Improvements in Firing Mechanism for Guns.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Feb., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 3rd May, 1898-Accepted, 16th July, 1898
Improvements in Firing Mechanism for Guns.
I, GERARD JAMES DAY, The George Hotel, Criccieth, North Wales, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention consists of altering the present trigger mechanism of rifles,
guns, or small arms, in the first place by doing away with the trigger as now
made, and substituting for it, a small wedge, or bolt stud, which on being
pressed upwards actuates a block, this block on coming in contact with the
elongated lower arm of the liberating lever depresses the upper arm and by that
means fires off the rifle or other small arm, or gun.
This wedge, or bolt-stud, is made with a slot through which pins are inserted
on which it moves upwards or downwards.
It is to be understood, this wedge or bolt-stud invention is applicable to all
kinds of rifles, small arms, guns of every description, with or without hammers,
single or double barrelled.
T
2.1 Wah 100o
GERARD JAMES DAY,
Applicant.
Improvements in Firing Mechanism for Guns.
I, GERARD JAMES DAY, residing at the George Hotel, Criccieth, in the County
of Carnarvon, North Wales, Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
It is well known to sportsmen that in passing a gun through a hedge or other
growth there is risk of a trigger, or one of the triggers, fouling a twig or
branch, and the gun thus becoming accidentally discharged, and a large number
of serious and often fatal accidents have resulted from this cause.
Now, this invention has for its object to avoid the danger referred to, by dis-
pensing altogether with a trigger or exposed part which has to be moved end-
ways of the gun in firing it; and the invention consists, in its main feature, in
the substitution for the trigger, or each trigger, of a gun, of a bolt-stud or push
button device which is simply pressed up into the lock mechanism to release the
striker or hammer and fire the gun.
The method by which the bolt-stud or push button device may be caused to
release the striker or hammer depends, of course, on the special construction of
the gun lock mechanism, and the adaptation of parts to suit any particular con-
D 077

page_text: struction of lock mechanism will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the
gun lock trade.
In order that the invention may be readily understood, however, I will describe
it, by way of example, as applied in the case of a double-barrelled fowling-piece
fitted with the usual kind of lock mechanism, and in doing so will refer to the
drawings herewith.
Figure 1 is an elevation of the inner side of the right-hand lock and of the
part which corresponds to the trigger plate, and which for convenience I will
refer to as the trigger plate, but which according to this invention carries, as
shewn, the two bolt-studs or push button devices for releasing the strikers cr
hammers. Figure 2 is a corresponding view to Figure 1, but shews the left-
hand lock mechanism. Figure 3 is a plan of the entire lock mechanism con-
sisting of the two side locks and the trigger plate and parts which it carries;
and Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on line xx of Figure 3 as seen looking
backwards, but with the trigger guard omitted.
"
It is unnecessary to describe the ordinary lock mechanism, and I will refer to
it only so far as it may be necessary to make the invention clear. A. and A' are
the push buttons for releasing the right and left hand strikers or hammers respec-
tively. a a¹ are shanks of the push buttons which pass through holes formed
therefor through the trigger plate B. 66 are enlargements or heads at the lower
or exposed ends of the push buttons, against which the finger is pressed to raise
them. c is a web or flange which stands up from the plate B and passes between
the portions of the push buttons A A¹ which enter within the lock chamber. The
push button A is in such position, in relation to the arm d of the right-hand
sear, that when it is pressed up it raises such arm of the sear and, consequently,
releases the right hand striker or hammer; and the push button A¹ is in similar
position in relation to the arm d¹ of the left-hand sear, for the same purpose.. It
is preferred, however, to make the left-hand sear considerably longer than the
right-hand sear, as shewn, so that the push button A¹ may be in position suffi-
ciently rearwards of the push button A to avoid liability of it being accidentally
pushed up when the right-hand barrel is being fired. The portions of the sears
which are concealed by other portions of the mechanism as seen in plan view,
are shewn by broken lines in Figure 3. The upper portions of the push buttons
may be guided in any suitable manner. According to the arrangement shewn,
and which I find to be a convenient one, the portions of the push buttons which
are always above the trigger plate are formed of a somewhat flat shape, as shewn,
and one of the broader sides of each slides against a side of the web or flange c.
Each of these portions is formed with a slotted hole e or el therethrough, and a
pin for f, which has a suitable head with a notch therein for a screw driver,
is passed through the hole and screwed into the flange c. The pins are, of course,
just an easy fit within the holes, and allow of the upward and downward move-
ment of the push buttons. The shoulders formed by the bottom ends of the
widened portions of the push buttons form stops to their downward movement.
Each push button is, preferably, formed with an enlargement at the top of the
flattened portion thereof, to give ample wearing surface in contact with the corre-
sponding sear.
The trigger guard C may be smaller, and consequently neater, than when
required for use with the ordinary trigger arrangement.
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. The substitution of a bolt-stud or push button device for the trigger, or
each trigger; of a gun, substantially as described.
2. A bolt-stud or push button device as used in substitution for a trigger of a
gun, substantially as described and shewn by the drawings herewith.

page_text: 3. In the lock mechanism of a double-barrelled gun, the combination of bolt-
studs or push button devices, used in substitution for triggers, with sears of
different lengths, substantially as described and shewn by the drawings herewith.
Dated the 2nd day of May 1898.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.