Improvements in Portable Stands for Rifles and the like.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Mar., 1892-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Portable Stands for Rifles and the like.
1, ALEXANDRE BIENNAIT of Courbevoie near Paris, in the Republic of.
France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Perfect accuracy in the levelling or aiming of fire-arms, and consequent good
shooting, depend on the fulfilment of the following essential conditions:
(1) The gun and sighting device should be maintained exactly in the plane
of the vertical shooting axis;
(2) It should be quite immovable in this position ;
(3) The visual radius or sighting line should be exactly in a line with the
apex of the sight or bridge;
(4) This line should be directed straight onto the spot or object aimed at ;
(5) The gun or rifle should be secured against any displacement when fired,
for which purpose the trigger should be pressed slowly and gradually, and the
stock or butt-end firmly held against the shoulder so as to diminish the effects of
the usual recoil.
These conditions even the best trained and most accomplished marksman is unable
to realize by the use of only his hands.
He has no means of exactly ascertaining the position of the vertical shooting.
plane, as the bridge and sight very frequently are placed more or less far to the
right or left from the axial line.
Also, the trembling of the hands, when holding a somewhat heavy fire-arm, is
unavoidable, and therefore it is impossible to keep the rifle or gun perfectly motion-
less, while taking aim. And in firing the inevitable recoil always causes the gun
barrel to deviate from its initial direction.
These and other causes of defective shooting, such as want of dexterity, and.
nervousness, in the inexperienced marksman or soldier, are remedied by the present
portable device for supporting rifles and guns and regulating the sighting process
adapted for use both in the army and navy.
This stand or rest in one form mainly consists of two tubes of rectangular square
or other section one freely sliding within the other..
One of these tubes is preferably of iron or steel and is closed at its lower end by
a block brazed or otherwise secured into the tube. A central perforation is
provided for the reception of a cylindrical plug, or pivot held in place by a pin
which however allows it to turn freely. This pivot at its lower part it jointed to
the longer arm of a bracket, the shorter arm of which is preferably of square
section so as to fit into a socket of corresponding section secured to a plate of
suitable form.
The last mentioned plate is provided on the inner side with two slides arranged
to fit the belt of the wearer. The plate being thus attached to the belt and its
lower ovally or otherwise shaped portion being suitably supported, affords a firm
support to the rifle rest, while leaving the tube free to turn in all directions as
required.
Two rings are arranged near the centre of the long arm of the bracket. To
the lower of these rings is attached one end of a chain the other end of which is
provided with a ring which is hooked onto one of two or more hooks secured to
the corresponding side of the main tube.
The chain the object of which is to maintain the tube in a vertical position

page_text: while allowing the rifle-rest to turn on its vertical axis may be replaced by a rod on
the side of the tube having a suitable stop screwed or secured to it in any convenient
manner.
The lower ring is intended to support the rifle-rest by means of a swivel attached
to the belt, after firing.
The inner tube is closed at its lower end and provided at the top with two hinged
wings subjected to the action of two springs.
When these wings issue from the outer tube they offer a sufficient space for the
piece, provided on the gun-barrel underneath the bridge, to rest upon in whatever
direction the firé-arm may be set.
:
:-
The operation of the tube and of its spring controlled, wings is as follows:-
The tube is on one side provided with a longitudinal groove through which passes
a pin secured to the inner tube. A winged nut screwed on to the said screw enables
the tube to be fixed in position after it has been moved to the desired point in
relation to the tube. After firing the marksman loosens the nut thereby allowing
the spring controlled wings to re-enter the outer tube or sheath; whereupon the
whole device may be hooked on to the belt again.
In actual
In most cases the rifle-rest will naturally be erected vertically for use.
warfare however it frequently happens that the men being obliged to lie down so
as to expose a minimum surface of their bodies to the fire of the enemy this
vertical position may prove inconvenient. Provision for this case is made by
fitting to the back and base of the rifle-rest two rods. These two rods are
connected with the lower portion of the outer tube by a screw fitting a threaded
opening provided for the purpose in the body of the tube. The rods opening
after the manner of a compass will form in case of need with the one arm of
the bracket fitting the plate of the belt, a very firm tripod affording every facility
to the marksman to take aim by placing the rifle upon the wings, just as if the
rifle-rest were in its normal vertical position.
After firing the marksman will draw together vertically the free ends of the rods
causing them to turn about their pivot and conceal them under a small plate
provided for the purpose on the outer tube.
:
The device intended for the cavalry is much the same as that devised for the
infantry except that in this case two arms are provided for supporting the rifle-rest,
they being adapted to fit the front part of the saddle.
On these supporting arins is formed a horizontally slotted frame in which is
adjustable a socket in which is fitted the shorter arm of the bracket of the rifle-
rest.
