An Improved Signalling Truncheon for Constables.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 12th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 18th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by ERNEST HENRY KINLESIDE CRAWFORD, of
Grenfell, in the Colony of New South Wales, Squatter.]*
An Improved Signalling Truncheon for Constables.
I HENRY EDWARD NEWTON of The Office for Patents, 6 Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane in the County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The improved truncheon, which may be of any suitable material, is bored out
axially to provide a space in which a tube or gun barrel may be inserted. The
handle of the truncheon may be separate from the body or striking part. The
handle is also bored out axially, similar to the body, and a metal tube is inserted
into the handle, the tube projecting beyond the handle a distance equal to the
length of the body, into which the tube may be inserted, so as not to project
beyond the end of the truncheon. The rear end of the handle of the truncheon is
left open, and the end of the tube that is therein is provided with a stout block
similar in principle to the breech block of a breech-loading firearm, and so constructed
that it may be readily opened and a cartridge inserted. The body of the truncheon
or the handle, or both, inust be provided with a spring catch or other analogous
contrivance, whereby the body may be securely fastened to the handle, and yet
be under the absolute one-handed control of the wielder of the truncheon, so
that should the wielder find himself pressed at close quarters by his opponent, who
might seize the body of the truncheon in his hand, the wielder may be enabled at
once to disengage the body from the handle by touching a spring, or in other
handy and convenient manner. The breech block is bored out axially, and is
provided with a pin or other device wheroby the cartridge that is within the
breech may be expluded, and a colored light or bomb, or maroon, projected into
the air, to call the attention of the authorities. The pin may be so arranged.that
it may be cocked similar to the corresponding device in an ordinary firearm, or it
may be left to the wielder to withdraw the pin, and then suddenly rolenso it from
its withdrawn position, so that it shall be caused to strike the detonator in the
cartridge with sufficient force to explode the ammunition.
Dated this 6th day of March 1893.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
An Improved Signalling Truncheon for Constables.
I HENRY EDWARD NEWTON of The Office for Patents, 6 Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane in the County of London, Patent Agent, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide a composite arin for a police constablo,
which, should the occasion arise, he may either use as a truncheon or firearm, or,
by means of a rocket, colored light, bomb, or maroon, for signalling to his head-
quarters for assistance. But in order that the invention may be thoroughly
understood, reference is hereby made to the accompanying sheet of drawings, in
which:-
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the weapon, the breech being open, so as to

page_text: admit of the insertion of a new cartridge, or the extraction of an exploded one.
The front end of the truncheon is left in elevation.
Fig. 2 is a rear end elevation of Fig. 1, the relative positions of the several
parts being the same, with the exception that tho firing pin is withdrawn, as it
would be when a cartridge is to be exploded.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the weapon, the covering of the tubo, which con-
stitutes the truncheon part, being removed, and the breech end of the weapon is
shewn closed.
Fig. 4 is an elevation of the front or forward end of the breech block or handle.
Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the complete weapon, exactly as it would appear
when ready for handling by the constable.
The improved truncheon or composite arm may be made of any suitable materials.
The truncheon or striking part, A, is bored out axially to provide a space in which
a tube or gun barrel B may be insorted. The handle, C, of the truncheon, may be
separate from the body or striking part, A. In the drawings, it is shown connected
to the body by a hinge joint, c. The handle C is also bored out axially (and, if
found advisable, a metal tube may be inserted therein), to receive a firing pin D,
and spring d, for exploding the cartridge.
The whole of the handle constitutes a breech blook similar in principle to that
used in ordinary firearins. When the breech is closed, it is secured to a pro-
jection E, which projects from the breech of the barrel B, by a spring or other
catch e
The catch is provided with a thumb piece, whereby it may be
operated to release and open the breech. The thumb piece el should be placed in
such a position that it may be easily and readily moved by the thumb of the
constable.
The covering or truncheon proper, A, should be secured to the handle C by a
catch or other suitable device that is capable of being easily and quickly released
by the constable, so that, should an opponent seize the truncheon by the covering A,
and thereby embarrass the constable in his actions, the constable may, if he pleases,
release the covering A, so that the barrel may slip out, and the covering be left in
the hand of the opponent. For the purpose of illustration, in the drawings the
device adopted consists of a catch F that is secured to the covering A, and takes
over a stud on the handle or breech block C. The catch may be released by
depressing a spring, by turning the handle so that the stud shall be removed from
the loop of the catch, or in any other suitable and convenient manner. A cartridge
extractor is recessed into the breech and pivotted below, nt g, on the axis of the
hinge of the breech block, and is provided with a projection so disposed, that when
the breech block is swung baok, the cartridge shall be caused to leave its recess in
the breech, and take with it the cartridge, as shewn in Fig. 1. When a cartridge
has been inserted in the breech, it may be exploded by either withdrawing the
firing pin D, and then suddenly releasing the same, in which case the forward end
of the pin, D, will strike the cap in the cartridge and explode it; or tho firing pin
may be cocked by any suitable device, and then released' by pressing a trigger or
spring. In the drawings, such a device is shewn at H, which is merely a spring
catch provided with a toe piece or projection h, which will catch over the piston c'
ou the firing pin. When it is desired to explode tho cartridge, the thumb piece on
the spring catch H is depressed, and the piston thereby released, when the spring d
will cause the firing pin to advance with force and strike the oap in the cartridge,
and thereby explode the charge.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invou
tion and the manner of carrying the same into effect, as communicated to me from
abroad, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The improved signalling truncheon for constables, consisting of a hollow
truncheon that is lined with a tube or gun barrel, and provided, at its roar end,
with a handlo that forms the breech blook of the barrel, and with suitable

page_text: apparatus for exploding and extracting a cartridge, as and for the purposes herein
Bet forth.
2. An improved signalling truncheon for constables, so constructed that an outer
casing, or truncheon proper, shall be lined with a tube or gun barrel suitable for
projecting a missile or signal, the outer case being secured to the barrel in such a
way that the wielder of the truncheon cau release the outer case from the barrel
with readiuess and facility, as and for the purposes herein specified.
3. The combination of a hollow truncheon that is provided with a tubular or gun
barrel lining, with a breech block that shall form the handle of the truncheon, and
with a cartridge extractor, and with a firing pin that may or may not be provided
with means for cooking it, and with suitable appliances for scouring the handle
or breech blook to the rear or breech end of the barrel, all as and for the purposes
herein set forth and specified.
4. The general construction, arrangement, and combination of parts constituting
5 my improved signalling truncheon for constables, as herein described, and for the
purposes set forth.
"
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.