IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-COCKING OR 'HAMMER- LESS' FIRE ARMS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Dickson the younger, Gun Manufacturer and
Andrew Graham Murray, Advocate both of the City of Edinburgh North
Britain for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-COCKING OR 'HAMMER-
LESS' FIRE ARMS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Dickson and Andrew
Graham Murray at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
23rd February 1882.
JOHN DICKSON, the Younger, Gun Manufacturer, and ANDREW GRAHAM
MURRAY, Advocate, both of the City of Edinburgh, North Britain, " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SELF-COCKING OR 'HAMMERLESS' FIREARMS,"
This Invention which relates to Improvements in Self-Cocking or "hammerless"
Firearms has mainly for its object to produce a convenient fowling-piece having
three barrels.-The three barrels may be either arranged so that their axes when
laid horizontally would be in the same plane, or the central barrel may be placed
on a higher level than the two other barrels, or vice versa, in which case the two
other barrels would be closer together than when the three barrels are in the same
plane.
In the improved "bammerless" guns the tumblers are raised to full cock" by
means of a horizontal bar sliding longitudinally under what is known as the
'lump" of the Firearm, the bar being operated by a projection upon the forepart
iron after the manner set forth in the Specification of the said John Dickson
No. 294 A.D. 1880, or they may be raised to "full cock" by means of the lever
which operates the bolting arrangement.-The tumbler or internal baminers which
strike upon the three central fire pistons are parallel to each other and arranged
upon an axis common to the whole of them passed through the vertical plates in
which the tumblers, cocking levers and triggers are carried.-What are known as
flat or single mainsprings are used in the improved Firearm, the rearward ends of
which butt into sockets in the lower part of the lock-casing whilst the front end
of each mainspring carries a roller which rests in the socket made to receive it in

page_text: each hammer and above the axis thereof.-An automatic safety bolt is applied to the
lock which as the breach is opened throws the lower end of the bolting lover back-
wards so that it rests upon the upper side of each trigger thereby preventing the
trigger from being raised.-This bolting piece is operated by a longitudinal bar which
as the bolting lever is depressed is moved backwards by another lever which the
action of unbolting the Gun causes to press against the longitudinal bar, the
backward end of the longitudinal bar bearing against the underside of a thumb-
piece which engages with the upper end of the bolting lever.-This thumb-piece is
at the upper part of the iron work of the lock-casing being so situated as to be
always in sight of the person using the arm, it also enables the person using the
arm to bolt or unbolt the Triggers at pleasure.-For the purpose of indicating
whether any or all of the tumblers or inside hammers are at full cock a separate
indicator is provided for each which consists of a short bar passed through a
corresponding hole in the upper part of the lock-casing. The lower part of each
indicator bar is inclined so that the head of the tumbler wlien forced back into the
cocked position comes into contact with it and forces it up through the hole in
which it is carried.-When either of the tumblers has been thrown forwards in the
act of firing either barrel its head is brought out of contact with the indicator
which then immediately is returned to its former position by the action of a spring
which depresses it. By preference the indicators and springs are carried in a
separate plate fitted into a suitable recess in the upper part of the lock-casing:-
In the event of the point of a tumbler being broken off or the hammer being
thrown forwards by a shake, blow, or otherwise, the lock is provided with an
automatic stop lever, a projection on the end of which falls in between the face of
the tumbler and the stop against which the faces of the tumblers rest after being
fred, and thus the accidental firing of the arm by the breaking off the point of the
tumbler, or by a shake or other accident is prevented.
It is to be understood that the improved locks, bolting arrangements, indicators
and safety stops hereinbefore described may also be applied to two barrelled or
single Guns in which case the bolting lever may be arranged at the top, bottom, or
side of the Firearm.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Dickson and Andrew Graham Murray in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 23rd August 1882.
JOHN DICKSON, the Younger, Gun Manufacturer, and ANDREW GRAHAM
MURRAY, Advocate, both of the City of Edinburgh, North Britain-" IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SELF-COCKING OR HAMMERLESS' FIREARMS."
Our said Invention which relates to Improvements in self-cocking or "hammerless"
fire-arms has mainly for its object to produce a convenient fowling piece having
three barrels. The three barrels may be either arranged so that their axis when
laid horizontally would be in the same plane, or the central barrel may be placed
on a higher level than the two other barrels or vice versa in which case the two
other barrels would be closer together than when the three barrels are in the same
plane.
