Year: 1898

page_text: I, JAMES WILLIAM SMALLMAN, of Camp Hill Grange, near Nuneaton, in the County
of Warwick, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the trigger mechanism of double-barrel drop-down guns
and rifles.
In ordinary double-barrel drop-down guns and rifles, the two triggers are placed far
enough apart to permit the finger to be inserted between them. This distance is so
great that after the finger has pulled one trigger to fire the first barrel it is found
advantageous to move the hand until the finger has been brought into a convenient
position for pulling the other trigger to fire the second barrel.
The object of my present invention is to so construct a double-barrel gun or rifle
with two triggers that the grasp of the stock may be advantageously maintained
after the pulling of the first trigger, and I accomplish this by arranging the two
triggers very near together and causing the first trigger after it has been pulled to
advance so as to leave sufficient space between the two triggers to permit the finger
to be readily inserted and pressed against the second trigger.
In carrying out my invention, I prefer to employ a lever pivoted to the trigger-
plate. The forward end of the lever engages with the first trigger-blade. The first
sear-tail lies just above the lever when the first lock is cocked. The tumbler of the
first lock is so shaped that, when said lock is released, the first sear-tail under the
influence of the sear-spring can press upon the lever and cause the trigger to advance.
The two triggers are placed so near together that when the first trigger is pulled
back into its extreme position it nearly touches the second trigger.
I may utilize a trigger-spring for bringing about the separation of the triggers.
When the first lock is cocked, the trigger-spring presses the first trigger up to the
first sear-tail; but, when said lock is released, that sear-tail comes into a lower position
and by pressing down the trigger-spring causes said trigger to advance.
The second barrel can be fired first when there is time for the finger to push the
first trigger forward prior to pulling the second trigger.
I do not limit myself to any particular mechanism for causing the first trigger to
advance after the release of the first lock, as this end can be accomplished in various
D
017

page_text: ways. For instance, a slide taken back by the safety-bolt and held back by the first
sear-tail can,
while moving forward after the release of the first lock, turn the first
trigger into its advanced position.
I, JAMES WILLIAM SMALLMAN, of Camp Hill Grange, near Nuneaton, in the
County of Warwick, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to the trigger mechanism of double-barrel drop-down
hammer or hammerless guns and rifles.
In ordinary double-barrel drop-down guns and rifles, the two triggers are placed
far enough apart to permit the finger to be inserted between them. This distance
is so great that after the finger has pulled one trigger to fire the first barrel it is
found advantageous to move the hand until the finger has been brought into a
convenient position for pulling the other trigger to fire the second barrel.
The object of my present invention is to so construct a double-barrel gun or rifle
with two triggers that the grasp of the stock may be advantageously maintained
after the pulling of the first trigger, and I accomplish this by arranging the two
triggers very near together and causing the first trigger after it has been pulled to
advance so as to leave sufficient space between the two triggers to permit the finger
to be readily inserted and pressed against the second trigger.
In carrying out my invention, I prefer to employ a lever pivoted to the trigger-
plate. The forward end of the lever engages with the first trigger-blade. The first
sear-tail lies just above the lever when the first lock is cocked.
The tumbler
of the first lock is so shaped that, when said lock is released, the first sear-tail under
the influence of the sear-spring can press upon the lever and cause the trigger
to advance,' The two triggers are placed so near together that when the first
trigger is pulled back into its extreme position it nearly touches the second
trigger.
I may utilize a trigger-spring for bringing about the separation of the triggers.
When the first lock is cocked, the trigger-spring presses the first trigger up to the
first sear-tail; but, when said lock is released, that sear-tail comes into a lower position
and by pressing down the trigger-spring causes said trigger to advance.
The second barrel can be fired first when their is time for the finger to push the
first trigger forward prior to pulling the second trigger.
I do not limit myself to any particular mechanism for causing the first trigger to
advance after the release of the first lock, as this end can be accomplished in various
ways. For instance, a slide taken back by the safety-bolt and held back by the first
sear-tail can, while moving forward after the release of the first lock, turn the first
trigger into its advanced position.
Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the trigger-plate, the triggers, the trigger-actuating
lever and other parts of a hammerless sporting gun; said triggers being shown in
their normal positions.
Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan.
In Fig. 3, the left trigger is in its normal and the right trigger in its extreme
backward position.

