IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Gardner of Curtain Road in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING
FIRE-ARMS”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Gardner at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th April 1883.
WILLIAM GARDNER of Curtain Road in the County of Middlesex, Engineer,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
"
My invention relates to improvements in breech loading fire arms of that class
in which there are two or more barrels. It is chiefly designed to improve the
construction and increase the efficiency of pistols but is also applicable to rifles,
carbines, sporting guns, and the like.
In the following description I will more particularly refer to my said improvements
as applied to a pistol. The ordinary modern type of a pistol with multiple
barrels is the revolver whose construction is so well known that I need not now
describe it. My improved pistol is not a revolver and my invention is designed to
supersede pistols of this class, and replace them by a weapon which will really
accomplish the objects and afford the advantages which have been sought and
hoped for by numerous inventors and manufacturers of pistols with revolving
barrels or cylinders.
Only those persons who are familiar with the use of these arms can fully realize
the extent to which in practice they fall short of the theoretical perfection which
they have had the reputation of possessing. But it is not difficult to shew that
their defects are inherent to the principle of their construction and action, and that
although the inconveniences resulting from such defects may possibly be diminished
by very great care and attention to their construction and skill in thier use, yet
they must exist.
It is not necessary to enumerate the defects which I allude to but to facilitate
the explanation of the objects of my invention I will refer to one feature in the
use of revolvers which it will be universally admitted seriously impairs their value.

page_text: A superficial understanding of the nature of these weapons has resulted in a
prevailing impression that in an emergency, where time is all important for attack
or defence, all of the barrels of a revolver can be successively fired with as true an
aim and as sure effect as the single barrel of an ordinary pistol; but a little
consideration will shew this idea to be fallacious
"
If the revolver is of that class wherein the hammer has to be raised or cocked
by hand after firing each barrel, it is obvious that the act of cocking gives to the
adversary an advantage which, though but slight in point of time, may be decisive.
And if the revolver is self-cocking, although time is saved in its manipulation yet
the greater exertion required in pulling the trigger will be found very disadvan-
tageous in cases where, in discharging the barrels one after the other, accuracy of
aim is of vital importance.
Now by my invention these evils are entirely avoided. I provide a pistol with
two or more barrels arranged in combination and fired with one trigger. For the
sake of convenience of description I will now refer more particularly to a three-
barrelled pistol. The three barrels are preferably formed in one piece of metal and
in the relative position of the angles of a triangle; they are jointed to the frame
so that they can be freely moved on the joint for opening and closing the barrels
as hereinafter described; as they are all formed in one piece it is obvious that they
all move together on the said joint or hinge. At the rear of the said barrels are
the cocks or hammers, one for each barrel. In the three-barrelled arm which I am
now particularly describing the middle barrel is placed centrally above the other
two. Referring to the order in which I prefer to have them consecutively fired I
call this barrel No 1, the right hand barrel No 2, and the left hand barrel No 3, and
I distinguish the hammers and other parts hereinafter described by the saine
numbers.
The mechanism for actuating the hammers is as follows;-that is to say I use a
main spring formed of one flat piece of steel divided longitudinally into three equal
tongues or leaves from one end nearly to the other end. The undivided end is
thickened and formed to fit, and be secured in, a nearly circular channel extending
transversely across the bottom of the stock or butt end of the frame. Each tongue
or leaf forms an independent spring which actuates one of the hammers; that is to
say the middle tongue or spring actuates the middle or No 1 hammer, the right
hand spring actuates No 2 hammer and the left hand spring No 3 hammer. Each
cock or hammer has on the periphery of its boss or central portion a notch or
shoulder properly arranged relatively to its spring for the latter to act thereon
to drive the hammer down upon the firing pin. There are three firing pins
titted in chambers in the breech in the proper position to act on the cartridges
in the three barrels. In combination with the said hammers and springs I arrange
the sears which are also constructed by dividing from one end nearly to the other,
a suitably shaped steel plate into three tongues or bars, each of which forms an
independent sear; the middle sear acts upon the middle or No 1 hammer and the
other two upon No and No 3 hammers. This triple sear is secured at its
undivided end by a screw or other means to the stock of the pistol. The upper
end of each of its three tongues or divisions has a shoulder arranged to engage
with a notch or tooth on the periphery of the boss of the hammer; and is extended
up beyond this shoulder to engage with a sliding piece which is connected to a
vertical arm on the trigger in such a manner as to be moved forward when the
latter is pulled; this sliding piece is capable of a slight tilting or vibrating
movement on the joint which connects it with the vertical arm of the trigger
The said sliding piece has on the underside of its rear extremity three claws or
projections, which, when the hammer is cocked, rest on an edge which forms the
termination of the under portion of the hammer, that is to say, the portion
wherein the said notches are cut.