66
In the improved "hammerless" guns the tumblers are raised to "full cock" by
means of a horizontal bar sliding longitudinally under what is known as the
lump" of the fire-arm the bar being operated by a projection upon the forepart
iron after the manner set forth in the Specification of the said John Dickson
No 294 AD. 1880 or they may be raised to "full cock" by means of the lever
which operates the bolting arrangement.-The tumblers or internal hammers which
strike upon the three central fire pistons are parallel to each other and arranged
upon an axis common to the whole of them passed through the vertical plates in
which the cocking-levers and triggers are carried. What are known as flat or
single mainsprings are used in the improved fire-arm, the rearward ends of which
butt into sockets in the lower part of the lock-casing whilst the front end of each
mainspring carries a roller which rests in the socket made to receive it in each
hammer and above the axis thereof.-An automatic safety bolt is applied to the
lock, which, as the breech is opened throws the lower end of the bolting-lever
backwards so that it rests upon the upper side of each trigger thereby preventing
the triggers from being raised.-This bolting piece is operated by a longitudinal
bar which as the bolting lever is depressed is moved backwards by another lover
which the action of unbolting the Gun causes to press against the longitudinal bar
the rearward end of the longitudinal bar bearing against the underside of a thumb-
piece which engages with the upper end of the bolting lever.--This thumb-piece is
at the upper part of the iron work of the lock-casing being so situated as to bo
always in sight of the person using the arm, it also enables the person using the
arm to bolt or unbolt the triggers at pleasure. For the purpose of indicating
whether any or all of the tumblers or internal hammers are "cocked a separate
indicator is provided for each, which consists of a short bar passed through a
corresponding hole in a plate fitted into the upper part of the lock-casing.-The
lower part of each indicator bar is inclined so that the head of the tumbler when
forced back into the "cocked" position comes into contact with it and forces it up
through the hole in which it is carried.-When either of the tumblers has been
thrown forwards in the act of firing either barrel its head is brought out of contact
with the indicator, which then immediately is returned to its former position by
the action of a spring which depresses it. By preference the indicators and springs
re carried in a separate plate fitted into a suitable recess in the upper part of the
lock-casing-In the event of a point of a tumbler being broken off or the hammer
being thrown forwards by a shake, blow, jar, or otherwise, the lock is or may be
provided with an automatic stop lever, a projection on the end of which falls in
between the face of the tumbler and the stop against which the faces of the
"

page_text: tumblers rest after being fired, and thus the accidental firing of the arm by
the breaking off the point of the tumbler or by a shake or other accident, is
prevented.
It is to be understood that the improved locks, bolting arrangements, indicators
and safety-stops hereinbefore described may also be applied to two barrelled or
single guns in which case the bolting lever may be arranged at the top, bottom, or
side of the fire-arm.
And in order that our said Invention may be properly understood, we now
proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under
which the same is or may be used or more practically carried into effect, reference
being had to the accompanying Drawings and to the Letters and Figures marked
thereon that is to say :-
Figure 1, is a part side elevation of a self-cocking "hammerless" fowling piece
having three barrels constructed according to our present invention.
Figure 2, is a plan of the same.
Figure 3, is a part side elevation of the same in a position ready for loading.
Figure 4, is a plan of the same.
Figure 5, is a part side elevation of a self-cocking "hammerless" rifle having two
barrels constructed according to our present Invention.
Figure 6, is a plan of the same.
Figure 7, is a part side elevation of the same in a position ready for loading.
Figure 8, is a plan of the same.
Figures 9, 10, 10a, and 10b, are views of detached portions of the rifle represented
in Figures 5 to 8.
Figures 11, and 12, are respectively side elevation and plan of the lock for a
three-barrelled fire-arm slightly modified from those represented in the preceding
Figures.
Figures 13, 14 and 15, are respectively side, upper side and under side views of
an indicator for a double-barrelled rifle or gun constructed according to our present
Invention.
