A Distance Indicator for Military and Sporting Purposes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 30th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 16th Oct., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Distance Indicator for Military and Sporting Purposes.
I FRANCIS MACKENZIE SALMOND Burnham Vicarage Somerset Lieutenant
Colonel Retired do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
I attach to the block or base on which stands the front aiming-sight of Military
and Sporting fire-arms an addition which may be either permanent, or removable
at pleasure. It consists in the formation of a small projection* on one, or both,
of the side faces of the aforesaid block or base, so as to show above it a step (or
"indicator" as it is termed in the title of invention). The height of this step
will bear a certain definite proportion to the perpendicular height of the object
to which it may be desired to ascertain the distance; and it's intention is to
inform the person about to take aim preparatory to firing how many feet of height
in the object are covered by it (when it is held or observed at the distance from
the eye usual in taking aim with a front-sight) which number of feet would
represent the distance in the same number of hundreds of yards.
The projection (see above at *) when intended to be permanent, is formed by
affixing to the lower part of the side-face of the block a thin plate of metal or
other suitable material, so as to leave above it the required height of step; the
step being formed between the upper edge of the projection and the upper edge
of the block; or by boring a hole in the block and fixing therein a pin of con-
venient thickness, the end or ends of which will project, and be filed to give sharp
definition to the upper edge of it, and the proper height to the step; or by filing
away a portion of the side face of the block to the required depth and height.
The projection is also formed by an attachment clip or clasp removable at
pleasure; which, when clasped on to the barrel of the fire-arm, or to the block of
the front sight, or on both barrel and block, shows the necessary portion of the
side face of the block which is to form the step or indicator. This clasp or clip
has also a block of its own attached permanently to it, which block shows a
similar step or indicator to the one described above; and it's intention is that when
the clasp or clip attachment is not used as above described, it may be attached to
a fire-arm, walking-stick, sword, or other suitable thing, with its block turned
upwards, and be used for ascertaining distances in the same way.
Dated this 9th day of December 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Distance Indicator for Military and Sporting Purposes.
I FRANCIS MACKENZIE SALMOND of Burnham Vicarage, in the County of
Somerset, Lieutenant-Colonel, Retired, do hereby declare the nature of this
Price 8d.1

page_text: invention 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 this invention is to provide marksmen with a gauge for indicating
the distance, from the eye, of the mark to be measured or hit.
To this end, I attach to the block or base on which stands the front aiming
sight of military and sporting fire-arms, an addition, which may be either per-
manent or removable at pleasure. This addition may consist of a small projection
on one or both of the side faces of the aforesaid block or base, such projection being
so arranged as to show above it a step, gauge, or indicator. The height of this
sten will bear a certain definite proportion to the height of the object or mark to
be fired at, and its intention is to inform the person about to take aim, preparatory
to firing, how many feet of height in the object are covered by the said step or
indicator (when it is held or observed at the distance from the eye usual in taking
aim with a front sight). The number of feet thus covered would represent, by
hundreds of yards, the distance of the object aimed at.
In the accompanying drawings, I have shown various ways of carrying, out
my invention, and it will be obvious that these plans, which I have found to
answer the purpose well, may be varied without departing from the nature of my
invention.
Figs. 1 show in side and front views, one form of my distance gauge or indi-
cator, which is formed by a cylindrical pin or pins fastened in the front sight
block at P. This is one way of forming (permanently) the necessary addition
to the side face or faces of the sight block, in order to get the
step" or
"indicator" S, which is to gauge the height and distance of the object sighted.
Another way of forming the aforesaid addition, is to fasten a narrow plate or
slab to the side face of the block, or by forming a rib on the same in the original
manufacture of the block.
وو
"
Figs. 2 show, in side and front view, a spring clip encircling the rifle barrel,
with its free ends F F pressing tightly against the side faces of the sight block,
which free ends, by their thickness of metal, form the projection of the "indi-
cator or step
"S. This clip or clasp is attachable and removable at pleasure.
Figs. 3 show, in cross section and side view, another form of the
spring clip, with which is combined a block and its projections in
one. This clip can be used either on a rifle, as in Fig. 2, or with
its block turned upwards, and its free ends F F downwards, on a sword point,
or a walking stick, or any suitable thing. The figures show it attached to the end
of a walking-stick. For use on a sword point, the clip would have two semi-
circular wedges of cork or wood attached to it.
Figs. 4 show a combined form of clip for a double-barrel" sporting rifle, both
applied to, and detached from, the gun. This clip carries, on one side, the block
on which the indicator step is fitted, and it is reversible, i.e., the observer using
the rifle can place the clip so as to show the "step" on the right side of the right
barrel, or on the left side of the left barrel, as may appear suitable to himself.
Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate the appearance of two different objects at different
distances. The method of using the indicator is as follows:-The rifle or gun is
brought to the shoulder, as when taking aim in the ordinary manner, but if
sighting an object from a stick or sword, the handle or hilt end is brought against
the cheek beneath the eye, the indicator step being held perpendicularly, and
towards the side of the object to be sighted. Then, if the step covers, say, 5 feet
of such object, the distance is 550 yards; if 8 feet (as in the case of a man on
horse-back), it is 800 yards. The example given at Fig. 5, is a man standing
at 550 yards from the marksman, and at Fig. 6, a stag is represented as standing
at 175 yards distance; the indicator step covers, in the former case, 5 feet, and
in the latter, 1 feet.

page_text: 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:-
The means above described for measuring the distance of an object sighted,
through the known or assumed height covered by the indicator.
Dated this 24th day of August 1897.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.