Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Dec., 1887
Complete Left, 14th May, 1888
Complete Accepted, 15th June, 1888
We, THOMAS BLAND. of Messrs. Thomas Bland & Sons, Gun and Rifle Manu-
facturers, 430 Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex, and FRANK CASHMORE,
of 41. Whittall Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Pistol filer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Heretofore small arms of the four barrelled type: arranged with firing gear adapted
to fire the charge in each barrel in succession; have been arranged with four different
strikers: one for each barrel. In practice, this arrangement has been found defective,
owing to the fact that the four strikers have necessarily occupied a large and com-
municating area, which made it difficult to provide an efficient gas check to the
discharge from the barrels. When a charge was fired, the gas had a means of escape
extending throughout this area and its boundary; which was not only destructive to
the close fitting joints required in this class of work; but sometimes, the shock acted
upon tho firing gear to such an extent as to release the latter and so brought about
a premature discharge in the remaining barrels.
:
By this invention one striker only is employed; which is caused to act upon the
charge in each barrel, in succession, as the trigger is actuated. The sliding action of
the striker, in firing a charge, takes place within a suitably formed aperture in a
revolving cylinder or cone, of sufficient dimensions to cover the openings to the
barrels so that this cylinder or cone acts as a most efficient gas check to the breech
end of the barrels. This fully protects the firing gear from damage arising from a
discharge; and in any case, the firing gear could not act upon any remaining charges
in the manner described above, owing to there being but one striker to fire the same;
which striker, is actuated only, by the trigger mechanism.
The trigger, or firing, mechanism may be of any known kind; but it is so arranged
that the cocking devices shall, each time it is fully actuated, so act upon the revolving
cylinder or cone as to turn it one fourth part of a complete revolution. This is
accomplished by a lifter or pawl, actuated by the trigger in cocking, which, engaging
with one of four ratchet shaped teeth formed upon the end of the revolving cylinder,
causes the latter to make one fourth of a revolution at each operation of the trigger

page_text: in cocking. The striker, sliding in a diagonally arranged orifice, in the revolving
cylinder, is struck by the hammer in the usual manner: and operates from the central
position under the hammer face, to a point in line with the axis of each barrel. A
small lever or striker conductor, acted upon by a spring, serves to withdraw the striker
after it has performed its function, so that it may be free to revolve with the cylinder
or cone to its next firing position.
The invention is also applicable to revolvers or other arms, whether guns, or pistols,
having a different number of barrels ; or carrying a different number of charges, to
that already named herein.
Dated this 9th dow of Ment
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London.
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in Small Arms.
We, THOMAS BLAND, of Messrs. Thomas Bland & Sons, Gun and Rifle Manu-
facturers, 430 Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex, and FRANK CASHMORE,
of 41 Whittall Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Pistol Filer, 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 :-
When .a
Heretofore sinall arms of the four barrelled type: arranged with firing gear adapted
to fire the charge in each barrel in succession: have had four different strikers; one
for each barrel. In practice, this arrangement has been found defective owing to the
fact that the four strikers necessarily occupy a large communicating area, making it
difficult to provide an efficient gas check to the discharge from the barrels.
charge was fired, the gas had a means of escape extending throughout this area and
its boundary; which was not only destructive to the close fitting joints required in this
class of work; but sometimes, the shock acted upon the firing gear to such an extent
as to release the latter and so brought about a premature discharge in the remaining
barrels.
By this invention one striker only is employed, which is caused to act in succession
upon the charge in each barrel, as the trigger is actuated. The sliding, or to and fro,
motion of the striker in firing a charge, takes place along or within a suitably formed
aperture in a revolving cylinder or conical block. The front end of this cylinder is
of sufficient dimensions to cover the openings to the barrels, so as to act as a most
efficient gas check to the breech end of the barrels. This fully protects the firing
gear from damage arising from a discharge; and in any case the firing gear could not
act upon any of the remaining charges, (in the manner described above), owing to there
being but one striker to fire the same, which striker is actuated, only, by the trigger
mechanism.