"
"3
The three barrels a, of the fowling piece, represented at Figures 1 to 4, are
arranged with the axes laying horizontally in the same plane.-In this fowling
piece the tumblers or or internal hammers b, are "cocked by means of the
horizontal bar c, sliding horizontally under the part d, that is to say between the
parts d', which are generally known as the "lumps" on the barrels of a fowling
piece or rifle. This horizontal-bar c, is operated by the projection e, (represented
in dotted lines) upon the fore-part iron f, after the manner set forth in the
Specification of the said John Dickson, No 294 A.D. 1880.-The three tumblers or
internal hammers b, which strike upon the central-fire pistons g, (which are carried
in suitable bearings formed in the upper part of the lock-casing as shewn in
Figure 4, sheet 2) are parallel to each other and are arranged upon the axis 1,
which is common to the three of them.-This axis h, is passed through and is
supported in the vertical plates i, which also support the pivots or axes j, and K,
upon which respectively the cocking levers 7, and triggers m, and “
carried. The main springs n, we prefer to form as shewn, that is to say, similar to
those generally known as flat or single main springs.-The rearward ends of these
mainsprings n, butt into the sockets o, formed in the lower part of the lock-casing,
and the front or forward end of each of these main springs n, carries the roller p,
which rests in and bears against the socket q, formed to receive the same in the
back of each tumbler or internal hammer b. This socket q, is formed above the
axis h, on which the said tumbler b, works.-The safety bolt r, which is formed at
its back with the notch g', with which the spring /', secured to the lower part of
the lock-casing engages is arranged to work automatically when the breech is
being opened, this is effected by means of the longitudinal bar u¹, which is engaged
by the upper end of the lever 8, pivoted at t, and which (being guided by the
screws i, and j¹, working within slots in the same the former of which is the screw
or what is commonly known as the "breech-nail" for regulating the distance
sears
a¹, are

page_text: between the upper and the lower parts of the lock-casing and for binding the same
together,) is thrown backwards, when the bolting-lever u, is depressed. This
bolting lever u, is pivoted at v, and carries the lever w, which engages with the
bolting piece, so that it is obvious that when the bolting lever u, is depressed
the bolting piece x, is moved backwards and its end bearing against the lever 8,
likewise presses that backwards so that the safety bolt r, is pressed backwards at
its upper end by the longitudinal bar u, whose rearward end bears against the
underside of the thumb-piece w¹, with which the upper end of the safety bolt r, is
engaged. This action brings the lower end of the safety bolt r, over and to rest
upon the upper sides of all the triggers m, the lower end thereof being made
sufficiently broad for that purpose, thus preventing the triggers being raised.-The
tumb-piece w', is fitted into the upper part of the iron work of the lock-casing,
and is free to slide therein, it is roughened on its upper surface so as to allow of a
better hold of the thumb being taken thereon.-By the use of this thumb-piece w¹,
the safety bolt r, can be adjusted, that is to say, either for firing or for "safety "at
pleasure. For the greater convenience of ascertaining the position of the safety-
bolt 1, we provide the tablet ², engraved with the word "safe" which when
exposed to view (as represented in Figures 3 and 4,) indicates that the safety-
bolt r, is over and resting upon the upper sides of the triggers m but when not
exposed to view (as is represented in Figures 1 and 2,) by reason of its being at
that time hidden by the thumb-piece w¹, this shews that the safety bolt r, is free
from the upper sides of the triggers m, which triggers m, can then be raised for
firing.
For the purpose of indicating whether any or all of the tumblers or internal
hammers b, are "cocked" we provide an indicator y, for each, which consists of
a short bar passing through holes corresponding in size with these bars in the
plate 2, which we prefer to form independently of the lock-casing as more
particularly shewn in Figures 13, 14 and 15, which illustrate this arrangement of
indicators as applied to a two barrelled fowling piece. This plate = is fitted into
the upper part of the strap of the lock-casing and each indicator is acted upon by
a spring o¹, shewn in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2, acting in such manner as to
bring the indicator after being raised (as hereinafter mentioned) down to the level
of the plate z, into which it is fitted. The lower end of each of the indicator bars
is inclined so that when the head of each of the tumblers b, is brought back into
the cocked position it comes into contact with the inclined under side of the
indicator bar y, and by virtue of this inclination raises it up through the
plate, into which it is fitted.-When either of the tumblers b, has been
thrown forwards in the act of firing either barrel a, or otherwise the head thereof
is brought out of contact with the under or inclined side of the indicator, which,
when so released returns immediately to its normal position by the action of the
spring o', controlling it.
