IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LOCKS OF FIRE ARMS, AND SAFETY DEVICES COMBINED THEREWITH
Year: 1884

page_text: I, SAMUEL PEARCE WILDING, of the firm of Fell and Wilding, of N° 1 Queen
Victoria street, in the City of London, Patent Agents, do hereby declare the
nature of the said invention for: "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LOCKS OF FIRE ARMS,
AND SAFETY DEVICES COMBINED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
This invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts,
which have been embodied as a whole in a double-barrelled breach-loading gun,
but may in part be incorporated separately in other fire-arms, single-barrelled, as
well as double-barrelled, including revolvers or pistols.
The objects of the respective parts or divisions of the invention are as follows,
viz-To render the piece, secure against premature or accidental discharge,
without unnecessary complication, by necessitating the application of external
force to the main-spring in a deliberate and at the same time a convenient manner,
and a subsequent touch or operation of the trigger for each discharge, the hammers
being enclosed or concealed and adapted to be cocked by other means, either
preparatory to or in the act of firing as may be preferred; secondly-to simul-
taneously apply the required force to two otherwise independent main-springs in
a double-barrelled fire arm; thirdly-to provide by a novel combination of parts
for applying the requisite force to a pivoted main-spring, with relatively little
pressure on the external lever piece through which the force is applied, and with
provision for rendering said lever piece "self-sustaining," or for retaining it in
effective position by the main-spring itself; fourthly-to provide for cocking a
concealed hammer, preparatory to firing, after each discharge, through the medium
of a main-spring of the aforesaid description; and fifthly-to provide by the same
means for automatically setting said external lever piece ready for its next
effective movement.
The means employed to effect these objects may be briefly described as
follows:-
First. Each main-spring, or the main-spring if there be but one, is pivoted by a
horizontal pivot, and inseparably connected by a link joint with a "concealed" firing-
hammer wholly inclosed within the body-casting or in the lock portion of the fire
n

page_text: arm, and cocked either as hereinafter set forth or from the trigger as in other self-
cocking fire-arms, as may be preferred; power being applied to said main-spring,
from without, by a conveniently located lever-piece, having no other function or
work, actuated by hand, and adapted to transmit motion to said spring by the
transinitting device hereinafter described or in any approved way.
Secondly. A pair of main springs are so pivoted on the respective sides of a
vertical longitudinal partition in the body-casting or lock-portion of a double-
barrelled gun, and a single lever-piece, pivoted to the sole of said body-casting
and actuated by hand, stores power in both springs simultaneously, through a
transmitting device common to both.
Thirdly. The transmitting device" preferably employed, either for a pair of
springs or a single spring, is a rigid arm on said lever-piece carrying an anti-friction
roller parallel to the pivot of the latter, and a longitudinal cam-wedge on each
spring, or on the spring if there be but one, to coact with said roller; the lever-
piece, with its arm, being adapted to carry said roller into or slightly past the line
of strain, or to or slightly beyond the summit of said cam-wedge, at the end of the
effective movement of the lever-piece, so as to be " self-sustaining" in effective
position as aforesaid.
Fourthly. By a downwardly-pressing light cocking spring above each pivoted
main-spring, or above the pivoted main-spring if there be but one, the latter is
depressed when relieved from strain; and, therethrough, the concealed hammer
connected therewith is thrown back, so as to be retained in cocked position by a
spring-projected dog or detent, preparatory to the next discharge.
Fifthly. Said cocking spring with its appurtenances, in combination with a
lever-piece for applying power to the main spring from without in the manner
aforesaid, serves as a spring for re-setting said lever-piece "automatically," when
the latter is started back by a touch or slight pressure thereon.
Said lever-pieco mnay be adapted, in shape and location, to be grasped by the
fingers or to be pulled like a trigger, or, in an inferior modification, may project at
the back or top of the stock, and be fitted to the palm of the hand.