These claws are kept properly in contact with the points of the sears by a bent
spring placed between the sliding piece and the trigger; the said spring also
serves to restore the trigger to its nominal position after firing. It is formed by

page_text: bending a flat piece of steel and is kept in place by a transverse pin extending
through its bent end. It is slotted to permit the vertical arm of the trigger to pass
through it.
The arrangement of the aforesaid claws relatively to the hammers and sears,
which is an important feature of my invention, is as follows viz The middle one
of the three claws on the said sliding piece corresponds with the middle, or No 1,
hammer; therefore while this haminer remains cocked the rear end of the said
sliding piece is in its highest position. While in this position the middle claw
projects over the extension on the upper end of No 1 sear, and the shoulder of this
sear is engaged with the notch in No 1 hammer. When the trigger is pulled the
sliding piece moves forward and the said claw pulls the sear out of engagement
with the hammer which is then driven forward by the main spring. The sliding
piece and trigger then return to their normal position, and claw No 2, which has
been till now held by the point of its sear from dropping into engagement
therewith, then drops upon the edge of No 2 hammer so that the same can then be
actuated and No 2 barrel then fired, then No 3 claw drops on the edge of No 3
hammer which can then be actuated and No 3 barrel fired in its turn; thus all of
the hammers can be successively operated by one trigger.
And it will be obvious that as all of the hammers can be instantaneously
cocked, and can be kept cocked, the arm will be readily available in any
emergency and all of the barrels may be successively fired without any disturbance
of the aim, by cocking the hammers between the shots
The aforesaid sliding piece also serves another purpose viz it acts in combination
with a transverse pin to prevent the firing of the pistol before the barrels are
properly closed at the breech. The said pin extends through the sides of the
frame below the barrels; from the latter a hook, formed solidly thereon, extends
downward in the proper position to engage with the said pin. For this purpose
this pin has its middle portion made semi-cylindrical and is fitted with a capability
of turning in its bearings in the frame outside of which it has a small button or
cross piece to facilitate its manipulation. By turning this pin on its axis its
semi-cylindrical portion can be caused to engage with the said hook to lock the
barrel securely to the frame, and while the pin is in this position the sliding piece
can move forward as aforesaid when the trigger is pulled. But when the said pin
is turned out of engagement with the said hook it lies across the forward end of
the sliding piece which is thus stopped and prevents the action of the trigger.
The mechanism just above described lies below the extractor which serves for
the three barrels. This extractor is formed of a thin bar with a vertical piece at
its rear end properly formed to engage with the flanges of the cartridges in the
said barrels and to push the same out when the extractor is forced backward.
The said bar is fitted to slide in a narrow groove or channel formed between the
two lower barrels and its forward end is arranged in combination with the
following peculiar devices, viz, between the two jaws of the joint on which the
barrels move I place a loose piece or catch which is fitted to turn on the joint pin.
This loose piece has a shoulder, which, when the barrels have been turned down
a short distance, engages with the forward extremity of the extractor bar so as to
force the same backward to push out the cartridge cases when the breach is
opened. The said loose piece or catch is arranged to act in such a manner that
although it will start the empty cartridge cases from the barrel as they are
turned down on their joint, yet it offers no obstruction to the insertion of fresh
cartridges; this result is obtained as follows; that is to say, the said loose piece
has on its rear lower edge a shoulder which engages with the extremnity of a
spring secured to the frame; this spring tends always to throw the said piece or
catch forward clear of the extractor, but this tendency is, until the barrels are
depressed to a certain distance, counteracted by a spring which acts on another
shoulder on the said catch. When, however, by the continued depression of the
barrels this last named shoulder is freed from the resistance of the spring that acts
thereon, the other spring turns the said catch so that the extractor can slide freely

page_text: forward. I prefer that these two springs should be placed one above the other
and both secured at their rear extremity by one screw to the frame; the upper
spring which acts to drive the catch forward may be a simple fat piece of steel
the other spring has at its free extremity a shoulder to engage with the shoulder
on the catch and its extremity projects beyond the said shoulder into contact with
a part of the joint which acts as a cam and forces the spring down as the barrels
are depressed till the shoulder on the said spring is clear of the shoulder on the
catch.
