CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN 'SIGHTS' FOR SMALL-ARMS AND ORDNANCE
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Cornelius Goodwin, of Liverpool, Doctor of
Medicine, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN 'SIGHTS'
FOR SMALL-ARMS AND ORDNANCE."
Sealed the 30th September 1864, and dated the 8th April 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Cornelius Goodwin
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th April 1864.
I, FRANCIS CORNELIUS GOODWIN; of Liverpool, Doctor of Medicine, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN SIGHTS' FOR SMALL-ARMS AND ORDNANCE," to be as follows :—
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus called a "horizontal
foresight," which is to be attached near to the muzzle of fire-arms for the
purpose of facilitating aiming therewith, and is an improvement upon a
sight" already in public use, and known as "Goodwin's horizontal bar
sight," which latter consists of a plate of suitable metal with a "slit" or
"cut" in the centre through which the light shines, and gives the appearance
of a white line on a dark ground, this line is the aiming or sighting line; but
when aiming at a dark object this line is invisible, and the sight therefore
rendered useless.
My improvements consist in the use of a line of platinum, gold, or other
suitable metal or material in place of this "daylight streak" upon the afore-
said plate or bar; or the object may be effected by reversing the colors,
namely, by making the plate or bar of any white metal or material with a

page_text: black line upon it, or by making the plate or bar with a line upon it of such
different colors, metals, or materials as possess a sufficient contrast to be
easily, correctly, and distinctly visible. The width of the line, whether black,
white, or any suitable color, must vary according to the purpose for which it
is intended to be used; but for ordinary purposes the width will be from
decimal 02 (-02) to decimal •06 (06) of an inch....
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters. Patent; filed
by the said Francis Cornelius Goodwin in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 8th October 1864.
.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCIS
CORNELIUS GOODWIN, of Liverpool, Doctor of Medicine, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me
the said Francis Cornelius-Goodwin, Her special licence that I, the said
Francis Cornelius Goodwin, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Francis Cornelius Goodwin, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully, might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN 'SIGHTS' FOR SMALL-ARMS
AND ORDNANCE," upon the condition (amongst, others); that I, the said
Francis Cornelius Goodwin, my executors or administrators; by an instrument
in writing under my, or their; or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause. the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Francis Cornelius Goodwin, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is,
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say):-
The Invention relates to an improved apparatus, called a "horizontal
foresight," which is to be attached near to the muzzle of fire-arms for the

page_text: purpose of facilitating aiming therewith, and is an improvement on a sight
already in public use, and known as: Goodwin's horizontal bar sight," which
latter consists of a plate of suitable metal with a "slit" or "cut" in the
centre, through which the light shines and gives the appearance of a white
line on a dark ground, this. line is the aiming or sighting line; but when
aimed at a dark object this line is invisible, and the sight therefore rendered
useless.
My improvements consist in the use of a line of platinum, gold, or other
suitable metal or material in place of the "daylight streak," upon the aforesaid
plate or bar; or the object may be effected by reversing the colours, viz., by.
making the plate or bar of any white metal or material with a blank line
upon it, or by making the plate or bar with a line upon it of such different
colors, metals, or materials as possess a sufficient contrast to be easily, cor-
rectly, and distinctly visible. The width of the line, whether black, white, or:
any other suitable color,: must vary according to the purpose for which it
is intended to be used'; but for ordinary purposes the width will be from
decimal •02 to decimal 06 of an inch; t... I..
That my said Invention may be clearly understood; particularly that that.
apparatus or article known as a "horizontal bar sight," and what I'mean by
a." line" may be distinctly comprehended, I have hereunto attached a Sheet
of illustrative Drawings, and herein-after I will refer thereto by figures and:
letters.
:
.:
Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of the muzzle part of an ordinary
sized small arm, with one of my new horizontal bar foresights suitable for
rough usage in position. a is the barrel of the gun; b is a block of metal, or
other material, secured to the said barrel and c is a horizontal sighting bar
of metal, or other suitable material, triangular in transverse section, secured
to 6, and having on the front or that surface thereof which is nearest to the
back sight the aiming or sighting line d. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are front elevation
views, and Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are end elevation, or cross. section views of
horizontal bars, also marked c, and nearly the same as cabove mentioned.
The Figures 2, 3, and 4 shew modifications or different forms of my
sighting line, all of which I have found to answer well; thus Fig. 2 shews a
bulb or bead line; Fig. 3, an arrow-head line, or, more correctly, two lines con-
verging to and joining each other at the top of the bar, and Fig. 4, a straight.
line. All these sighting lines are represented as let into the horizontal bar
flush with the surfaces thereof, and forming a smooth plane on the front, and
this construction I prefer. The sighting fronts of the said bars and the
lines thereon are here placed at an angle, and in nearly all "good shooting

page_text: lights" this arrangement would be best, still both the face of the bar and
the sighting line, or either of them, might be vertical.
Fig. 8 is a side elevation, and Fig. 9 a transverse section at about the line
Z, Z, looking on the foresight of another small-arm; shewing a .somewhat
similar arrangement. h, barrel; i, block; j, bar. On the front of the latter
there is secured by screws k a plate l, with sighting line m thereon. This
arrangement is intended to shew how horizontal bar foresights, according to
my Invention, of different colours, shades, and forms, and with variously
devised sighting lines thereon may be conveniently removed and attached and
rezidered suitable for aiming at different objects.
Having now described the nature of my said: Invention, and particularized
the same so that it can be carried into effect, I would have it understood that
I do not confine myself to the details shewn on the Drawings, and herein
referred to, as various modifications may be made without departing from my
Invention, such, as making the horizontal bar a wind-guage foresight;
fitting such bar with a hinge to allow it to be folded over; making the
sighting lines of different forms; using other materials than metal in the
construction of the parts, although I recommend that the horizontal sighting
bars should be made of steel or iron unpolished, and of. a dark colour, and
that the sighting lines be of platinum or gold. What I claim is, the con-
struction and use of horizontal foresights for small-arms and ordnance, on or
in which sighting lines or devices are formed or placed, substantially as herein
described, and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Cornelius Goodwin, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
FRANCIS CORNELIUS GOODWIN. (L.s.) M.D.
In the presence of
JOHN THOMSON KING,
Patent Agent, 4, Clayton Square,
Liverpool.