The means for transmitting motion from the lever-piece to the pivoted main-
spring or main springs or for applying power to the latter from without as
aforesaid may also be based in part on other of the mechanical powers in various
ways.
And, apart from the devices herein described, and their appurtenances, an
improved fire-arm embodying this invention or any part thereof may be of any
approved construction not inconsistent with the latter.
ca

page_text: "
I, SAMUEL PEARCE WILDING, of the firm of Fell and Wilding, 1 Queen Victoria
Street, l'atent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LOCKS OF FIRE ARMS AND SAFETY DEVICES COMBINED
THEREWITH" and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts,
which have been embodied as a whole in a double-barrelled breech-loading Gun,
but may in part be incorporated separately in other fire-arms, single-barrelled as
well as double-barrelled, including Revolvers or Pistols.
The objects of the respective parts or divisions of the Invention are as follows:-
videlicet-First-To render the Piece secure against premature or accidental
discharge, without unnecessary complication, by necessitating the application of
external force to the main-spring in a deliberate and at the same time a convenient
manner, and a subsequent touch or operation of the trigger, for each discharge, the
hammer being inclosed or "concealed" and adapted to be cocked, by other means,
either preparatory to or in the act of firing as may be preferred;-Secondly-to
simultaneously apply the required force to two otherwise independent main-springs
in a double-barrelled fire-arm;-Thirdly-to provide, by a novel combination of
parts, for applying the requisite force to a pivoted main-spring with relatively little
presure on the external lever-piece through which the force is applied, and with
provision for rendering said lever-piece "self-sustaining," or for retaining it in
effective position by the main-spring itself;-Fourthly-to provide for cocking a
concealed hammer, preparatory to firing, after each discharge, through the medium
of a main-spring of the aforesaid description; and Fifthly-to provide by the
same means for automatically setting said extenal lever-piece ready for its next
effective movement.
A Sheet of drawings accompanies this Specification as part thereof.
Figure 1. of these drawings is a side view of the lock portion of a double-
barrelled "hammerless" breech-loader in "loading" condition, with the lock-cap or
cheek plate removed from its near side ;-Figure 2 is a sectional view of the same
from the same side showing the parts in full lines "ready for firing," and in dotted
lines in other positions; Figure 3 represents a cross-section on the line 3-3
Figure 2, and Figures 3 x 3 y elevations of a modified lever-piece adapted for use
in connection with pivotted main-springs having "cam-wedges" thereon as shown
in Figures 1. 2 and 3. Figure 4 is a sectional side view of another double-barrelled
breach-loader illustrating additional modifications. Figure 5. represents a front or
rear view of a part shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a sectional side view illustrating
another arrangement for cocking from the trigger; Figures 7 to 12 inclusive are
fragmentary side views of different combinations of parts illustrating additional
modifications in the means for applying force to the main-spring preparatory to
firing. In Figures 1. 2. and 3 A represents the wooden stock, B the barrels, and C
the metallic connecting part or body-casting of said breech-loader embodying all
the several parts or divisions of this invention in a preferred way; Az Bz Cz
Figure 4. represent the corresponding parts of another double-barrelled breech-
loader; and, in Figure 12, H represents the bandle X the Cylinder and B≈ the
barrel of a Revolver embodying the same invention in part.
The firing and barrel fastening devices are all either arranged within or attached
to the body-casting C or Cx, and apart from these, the double barrelled breach.

page_text: loaders represented by Figs. 1. 3. and 5 and 6 of the drawings may
approved inake.
