IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Michael Kaufmann, of Fenchurch Street, in the City of
London, and Kingdom of England, and Julien Warnant, of Hognée,
Commüne of Cheratte, in the Kingdom of Belgium, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 21st February 1879, and dated the 9th December 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Michael Kaufmann and
Julien Warnant at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th
December 1878.
MICHAEL KAUFMANN, of Fenchurch Street, in the City of London, and Kingdom
of England, and JULIEN WARNANT, of Hognée, Commüne of Cheratte, in the
Kingdom of Belgium. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS."
Our Invention relates to improvements on the system of fire-arms patented by
Amédée Thornton de Mouncie, August 14th, 1876, No. 3206, which Letters Patent
have been transferred by the said Thornton de Mouncie to the above-named
Michael Kaufmann.
We propose to provide the fire-arm with a lock of a stronger and more substantial
construction, with less friction in the movements of its mechanism, consequently of
greater durability, and so constructed that the hammer wields a greatly increased
force in its descent on the cartridges, thereby effectually preventing all chance of a
misfire even under unfavourable circumstances, whilst much unnecessary force of
the lower branch of the spring used for producing the re-action or rebound of the
hammer is suppressed, and the power of the pull of the trigger on the finger is very
greatly decreased, which prevents the party using the fire-arm from being quickly
fatigued, and renders it more serviceable.
We use no screws and no additional axles or pivots for our lock beyond the two
which support the hammer and the trigger. These we leave solid, but prolong
them in such manner that a new piece, which we call an "arm," shall have for its

page_text: axle or pivot that of the hammer, and holes are made in the cover plate of the lock
to permit the two axles to pass through and to be securely held therein.
The "arm" is made of one solid piece of metal pivoting on the axle of the ham-
mer and projected therefrom, slightly inclined at its base to bear on the inclined
plane of the countersunk part of the lever, holding it in its proper position for
effecting the rotation of the cylinder.
On the face of the "arm," from its base towards and near its axle, is an elevation
or projection on which the mainspring is sustained. We use a spring with two
branches which approach each other closely when the hammer is carried to full
cock.
The upper branch produces the blow of the hammer on the cartridge, and the
lower branch, made of one piece of metal without slot, opening, or groove, and
provided with a safety stop, rests on and is supported by the elevation or projection
on the part which we call an
"arm."
This spring is of a more simple and of a more solid construction, and more easily
manufactured than the one in the original Patent referred to, the weakest part of
which is in our system entirely dispensed with.
13
The lower branch of the spring acting on the " arm after the fall of the
hammer on the cartridge causes the lever pivoted on the trigger to descend to its
normal position, whilst the safety stop of the spring engaging with the base of the
hammer lifts the hammer clear of the cartridge.
"
The construction is so arranged that the movement of the lower branch of the
spring on the "arm is very slight, and consequently there is very little friction;
and much of the weight of the lower branch of the spring, which presses firmly on
the "arm," being borne by the axle on which the "arm" pivots, very little power is
required to put the trigger in motion for full cocking and firing the weapon.
the same time the suspension of the lower branch of the spring brings it somewhat
near to the upper branch, the latter thereby receiving an increase of power which
causes the augmented force of the blow of the hammer on the cartridges, as already
stated.
At
There are only five pieces in the whole of the mechanism of the lock, viz., the
hammer, the "arm," the spring, the trigger, and the lever; the lock being so com-
bined and constructed that it may be rapidly taken to pieces and again put together
when required to be cleaned, and although no screw is used, each part is securely
held in its place.

page_text: the said Michael Kaufmann and Julien Waruant in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 21st April 1879.
MICHAEL KAUFMANN, of Fenchurch Street, in the City of London, and Kingdom
of England, and JULIEN WARNANT, of Hognée, Commune of Cheratte, in the
Kingdom of Belgium. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS."
Our present Invention relates to locks for fire-arms, and consists of certain im-
provements upon that described in Patent No. 3206, dated August 14th, 1876.
Although our said Invention is adapted for use in any kind of percussion fire-
arm it is especially to be applied to revolvers, and is fully, clearly, and exactly
described as follows, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, in
which,―
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the revolver with the cover plate laid
back, shewing all the parts of the lock in their proper juxtaposition, the haminer
resting in its normal place, and Fig. 1* an enlarged view of the action.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the hammer.
Figure 3, a side elevation of the trigger.
:
Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are respectively front, side, and rear elevations of the pawl or
lever.
Figure 7 is a top plan of the arm.
Figure 8, a bottom plan of the mainspring.
In the Drawings, A represents the main frame of the weapon provided with two
studs or pivots, the one for the hammer and arm, and the other for the trigger.
The cover plate A' is provided with. corresponding holes, into which, when the
plate is closed, the trigger and hammer pivots enter and are securely held.
The hammer F is provided with the ordinary point for exploding the cartridge
and with roughened thumb-piece. A hole is formed in it for the central pivot at c
and on the rear side of the hammer is formed a bearing c² for the mainspring, and
a tail piece c³. On the forward side of the hammer is a projection d², having a
notch d for engagement with the trigger when the hammer is thrown back by the
thumb of the operator; the said projection serving also as a means for effecting the
so-called "self-cocking" of the weapon, as will be herein-after set forth.
The trigger G is of the shape illustrated, and is perforated at a for the insertion
of the pivot. A small lug or detent a² is formed on the upper surface of the trigger,
which enters one of the notches upon the cylinder when the weapon is full cocked.
A projection g, perforated at g2 for the pawl pivot, has a notch g³ adapted to engage
with the projection on the forward side of the hammer.
J represents the pawl or lever (see Figures 4, 5, and 6), which consists of a flat
steel bar countersunk on one side, as shewn at B, and provided with a pivot i
adapted to enter the hole g² in the trigger. A lug 2 projects from the lower end of
the pawl or lever subserving the double function of locking and self-cocking the
haminer. The lower end or bottom of the countersunk part B consists of two
planes h inclined, as shewn, whose apex h2 is forward of the pivot i, the object of
which construction will be presently evident.
The mainspring D consists of two leaves or branches, the one adapted to engage
at f with the bearing c2 upon the hammer, and the other having at f² a safety stop
which serves to effect the rebound of the hammer. A lug n is provided at the
junction of the leaves, and is adapted to enter a step or hole in the inain frame.
It will be observed that the projection d² of the hammer occupies a position
between the projection g of the trigger and the lug 2 of the pawl or lever, fitting
snugly between them..
Instead of the arm of the mainspring engaging directly with the pawl, however,
as in the Invention, No. 320676, the arm N of the mainspring terminates in a
bearing n which engages with the arm E, and this constitutes the salient feature of
our present Invention.

