AN IMPROVED HAND GRIP FOR BREACHLOADING RIFLES AND GUNS FOR MILITARY AND SPORTING PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stanhope Bexfield of the firm of Golding Bexfield & Co.
+
of Globe Factory Stoke Newington Manufacturers of India Rubber & Leather
Goods for an Invention of AN IMPROVED HAND GRIP FOR BREACHLOADING
RIFLES AND GUNS FOR MILITARY AND SPORTING PURPOSES.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stanhope Bexfield at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st August 1883.
STANHOPE BEXFIELD of the firm of Golding Bexfield [&] Co of Globe
Factory Stoke Newington Manufacturers of India Rubber & Leather Goods AN
IMPROVED HAND GRIP FOR BREACH LOADING RIFLES AND GUNS FOR MILITARY &
SPORTING PURPOSES
I make that portion of the gun known as the hand-grip of Wood, Metal,
Ebonite, Vulcanite, or Xylonite and in groove of the said hand-grip I attach a
preparation of asbestos in such form as to prevent the heat of the barrel from
communicating itself to that portion of the hand-grip which comes in contact with
the hand of the user of the weapon.
I estimate that, under the present system from twenty five to thirty discharges
in quick succession fire the barrel to such an extent as to destroy any substance
with less resistance to heat than metal or wood, and in the case of metal or wood
heat is communicated so as to prevent the possibility of refiring or delivering a
bayonet charge
I claim for my invention that the attachment of a sufficient quantity of specially
prepared asbestos to the aforsaid metal, wood, Ebonite, Vulcanite or Xylonite, will
render the weapon much longer available for service.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Stanhope Bexfield in the Patent Office on the 21st February
1884.
STANHOPE BEXFIELD of the firm of Golding Bexfield & C of Globe Factory
Stoke Newington, Manufacturers of Indin rubber and Leather goods AN IMPROVED
HANDGRIP FOR BREACH LOADING RIFLES AND GUNS FOR MILITARY AND SPORTING
PURPOSES"
The object of my invention is to provide an improved hand-grip for breech-
loading rifles and guns, for military and sporting purposes, and is intended to
render it possible for a man to use or carry his weapon after the barrel has become
hented by repeated discharges of ammunition.
I make my improved hand-grip of wood metal or Xylonite papier maché or
paper pulp and in the groove of the said land-grip I attach a preparation of
asbestos in such form as to prevent the heat of the barrel from communicating.
itself to the band by the intervention of that portion of the hand-grip which comes
in contact with the hand of the user of the weapon
I estimate that under the present from 25 to 30 discharges in quick succession
beat the barrel to such an extent as to destroy any substance with less resistance
to heat than metal or wood, and in the case of metal or wood heat is. communicated
so as to prevent the possibility of refiring or of delivering a bayonet charge
And in order that my said invention may be clearly understood reference is
hereby made to the drawing hereunto annexed in which a diagram of a breech-
loading gun is shewn-The shaded portion marked a is that portion of the gun
where my said invention is applied. It consists of a non-conducting material
which is incapable of conducting heat from the barrel to the hand of the operator,
and which is made of such a form as to fit and adjust itself to the external form of
the gun to which it is applied
I form the non-conducting hand-grip constituting my invention, of paper pulp,
suitably-prepared, or of specially prepared asbestos, xylonite or paper pulp or of a
combination thereof, and of asbestos and papier maché, or two or more of such
substances
I sometimes form an inner shell or foundation of asbestos, the inner surface of
which is made to exactly fit the barrel, an outer shell is formed of paper pulp
exactly fitting the outer surface of the asbestos-The two substances are, then
welded together by heat, or by suitable adhesive. material, and their union is
further secured by metallic supports or rivets at each end of the hand-grip.
In some cases I also add a lining of felt or other nonconducting material
between the inner and outer shell; the whole being secured to the gun, by any
ordinary means
The outer surface may be painted enamelled polished or otherwise ornamented
and finished in order to impart a finished appearance thereto.
Having, now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I would remark in
conclusion that in my provisional Specification I have mentioned the use of ebonite
and vulcanite as materials among others to be used in the manufacture of my said
improved, hand-grip but I have discovered, since the date of my Provisional Speci-
fication, that such material, vie, ebonite and vulcanite to be used for such purpose
is not new and therefore I hereby disclaim the use of such ebonite and vulcanite-
and I declare that what I claim is :-
1 The method means and appliances for preventing the heat of the gun-barrel from
being communicated to the hands substantially as herein-before described and
shewn on the drawing

page_text: 2 The manufacture and use of hand grips for breech-loading rifles and guns for
military and sporting purposes substantially as herein before described and shewn
on the drawing
3 The manufacture and use of asbestos in combination with paper pulp or papier
maché for the purpose herein before, described.
In witness whereof I the said Stanhope Bexfield have hereunto set my hand and
seal this twentieth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty four.
STANHOPE BEXFIELD (L.S.)