IMPROVEMENTS IN TOOLS FOR MINING OPERATIONS, AND FOR SOLDIERS' EQUIPMENTS FOR FIELD SERVICES
Year: 1871

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Nicholas Sanders at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th March 1871.
I, GEORGE NICHOLAS SANDERS, of the State of Kentucky, in the
United States of America, now resident at 5, Albion Place, Blackfriars
Road, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for “IMPROVEMENTS IN TOOLS FOR MINING OPERATIONS,
AND FOR SOLDIERS' EQUIPMENTS FOR FIELD SERVICES," to be as follows:-
It consists, first, of a handle or lever, to which an axe, a mattock,
a spade, a pickaxe, a bowie knife, and a saw, or any other essential
instrument, can be attached and removed at pleasure. This handle with
bowie knife will constitute a bayonet. The handle in section represents
the Drawing hereto annexed, and is made hollow to receive a saw; for
military purposes it is fitted at one end with a connection adapted to
the gun or rifle, with which it may be used, and with the bowie knife
attached serve as a bayonet.
The axe is formed with an eye through the poll or head parallel to
the cutting edge, and of the same form as and fitting closely to the end
of the handle, which is secured by a screw, a spring, or a kcy.

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The mattock is made in a peculiar form with rounded and tapering|
ribs, by which the cutting end of it is greatly strengthened and is also
adapted to become the attaching end of the handle of the spade; and
the hammer end of the mattock is made of the same form as the handle,
so that they may both fit into a socket groove, and become prolongations
of each other. An eye similar to that made in the pole of the axe is to
be made in the central portion of the mattock. For ordinary purposes
the mattock is attached to the handle by passing the latter through this
eye, but when the spade is to be used the mattock is attached by means
of the union socket, thus securing sufficient leverage to work the spade,
which is formed with a taper socket having grooves corresponding to
the ribs or projections on the tongue or blade of the mattock. This
novel shape of the spade secures for it great strength.
The pickaxe has an eye similar to that of the mattock and may be
made with either a hammer, or an axe, or chisel, at its other end.
The handle of the bowie knife is formed so as to fit into the common
socket, or otherwise make a firm connection with the end of the handle.
All the connections can be secured by a screw, a spring, or key of
adequate strength.
The saw blade when required for use is put forth at one end of the
handle and secured firmly by a screw or spring. All the implements,
except the handle, can be conveniently fitted to the soldier's knapsack,
cartridge box, or water tin.
The features of novelty which constitute this Invention are the handle
or lever, which can be used in combination with all the implements
named, and the peculiar form of the cye in the mattock, the axe, and
pickaxe, and the form of the mattock itself, and of the socket in the
spade, all forming compact portable implements for pioneers, soldiers,
or miners.