IMPROVEMENTS IN GUN LOCKS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Grafton, of Fulham, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GUN LOCKS."
- A communication from abroad by William Rudolph and Augustus
Braun, of San Francisco, California, U. S. of America.
Sealed the 17th July 1866, and dated the 15th May 1866.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Henry Grafton at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declaration, on
the 15th May 1866, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent Law
Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
GRAFTON, of Fulham, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GUN
Locks," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have
made solemn Declaration that it has been communicated to me from abroad
by William Rudolph and Augustus Braun, of San Francisco, California, U. S.
of America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Grafton, do hereby declare that
the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal, fully describes
and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed in and by the following statement :-
This Invention consists of making the main plate of locks for guns and
other small arms with a recess to contain the various working parts of the
lock, for the purpose of obviating the necessity of cutting away the stock
for the reception of the works. Another part relates to the plate or cover

page_text: which incloses the works, this plate is let into the stock and forms the
steadiment for the lock.
In referring to the Drawings it will be seen that Fig. 1 represents the plan
of the lock with its works sunken; Fig. 2 the lock covered with its plate
marked I; Fig. 8 is a bird's-eye view; Fig. 4 the plate I disconnected;
Fig. 5 the front view as seen when fitted upon the stock. Fig. 1, A, A, is
the main plate of about one-eighth of an inch in thickness having an oblong
recess sunk in the solid from the main plate, upon the opposite side is the
dog or hammer; B, is the main spring of considerable thickness; C, is the
tumbler; D, the swivel; E and F, sear and sear spring; G, G, G, are notches
in which to insert the spring hook; H, H, notches for cover or plate. Fig. 2
I is the plate screwed over the chamber or recess, and by its means the
mechanism of the lock is kept in its place. Fig. 3 is a bird's-eye view shewing
the projection of the plate which is to be inserted into the stock. Fig. 4 the
plate or cover I disconnected, having the various screw and other holes, with
lugs projecting which fit into H, H, Fig. 1. Fig. 5, the front of the lock
shewing an oblong projection, beneath which is contained the works.
It will readily be conceded that the weakest part of the stock is where the
lock is placed, by reason of the depression necessary to carve or cut out in order
to fit the lock, and this is more especially the case where the gun is double
barrelled. In using this improved lock it is intended to overcome the weaking
of the stock, for in an ordinary size lock it only requires about one-sixteenth
of an inch to be let into the stock irrespective of the hole for the sear.
Having thus described this Invention, and the manner of performing the
same, what I claim is,―
First, forming a recess or chamber in the main plate for the reception of
the works of a lock.
Second, the application of the said lock without, impairing the strength of
the stock into which the lock is attached.
Third, the moveable plate for the purpose and use as herein stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Grafton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Fifteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.