any
The barrels B or Bx, are, in each case, attached to the body-casting C or Cx, at
the front extremity of the latter by a transverse pivot screw, a, passing through a
lug, b, on the sole of the barrels. This provides in a customary manner for opening
the breech by tilting the breech ends of the barrels upward, as illustrated by
Fig. 1. For fastening them preparatory to firing and for readily unfastening them,
a second lug, bb projects downward from the rear extremity of the barrels and is
notched in its rear surface; a matching catch, c. c, is incorporated with the front
end of a trigger guard, T or Tx, which is pivoted at this end by a transverse pivot
screw, a. a, the axis of which is located in front of the line of strain on said catch;
and a flat catch-spring, d d, is arranged within the sole of the body-casting at its
front end, and held at midlength by a countersunk screw, and at its front end
within the undercut extremity of the casting, as clearly seen in Fig: 2; its rear
end engaging with a shoulder on the trigger-guard in front of its pivotal axis, so as
to support said guard in its normal position, represented in Fig: 1 and by full lines
in Fig. 2. When the breech is closed after loading, the catch c. c engages with said
lug b. b. automatically; and by lowering the guard by hand, as represented by
dotted lines in Fig. 2, and simultaneously tilting the barrels, the breech is readily
opened. Said location of the axis of said pivot a. a in front of the line of lifting
strain on the catch, precludes any yielding of the catch under such strain, causing
the energy of the latter to be directed towards drawing the rear end of the guard
upward against its unyielding support. At the same time the trigger-guard may
be as small as may be preferred; and its primary use is in no way interferred with.
It is only essential however in the present invention, that the barrel-fastening
devices shall be wholly distinct from the firing-devices. The former may be of
other approved styles.
The interior of said body-casting, C or C, is divided longitudinally by a central
vertical partition, p, as best seen in Fig: 3, and each side of said partition is
provided with drilled and internally-tapped pivotal-stude, 8, 8, which besides
providing lds for screws attaching the cheek-plates c, c, Fig: 3, in customary
manuer, form pivotal-supports respectively for concealed hammers, h, and pivoted
main springs, m, of which the latter are inseparably connected to the former at the
back of each hammer-hub, by links, I,
Normally, as represented in Fig 1, and Fig. 4, the main springs are under no
tension. They are put in tension, preparatory to firing, by force applied to them
from without, by pressing or drawing upward a lever-piece, L, Figs: 1, 2, and 3,
or L x Figs. 3x, 3y, or Lb, Fig 4, attached by a transverse pivot x, to the sole of
each body-casting in a convenient position. Each of said lever pieces, L, Lb,
projects rearwardly from its pivot, horizontally or nearly so, and is stayed at its
otherwise free rear end by a depending stud-pin y, having its lower end threaded
and provided with a stop-nut, and masked by a recurved portion,, of the lever-
piece, termed its "ball," which also provides for working the lever-piece by a
pistol grip "These last named details are not however considered essential, as is
illustrated by said lever-piece L in the form of a supplementary trigger.
16
In the preferred firing-device for double-barrelled guns shown in said Figs. 1, 2
and 3, the front end of the lever-piece, extended upward so as to project within
the body-casting, in the form of a rigid arm, is provided at its extremity with an
anti-friction roller, r parallel to said pivot, x; and a cam-wedge, q is formed on
each main spring to co-act therewith. The partition p is cut away to accommodate
the lever-piece extension; and said roller is made long enough to act simultaneously
on both main-springs, (or two shorter rollers, and a roller or rollers of any preferred
diameter, may be used) so that one and the saine lever-piece serves for both sides
of the piece. Moreover, owing to said roller and cam-wedge combination, relatively
little force applied to the external lever-piece L suffices. And the lever-piece may
be rendered "self-sustaining" when its rear end is fully raised, as shown in full
lines in Fig. 2, by locating the roller-axis so that it shall then be in or slightly

page_text: past the line of strain, or the summit of said cam-wedges, in this the effective
position of said lever-piece, as represented in Fig: 2. This roller and cam-wedge
combination is equally applicable to single-barrelled guns and revolvers or pistols ;
and in connection therewith the lever-piece (La) for applying power to single
main-springs in the manner aforesaid, may bo advantageously made in the form of
a supplementary trigger, as illustrated by Figs 3x, 3y. These figures may also
illustrate furnishing said roller or rollers with bearings in said rigid arm of the
Lever-piece, and securing them therein, without using a shaft or trunnions for the
roller or rollers. As represented in Figs 3 x, 3 y, the upper end of the lever-piece is
forked, and provided in the inner sides of its fork with sockets fitted to tho ends
of the roller, and cut away so as to expose the latter sufficiently without permitting.
