IMPROVEMENTS' IN MILITARY AND OTHER SMALL ARMS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert Charles Süft of Munster Lodge Fulham in the
County of Middlesex Lieutenant in Her Majesty's Land Forces serving in
the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS' IN MILITARY AND OTHER SMALL ARMS
"
رو
5
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert. Charles Suft at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st July 1883.
HERBERT CHARLES SUFT of Munster Lodge Fulha'n in the County of Middlesex
Lieutenant in Her Majesty's Land Forces serving in the Duke of Wellington's
(West Riding Regiment)
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MILITARY AND OTHER SMALL
ARMS
"
'
This invention has for its object mainly the protection of the small arm (Martini
Henry) at present used by the British Army, from accidental discharge, without
impairing the efficiency of the weapon..
This arm possess an indicator to shew whether the weapon is loaded or not.
The indicator, is a small external arm which moves in unison with the striker; it
at present affords no safe guard against the discharge of the piece by an accidental
pull on the trigger. The object of this invention is to obviate that danger. The
contrivance consists of a revolving pin in the stock behind the lock carrying
externally on the face of the lock plate a lever catch. The lever catch terminates
in a dent rounded to the front and corresponding with the shape of the upper end
of the indicator. When the rifle is loaded the catch engages with the indicator
fitting and holding it. On the pin within the lock plate is a small arm projecting
to the rear and held in position and pressed upwards by a steel spring sunk in the
stock. Above the arm and attached to it is a pin which passes up to a thumb
plate seated in the upper part of the stock at the point where the soldier places
his thumb in the act of aiming.
The action is as follows :-
The rifle being loaded the catch holds the indicator firmly and whilst it is so

page_text: held the rifle cannot be fired. The soldier however on raising his rifle to fire grips.
the stock and places his thumb on the plate thereby depressing it, causing the pin
to revolve and raising the external catch so as to free the indicator. After the
shot is fired the soldier naturally releases the pressure on the thumb plate and the
catch resumes its normal position In the act of reloading the lock drives back
the indicator which pressing against the curved surface of the catch automatically
raises it until the indicator reaches its last position when the catch falls auto-
matically to the position in which it holds the indicator thus precluding the
possibility of accidental discharge of the weapon.
A like arrangement is applicable to other small arms.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Herbert Charles Suft in the Patent Office on the 19th January
1884.
HERBERT CHARLES SUFT of Munster Lodge Fulham in the County of Middlesex
Lieutenant in Her Majesty's Land Forces serving in the Duke of Wellington's
(West Riding Regiment) "IMPROVEMENTS IN MILITARY AND OTHER SMALL
ARMS
ور
This Invention has for its object mainly the protection of the small arm (Martini-
Henry) at present used by the British Army and others from accidental discharge,
without impairing the efficiency of the weapon.
This arm possesses an indicator to shew whether the weapon is loaded or not.
The indicator is a small external arm which, moves in unison with the tumbler
and striker; it at present affords no safe guard against the discharge of the piece
by an accidental pull on the trigger.
The object of this invention is to obviate that danger. The contrivance consists
of a revolving pin in the stock behind the lock carrying externally on the face of
the lock plate a lever catch. The lever catch terminates in a dent rounded to
the front and corresponding with the shape of the upper end of the indicator.
When the rifle is loaded the catch engages with the indicator fitting and.
holding it.
On the pin within the lock plate is a small arm projecting to the rear and held
in position and pressed upwards by a steel spring sunk in the stock. Above the
arm and attached to it is a pin which passes up to a thumb plate seated in the
upper part of the stock at the point where the person firing places his thumb in
the act of aiming.
The action is as follows:-
The rifle being loaded the catch holds the indicator firmly and whilst it is so
held the rifle cannot be fired. The person firing. however on raising his rifle to
fire grips the stock and places his thumb on the plate thereby depressing it causing
the pin to revolve and raising the external catch so as to free the indicator. After
the shot is fired the person firing naturally releases the pressure on the thumb
plate and the catch resumes its normal position. In the act of reloading the lock
action drives back the indicator which pressing against the curved surface of the
catch automatically raises it until the indicator reaches its last position when the
catch falls automatically to the position. in which it holds the indicator thus
precluding the possibility of accidental discharge of the weapon.
A like arrangement is applicable to other small arms.
In order that my said invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a Martini-Henry rifle having my
improvements applied. Figure 2 shews a similar view partly in section. Figure 3
is a sectional elevation, the section being taken on the line A, B in Figure 2.
A is an indicator, it only differs from that at present in use on the Martini-
Henry rifles in having a small notch formed upon it at the upper end. When the
rifle is loaded this indicator assumes the position represented by the dotted lines
in Figure 1. B is a horizontal pin or axis which for the purpose of my invention
I provide in the stock behind the lock. It is able to turn freely in holes.formed

page_text: Between the two side plates the axis carries a wheel D from which there projec's
an arm D resting upon a spring E. The arm D₁ has jointed to it the upright
stem F which terminates in a button conveniently situated on the head of the stock
to receive the pressure of the thumb.
When the indicator moves back on opening the breech for loading it comes
against the rounded end of the catch lever C. The lever yields and allows the
indicator to pass and then immediately returns to the position in which the
drawing shows it. Whilst it remains in this position the gun cannot be fired for
"the indicator cannot go forward, and the parts of the lock are so connected with
the indicator as not to be movable independently of it.
In the act of aiming however the thumb is pressed upon the button of the
stem F and this raises the catch lever and sets the indicator free. The rifle will
then be fired by the pull of the trigger. But except in this legitimate manner the
weapon cannot be fired, as the movement of the trigger cannot cause the discharge
of the piece unless it be accompanied by the removal of the retaining catch C out
of the path of the indicator.
Having thus described the nature of my said invention and the manner of
performing the same I would have it understood that what I claim is :-
First. The application to military and other small arms of a safety catch
retaining the parts of the lock and released by the pressure of the thumb upon a
button upon the head of the stock substantially as herein described.
Second. My improvements in Martini-Henry rifles consisting in the combination
therewith of a safety lever catch engaging with the indicator and displaced by the
pressure of the thumb upon a button on the head of the stock substantially as
described.
In witness whereof I the said Herbert Charles Suft have hereunto set my
hand and seal this eighth day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.
H. CHARLES SUFT (L.S.)