page_text: In Fig. 4, the right trigger is in its advanced or extreme forward position.
Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the right tumbler, sear and sear-spring.
Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the trigger-actuating lever.
Fig. 7 is a corresponding plan.
Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the right trigger.
Fig. 9 is a similar view of the left trigger.
In Fig. 10, the trigger-actuating lever is pivoted to the trigger-blade instead of to
the trigger-plate.
Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the trigger-actuating lever illustrated in the pre-
ceding figure.
Fig. 12 is a corresponding plan.
Fig. 13 shows a trigger-spring that is utilized in causing the right trigger to
advance.
In Fig. 14, the right sear-tail, overpowering and acting upon one arm of the
trigger-spring, has caused the right trigger to advance.
In Fig. 15 there is a device for locking the left trigger until the right trigger has
advanced.
In Fig. 16, the right trigger is in its advanced position and the locking device has
permitted the left trigger to be pulled back.
Fig. 17 is an elevation of the left side of the locking device.
Fig. 18 is a similar view of the right side of said device.
Fig. 19 is a plan corresponding with the last figure.
Fig. 20 is a side elevation of the left trigger pertaining to the construction repre-
sented in Figs. 15 and 16.
In Fig. 21, a slide is shown that when released causes the right trigger to
advance.
In Fig. 22, the slide has been released and the right trigger is in its advanced
position.
Fig. 23 is a side elevation of the slide.
Fig. 24 is a side elevation of the right trigger pertaining to the construction
illustrated in Figs. 21 and 22.
H is the
A is a lever pivoted on a pin 6 to the trigger-plate B. C is the right and D the
left trigger. Both triggers are pivoted on the pin B. E is the ordinary split trigger-
spring. The two arms of this spring are marked e and e¹. The spur a (Fig. 7) on
the forward end of the lever A enters a hole c¹ in the trigger-blade c. A spur at the
end of the arm e also enters the hole c¹. The spur a bears against the lower surface
and the spur on the arm e against the upper surface of said hole. A spur at the end
The right
of the arm e¹ enters a hole in the trigger-blade d. F is the right sear.
sear-tail f, before the lock is released, lies just above the lever A. 1 is the right sear-
nose. G is the left sear. g is the left sear-tail and g₁ the left sear-nose.
K is the left tumbler and the axis
right tumbler, which turns about the axis h.
about which it turns. When the tumblers H and K are cocked, the sear-tails f and
g are at the same level; the radius of the are x being equal to the radius of the arc y.
The point is nearer than the arc x to the axis h, consequently when the tumbler H
falls the sear F (under the pressure of the sear-spring Fx) turns beyond its normal
position. The tumbler H is shown in its fallen position in full lines and in its cocked
position in broken lines; the corresponding positions of the sear F being also shown
in full and broken lines. The tumbler K is formed in the usual way with the point y¹
at the same distance as the arc y from the axis k; consequently when that tumbler
is in its fallen position the sear-tail lies at the same level as it does when said
tumbler is cocked. A stop c* on the trigger C beds against the trigger-plate B when
said trigger is in its extreme backward position; thus preventing that trigger from
being pulled against the trigger D. (If preferred, the safety-bolt R may be utilized
as a stop for the trigger C.) When the trigger C, after being pulled, has been
released, the sear-tail f, under the influence of the sear-spring F, presses upon the
lever A and forces that lever to turn very slightly about the pin b, depressing the
spur a and thereby causing the trigger C to advance. On comparing Fig. 1 with