its escape.
on
In said effective position of said lever piece, the main spring m is set for firing,
with ample energy stored therein. For tripping the hammer h, to fire the piece, an
ordinary trigger, t or tt, may be employed. In the form shown in Figs. 1, and 2,
the trigger tt lifts the rear end of a lever-dog, d, against the pressure of a small
sere-spring, e, and disengages the nose of the dog from the single catch-shoulder
the hub of the hammer, permitting the hammer to be thrown by the main spring
against a firing pin f, (for example) as represented by dotted lines at h in Fig. 2.
To restore the firing-devices to their condition of rest represented in Fig. 1,
another spring, n, is attached to each side of the partition p above each main-
spring, so as to press on the top of the latter. This spring n, it will be seen, is put
in tension in the act of applying force to the main-spring, and expends its energy
in restoring itself and the other parts of the firing-device to normal condition as.
aforesaid; the lever-piece L returning to its "lowered" position, as shewn in
dotted lines in Fig 2, when started from its locked position by a touch, and the
hammer returning to its "cocked" position, as shown in full lines.
In lieu of using said cocking-spring n, Figs 1 and 2, the Gun, or either side
thereof, or a revolver or pistol provided with my said firing-device as regards its
main-springs, may be rendered" self-cocking" in the more common way, as
illustrated by Figs 4 and 6 and Fig 12, that is to say by provision for cocking
from the trigger. A preferred device for this purpose is shown in Fig 4 applied to
the front trigger, t, of a double barrelled Gun, the trigger is supported in normal
position by a spring, e c, attached to the sole of the body-casting, and is loosely
connected, at the rear extremity of its head, by a slotted lug, i, with the middle
pivot of a toggle-finger, f, f, the rear end of which has an unyielding pivotal
support, 1, while its front end engages with the tooth or notch of the hammer-hub,
to throw back the hammer to cocked position, and in the act becomes disengaged
therefrom 80 as to allow the hammer, hx, to strike the firing-pin for its
equivalent. The front end of the toggle-finger is re-engaged with the hammer-
tooth or notch by the depression of the middle of the same by the main trigger-
spring ee, acting through the trigger and said lug thereon, jointly with the
elevation of the front extremity of the toggle-finger by a little spring k, interposed
between this end thereof and the trigger head as seen in the figure. A simpler but
less powerful device is represented in Figs 6 and 12 consisting of a single finger, fa,
Fig 6, attached to the rear end of the trigger-head by a pivot-joint, i z, and thrown
upward at its front extremity by a spring, kz., while a main trigger-spring, e. e,
holds the trigger, tz, normally in a position in which the extremity of the finger
re-engages with the hammer-tooth or notch.
For applying force to the main-spring, various modifications of the preferred
device represented in said Figs 1, 2, 3, 3 x, and 3y, have been devised. In the
modification represented by Figs 4 and 5, the front end of the lever piece Lb,
simply forms a hinge in connection with said pivot x, and at a point behind this
engages with the lower end of a cruciform slide o, seen detached in Fig 5, the cross
piece of which works in a vertical slot in the partition p of said body-casting Cx,
and in turn engages, at each end, with a lever, u, attached at its opposite extremity

page_text: to said partition by a pivotal screw, and engaging intermediately with a vee-shaped
projection, v, projecting downward from the main-spring m bat midlength. Said
slide o is made in two parts, its vertical member in the form of a screw extending
through and uniting itself with the other part, to facilitate its introduction. In the
modification illustrated by Fig 7, the lever-piece, Lc, is similar to the one last
described, and acts through a vertical slide, o. c, on the main-spring, mc, the latter
having a rigid or nearly rigid lower arm, w, to engage with the head of said slide.