The bracket being adjustable enables the rifle-rest to be moved to the right or
left on the support to adjust it to any desired position.
The arms of this support are held in metal fittings or sockets provided for the
purpose on the front part of the saddle their ends being so flattened and bent as to
facilitate this and be capable of being secured in position by means of screws or the
like.
When the support is in position the rider may readily adjust the rifle-rest so as to
afford a firm support for his weapon whatever the direction in which the shot is to
be fired.
On the rifle an additional piece should be provided in front of the bridge to
enable it to rest firmly upon the open wings. This piece preferably assumes the
shape of a plate or shield preferably about 150 millimetres long and 22 millimetres
wide and comprises a thin portion adapted to fit the base of the wings having the
shape of an acute angle.
.This recessed portion rounded off at the ends is preferably about 74 millimetres
long, 17 millimetres high and 2 millimetres thick forming a right angle preferably
about 27 millimetres high.
This piece or shield adapted to rest in the supporting wings is exceedingly
important as it assists in firmly maintaining the weapon against lateral displacement
from the firing plane.

page_text: The shield may be attached to the weapon by two screws securing its ends
thereto.
י
0 7 1
1001
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Portable Stands for Rifles and the like.
I, ALEXANDRE BIENNAIT of 22 Rue de Paris à Courbevoie, Department of
Seine, in the Republic of France, 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:
Perfect accuracy in the levelling or aiming of fire-arms and consequent goed
shooting, depend on the fulfilment of the following essential conditions,―
(1) The gun and sighting device should be maintained exactly in the plane of
the vertical shooting axis,
(2) It should be quite immovable in this position,
(3) The visual radius or sighting line should be exactly in a line with the apex
of the sight or bridge,
(4) This line should be directed straight to the spot or object aimed at,
(5) The gun or rifle should be secured against any displacement when fired, for
which purpose the trigger should be pressed slowly and gradually, and the stock or
butt end firmly held against the shoulder so as to diminish the effects of the usual
recoil.
These conditions even the best trained and most accomplished marksman is
unable to realize by the use of only his hands.
He has no means of exactly ascertaining the position of the vertical shooting
plane, as the bridge and sight very frequently are placed more or less far to the
right or left from the axial line.
1
Also, the trembling of the hands, when holding a somewhat heavy fire-arm is
unavoidable and therefore it is impossible to keep the rifle or gun perfectly motion-
less while taking aim. And in firing the inevitable recoil always causes the gun
barrel to deviate from its initial direction.
These and other causes of defective shooting such as want of dexterity and
nervousness in the inexperienced marksman or soldier are remedied by the present
portable regulator or stand for individual or personal shooting for supporting rifles
and guns and regulating the sighting process adapted for use both in the army'
and navy.
•
In the accompanying drawings in which are shown two types one for the
infantry and the other for the cavalry,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved rifle rest as constructed for carrying
in a belt.
Fig. 2 is the corresponding front view,
Fig. 3 is another front view of the rifle rest as erected on the ground.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the rifle rest.
Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a front and a side elevation of the rifle-rest
arranged for the use of cavalry and
Fig. 7 represents a slight modification.
This stand or rest in one form mainly consists of two tubes a b of rectangular.
square or other section one freely sliding within the other.
The tube a is preferably of iron or steel of suitable size and shape and is'
closed at its lower end by a preferably iron or steel block a' brazed or other-
wise secured into the tube. A central perforation is provided for the reception
of a cylindrical plug or pivot c held in place by a pin c' which however allows

page_text: it to turn freely. This pivote at its lower part is jointed between cheeks to
the longer arme of a bracket e e¹, the shorter arm el of which is preferably of
square section so as to fit into a socket f of corresponding section secured to a
plate of suitable form such for example as shown in Fig. 2.
The last mentioned plate f¹ is provided on the inner side with two slides arranged
to fit the belt a of the wearer. The plate being thus attached to the belt and
its lower oval or otherwise shaped portion being suitably supported, affords a firm
support to the rifle rest while leaving the tube a free to turn in all directions as
required.
Two rings ee are arranged near the centre of the arme of the bracket e e'.
To the upper ring e² is attached one end of a chain the other end of which is
provided with a ring g' which is hooked onto one of two or more hooks secured
to the corresponding side of the main tube a.
The chain g the object of which is to maintain the tube a in a vertical position
while allowing the rifle-rest to turn on its vertical axis on the pivot e inay be
replaced by a rod on the side of the tube a having a suitable stop screwed or secured
to it in any convenient manner.
The lower ring e³ is intended to support the rifle-rest by means of a swivel
attached to the belt, after firing.
q
The tube is provided at its upper part with a collar or flange a² suitably
finished.