Reverting to the hammers I will now describe an arrangement which I have
devised for preventing accidental discharge of the cartridges by a blow on the
hammer when the pistol is being carried uncocked. The interior of the stock is
provided with a projection which limits the movement of the main spring so that
at the moment of the impact of the hammer on the firing pin the said hammer is
out of engagement with the spring. As a result of this, the hammer, when not
cocked, is free to fall back a slight distance from the firing pin and a blow thereon
might cause the latter to discharge the cartridge. I however prevent all danger
of such an accident by the following device, viz, I pass transversely through the
frame at the rear of the hammer a pin with a semi-cylindrical portion and capable
of being turned on its axis like that above described. In the periphery of the
boss or curved portion of each hammer I form a semi-circular notch or recess in
such a position that it will engage with the said pin when the hammer is uncocked
and its nose or extremity is a slight distance from the end of the firing pin. When
the transverse pin is so turned as to enter the said notch the hammer will be held
immovably and could not be driven forward by a blow on its upper portion, or be
cocked; but when the said pin is turned out of the said notch the hammer is
released. A small cross bar or button is fixed on the said pin at one side of the
stock to facilitate its adjustment
The frame may be of any suitable construction. For the pistol above described
I prefer to make it of brass or similar metal. In this case I provide a steel breech-
plate at the rear of the barrels.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said William Gardner in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th November 1883.
WILLIAM GARDNER, of Curtain Road, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS "
My invention relates to breech-loading fire-arms of that class in which there
are two or more barrels. It is chiefly designed to improve the construction and
increase the efficiency of pistols, but is also applicable to rifles, carbines, sporting
guns and the like.
In the following description I will more particularly refer to my improvements
as applied to a pistol. The ordinary modern type of a pistol with multiple
barrels is the revolver whose construction is so well known that I need not now
describe it.
My improved pistol is not a revolver, and my invention is designed to supersede
pistols of this class, and replace them by a weapon which will accomplish the
objects, and afford the advantages, which have been sought and hoped for by
numerous inventors and manufacturers of pistols with revolving barrels or
cylinders.
Only those persons who are familiar with the use of these arms can fully realize
the extent to which, in practice, they fall short of the theoretical perfection which
they have had the reputation of possessing. But it is not difficult to show that
their defects are inherent to the principle of their construction and action, and
that although the inconveniences resulting from such defects may possibly be
diminished by very great care and attention to their construction, and skill in
their use, yet these defects must exist.
It is not necessary to enumerate the defects which I allude to, but to facilitate
the explanation of the objects of my invention I will refer to one feature in the
use of revolvers, which, it will be universally admitted, seriously impairs their
value. A superficial understanding of the nature of these weapons has resulted
in a prevailing impression that in an emergency, where time is all important for
attack or defence, all of the barrels of a revolver can be successively fired with as
true an aim and as sure an effect as the single barrel of an ordinary pistol; but a
little consideration will shew this idea to be fallacious.
If the revolver is of that class wherein the hammer has to be raised or cocked
by hand after firing each barrel, it is obvious that the act of cocking gives to the
adversary an advantage, which, though but slight in point of time, may be decisive.
And, if the revolver is self-cocking, although time is saved in its manipulation,
yet the greater exertion required in pulling the trigger will be found very
disadvantageons in cases where, in discharging the barrels, one after the other,
accuracy of aim is of vital importance.
Now by my invention these evils are entirely avoided. I provide a fire-arm
with two or more barrels, and as many cocks or hammers arranged in combination
with one trigger. For the sake of convenience of description, I will now refer
more particularly to a three-barrelled pistol of which I have shewn an example in
the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section shewing the breech closed.