page_text: Fig. 4 it will be seen that after the automatic advance of the right trigger there is
considerably more space between the triggers than there was originally.
The lever A (Figs. 10 to 12) is pivoted on a pin c¹ screwed into the trigger-
blade c; the fulcrum a¹ of said lever resting behind the trigger C on the trigger.
plate B. The left trigger (not shown in Fig. 10 these figures) is like the one
previously illustrated. The action of the lever A¹ differs from that of the lever A in
no essential respect. The extremity of the pin cl may protrude into the space
between the trigger-blades for the end of the right arm of the trigger-spring to bear
against; a spur at the end of the left arm of the trigger-spring engaging as usual in
a hole in the left trigger-blade.
The trigger-spring L (Figs. 13 and 14) has two arms and 11 that lie close to the
เ
sear-tails. (The exact shape of the arm is immaterial, as that arm performs no
function beyond the ordinary one of holding the trigger-blade d against the left sear-
tail.) It is essential for the arm to touch or lie close to the sear-tail f, so that,
when the right lock has been released, said sear-tail can under the influence of the
sear-spring press down said arm 1, taking the spur on the end of that arm away from
the upper surface of the hole in the trigger-blade c and bringing it against the lower
surface of said hole, thereby causing the trigger C to advance. The arm / lies on
the right side of the trigger-blade cand the arm l¹ between the trigger-blades.
The left barrel can be fired first when there is time for the finger to push the
trigger C forward prior to pulling the trigger D. Only a slight forward pressure on
the trigger C is necessary, because the arm of the trigger-spring that keeps said
trigger up to the sear-tail ƒ does not offer much resistance. When firing the left
barrel first, said arm of the trigger-spring keeps the back of the trigger C against the
finger, and, directly the finger is withdrawn from between the triggers, the trigger C
resumes its normal position, being therefore instantly available for firing the right
barrel.
The locking device M (Figs. 15 to 19) is pivoted to the trigger-plate B by the
pin b¹ and works in the same slot as the trigger C. It has an arm m that lies between
the parts & and 81 on the trigger D* and also a nose m¹ that extends to the arc s* on
the trigger-blade c. While the arc sx is in front of the nose m¹ (Fig. 15), the part &
of the trigger D* is locked by the arm m and the left barrel can not be fired. When
the trigger C has advanced, the arc 8 is below the nose m¹ (Fig. 16); the
trigger D being then no longer locked, because the device M is free to turn on its
pivot b¹. After the release of the left lock, the left sear, acting (under the pressure
of the left sear-spring) on the trigger-blade d³, causes the parts to bear on the
arm m, thereby taking the device M back to its normal position.
The mechanism described above is less complicated than single-trigger mechanism
and does not require an extra limb to be operated before the order in which the
barrels are fired can be reversed.
The slide N (Figs. 21 to 23) lies between the trigger-blades and has a spurn that
enters a slot p in the trigger C. The tail n* of the slide is surrounded by a spiral
spring enclosed in a barrel O screwed to the trigger-plate B. The slide also has two
projections n¹ and n". When, after firing the right barrel, the gun is opened, the
safety-bolt R is actuated in the usual way and (bearing against the projection n¹).
takes back the slide N to its normal position. The right sear-tail f* lies just above
the path of the projection " when the right tumbler is down. (The right tumbler
employed in this construction has the point that corresponds with the point a¹, Fig. 5,
further from the axis than the arc x.) Directly the right tumbler is cocked, the
right sear-nose snaps into bent and the sear-tail fx falls in front of the projection n¹¹.
When in order to free the triggers the safety-bolt R is moved forward by the
thumb-piece, the projection n goes up to the sear-tail f*, which then holds back the
slide N against the pressure of the spiral spring. After the release of the right lock,
the projection-n" slides down the back of the raised sear tail-f and then slips
under that sear tail, whereupon the slide N advances, the projection n' following
up the safety bolt R. (The working of this mechanism so far will be readily under-
stood by those familar with single-trigger mechanisms.) While the slide N moves

page_text: forward, After the right lock has been released and the finger removed from the right
trigger, inasmuch as the sear tail f* is held by the right tumbler clear of the projection n
and the projection n' is free to follow the safety-bolt R, the slide N advances and the
spur n, pressing against the front end of the slot p, turns the trigger C¹ into its
advanced position. The slot p permits the trigger C₁ to be pressed forward for the
As the slide N occupies the space
purpose of enabling the left barrel to be fired first.
between the trigger-blades commonly allotted to the split trigger-spring, two separate
used in this
trigger-springs (not shown) placed outside the trigger-blades are
construction.
The mechanism illustrated in Figs. 21 to 24, though perfectly round and strong, is
comparatively complicated, but is given as a specimen of what comes within the
scope of the present invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. For drop-down guns and rifles, trigger mechanism arranged or operating
substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. A drop-down gun or rifle fitted with two triggers arranged near together, the
trigger mechanism being so made that after the first trigger has been pulled and
released said trigger is automatically caused to advance and leave considerably more
space between the triggers than there was originally, substantially as described.
3. In drop-down guns and rifles having two triggers, the combination, with the
first trigger, a spring for holding said trigger against the sear, and a lever for acting
on the said trigger in a contrary direction to that in which the spring acts, of said
sear, the sear-spring and the tumbler, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
1000