The trigger or firing mechanism, may be of any known kind; but it is so arranged
that the cocking devices shall, at each operation, act upon the revolving cylinder to
turn it one fourth part of a complete revolution. This is accomplished by a lifter or
pawl, actuated by the trigger in cocking; which, engaging with one of four ratchet
shaped teeth formed upon the back end of the revolving cylinder, causes the latter to
make one fourth of a revolution during the operation. The striker, sliding in a
diagonally arranged passage in the revolving cylinder is struck by the hammer in the
usual manner, and operates from the central point under the hammer face, to a point
which coincides with the axial line of each barrel as met with in the course of its
circular path. A small lever, or spring, or both, combined, serves to withdraw the
striker after it has performed its function, so that it may be free to revolve with the
cylinder or cone to its next firing position.
The invention is also applicable to revolvers or other small arms (whether guns or
pistols.) having a different number of barrels, or carrying a different number of charges,
to that already named herein.

page_text: in the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a general elevation of the mechanism used,
as shown upon the removal of the outer part of the handle. Fig. 2 is an elevation of
the cylindrical block or cone A, (partly shown in section in Fig. 1); Fig. 3 is a front
end elevation, and Fig. 4 a back end elevation, of the same. B is the hammer; (), C, the
trigger mechanism; D the barrels: E the main spring, and F, F, the frame. The
striker a is withdrawn by the spring and lever a¹ into the flange a² of the block A,
sufficiently to enable it to revolve with the same; and a³ is the breech plate having
orifices coinciding with the barrels, and to which the end a² acts as a gas check.
Ratchet teeth, at are formed upon the back end of the block A, and a pawl, a³, actuated
by the trigger mechanism C serves to rotate the same, and to bring the striker a in line
with each barrel in the manner already described. The revolving cylindrical block or
cone A rotates upon a pin at the central part of the plate a³, as shown by the dotted
lines in Fig. 2; and recess a³ in Fig. 3.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. In multi-barrelled small arms, or small arms adapted for firing several charges
in succession, a single striker or firing pin, operated by a direct blow of the hammer
upon the back end of the said striker; substantially as described.
2. In multi-barrelled small arms, or small arms adapted for firing several charges
in succession, a single striker rotating in turn to each charge used, and operated in
an axial direction to fire the same by means of a direct central blow upon the back end
of the said striker, combined with a spring or springs for withdrawing the same; in
the manner substantially as described.
3. A sliding striker or firing pin rotating upon a point coinciding with its own
axis at the back end, and upon a point eccentric with its own axis at the front end ;
substantially as described.
4. A cylindrical or conical block adapted to rotate upon an axial pin at the front
end, and having a guide way or hole bored through the said block from the centre of
its back or free end to a point outside the said axial pin at the front end; substantially
as and for the purpose described.
5. In multi-barrelled small arms a rotating block having a diameter at its front end
sufficiently large to extend beyond the axial orifices of the barrels and adapted to act
as a gas check to the same; substantially as described.
6. In multi-barrelled small arms, a rotating block carrying a single striker or firing
pin, and having upon the back face of the said block ratchet teeth coinciding in number
with that of the barrels used; substantially as described.
7. In multi-barrelled small arms, a rotating block carrying a single striker capable
of axial movement therein upon a line extending from a central point struck by the
hammer to a point coinciding with the axis of each barrel traversed; substantially as
described.
8. In multi-barrelled small arms, the combination of a single striker operating to
fire each charge in succession during the period of its rotation; a rotating block
carrying the said striker; ratchet teeth upon the back end of the said block, a pawl
adapted to engage with the said teeth, a hammer adapted to hit the back end of the 4
said striker and to actuate the said pawl; a trigger mechanism to actuate the said
hammer; and a spring or springs for withdrawing the striker after discharging a
cartridge; substantially as described.
