Improvements in Martini Rifles and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Dec., 1897-Accepted, 8th Jan., 1898
Improvements in Martini Rifles and the like.
We, DOUGLAS VAUGHAN JOHNSTONE, of 8 Whittall Street, in the City of
Birmingham, Gun and Rifle Manufacturer, and LESLIE BOWN TAYLOR, of 129 Pershore
Road, in the City of Birmingham, Gun and Rifle Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is applicable to Martini Rifles and consists in a new system of
automatic indicator to shew when the arm is cocked. We form a slot through the
breech block into which we fit the pivot of an arm or indicator and this pivot takes
into a recess which we form on the top side of the striker near the tumbler hole; and
the exterior of the breech block is cut away to receive the pivotted arm
indicator.
or
This pivotted arm or indicator is caused to rise by the backward movement of the
striker in cocking the rifle and raised into sight when the block is closed after cocking
and is taken from sight by the forward movement of the striker on firing the rifle.
The guide of the striker is cut away to allow the indicator or pivotted arm to work
backwards and forwards.
HENRY F. TALBOT,
7 Cherry Street, Birmingham, Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Martini Rifles and the like.
We, DOUGLAS VAUGHAN JOHNSTONE, of 8 Whittall Street, in the City of Birmingham,
Gun and Rifle Manufacturer, and LESLIE BOWN TAYLOR, of 129 Pershore Road, in
the City of Birmingham, Gun and Rifle Manufacturer, 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:-
This invention is applicable to Martini Rifles and the like and consists in a new
system of automatic indicator to shew when the arm is cocked.
The indicator is actuated by the striker in its backward and forward movements.
We will describe one or more methods of accomplishing this and refer to the
accompanying drawings to assist in the description.
One method which we will first describe is.illustrated on the sheets of drawings by
Figs 1 to 6 inclusive.
Fig 1 is a view of the mechanism of a Martini action removed from the shoe
shewing the normal position of the indicator.

page_text: Fig 2 is a view of same, shewing the position of the indicator when the lever is
depressed and the block lowered for loading the rifle.
Fig 3 is a view of same shewing the position of the indicator when the rifle is
ready for firing.
Fig 4 is a perspective view of the indicator.
Fig 5 is a view of the striker.
And Fig 6 is a view of the striker guide.
Similar letters of reference upon the various figures refer to similar parts.
We form a slot A through the breech block B into which we fit the pivot C of an
arm or indicator D, and this pivot C takes into a recess E which we form on the top 1
side of the striker F near the tumbler hole G, and the exterior of the breech block is
sunk at H to receive the indicator D.
This indicator D is caused to rise to the position shewn in Fig 2 by the edge F¹
of the recess E in the striker F coming in contact with the arm or pivot C on the
indicator D in the backward movement of the striker F, when depressing the lever 1
to cock the mechanism. And it is further raised into sight when the block is closed
after cocking, as shewn in Fig 3. The indicator D is taken from sight into the
normal position shewn in Fig 1, by the forward movement of the striker F on firing
the rifle bringing the opposite edge E² of the recess E in contact with the pivot C of
the indicator D. The striker guide I is cut away at K to allow the pivot C on the 2
indicator D to works backwards and forwards.
Another method is illustrated by Figs 7 to 10 inclusive.
In this instance we form a slot A¹ through the breech block B into which we fit
the pivot C of an arın or indicator D, we widen the flange F¹ of the striker F or
place upon the striker F a piece F1 to act as the flange and on the side of this flange 2
(or separate piece) F¹ we form a recess E³ into which the pivot C of the indicator D
takes, and the exterior of the breech block B is sunk at H to receive the
indicator D.
This indicator D is caused to rise to the position shewn in Fig 8 by the edge E¹ of
the recess E³ formed in the flange F1 of the striker F coming in contact with the arm 3
or pivot C of the indicator D, in the backward movement of the striker when cocking
the rifle; and it is further raised into its full position when the block is closed
after cocking as shewn in Fig 9. The indicator D is taken from sight into its normal
position as shewn in Fig 7, by the forward movement of the striker F on firing the
rifle bringing the opposite edge E2 of the recess E³ in contact with the arm or pivot C 3
of the indicator D.
Fig 10 is a view of the striker with the widened flange F¹.
Although we have described and illustrated only two methods of carrying out our
improvement we do not confine ourselves to the exact arrangement of mechanism or
position of indicator.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
4
In Martini Rifles and the like the application of an indicator actuated by the
backward and forward movement of the striker substantially as herein set forth and 4
described.