When it is required to prepare the gun for firing the bolting lever u, is depressed
which action both releases the breech and at the same time throws the safety-
bolts r, over the upper sides of the triggers m, as herein before more particularly
described. The breech is then depressed which action through the horizontal bar c,
and cocking-levers 7, cocks the tumblers or internal hammers b, which are retained
in this position by the shorter ends of the "sears" a¹, engaging with the notches
or "bents" f, in the tumblers b, and whose longer ends are acted upon at their
under sides by the triggers m, and depressed at their upper parts by the springs b',
which are secured to the lower part of the lock-casing as hereinbefore described.
By this action also the extractor c¹, is brought out from the breech (and with it the
cartridge cases it contains) as set forth in the aforesaid Specification No 294,
A.D. 1880, of the said John Dickson.-When the cartridges are placed in position
and the breach closed into its normal position and the safety-bolt r, drawn from
over the triggers m, by the thumb piece w¹, the gun is ready for firing.
"
In firing the gun the triggers m, on being raised lift the longer ends of the
sears a¹, and so depress and release their shorter ends from the notches or
"

page_text: "bents "f¹, of the tumblers or internal hammers b, which thus released and acted
upon by the main springs n, strike the central-fire pistons g, which at their front
ends strike the caps of the cartridges and so discharge the same.
For affording greater convenience in using this three-barrelled fowling-piece we
hinge the two forward triggers m, as shown at k¹, and in an enlarged detailed view
at Figure 1a, whereby facility is afforded for allowing the finger to pass from one
to another of these triggers m.
The two barrels a³, in the rifle or gun represented at Figures 5 to 8, have their
axes horizontally in the same plane. In this improved "hammerloss" rifle or gun
the tumblers or internal hammers 63, are "cocked" by means of the horizontal
bar c, corresponding generally to that marked c, in Figures 1 to 4, hereinbefore
described, but this bar c, is operated, that is to say slid longitudinally under the
part known as the "lump" ², of the fire-arm, by means of the bolting-lever 63.
In Figures 9, 10 and 10ª, is shewn more clearly the mechanism by which this
sliding movement is imparted to the horizontal bar c, which consists of the
bolting-lever e², pivoted upon the pin at f³, which is formed upon the fore-part
iron within the recess in which the projections 7, are worked. The end of this
pin f, is squared so as to fit into the washer d³, which is fitted into the bolting-
lever e², and secured by the screw e³, thus forming a very strong bearing of all the
working parts upon the pivot or pin f³, carrying the pivoted end of the link g
on a pivot h², independent of that upon which the bolting lever e, is turned.
Thus it is obvious that when the bolting-lever e³, is turned it curries the pivot h²,
with it and so brings the link g², and the horizontal bar c, to which it is pivoted
at nearer into the same straight line so that the horizontal bar c, is pushed
backwards, its forward end being through the link g connected to the fixed
pivot The bolting lever e2, when turned as hereinbefore mentioned also effects
the unbolting of the barrels a³, which it does by the projections ², fixed to the
bolting-lever es, becoming disengaged with the recesses 2, which are formed in the
"lump" formed at the underside of the barrels a³, and also releases the bolt 1,
(represented in dotted lines) from the recess m², formed at the back of the broech,
this part of the unbolting action being effected by the levers n³, and o³, pivoted
respectively at 2², and q²-The upper end of the lever n², engages with the bolt 1*,
and its lower end with the upper end of the lever o², whose lower end is engaged
with the horizontal bar c², as shewn, so that it is obvious that when the bolting
lever e³, is turned it simultaneously releases the projections j², from the recesses *,
in the "lump," and the bolt 2, from the recess m³, in the tail pięce or third
grip, through the horizontal bar c², and levers o³, and n³, being operated, as
before described.