In the modification illustrated by Fig 8, the lever-piece Ld, has a rigid arm, a d,
which engages with a toggle-strut, td, and, by nearly but not quite straightening
the same, applies power there-through in a most effective way to the main-
spring md; the latter having a rigid or nearly rigid lower arm, w d, jointed at
its front end to the upper end of the toggle-strut. In the modification illustrated
by Fig 9, the lever-piece L e, is simply pivoted at its front end, and acts through
a vertical slide, o e, on a lever-eccentric ue, which in turn acts on a rigid or nearly
rigid lower arm w of the main-spring, m c. In the modification illustrated by
Fig 10, the lever-piece L f, has a rigid arm provided with an anti-friction roller, rf,
(or it may be an eccentric of a suitable curve integral with the lever-piece,)
engaging with a lever, wf, which in turn acts on the main-spring, mf, through a
projection, v, on its under side. In the modification illustrated by Fig 11, the
lever piece, Lg, is simply pivoted at its front end, and acts through a bell crank
lever, ug, on the main spring, m g, through a projection, v, on its under side; said
lever ug being so proportioned as to increase motion instead of power, illustrating
the use of such means when a lever-piece of sufficient length for the requisite power
can be readily used, so as to reduce its projection downward. Finally in the
revolver or pistol modification illustrated by Fig 12, the lever-piece, Lh, is adapted
to the back of the handle H; having its pivot, o c, at its upper end, and connected
at its lower end by a link, lh, with a lever, u h, within the handle, through which,
as illustrative means, power is applied to the main-spring, mh, The latter, in the
example, is a single bar, having a pivot, s, at its rear end, and connected at its front
end by a link, l, to the hub of a pivoted hammer, z, as in other arrangements
herein before set forth. A spiral spring, n h, reprojects the lever piece when the
grasp thereof is relaxed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
(1) In a breach-loading fire arm, a main-spring pivoted, and inseparably con-
nected with a concealed firing-hammer by a link joint, in combination with an
external lever-piece, distinct from the barrel-fastening and cocking devices, and
operated by hand, and means for applying power to said main-spring from said
lever-piece, substantially as herein specified, whereby said main spring may be
wholly relieved from strain at will, and is adapted to be cocked either automatically
or from the trigger as herein set forth.
(2) In a double-barrelled fire arm, having the interior of its body-casting divided
longitudinally by a vertical partition, a pair of pivoted-mainsprings arranged
within the respective compartments, in combination with a single lever-piece
pivoted to the sole of said body-casting for operation by hand, and a device common
to both springs for transmitting power from said lever-piece to both main-springs
simultaneously, substantially as herein specified, for the purpose set forth.
(3) The combination, substantially as berein specified, of a pivoted main-spring,
connected at its front end to a concealed firing-hammer, and a downwardly
projecting cam-wedge, in combination with an external lever piece, pivoted below
said main-spring, and having a rigid arm, provided with an anti-friction roller, to
engage with said cam-wedge when said lever-piece is operated, to apply power to
said main-spring, preparatory to firing, said lever-piece being adapted to be retained
in effective position by the coaction of the main-spring with said arm through said
cam-wedge and roller, as set forth.

page_text: (4) The combination, substantially as herein specified, of a pivoted main-spring
a concealed firing-hammer, a spring-projected dog for holding said hammer in
"cocked" condition, a trigger for tripping said dog, and a spring applied to
said pivoted main-spring for restoring the hammer to cocked condition when the
main spring is freed from tension, for the purpose set forth.
(5) The combination, substantially as herein specified, of a lever-piece, a main
spring, put in tension by the movement of said lever-piece, a concealed firing-
hammer to which said main-spring is connected, a spring-projected dog for holding
said hammer normally in "cocked" condition, a trigger for tripping said dog, and a
spring for simultaneously restoring said hammer and said lever piece to normal
condition when the latter is released.
FELL & WILDING,
Agents for the Applicant.