page_text: :
Figure 8 is a plan or top view of the frame, with the breech mechanism and
without the barrels.
"
Figure 9 shews the main springs, and
Figure 10 shews the sears as they would be seen from the rear of the pistol.
Figure 11 is a side view
Figure 12 an underside view, and
Figure 13 a rear end view of the extractor.
Figure 14 is a side view, and
Figure 15 an edge view of a device for assisting to actuate the same.
Figure 16 is an end view, and
Figure 17 a plan of a sliding piece hereinafter described..
Figure 18 is an edge view of the trigger, and
Figures 19, 20 and 21 are plans of springs hereinafter, described.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the drawing.
A is the frame, which may be of brass or other suitable material. B is the group
of barrels. The three barrels B1, B2, B³, are preferably formed in one piece of metal
in the relative positions of the angles of a triangle as shewn, but they may be
otherwise arranged if desired; they are jointed or hinged to the frame at a so that
they can be freely moved on the joint to open and close the breech as hereinafter
described; when they are all formed in one piece as shewn, it is obvious that they
will move together on the said joint or hinge. At the rear of the said barrels are
the cocks or hammers b¹, b', b³, one for each barrel. In the three-barrelled arm
which I am now particularly describing, it will be seen that the barrel B¹ is placed
centrally above the barrels B³, Bs. The numbers indicate the order in which I prefer
to have them consecutively fired.
"
The mechanism for actuating the hammers 61, 62, 6³ is as follows, that is to say, I
use three main-springs c¹, c³, c³ formed of one flat piece of steel divided longitu-
dinally from one end nearly to the other end into three equal tongues or leaves as
shewn in Figure 9. The undivided end c is thickened and so formed as to fit, and
be secured, in an approximately circular channel or groove extending transversely
across the bottom of the stock or butt end of the frame at d. Each tongue, leaf or
spring actuates one of the hammers, that is to say, the spring c¹ actuates the
hammer b', the spring c³ actuates the hammer b', and the spring c³ actuates the
hammer bs. Each cock or hammer has, on the periphery of its boss or central
portion, a notch or shoulder 64 properly arranged relatively to its spring for the
latter to act thereon to drive the hammer against the corresponding firing pin.
There are three firing pins e¹; e, es so fitted in chambers in the breech as to act on
the cartridges in the three barrels.
In combination with the said hammers and springs, I arrange the sears ƒ¹, ƒ³, ƒ³
which are also formed by dividing, from one end nearly to the other end, a suitably
shaped steel plate into three tongues or bars each of which constitutes an inde-
pendent sear; the sear f¹ acts upon the hammer b¹ and the sears f³, ƒ³ act upon
the hammers 6, 63. respectively. This triple sear is secured at its undivided end f,
by a screw f* or other means, to the stock of the pistol. The upper end of each
sear has a shoulder f, and a notch or tooth b is formed on the periphery of the
boss of each hammer, with which notch the said shoulder is arranged to engage.
Each sear is extended up beyond this shoulder to engage with a sliding piece g which
is connected to a vertical arm h¹ on the trigger h in such a manner as to be moved
forward when the said trigger is pulled to discharge one of the barrels; this sliding
piece g is capable of a slight oscillatory movement on the pin h³ which connects it
with the vertical arm of the trigger.
The said sliding piece g has on the underside of its rear extremity three claws or

page_text: projections g¹, g³, g, each of which, when the corresponding hammer is cocked, rests
on an edge or projection 6* on the boss or central portion of the said hammer.
These claws g, g, g, when the hammers are uncocked, are kept properly in
contact with the points of the sears f³,ƒ³,ƒ³, by a bent spring i placed between
the sliding piece g and the trigger has clearly shewn in Figures 1 and 2; the
said spring also serves by its pressure on the shoulders h³ of the trigger to
restore the latter to its normal position after firing. This spring is formed by
bending a flat piece of steel and is held in place by a transverse pin ; extending
through its bent end. It is slotted as shewn at i, Figure 19, to permit the vertical
arm of the trigger to pass through it.