The cocking of the tumblers or internal haminers b, is effected in a similar
manner to that hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4, that is to
say through the cocking levors 72, and are similarly operated upon by the
sears 82, and triggers 2, and main springs u²-But we further provide the
automatic stop levers ², pivoted at w³, and acted upon by the springs -The
rearward ends of these stop-levers bear upon the projections y², formed upon the
upper sides of the triggers t, and their forward ends terminate with the
hooks -These stop levers v³, are depressed at their forward ends when
the tumblers or internal hammers 6, are being "cocked" this is effected by
projections formed on the sides of the tumblers be, passing over the same and which
when thrown fully back into the "cocked" position, allows the hooks 23, of the
stop-levers 3, to rise up in front of the projections last mentioned. This last
mentioned stop-lever v³, is provided to prevent the firing of either of the barrels a²,
if by any accident either of the points of the sears engaging with the "bents" in
the tumblers 6s, have become broken off.-These hooks 23, are depressed when the
triggers t², are raised by reason of their rearward ends being raised by the
projections y, forming parts of the triggers t2.
On the tumblers or internal hammers 6ª, being "cocked" they depress the
spring a³, by means of projections f³, as more particularly shewn in Figure 10b,

page_text: formed on its sides being pressed upon by the projections on the sides of the
tumblers b², and so neutralize the effect of the spring a³, upon the safety-bolt 63, so
that the safety-bolt b³, can be placed in position for firing, that is to say, with its
lower end free from the upper sides of the triggers t²-When this spring a³, is not
so depressed this cannot be effected by reason of this before mentioned spring a³,
bearing stronger against the front of the safety-bolt 6, than does the spring c³, at
its rear or back, or the spring as, may be formed without the projections f³, in which
case the projections upon the sides of the tumblers would be made sufficiently long
to bear upon the spring proper.
In Figures 11 and 12, is represented a lock for a three-barrelled fire-arm pro-
vided with a safety-stop attachment a, similarly constructed to that hereinbefore
described with reference to Figures 5 to 106, but the safety-stops at, in this lock
are acted upon by the springs b, bearing against the under-side of the forward
ends of the safety-stops a', in contradistinction to that hereinbefore described with
reference to Figures 5 to 106 which bear against the upper sides of the rearward
ends of such safety stops a.
In the accompanying drawings we have not considered it necessary to show a
three-barrelled fire-arm with the third barrel grouped above the two ordinary
barrels of a double barrelled rifle or fowling-piece for the reason that the only
essential difference in such an arrangement of the three barrels over and above
that shewn and herein described with reference to the three barrels having their
axes in one plane, is that when the third barrel is placed above the two barrels the
centre piston for igniting the cartridge is placed at a greater angle upwards the
side pistons being situato at a correspondingly depressed angle.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect we would observe in conclusion that what
we consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to us by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is:-
First A three-barrelled gun or fowling piece of the type which in double and
single barrelled guns or rifles is commonly known as "hammerless" that is to say
guns having the hammers or tumblers contained within the lock-casing substantially
as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second-The safety bolts for locking and releasing the triggers of fire-arms
constructed and operating substantially as herein before described and shewn on the
annexed sheets of Drawings.
Third The spring as, for maintaining the safety-bolt always in the safe position,
the same being released from acting on the safety bolt when the internal hammers
or tumblers b³, are "cocked," substantially as herein before described with reference
to Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying Drawings
"
Fourth-The safety levers and hooks for preventing the tumblers or internal
hammers from being accidentally released either by a "sear or "bent" becoming
injured, or when released by a jar, blow or otherwise, as hereinbefore described and
shewn upon the annexed Drawings.
Fifth The several arrangements whereby the safety bolt is in the act of opening
the breech of the fire-arm for reloading and cocking the internal haminers or
tumblers, automatically placed in the safe position over the triggers substantially as
herein before described and shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
Sixth The arrangement and construction of Indicators operated by the tumblers
or internal hammers in one direction and by the springs o¹, in the opposite
direction substantially as herein before described and shewn in the accompanying
Drawings.
Seventh-The arrangement shewn in Figures 6, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 10a, of the
accompanying Drawings, whereby the sideway bolting lever e², is caused to operate
three grips as herein before described.
Eighth-The lever e³, shewn in Figures 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10, of the accompanying

page_text: Drawings whereby the slide-bar c², is caused to operate in combined action the
bolting arrangement of the third grip and the cocking of the fire-arm simulta-
neously as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof I, the said John Dickson, the younger have hereunto set
my hand and seal this twenty first day of August in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
JOHN DICKSON JR. (L.S.)