Connection with Sporting Guns.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Nov., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 17th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 21st Sept., 1888
Connection with Sporting Guns.
I, HENRY ALFRED ALEXANDER THORN, trading as Charles Lancaster of 151,
New Bond Street, in the county of Middlesex, Gun Maker, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the construction and application to the stocks of sporting
guns, of a counter or marker constructed to be applied to and operated from the
side of the butt of the gun stock in a simple manner.
The improved counter or marker consists of a disc cut or formed with ratchet
teeth on its periphery and marked on one of its surfaces and near its outer edge
with figures from 0 upwards. The said ratchet is adapted to rotate on an outer
disc or plate provided with an opening corresponding in position with the figures
around the side of the ratchet. A spring pawl is provided which can be operated
by a push-piece working in a slot in the outer disc or plate whereby the ratchet
can be rotated each forward movement of the push-piece rotating the ratchet one
tooth and thereby bringing a figure opposite the opening in the outer plate. A
spring is provided to prevent the return of the ratchet.
It will be obvious from this construction of counter or marker that to apply it to
a gun it will be simply necessary to make a shallow circular recess in the side of
the butt of the gun (which can be conveniently effected by means of a centre bit)
the counter being placed in the recess and fixed in position by screws.
Another advantage of my improved counter or marker is that on a bird being shot
the push-piece can be operated in a very simple manner by the thumb of the person
using the gun without it being necessary to move the gun from the shoulder or in
any way to shift the position of the hand.
In some cases a spring is provided to return the ratchet to its zero position.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Counting Apparatus for Use in
Connection with Sporting Guns.
I, HENRY ALFRED ALEXANDER THORN, trading as Charles Lancaster, of 151,
New Bond Street, in the County of Middlesex, Gun Maker, 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:-
of a
This invention relates to the application to the stocks of sporting guns,
counter or marker, and to the construction of such counter or marker so that it can
be operated from the side of the butt of the gun stock in a simple manner; and it
comprises the improvements hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a counter constructed according to my invention.
Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the same, and
Figure 3 is a central vertical section on the line x, x.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are views similar to figures 1, 2 and 3 respectively illustrating
a modified form of marker.
Figure 7 shows the application of my marker to the stock of a gun.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
a is a disc cut or formed with ratchet teeth b on its periphery, and marked on one
of its surfaces and near its outer edge with figures from 0 upwards.
c is an outer disc or plate upon which the said ratchet disc is adapted to rotate,
the said plate being provided with an opening d corresponding in position with the
figures around the ratchet disc, as shown in figure 1.
e is a pawl which slides in a slot in a push piece f working in a slot g in the outer
disc or plate. By moving the said push piece the ratchet disc can be rotated, each
forward movement of the push-piece moving the ratchet disc a distance of one tooth
and thereby bringing a figure or number opposite the opening d in the outer plate.
is a spring which returns the push piece to its normal position after it has been
operated, and is a spring which prevents the rotation of the ratchet disc in a
backward direction. An extension on this spring also retains the pawl in
engagement with the ratchet disc.
In the modification of my invention shown in figures 4, 5, and 6 I have shown
the arrangement of two number discs indicated by the letters a, a¹, the former of
which is operated by the pawl e, as hereinbefore described, while the latter is moved
one tooth at each revolution of the disc a by a tooth k, in this case, of course, two
openings d, d are formed in the plate c.
It will be obvious that with this construction of counter or marker, in order to
apply it to a gun it will be simply necessary to make a shallow recess in the side of
the butt of the gun, the counter being placed in the recess and fixed in position, as
shown in figure 7, by screws passing through the openings 1, 1.

page_text: A great advantage of my improved counter or marker thus arranged is that on a
bird being shot, the push piece can be operated in a very simple manner by the
thumb of the person using the gun without it being necessary to move the gun from
the shoulder or in any way to shift the position of the hand.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood
that I do not claim broadly the application of a marker to guns as I am aware such
have been used although they have not been generally successful, I am also aware
of Patents No. 4083 of 1885, No. 5962 of 1887, and No. 15910 of 1887, and make no
claim to anything therein claimed, but 1 declare that what 1 claim is :-
The improved counting apparatus constructed and arranged substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing, for use in
connection with sporting guns.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.