The inner tube is closed at its lower end and provided at the top with two
hinged wings & subjected to the action of two springs
When these wings issue from the outer tube a they offer a sufficient space for the
piece provided on the gun-barrel underneath the bridge, to rest upon in whatever
direction the fire-arm may be set.
The operation of the tube band of its spring controlled wings is as follows,
The tube a is on one side provided with a longitudinal slot m through which
passes a pin n secured to the inner tube b. A winged nut n¹ screwed on to the
screw n enables the tube to be fixed in position after it has been moved to the
desired point in relation to the tube a. After firing the marksman loosens the
nut thereby allowing the spring controlled wings to re-enter the outer tube or
sheath, whereupon the whole device may be hooked on to the belt again.
In
In most cases the rifle-rest will naturally be erected vertically for use.
actual warfare however it frequently happens that the men being obliged to lie
down so as to expose a minimum surface of their bodies to the fire of the enemy
this vertical position may prove inconvenient. Provision for this case is made by
fitting to the back and base of the rifle-rest two plates or rods o o'. These two
rods are pivottel to the lower portion of the outer tube a by a screw o fitting a
threaded opening provided for the purpose in the body of the tube. The rods o o'
opening after the manner of a compass, will form in case of need, with the arm e¹
of the bracket e e fitting the plate of the belt, a very firm tripod affording every
facility to the marksman to take aim by placing the rifle upon the wings, just as if
the rifle rest were in its normal vertical position.
After firing the marksman will draw together vertically the free ends of the
rods o o causing them to turn about their point o² and retain their ends under a
small plate o³ provided for the purpose on the tube a.
P
The device intended for the cavalry as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is much the same
as that devised for the infantry, except that in this case two arms are provided
for supporting the rifle rest they being adapted to fit the front part of the saddle.
On these supporting arms is formed a horizontally slotted frame 9 in which is
adjustable a socket integral with a plate t2 and provided with a screw on which
is threaded a thumb-nut t¹. In the socket 3 is fitted the shorter arm e' of the
bracket e e' of the rifle-rest.
The socket 3 being adjustable by means of the slot and screw and nut t t
enables the rifle-rest to be moved to the right or left on the support to adjust it to
any desired position.

page_text: The arms ppl of this support are held in metal fittings or sockets provided for
the purpose on the front part of the saddle their ends being so flattened and bent as
to facilitate this and be capable of being secured in position by means of screws or
the like.
When the support is in position the rider may readily adjust the rifle-rest so as to
afford a firm support for his weapon whatever the direction in which the shot is to
be fired.
On the rifle an additional piece should be provided in front of the bridge to
enable it to rest firmly upon the open wings. As shown in Fig. 1 this piece pre-
ferably assumes the shape of a plate or shield preferably about 150 millimetres
long and 22 millimetres wide and comprises a thin portion adapted to fit the base
of the wings having the shape of an acute angle.
+
This recessed portion rounded off at the ends is preferably about 74 millimetres
long, 17 millimetres high and 2 millimetres thick forming a right angle preferably
about 27 millimetres high.
This piece or shield adapted to rest in the supporting wings is exceedingly
important as it assists in firmly maintaining the weapon against lateral displace-
ment from the firing plane.
The shield may be attached to the weapon by two screws securing its end
thereto.
The before described apparatus may be modified without departing from the
spirit of the invention, for example as shown in Fig. 7 the tube a may be firmly
secured to the bracket arm e and the arm e' may be either square or circular
in section, the eye at the end of the arm e serving for attaching the apparatus.
to the belt. The nut of is screwed upon the pivot of the rods o o' and may be
tightened upon them to hold them in any desired position.
In respects other than those last described the different parts of the apparatus
may be varied without departure from the principle of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said.
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is,-
1. A portable regulator or stand for individual or personal shooting mainly con-
sisting of two parts such as ab telescoping one within the other and the inner part
of which is provided with spring controlled wings such as klaud both of which
parts a bare supported by a rod or bracket such as ee fitting into a socket f
attached either to a carrier-plate such as provided on the marksman's or soldier's
belt or where the device is for the use of cavalry to a carrier or support such as p p²
fixed to the saddle substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
2. The combination with a portable regulator or stand such as described for
individual or personal shooting of a main support or carrier consisting either of a
plate or shield such as 'attached to the soldier's belt or of a suitable device such
as p p for application to a saddle and legs such as e o o' for supporting it on the
ground substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete portable
regulator or stand for personal or individual shooting substantially as described
and illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.
4. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete portable
regulator or stand for personal or individual shooting substantially as described and
illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of March 1892.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.