IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HAMMERLESS DROP DOWN GUNS
Year: 1884

page_text: 1 JOSEPH SAMUEL PINDER of 21 The Pavement Lordship Lane Dulwich in the
County of Surrey Lawn Tennis Outfitter &c do hereby declare the nature of my
Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HAMMERLESS DROP DOWN
GUNS, to be as follows:-
My invention relates in the first place to that description of Fire arms known as
hammerless drop down Guns, and consists mainly of the mechanism hereinafter
described, by the action of which the securing of the Gun-action and the cocking of
the Gun is effected. The cocking is effected by the raising of the breech ends of
the barrels and opening into the breech for charging the Gun.
I will describe this first part of my invention thus-I use a small steel 3 sided
frame, with a substantial pin across it. On this pin I fit a roller and at the back of
this frame I screw or otherwise fasten in a small rod. On this rod a spring works.
The said rod is fitted through a hole in a small block which is fastened under-neath
the break-off strap. This small stationary block has at its rear side another small
block pivoted on to it at one end, so as to swivel up and down at the back of the
aforesaid small rod. This swivel block has at one end an incline under and over,
and is raised or lowered by a sliding steel bar, shaped like a fork: this fork on the
other prong is acted upon by the small lever tumbler, which, when pressed back,
raises the small swivel block; this lever tumbler later on engages with an arm
which engages with the roller frame and draws it back to admit of the opening of
the breech.
The said roller frame, stationary block, swivel block, are all sunk sufficiently deep
in the underneath of the head of the breech block and break-off strap, so that the
roller will be conveniently situated to engage with the extended top rib of the
barrels, and the swivel block to have solid bearing behind.
The cocking of the Gun is effected by means of an oblong steel frame, sunk into
the bed of the action and extending forward through two slots in the fore end, and,
when the barrels are placed in position, the act of opening the Gun, rocks or tilts
this frame forward the said frame having at its rear end a rod or bar pivoted on to
it, and extending backward through the trigger plate, and is at the rear end pivoted

page_text: to a steel T piece, which is placed in a slot at the rear of the breech block, and
works on a pivot or axle running across the breech block.
The extended arms of the T piece engage with the face and breast of the
tumblers, and consequently, as the barrels are pressed muzzle downwards the effect
of this action is that the T piece pushes the tumblers to full cock.
These tumblers are fitted on lock plates, as in ordinary Guns.
By the use of my invention I am able to dispense with a lever and by the action
of the sliding steel fork to get the gun open, or by a reverse movement make it
secure.
Dated the 1st day of January 1884

page_text: I JOSEPH SAMUEL PINDER of 21 The Pavement Lordship Lane Dulwich in the
County of Surrey, Lawn Tennis Outfitter, do hereby declare the nature of my
said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HAMMERLESS DROP
DOWN GUNS, 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 my invention is to effect improvements in that description of Fire
Arms known as Hammerless drop down guns, and consists of the mechanism
hereinafter described whereby the cocking of the gun and the securing of the gun
action are effected.
The cocking is effected by the raising of the breech end of the barrels and
opening the breech for charging the gun.
And in order that my said invention may be clearly understood reference is
hereby made to the accompanying drawings in which similar letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts.-Fig 1. is an elevation of so much of the invention
as is necessary for this purpose.
The cocking of the gun is effected by means of an oblong steel frame a.
Figs. 1. 3. 4; sunk into the bed of the action. Fig: 3 being a side view and
Fig 4 a plan view of the same. and extending forward through two slots in the
fore-end, and when the barrels are placed in position the act of opening the gun
rocks or tilts this frame forward, the said frame having at the rear end a rod or
bar b pivoted on to it and extending backward through the trigger plate, and is
at the rear end pivoted to a steel T piece c Figs: 5 and 6 which is placed in a slot
at the rear of the breech block and works on a pivot c¹ running across the breech
block, the extended arms c² of the T piece engage with the face and breast of the
extended arm of the tumblers d and consequently as the barrels are pressed muzzle
downwards the effect of this action is that the T piece pushes the tumblers to full
cock-These Tumblers are fitted on lock plates as in ordinary guns.
Fig. 2 is a portion of the barrel with the lump attached, which lump passes
through and engages with the frame a.
I use a small three sided steel frame e with a substantial pin e' across it, On
this pin I fit a roller e² and at the back of this frame e I screw or otherwise fasten
a small rod f. On this rod a spring works, the said rod is fitted through a hole
in a small stationary block g which is fastened underneath the break off strap h.
This small stationary block has at its rear side another small block i pivoted on
to it at one end so as to swivel up and down at the back of the aforesaid small rod
this swivel block has at one end an inclined arm k and is raised or lowered by a
sliding steel bar shaped like a fork, of which fig. S is a plan and Fig 9 a side
view The short prong of this fork is acted upon by the small lever Tumbler.
m Fig 10 which when pressed back raises the small swivel block k this lever
tumbler later on engages with an arm at the point n Fig: 11 which latter engages
with the roller frame e and draws it back to admit of the opening of the breech.
The said roller frame, stationary block and swivel block are all sunk sufficiently
deep in the underneath of the head of the breech block and break off strap so that
the roller will be conveniently situated to engage with the extended top rib of the
barrels, and the swivel block to insure a solid bearing behind.
The safety mechanism is acted upou by the notion of the lever in the act of
opening the breech block for loading. In this case the fork is driven backwards
by the tumbler m-The fork carries the sliding bolt o and lever p working on a

page_text: centre p². This operation propels the sliding bolt q forward, and this passing
under the incline of the lever ŕ locks the Triggers or scears 8 or the triggers and
sceara,
To disengage and unlock the triggers the bolt o is pressed forward by hand which
draws back the bolt q and releases the lever r.
By the use of my Invention I am able to dispense with a lever and by the action
of the sliding steel fork to get the gun open or by a reverse movement make it
secure.
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- The manufacture and use of hammerless drop down guns substantially as
described and shewn on the drawings.
2-The method and means of fastening and securing the breech action
substantially as described and shewn on the drawings Figs 1. 7, 8. 9. 10 and 11.
3 The method and means of cocking the gun by the rocking, tilting or pulling
frame a acted upon by the barrels in conjunction with the rod b and piece c c³
at the time of opening the breech substantially as described and shewn on the
drawings Figs 1. 2, 3, 4. 5 and 6.
4-The several and respective parts and the combination of the same together
forming my improvements in hammerless drop down guns as hereinbefore described
and shewn on the drawings or any mere modification thereof.
Dated this 30th day of September 1884.
GEO. DOWNING.
Agent for Applicant.