A CONSIDERABLE IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GUNS AND OTHER FIRE-ARMS, WHEREBY THE MANY AND FATAL ACCIDENTS WHICH HAVE HAPPENED BY THE BURSTING THEREOF WILL BE EFFECTUALLY PREVENTED
Year: 1795

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1,
RICHARD WEBB, of the City of Chester, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third,
did, by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain,
bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-eighth day of February, in
the thirty-fifth year of His reign, give and grant unto me, the said
Richard Webb, His especial licence; that I, the said Richard Webb,
during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might
use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick upon Tweed, my Invention of "A CONSIDERABLE IMPROVEMENT
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GUNS AND OTHER FIRE-ARMS, WHEREBY THE MANY AND
FATAL ACCIDENTS WHICH HAVE HAPPENED BY THE BURSTING THEREOF WILL BE
EFFECTUALLY PREVENTED;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained
a proviso, obliging me, the said Richard Webb, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, to cause a particular description of the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be enrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within one calendar month after the date of the said recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same (relation being thereunto had) may more
fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the
said Richard Webb, do hereby declare that my said Invention of a
considerable improvement in the construction of guns and other fire
arms is described in the plan and description thereof hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof. I, the said Richard Webb, have hereunto set
my hand and scal, this Twenty-third day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and ninety-five.

page_text: LAN so clearly shews, not only the construction but the intention of the invention, that it is scarcely necessary to add anything by way of further description.
The Mechanism is nearly the same as in other Gun Locks, and contains the works of two Locks, but the Seers are made longer to extend beyond the Seer Springs, se as to be worked by the Bar, which goes over the inside work of that part
of the Lock nearest the Bull end of the Gun, which Bar serves as a Trigger to both Scers, and as a Seer to the Trigger: This Bar has a Joint in the middle, which admits it to bear down towards the Main Spring, and both ends to raise at the same
time, when the piece is discharged. The Bar which communicates with the two Cocks, and which communication may be by means either of a cord er a chain, has three joints, and enables a person to cock the Gun by means of the Cock immediately
above the Trigger, but this lock may by means of such Joints be left down, or used at pleasure. The part or break off from letter G to the end of the Stock, and which is made to appear as a part of the Barrel, has no internal communication therewith, and
may be made either solid or hollow at option, or a continuation of the Stock, the Barrel is the same as in other Guns.
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The Barrel being thus placed at so considerable a distance from the Trigger; and neither hand when the Gun is discharged, touching any part of the Barrel, will effectually prevent those accidents which have heretofore happened from the bursting of Guns,&c.
This Invention may be applied to Gun Barrels already made without any alteration,
The utility of this Invention having for its object general as well as individual safety, and preservation, it must appear particularly essential, that every advantage arising therefrom shall be secured to the Inventor; agreeably to the Letter
and Spirit of this Latent, and that he shall exclusively enjoy such Emoluments as may accrue, till the full end and term of the existence of this Grant. To this intent be it known, that no person or persons in these His Majesty's Dominions
comprehending England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, shall invade this Patent, by any Imitation, such as substituting a communication of the Stock to the Barrel, or the Barrel to the Stock, or any other Art
or Device, in the place which occupies the six inches and a half of false barrel, nor shall any one imitate the same by leaving out the dumb Cock over the Trigger, and preserving either a latent or visible communication, between the present
Trigger and the latent or visible Trigger of the first part of the Lock, so as to discharge the piece nor in short, shall any other device bearing a resemblance, or similitude to this Invention be practised, but that every person or persons so imi-
tating the same, shall be considered as an Invader or Invaders of the Right, and Property of the Possessor of this Patent Instrument, and shall necessarity become amenable to such legal consequences, as it is the intention, purport and
principle, of this Patent to give, and secure to its possessor.