The arrangement of the claws g³, g³, g³, relatively to the hammers b¹, b³, b³ and
sears f, ff, which is an important feature of my invention, is as follows, viz :-
the claw g corresponds with the hammer b₁ and projects down beyond the
claws g, g; the claws g³, g³ correspond respectively with the hammers b³, b³, but
the claw g projects below the claw g³ as clearly shewn in Figure 16. When the
hammer bis cocked, the shoulder f of the sear f¹ engages with the notch b³ in
the said hammer, and the rear end of the sliding piece g is raised to its highest
position by the edge or projection b* of the said hammer, as shewn in Figure 1, so
that the claw gl engages with the point of the sear f¹ and projects down behind
the same, but the claws g², g³ are kept up out of engagement with the sears f², f³.
The hammers b, 63 may either be cocked or may remain uncocked. When the trigger
is pulled, the sliding piece g moves forward and its claw g' pulls the sear f¹ out of
engagement with the hammer b', which is then driven forward by the main
spring c¹ and fires the barrel B'. The sliding piece g and trigger h then return to
their normal position and the claw g³ which has been till now kept from engaging
with the sear ƒ drops behind this sear upon the edge or projection b* of the
hammer b if the said hammer is cocked. The trigger being then pulled moves
the sliding piece g which, acting on the sear fƒ³, pulls it out of engagement with
the hammer b thereby firing the barrel B'. The sliding piece and trigger then
again return to their normal position, and, if the hammer 63 is cocked, the claw g³
drops on the edge or projection 6* of the said hammer b³ and into engagement with
the sear, and the trigger being again pulled the said sear is disengaged from the
hammer bs and the barrel B' is then fired in its turn; thus all of the hammers can
be successively operated by one trigger, and it will be readily seen that either of
the hammers may be cocked and the corresponding barrel fired independently of
the others.
It is obvious that, as all of the hammers can be instantaneously cocked and can
be kept cocked, the arm will be readily available in any emergency and all of the
barrels may be successively fired without any delay or disturbance of the aim
through having to cock the hammers between the shots.
The sliding piece g also serves another purpose viz, it acts in combination with a
transverse pink to prevent the firing of either of the barrels before they are properly
closed at the breech. The said pin k extends through the sides of the frame below
the barrels; from the latter a hook 1, fixed or formed thereon, extends downward in
the proper position to engage with the said pink. This pin has its middle portion
made semi-cylindrical and is capable of turning in its bearings in the frame, outside
of which it has a small arm or button k' to facilitate its manipulation. By turning
this pin on its axis, its semi-cylindrical portion can be caused to engage with the
said hook, as shewn in Figure 1, to lock the barrels securely to the frame, and
while the pink is in this position the sliding piece g can move forward as aforesaid
when the trigger is pulled. But when the said pin is turned out of engagement
with the said hook, as shewn in Figure 2, it lies in the path of the sliding piece g
whose forward movement by the pulling of the trigger is thus prevented.
The mechanism just above described lies below the extractor which serves for
the three barrels. This extractor is formed of a thin bar m with a vertical piece m¹
at its rear end properly formed to engage with the flanges of the cartridges in the
said barrels, and to push the same out when the extractor is forced backward,

page_text: The said bar m is fitted to slide in a narrow groove or channel n formed between
the two lower barrels, and its forward end is arranged in combination with the
following peculiar devices, viz-Between the two jaws a' of the joint on which
the barrels move I place a loose piece or catch o which is fitted to turn on the pin a².
This loose piece has a shoulder o¹ which, when the barrels have been turned down 5
or depressed, slightly at the muzzle end to open the breech, engages with the
´ forward extremity of the extractor-bar m so as to force the same backward to push
out the empty cartridge-cases. The said loose piece or catch o is arranged to act
in such a manner that, although it will start the empty cartridge cases from the
barrels as the latter are depressed, yet it offers no obstruction to the insertion of 1
fresh cartridges; this result is obtained as follows, that is to say, the said loose
piece has on its rear edge a shoulder of which engages with the extremity of a
spring p secured to the frame A. This spring tends always to throw the said piece
or catch o forward clear of the extractor, but this tendency is (until the barrels are
depressed to a certain extent) counteracted by a spring q which acts on another 1
shoulder os, on the said catch o. When, however, by the continued depression of
the barrel, the shoulder o³ is freed from the resistance of the spring g that acts
thereon, the other spring p turns the said catch o so that the extractor can slide
freely forward. I prefer that these two springs p, q should be placed one above
the other and both be secured to the frame at their rear extremity by one screw r;
the spring which acts to drive the catch forward may be a simple flat piece of
steel; the spring q has at its free extremity a shoulder q' to engage with the
shoulder o on the catch o, and the extremity q of the said spring projects beyond
the said shoulder into contact with a part a³ of the joint which acts as a cam and
forces the spring g down, when the barrels are depressed, till the shoulder g¹ on the
said spring is clear of the shoulders o³ on the catch o. I provide the extractor-bar
with a projection m³ so arranged in combination with the stop m* as to prevent the
accidental displacement of the extractor.
