
sight and auxiliary fore sight to the right side of the fire-arm as shewn
on the Drawings, the said auxiliary back and fore sights may be attached
to the left side of the fire-arm in cases where the "firer" shoots from
the left shoulder.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and several arrangements of sights, in or under which
the same may be carried out in practice, I desire to observe in con-
clusion that I do not limit myself to the precise details or arrangements
which I have had occasion to describe or refer to, as the same may be
further modified without departing from the essential features of my
said Invention; what then I do consider to be novel and original and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent is, the application to fire-arms of a second
or auxiliary set of sights, to enable an instructor or overlooker to inspect

page_text: or overlook and thereby direct or guide a "firer's" aim as herein-before
described and shewn upon the annexed Sheet of Drawings, or any mere
modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Macredie Mure, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of June One thousand
eight, hundred and seventy-two.