Improvements in or relating to Single Trigger Double-barrel Fire Arms.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Oct., 1897-Accepted, 6th Nov., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Single Trigger Double-barrel
Fire Arms.
We LOUIS ESTEVAN GREEN DE WOOLFSON, of 26 St. John's Hill, Shrewsbury,
in the County of Salop Surgeon, and SAMUEL SMALLWOon of 4 and 5 Mardol,
Shrewsbury, in the County of Salop, Gunsmith, do hereby declare the nature of
my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
-
The object of our invention is to effect improvements in that class of firing
mechanism for double fire-arms in which only one trigger is employed to liberate
both hammers or bolts, and consists in providing means whereby either barrel
may be discharged on what is termed the "selective" principle without it being
necessary to previously operate a slide, bolt, or other mechanism.
According to our invention we mount the trigger loosely on its pin so as to
This movement is
render it capable of a slight lateral or transverse movement.
controlled by a spring or springs and the finger of the operator so that a suitable
projection on the trigger may be caused to raise the sear and release the hammer
or bolt of either barrel, that is to say the right barrel may be discharged first and
then the left or vice versa, or either barrel continuously and independently of the
other.
And in order that our said invention may be particularly described and
ascertained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, which are
drawn to an enlarged scale for greater clearness and in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section, and Fig. 2 is a plan of so much of a
double barrel gun action as is necessary for the purposes of this invention illus-
trating our improvements.
Fig. 3 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 is a similar section
illustrating one modification of our invention.
Fig. 5 is an elevation, similar to Fig. 1, showing another modification.
Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation and Fig. 7. is a sectional end view of a modifica-
tion of the means of mounting the trigger.
a is the trigger plate and b the trigger guard, c being the trigger, d the sear
lifter, and e indicating the position of the back or lifting-end of one of the sears.
The trigger is loosely mounted on the pin f so as to render it capable of a slight
lateral or transverse movement as well as the usual longitudinal radial motion.
This former movement is controlled by a spring g surrounding the pin f (Fig. 2)
which holds the pivoted end of the trigger normally against one side of the support-
ing block h, whereby the projecting piece i on the trigger is always opposite one
or other, of the sear lifters d, according to the position of the springs. In the
arrangement shown by Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the lower ends of sear lifters d project
through and below the trigger plate a and are preferably encased in a box k
formed with holes 7, bevelled or not as desired. The sear lifters are, in some cases,

page_text: each provided with a striking piece m against which the projecting piece i of the
trigger acts.
n is a spring secured to the trigger plate as shown. The end of
this spring bears against one side of the trigger and acts with the spring g to cause
the trigger to be set opposite the right (or left) sear lifter ready for discharging
that barrel. o is a spring for returning the trigger after pressure is released there-
from.
i
;
In Fig.
the sear lifters are shown provided with extended contact or striking
pieces m which project through the box k, the projecting horn i on the trigger c
being shorter than in the previous example illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.
Referring to Fig. 5, the trigger is shown mounted lower in the block h being
pivoted at f. The sear lifters d are formed without the lower projecting portion
shown in Fig. 1, and are pivoted at p to the block h. As will be readily under-
stood from the drawing, the piece of the trigger acts directly upon the under-
side of the sear lifters d, the trigger- being controlled in its movements by the
spring n passing between the sear lifters and resting in a notch or cavity r in the
trigger. This spring acts to return the trigger after pressure is released therefrom
and to set the projecting piece i of the trigger e always opposite one of the sear
lifters, the spring being arranged to exert its force downwards and sideways.
In Figs. 6 and 7, a modification of the method of fitting the trigger c is shown.
The trigger is loosely pivoted at f to the block h and provided with a spring g of
sufficient strength to set the trigger in a position, approximately similar to that
shown in Fig. 7. s is a pin fixed in the blocks h and t on which pins the trigger
fulcrums laterally but is free to slide thereon longitudinally. It will thus be seen
that the pressure of the spring 9 acting at the upper end of the trigger forces the
lower end in an opposite direction, thus effecting the desired normal set of the
trigger.
In using our improved mechanism, and presuming that the set of the trigger
is opposite the right sear lifter, the trigger is pulled in the ordinary manner to
discharge the right barrel. But if it is desired to discharge the left barrel, the
trigger is pulled to the left against the power of the springs, when the left sear
lifter will be operated. The set of the trigger may be for either barrel first as
desired it only being necessary to alter the position of the springs. It will thus
be seen that either barrel may be discharged before the other, as found desirable
without it being necessary to previously operate a governing slide, bolt, or other
mechanism for shifting the trigger mechanism as now employed. Also the danger
of an accidental pull causing a double discharge is prevented as the mechanism
is so arranged that it is impossible to raise more than one sear at a time.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The improved firing mechanism for single trigger double barrel fire arms,
substantially as herein before described.
2. In firing mechanism for single trigger double barrel fire arms, the application
and use of a trigger so mounted on its pin and controlled by springs that the
hammer or bolt of either barrel may be released before the other by the pressure
of the finger and without the use of the usual shifting mechanism, substantially as
set forth.
3. In firing mechanism for single trigger double barrel fire arms, the applica-
tion and use of the trigger c, mounted as described, provided with a projecting
piece i arranged to act upon sear lifters d through the wall of a box k, substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings.
4. In firing mechanism of the description aforesaid, the combination with the
trigger c mounted as described of the sear lifters d with or without the striking
pieces m, arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the drawings.
5. In firing mechanism of the description aforesaid, the method of mounting

page_text: the trigger c, substantially as described and shown by Figs. 6 and 7 of the
drawings.
6. The several constructions, combinations and arrangements of firing
mechanisms for single trigger double-barrel fire arms, substantially as described
and shown by the drawings.
1
1007
GEORGE DOWNING & SONS,
8 Quality Court, London, W.C., Agents.