Dated this 30th day of April 1888
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Dec., 1887
Complete Left, 14th May, 1888
Complete Accepted, 15th June, 1888
We, THOMAS BLAND, of Messrs. Thomas Bland & Sons, Gun and Rifle Manu-
facturers, 430 Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex, and FRANK CASHMORE,
of 41 Whittall Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Pistol filer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Heretofore small arms of the four barrelled type: arranged with firing gear adapted
to fire the charge in each barrel in succession; have been arranged with four different
strikers: one for each barrel. In practice, this arrangement has been found defective,
owing to the fact that the four strikers have necessarily occupied a large and com-
municating area, which made it difficult to provide an efficient gas check to the
discharge from the barrels. When a charge was fired, the gas had a means of escape
extending throughout this area and its boundary; which was not only destructive to
the close fitting joints required in this class of work; but sometimes, the shock acted
upon the firing gear to such an extent as to release the latter and so brought about
a premature discharge in the remaining barrels.
By this invention one striker only is employed; which is caused to act upon the
charge in each barrel, in succession, as the trigger is actuated. The sliding action of
the striker, in firing a charge, takes place within a suitably formed aperture in a
revolving cylinder or cone, of sufficient dimensions to cover the openings to the
barrels so that this cylinder or cone acts as a most efficient gas check to the breech
end of the barrels. This fully protects the firing gear from damage arising from a
discharge; and in any case, the firing gear could not act upon any remaining charges
in the manner described above, owing to there being but one striker to fire the same;
which striker, is actuated only, by the trigger mechanism.
The trigger, or firing, mechanism may be of any known kind; but it is so arranged
that the cocking devices shall, each time it is fully actuated, so act upon the revolving
cylinder or cone as to turn it one fourth part of a complete revolution. This is
accomplished by a lifter or pawl, actuated by the trigger in cocking, which, engaging
with one of four ratchet shaped teeth formed upon the end of the revolving cylinder,
causes the latter to make one fourth of a revolution at each operation of the trigger

page_text: in cocking. The striker, sliding in a diagonally arranged orifice, in the revolving
cylinder, is struck by the hammer in the usual manner; and operates from the central
position under the hammer face, to a point in line with the axis of each barrel. A
small lever or striker conductor, acted upon by a spring, serves to withdraw the striker
after it has performed its function, so that it may be free to revolve with the cylinder
or cone to its next firing position.
The invention is also applicable to revolvers or other arms, whether guns, or pistols,
having a different number of barrels ; or carrying a different number of charges, to
that already named herein.
Dated this Oth dose of Dnamba 1927
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
453, Strand, London,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: We, THOMAS BLAND, of Messrs. Thomas Bland & Sons, Gun and Rifle Manu-
facturers, 430 Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex, and FRANK CASHMORE,
of 41 Whittall Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Pistol Filer, 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:
Heretofore sinall arms of the four barrelled type: arranged with firing gear adapted
to fire the charge in each barrel in succession: have had four different strikers; one
for each barrel. In practice, this arrangement has been found defective owing to the
fact that the four strikers necessarily occupy a large communicating area, making it
difficult to provide an efficient gas check to the discharge froin the barrels. When a
charge was fired, the gas had a means of escape extending throughout this area and
its boundary; which was not only destructive to the close fitting joints required in this
class of work; but sometimes, the shock acted upon the firing gear to such an extent
as to release the latter and so brought about a premature discharge in the remaining
barrels.
:
By this invention one striker only is employed, which is caused to act in succession
upon the charge in each barrel, as the trigger is actuated. The sliding, or to and fro,
motion of the striker in firing a charge, takes place along or within a suitably formed
aperture in a revolving cylinder or conical block. The front end of this cylinder is
of sufficient dimensions to cover the openings to the barrels, so as to act as a most
efficient gas check to the breech end of the barrels. This fully protects the firing
gear from damage arising from a discharge; and in any case the firing gear could not
act upon any of the remaining charges, (in the manner described above), owing to there
being but one striker to fire the same, which striker is actuated, only, by the trigger
mechanism.