Reverting to the hammers I will now describe an arrangement which I have
devised for preventing accidental discharge of the cartridges by a blow on one of
the hammers when the pistol is being carried uncocked. The interior of the stock
or butt end is provided with a projections which limits the movement of the main
springs, so that, at the moment of the impact of the hammer on the firing pin, the
said hammer is out of engagement with the spring. The hammer, when not
cocked, is therefore free to fall back, and it is held back by the sear a slight
distance from the firing pin, as shewn in Figure 2, and a blow on the said hammer
might cause the discharge of the cartridge. I, however, prevent all risk of such an
accident by the following device, that is to say, I pass transversely through the
frame at the rear of the hammers, a pin t with a semi-cylindrical portion and
capable of being turned on its axis like that above described for preventing the
firing of the arm before the breech is closed. In the periphery of the boss or
curved portion of each hammer I form a semi-circular notch or recess 66 in such a
position that it will engage with the said pin t when the hammer is uncocked and
its nose or extremity is a slight distance from the end of the firing pin as shewn in
Figure 2. When the transverse pin t is so turned as to enter the notch bª the
hammer is held immovably and cannot be driven forward by a blow on its upper
portion, or be cocked; but when the said pin is turned out of the said notch the
hammer is released as shewn in Figure 1. A small lever or button is fixed on the
said pin at one side of the stock to facilitate its adjustment.
The frame A may be of any suitable construction. For the pistol above described
I prefer to make it of brass or similar metal. In this case I provide a steel breech-
plate at the rear of the barrels. By making the frame in this manner I am
enabled to avail myself of a comparatively easy and cheap manner of construction,
as I can plane the brass or other metal parallel on both sides and then secure
thereon the steel plate u (which is wider than the frame) in any convenient
manner.

page_text: Having thus fully described my said invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim-
First. A fire-arm with two or more barrels and as many cocks or hammers so
arranged in combination with one trigger that they may all be cocked together,
and in using the weapon they will be ready to operate without adjustment or
delay.
Second. The construction of the main-springs by dividing one plate into two or
more tongues or strips, substantially as described.
Third. The construction of the sears in like manner.
Fourth. The mechanism consisting of the series of hammers, springs and sears
and of the sliding piece provided with the claws and connected with the trigger,
all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as set forth for the purpose
specified.
Fifth. The combination of the said sliding piece with the transverse pin
extending at the end of the same through the frame, and with the hook or hooks
on the barrels arranged to engage with the said pin, substantially as, and for the
purposes, set forth.
Sixth. The combination, with the extractor, of the device consisting of the loose
piece or catch placed on the pin between the jaws, the springs, and the cam so
arranged to act on the said loose piece that when the barrels are partly depressed
the empty cartridge cases will be started therefrom and on the further depression
of the barrels the extractor will be released to permit the insertion of fresh
cartridges, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. The provision of the transverse pin in combination with the recesses
in the hammers, substantially as described, to prevent the accidental discharge of
any of the barrels.
Eighth. The combination, with the frame (when the same is made of brass or
other soft metal), of the steel breech-plate, substantially as, and for the purpose,
specified.
Ninth. A fire-arm provided with two or more barrels jointed to, and capable of
turning on, the frame and as many firing pins, hammers, main springs and sears,
in combination with one trigger and with devices for transmitting the movement
of the trigger to the said hammers for discharging the entire series of barrels
successively or consecutively without having to cock or adjust the hammers
between the shots.
In witness whereof I the said William Gardner have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Tenth day of November in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.