IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIREARMS
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Philip Thomas Godsal at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th March 1882.
PHILIP THOMAS GODSAL of Windsor in the County of Berks, Gentleman,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIREARMS."
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of the action of
breech loading firearms, the objects being to facilitate the removal of the acting
parts from the gun for inspection and repair, and to protect such parts from dust
and the action of the weather.
The body of the gun, or that part which connects the stock with the barrel or
barrels, is closed at its underside by a removable plate formed on its inner face
with walls or flanges that constitute bearings for a hinge pin that connects the
plate to the body, the axle of the external main lever which operates the action,
and a locking pin or screw. The hinge pin is situate at the front end of the
plate, and in rear of it is the axle for carrying the main lever. This axle is hollow
to receive a screw pin that passes through the hub of the main lever, and extending
across the hinged plate is made fast to the wall on the opposite side thereof. This
main lever interlocks with its hollow axle which projects through a slot in the
body so shaped as to permit of the action plate swinging on its hinge.
Attached to, or in one with, this hollow axle is a finger for operating the
vertically sliding breech block, and a second and cranked finger projecting from
the hollow axle bears on an accelerating cocking lever that underlies a spur carried
by the hammer, and serves, through that lever to throw back the hammer against
the pressure of the main spring. This hammer is mounted loosely on the pin of
the hollow axle, as is also the cartridge extractor, which is actuated directly by the
cranked finger.
The striker on which the hammer acts, passes through the breech block as usual,
and may be held out of action by a coiled spring. It is retained in place by a
transverse pin which passes horizontally through the block, and through an
elongated hole in the striker; or instead of a spiral spring and a horizontal pin,
either a vertical, or a V-shaped, spring may be fitted to the breech block in such a
manner as to hold the striker in its place, and away from the cartridge, until
struck.

page_text: The body is formed with a tang for attaching it to the upper part of the stock,
and the hinged plate is also formed with a tang for connecting it to the under part
of the stock. By withdrawing the screw which enters this latter tang and removing
the transverse screwed locking pin which connects the plate at its rear end with
the body, the plate carrying the action may be rocked on its hinge to give access
to the working parts, or it may be readily removed from the gun, the hinge-pin
holes in the walls of the plate being cut away laterally for that purpose.
If desired, the tangs may be dispensed with and the butt may be attached to the
body as in the Martini rifle.
For securing the fore end of the gun an underlying strap is provided, which is
threaded upon the pivot or hinge pin.
I would remark that when the cocking lever is made of sufficient length to throw
back the hammer to full cock it will by remaining in contact with the spur before
mentioned, lock the hammer. When however no locking is required, the cocking
lever may be shortened, and the descent of the breech block may be relied on for
forcing back. the hammer to full cock, and a spring may be provided to ensure the
return of the cocking lever.
The above described improvements admit of being applied not merely to single,
but also to double barrelled guns.