The trigger or firing mechanism, may be of any known kind; but it is so arranged
that the cocking devices shall, at each operation, act upon the revolving cylinder to
turn it one fourth part of a complete revolution. This is accomplished by a lifter or
pawl, actuated by the trigger in cocking; which, engaging with one of four ratchet
shaped teeth formed upon the back end of the revolving cylinder, causes the latter to
make one fourth of a revolution during the operation. The striker, sliding in a
diagonally arranged passage in the revolving cylinder is struck by the hammer in the
usual manner, and operates from the central point under the hammer face, to a point
which coincides with the axial line of each barrel as met with in the course of its
circular path. A small lever, or spring, or both, combined, serves to withdraw the
striker after it has performed its function, so that it may be free to revolve with the
cylinder or cone to its next firing position.
The invention is also applicable to revolvers or other small arms (whether guns or
pistols,) having a different number of barrels, or carrying a different number of charges,
to that already named herein.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a general elevation of the mechanism used,
as shown upon the removal of the outer part of the handle. Fig. 2 is an elevation of
the cylindrical block or cone A, (partly shown in section in Fig. 1); Fig. 3 is a front
end elevation, and Fig. 4 a back end elevation, of the same. B is the hammer; C, C, the
trigger mechanism; D the barrels; E the main spring, and F, F, the frame. The
striker a is withdrawn by the spring and lever a into the flange a² of the block A,
sufficiently to enable it to revolve with the same; and a³ is the breech plate having
orifices coinciding with the barrels, and to which the end a² acts as a gas check.
Ratchet teeth, a are formed upon the back end of the block A, and a pawl, a, actuated
by the trigger mechanism C serves to rotate the same, and to bring tho striker a in line
with each barrel in the manner already described. The revolving cylindrical block or
cone A rotates upon a pin at the central part of the plate a³, as shown by the dotted
lines in Fig. 2 and recess a³ in Fig. 3.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. In multi-barrelled small arms, or small arms adapted for firing several charges
in succession, a single striker or firing pin, operated by a direct blow of the hammer
upon the back end of the said striker; substantially as described.
2. In multi-barrelled small arms, or small arms adapted for firing several charges
in succession, a single striker rotating in turn to each charge used, and operated in
an axial direction to fire the same by means of a direct central blow upon the back end
of the said striker, combined with a spring or springs for withdrawing the same; in
the manner substantially as described.
3. A sliding striker or firing pin rotating upon a point coinciding with its own
axis at the back end, and upon a point eccentric with its own axis at the front end ;
substantially as described.
4. A cylindrical or conical block adapted to rotate upon an axial pin at the front
end, and having a guide way or hole bored through the said block from the centre of
its back or free end to a point outside the said axial pin at the front end; substantially
as and for the purpose described.
5. In multi-barrelled small arms a rotating block having a diameter at its front end
sufficiently large to extend beyond the axial orifices of the barrels and adapted to act
as a gas check to the same; substantially as described.
G. In multi-barrelled small arms, a rotating block carrying a single striker or firing
pin, and having upon the back face of the said block ratchet teeth coinciding in number
with that of the barrels used; substantially as described.
7. In multi-barrelled small arms, a rotating block carrying a single striker capable
of axial movement therein upon a line extending from a central point struck by the
hammer to a point coinciding with the axis of each barrel traversed; substantially as
described.
8. In multi-barrelled small arms, the combination of a single striker operating to
fire each charge in succession during the period of its rotation; a rotating block
carrying the said striker; ratchet teeth upon the back end of the said block, a pawl
adapted to engage with the said teeth, a hammer adapted to hit the back end of the
said striker and to actuate the said pawl; a trigger mechanism to actuate the said
hammer; and a spring or springs for withdrawing the striker after discharging a
cartridge; substantially as described.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London,
Agents for the Applicants.