Year: 1897

page_text: I, JAMES ROGER BOOTH, of Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada, Inventor, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a trap gun which can be suspended
from trees to kill animals such as bears, tigers and the like which attempt to take
the bait set for them.
The invention comprises a gun, consisting of a barrel having a cap hinged to and
adapted to be fastened over its upper end, thus enabling the barrel to be loaded
with a cartridge. A tube extends upwardly from the cap and contains a spring
tending to depress a pin penetrating the cap and also a cap on the upper end of
the tube. The upper end of the pin is formed with a hook by means of which it
can be raised to set the gun. The pin engages the point at the end of a lever
which retains it in its raised position until released by an animal pulling upon a
rod, connected to the lever, and having the bait secured to a hook near to the
muzzle of the barrel. When the pin is released it fires the cartridge and shoots the
animal.
Dated this 25th Day of February 1897.
PERCY R. J. WILLIS,
Agent for Applicant.
I, JAMES ROGER BOOTH, of Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada, Inventor, 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:-
_
My invention relates to improvements in bait set guns more particularly adapted
for the capture of fur bearing animals; and the object of the invention is to design
a simple and cheap form of gun not liable to get out of order and by which the
animals may be shot directly in the head or neck, so that the fur will not be
destroyed or deteriorated; and it consists, essentially of a gun, in which the barrel
is preferably formed with a swinging breech peculiarly held in place, a tube being
provided in alignment with the barrel, through which extends the firing pin,
such firing pin being operated through a catch lever to a rod from which the bait
is suspended, and the gun being designed to be hung preferably from a tree in the
manner hereinafter more particularly explained.
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my bait set gun in position. Fig 2 is
a sectional perspective view of my gun. Fig 3 is a perspective view shewing the
breech opened for the insertion of the cartridge.
In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each
figure.
A is the barrel of the gun.
R is a sleeve which fits over the barrel at the butt end. The sleeve B is pro-

page_text: vided with a lug b, as shewn. Upon the lug 6 of the sleeve is pivotally slung the
breech C by the jaws c, through which and the lug the connecting pin c¹ extends.
The opposite side of the breech is provided with a substantially dovetailed notch c³.
When the breech is closed, it is held in place by the pivoted catch D, which is
swung into the notch c², the top of the catch being of corresponding shape to the
notch.
E is a tube which is fitted into the reduced outer end of the breech and is pro-
vided with a suitable cap F.
G is the firing pin, which extends through the cap F the tube E, and partially
through a hole in the breech:
g is a disc secured on the pin G, and H is a strong spiral spring extending
between the disc and the cap F.
g is a notch made in the firing pin, and g2 is a hooked end.
I is a rod having an eye shaped upper end thereon by which it may be suspended
by a wire to the branch of a tree as indicated in Fig 1. or connected to any other
support.
is a lever which is pivoted at j, preferably on the rod I, and has a pointed
end which normally engages with the notch g¹ and rests against the cap F so as
to normally hold the cartridge pin from the cartridge K.
L is a wire rod pivotally connected to the end of the lever J and extending
down through a loop a, secured in the barrel A near the muzzle. The lower end
of the rod L is provided with a barbed hook 7, from which the bait is suspended.
The operation of the gun is as follows: Immediately upon the animal gripping
the bait and pulling on it, the lever J will be pulled down at the outer end and the
inner end relieved from the notch g¹ in the firing pin, which will immediately
be thrown down by the spring against the cartridge, and discharge such cartridge,
the ball of which will pass through the head or neck of the animal.
Although I show a swinging breech for convenience in placing the cartridge, it
will of course be understood that the upper tube may be simply screwed into the
end of the barrel; but as if made in this way the threads would likely become
rusted I preferably make it in the form shewn.
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:-
-
(1) A bait set gun comprising the barrel, the breech having a depending arm
pivoted to one side of the barrel, locking means for holding the breech in place
over the end of the barrel, the tube fitted to the breech and having a cap at its
upper end, the spring pressed firing pin within the tube, the rod secured to the
cap and having a hooked upper end for supporting the gun in a vertical position,
the lever for engaging the firing pin, and holding it in its rearward position, and
the trip connected to the lever and extending down into proximity to the muzzle
of the gun, substantially as described.
(2) In combination, the barrel, the sleeve upon the upper end thereof, having a
projecting lug, the breech fitting the open end of the barrel and having a depending
arm pivoted to said lug, the pivoted catch on the opposite side adapted to engage
a notch in the breech, the tube carried upon the unner end of the breech, the
spring-pressed firing pin in said tube, the sustaining rod secured to the tube for
sustaining the gun in a vertical position, and the lever, substantially as described.
Dated this 25th Day of November 1897
P. R. J. WILLIS.
Agent for Applicant.