IMPROVED MEANS FOR FACILITATING THE SIGHTING OF FIREARMS IN THE DUSK OR AT NIGHT.
Year: 1884

page_text: I, WALTER WINANS of 2 Clarendon Terrace, Brighton, in the County of Sussex,
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVED MEANS FOR
FACILITATING THE SIGHTING OF FIREARMS IN THE DUSK OR AT NIGHT.to be as
follows:-
°
The object of the present invention is to facilitate the sighting of firearms in the
dusk or at night.
To this end, the invention consists in the adaptation to the weapon of an electric
generator or apparatus, by means of which a piece of wire fixed upon the barrel, at
or about the point where the ordinary front sight is situated, is rendered
incandescent or luminous, or a rapid succession of electric sparks is produced
between two metal points.
In carrying my invention into effect, I preferably employ a primary battery of
small size and suitable strength adapted to the stock of the rifle and connected by
a wire or wires with the fore sight
-
This latter may consist of a short piece of platinum or other metal of suitable
resistance or it may be formed of two points between which the electric sparks
play.
A battery similar to that employed in the well known electric gas lighter of
Messrs Clark & Leigh may be used, but I prefer to employ an ordinary dry battery,
which shall be brought into action at will by pressing on a button or small lever.
The barrel of the gun may conveniently serve to return the current to the
battery. An induction coil may be used in combination with the battery for
producing the succession of sparks or a small electro magnet and make and break
device may be mounted on the weapon for the same purpose.

page_text: -
I WALTER WINANS of 2 Clarendon Terrace, Brighton in the County of Sussex,
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVED MEANS FOR
FACILITATING THE SIGHTING OF FIREARMS IN THE DUSK OR AT NIGHT 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 the present invention is to facilitate the sighting of firearms in the
dusk or at night.
To this end I adapt to the weapon an electrical front sight and preferably a small
electric lamp in which a carbon filament is rendered incandescent by the current
from an electric generator or apparatus of any suitable kind, adapted to the weapon
in any convenient manner.
I prefer to employ a primary battery of small size for rendering the fore sight,
of whatever character it may be, luminous by electricity, and to adapt it to the
stock of the rifle, fitting it within a chamber prepared to receive it.
1.
In the accompanying Drawing I have shown 'my' invention' as applied to a
Martini rifle by way of example.
1.
Fig is a side view of the rifle complete, with my invention applied thereto.
Fig: 2 is a similar view, partly in section, showing the battery inside the stock.
Fig 3 is a rear end view of the rifle.
Figs 4 and 5 are front views on an enlarged scale of a double and single
barrelled rifle respectively, with an electric front sight affixed thereto.
Fig 6 represents the sight as seen by the firer.
Fig: 7 is a section through the metal case enclosing the electric lamp, with the
lamp in place, and
Fig 8 is a side view of the lamp case.
n
· The incandescent lamp a (made as small as practicable) is enclosed in a metal
case b in which is a small hole c facing the firer, so that a bright spot of light
appears just above or on a line with the ordinary fixed sight of the weapon when
'the current from the generator or battery is passing. The lower part of the case b
is of a form to fit around the barrel and is provided with a small clamping screw d
by which it can be secured in it's proper position.
T
The aperture c is protected by a piece of glass, and a reflector is arranged within
the case opposite thereto, thus making a miniature electrical bullseye, or dark
lantern, of the lamp. The lamp is mounted on a spring or springs after the
manner commonly practised with respect to incandescent lamps, and packed
Found with cotton-wool; horse-hair, or other elastic substance to prevent breakage
by the concussion of the rifle on discharge.
This electrical front sight is preferably mounted upon the rifle or gun in the
manner illustrated in Figs 4 and 5, but it might be mounted in a horizontal hollow

page_text: arm carried by a bracket extending from one side of the barrel; but in any case
the opening in the case through which the electric light is seen should be turned
towards the rear sight or butt of the weapon and should be arranged to be seen
just above the fixed front sight of the rifle when taking aim, in which case the leaf
of the rear sight should be slightly raised, or otherwise accordingly adjusted. If
the incandescent lamp clasps on to the barrel or barrels of the rifle behind the
fixed front sight the aperture in the metal case is best fixed at the exact height of
the top of the fixed front sight, thereby enabling the same aim to be taken as when
using the fixed sight.
Referring now to Figs: 2 and 3, e is the battery by which the electric front sight
is rendered luminous as required, and it is conveniently adapted to the stock as
shown and covered in or protected by the heel plate f, see Fig 1. e¹ el are the
terminals of the battery, and insulated conductors leading respectively to and from
the electric lamp, are attached thereto.
g is a switch of any suitable construction for making and breaking the electrical
circuit.
The conductors are preferably laid in a groove in the stock beneath the barrel,
and where they emerge from the wood are protected by a metal tube or tubes h h.
I have found a chloride of silver battery answer my purpose admirably, but it is
obvious that other batteries of small size may be used and may be adapted to the
weapon or be connected with the electric sight in other ways than that hereinabove
described and illustrated.
A silver battery of two cells of rectangular form, each 2" high x 24" wide,
and " thick has been found sufficient for my purpose, but the shape of the cells
may be altered to suit the stock, retaining however about the same capacity viz:
some 5 cubic inches.
In some cases the metal work of the rifle may be used to form part of the
conductor for the return current.
A small accumulator or secondary battery might be used in place of the primary
battery, and if a regiment of soldiers were to have their rifles fitted with electric
front sights these accumulators would be charged and served out every evening.
The switch g is fixed at a point suitable for operation by the firer in the act of
aiming, but it might be connected with the hammer or striker so that when
the rifle is at full cock the front sight glows, and when the trigger is pulled the
light goes out.
The battery or accumulator should only be of such power as to make the lamp
glow sufficiently to enable the firer to see it plainly; as if too bright it would
prevent his seeing the object aimed at. The battery or other source of electricity
might be carried about the person of the shooter, and be connected with the rifle by
means of wires which could be readily attached or detached.
I would remark that I do not limit myself to the use of a miniature incandescent
lamp with a carbon filament as the electric front sight, as in some cases a platinum or
other wire might be rendered luminous or incandescent by electricity, or electric
sparks might be caused to play between two points; in which case an induction
coil may be used in combination with the battery, or a small electro magnet and
make-aud-break device may be mounted on the weapon for the same purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The adaptation to firearms of electric light-producing apparatus for the
purpose of more clearly indicating the position of the front sight and thereby
facilitating the sighting of the weapon in the dusk or at night, as set forth.
2. The means described with reference to the accompanying drawing for
indicating the position of the front sight or sights of a gun or rifle in the dusk
or at night,

page_text: 3. The combination with the barrel, of a miniature incandescent electric lamp
enclosed within a detachable protecting hood or case having an aperture on one side
to display the light, insulated conductors for leading the current to said lamp, and a
battery or other suitable source of electricity, for the purpose set forth.