page_text: "
"
This piece which we term the arm
is represented in Figures 1 and 7 of the
Drawings. It consists of a suitable piece of steel having a hole p for the hammer
pivot, a lug or elevation p³ upon which the end n of the mainspring bears, and a
projection p³ which rests upon the inclined plane h of the pawl, and holds the latter
in proper position.
The operation of the lock is as follows:-
Upon cocking the weapon by the thumb of the operator, the projection d² of the
hammer engages with the end g of the trigger which carries up the pawl, and with
it the arm, thereby compressing the mainspring, and at the same time effects the
rotation of the cylinder. Finally, the projected notch d of the hammer falls into
the trigger notch g³, and the weapon is full cocked.
When the trigger is retracted the notches d and g³ come. out of engagement, and
the hammer is released and falls. Upon releasing the trigger, the pressure of the
mainspring, delivered through the medium of the arm acting upon the pawl, carries
the trigger forward and the pawl downward until its lug 2 passes the projection d
of the hammer, when the pawl tilts forward owing to the arrangement of the
bearing hand coming under the projection d² locks the hammer. Coincidently with
the descent of the pawl, the safety stop f2 of the mainspring coming to bear upon
the tail piece of the hammer effects the rebound of the hammer. In this position
the hammer is, positively locked, and an accidental discharge of a cartridge prac-
tically out of the question, as it is clear that the hammer cannot by any possibility
be made to reach a cartridge without being first raised to full-cock, by reason of the
bringing up of the trigger against the main frame x of the weapon.
It will have been made evident from the foregoing description of the parts that
the lock is double-acting; and when used as a self-cocker, the operation may be
briefly described as follows:-
The trigger being retracted lifts the pawl, and its lug 2 engages with the pro-
jection d² of the hammer, which is thereby raised until the lug passes from under
the projection d³, when the hammer being released falls. During the lifting of the
pawl it rotates the cylinder in the usual way, and at the same time the former,
carrying with it the arm, compresses the mainspring, the lower leaf of which
bearing the safety stop, being then raised to its maximum, it cannot impede the fall
of the hammer. After the descent of the latter the trigger is released, when the
rebound and locking of the hammer is effected, as already described.
Our lock being in many respects the same in construction as in the Invention
described in Patent, No. 3206, of 1876, the advantages therein are likewise to be
found in our system of fire-arms, viz. :-
The peculiar construction and mutual adaptation of the working parts. The
rebounding hammer actuated by the safety stop of the mainspring. The absence of
any other spring or parts which have heretofore been necessarily delicate and frail,
and liable to get out of repair. The very few pieces of which the mechanism
consists, and their simplicity, strength, durability, and effectiveness. Lastly, that
the lock is readily accessible, not a single screw used in it, and so constructed and
arranged that its various parts are rapidly and easily taken to pieces and put
together.
It is specially to be noted that in our present Invention the arm or. pivoted
connection E subserves an important function in the lock; it acts with. a. minimum
pressure on the pawl or lever, whilst more efficiently regulating the bearing of the
latter upon the ratchet piece of the cylinder, and it (the arin) equalizes the trigger
pull in self-cocking the weapon, which are most important ends if accuracy of aim
and facility of action may be considered an object. The piece or arm E. is. in
effect a bent lever, and its operation in equalizing the trigger pull depends upon
the relative acting distances of the power and weight and their altitude from the
hammer pivot.
It is also important to observe that in our Invention the mainspring is exceed-
ingly simple and strong, and so disposed as to have very little movement in its
action, and hardly any friction.

page_text: "
As herein-before stated, our Invention is adapted for use in any kind of per-
cussion fire-arın. When not used in a revolving fire-arm, of course the pawl would
be a superfluity, and might either be dispensed with entirely, the arm". being
made to bear upon a suitable projection on the trigger, or, if the self-cocking
feature is desired, the pawl might be simply cut off above the pivot entering the
trigger.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is or may be performed, what we
Claim as secured to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, -
Firstly. In a lock for fire-arms, a mainspring adapted to effect the rebound of the
hammer, and actuating the trigger through the medium of a pivoted connection E,
substantially as set forth.
Secondly. An arm or pivoted connection E bearing upon the pawl and actuated
by the mainspring, substantially as set forth.
Thirdiy. The lock for revolving fire-arms herein described, consisting of hammer,
trigger, pawl, arm, and mainspring, the latter serving to effect the rebound of the
hammer and actuating all of the parts named, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Michael Kaufmann, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.
Witness,
W. E. GEDGE,
Patent Agent,
11, Wellington St.,
W.C.
MICHAEL KAUFMANN. (L.S.)