IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR GUNS OR PISTOLS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Albert Augustus Pope, in the County of
Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, United States of America,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR GUNS OR PISTOLS."-A
communication from Henry Marcus Quackenbush, residing at
Herkimer, in the County of Herkimer, and State of Now York,
of the United States of America.
caled the 21st August 1874, and dated.the 1st July 1874.
:
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Albert Augustus -Popo at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 1st July 1874, pursuant to the 9th Section of
the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
'I
".
:
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALBERT
AUGUSTUS POPE, of Boston, in the County of Suffolk, and State of
Massachusetts, United States of America, send greeting.

page_text: of the recoil block being a continuation of the air port a before referred
to; the barrel is shown at D as mounted at its rear upon the top of the
cylinder A and sliding longitudinally thereof in a tubular stud E cast
upon the upper part of such cylinder, the "sight" of the pistol being
shown at E as attached to or making part of this stud. When the barrel
is closed tightly up against the breech block C by means of a powerful
spring, as herein-after explained, its bore constitutes the only passage
for air from the cylinder A, and when such barrel is to be loaded it is
moved away from the breech block and the dart or other projectile is
inserted within its open rear end. Within the cylinder or receiver A is
disposed a plunger G, which is preferably tubular, and receives ono end
of a coiled spring H formed of a flat thin ribbon of steel, this spring
being disposed within the cylinder and exerting a stress between the
outer end or cap of the latter in one direction and the plunger at the
other, and consequently operating to impell the said plunger with great
power and rapidity from one end of the cylinder to the other. As it is
necessary to connect the barrel with the spring and plunger in order
that when the barrel is withdrawn in the act of loading the piston may
be advanced and the spring contracted, and as it is desired to obtain a
connection of such character that the barrel can readily be detached
from the other parts of the arm, is employed a yoke or clasp composed
of a flat band I, the fold of which clasps the barrel while the ends
cnclose or straddle the outer end of a slender rod c which passes longi-
tudinally and axially through the cylinder A and the plunger G, and is
provided at rear with a head d of a size to advance the piston against
the power of the spring. The two ends or straps of the clasp I are
clamped toward each other and upon the rod c by set screws c, e, and by
loosening these screws the gripe of the clasp upon the rod is relaxed
and the barrel may be instantly removed from the arm. This mode of
attaching the barrel to the plunger enables me to instantly and accurately
adjust the relative positions of the barrel, and spring, and plunger with
respect to the breech block, and has the further advantage of entirely
preventing scarring or defacement of the said barrel.
The outer end or mouth of the cylinder A is closed by a cap or plugƒ
which is screwed into it, this cap being formed with an integral nut or
polygonal stud to receive a wrench by which the cap is unscrewed,
said cap serving to resist the stress of the spring H and to confine the
I

page_text: the rod c.
The trigger of the arm is shown at h as let into and pivoted within
the handle B and near the under side of the cylinder, the upper end of
this trigger protruding into such cylinder to such an extent as to l
intercept the plunger when the latter is pushed forward to its greatest
extent. The trigger guard is shown at i, and the rear spring at k.
Upon the top of the cylinder A and below the barrel D is placed a
plate spring which intercopts the barrel when the latter is advanced in
the act of loading and holds the barrel in this position against accidental 1
release of the trigger until the said spring is lowered.
In using this pistol the barrel is grasped in one hand and pulled
outward to such an extent that the plunger is advanced in front of the
trigger and the spring H contracted to its greatest extent. The dart or
projectile is placed in the breech end of the barrel, the spring / lowered, 1
and the barrel returned to place against the hollow breech block C, the
rod c returning with the barrel in order that the plunger may be free to
slide upon without obstruction from its head. A pull upon the trigger
releases the plunger and the spring impels it suddenly and with great
force to the rear, the air within the cylinder in rear of such piston being 2
driven upward through the port a, breech block C, and the barrel D, as
a consequence driving the dart or projectile before it and expelling it
from the barrel. As the projectile escapes from the barrel the air enters
the latter, and as the piston is advanced fills the cylinder A behind such
piston.
2
By this construction great simplicity of construction is obtained which
enables one to manufacture these toys at comparatively small expense;
and also enabled to completely dismember the arm, that is, to remove
the barrel or the spring and plunger at a moment's notice by unscrewing
one screw e on the one hand, or the capfon the other, and a very neat, 3
compact, and convenient pistol is obtained.
The herein described construction of parts are not limited in any
respect as they may be varied to a wide extent, but what is claimed is a
toy pistol or gun constructed as herein described, or in any equivalent.

page_text: manner, by which is produced one having substantially the same con-
struction and operation.
In witness whereof, I, the said Albert Augustus Pope, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of June, 1874.