IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS FOR BREECH-LOADING FIREARMS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Damby Cross, James Wheeler Cross, and William
Wheeler Cross, all of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun Action
Filers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS FOR BREECH-LOADING
FIREARMS."
Sealed the 8th July 1879, and dated the 11th January 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Damby Cross, James
Wheeler Cross, and William Wheeler Cross at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents on the 11th January 1879.
"
THOMAS DAMBY CROSS, JAMES WHEELER CROSS, and WILLIAM WHEELER CROSS,
all of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun Action Filers. IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LOCKS FOR BREECH LOADING FIRE ARMS."
This Invention refers to the locks of breechloading fire arms constructed upon
the hammerless system on that in which a hammer or striker is concealed within
the lock, and in the annexed Drawings is represented as applied to a breechloading
action upon the drop down principle, though it may also be applied to others.
Figure 1 shews a side elevation, and Figure 2 a plan of the parts, and Figs. 3, 4,
& 5, details detached; (a) is the ordinary locking lever, with the arm (b) operative
upon the hammer (c) shewn separately at Fig. 4; (d) is a lever, the form of which
is shown in side view, Fig. 3, & which is governed by a spring (e). The lever (d)
is worked from the trigger plate, and being pinned in a fulcrum at (h) operates
upon the lower end of the hammer (c), which hammer is pinned upon a lug (l)
attached to the back of the body, and thus releases the hammer upon pressing the
trigger and causes the hammer to strike the pin (k). The operation of unlocking
the action by means of the lever (a) thus cocks the hammer, and any suitable form
of safety bolt may be employed to prevent accidental dischargo.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Damby Cross, James Wheeler Cross, and William Wheeler
Cross in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th July 1879.
THOMAS DAMBY CROSS, JAMES WHEELER CROSS, and WILLIAM WHEELER CROSS,
all of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun Action Filers. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LOCKS FOR BREECH LOADING FIRE ARMS."
This Invention refers to the locks of breech loading fire arms constructed upon
the hammerless system or that in which a hammer or striker is concealed within
the lock, and in the annexed Drawings is represented as applied to a breech loading
action upon the drop down principle.
(Figure 1) shews a side elevation, and (Figure 2) a plan of the parts of a lock
constructed according to our Invention; (Figures 3, 4, and 5) shew some of the
details detached. (a) is the ordinary locking lever with the arm (b) operating upon
the hammer (c), the form of which hammer is shewn separately at (Figure 4);
(d) is a lever, the form of which is shown in side view (Figure 3), and which lever
is governed by a spring (e) shewn separately in (Figure 5). The lever (d) is
worked from the trigger plate, and being pinned on a fulcrum at (/) operates upon
the lower end of the hammer (c), which hammer is pinned upon a lug (1) attached
to the back of the body, and thus the hammer is released upon pressing the trigger
and caused to strike the pin (%) by the action of a coiled spring (m). The operation
of unlocking the action by means of the lever (a) thus cocks the hammer, and if
necessary any suitable form of safety bolt may be employed to prevent accidental
discharge.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, we claim, without limiting ourselves to the
precise details herein shewn, the form, combination, and arrangement of the several
parts of the lock for breechloading fire arms or any mere modification of the same,
substantially as herein more fully set forth and specified.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Damby Cross, James Wheeler Cross,
and William Wheeler Cross, have hereunto set our hands and scals, this
Tenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy nine.
THOMAS DAMBY CROSS.
JAMES WHEELER CROSS.
(L.S.)
(L.S.)
WILLIAM WHEELER CROSS. (L.S.)