An Improved Drop-down Gun.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 1st Sept., 1892-Accepted, 15th Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Drop-down Gun.
I GEORGE HUGHES, of 38, Chancery Lane, London, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, (a communication to me from abroad by Granville Henry, of
Nazareth, Pennsylvania, U.S. America, Gun Manufacturer) do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:―
My invention relates to that class of breech-loading fire-arms in which a side-
acting bolt is used for locking the barrel, the object of my invention being to
provide a simple device for moving the bolt so as to unlock the barrel, and for
moving the hammer to the position of half-cock simultaneously with the unlocking
of the barrel.
The barrel is locked in position by means of a laterally-sliding bolt, suitably
guided in an opening in one side of the lock-casing and having a stem projecting
into a socket in the other side of the lock-casing, a spring being interposed between
the head of the stem and the base of the socket, this spring having a
tendency to
draw the bolt inward, so as to cause it to engage with the usual slot in the pivot-
plate of the barrel and thus locking said barrel. The hammer of the gun has
within the lock-casing the usual hammer-lever or tumbler, which is acted upon by
the main spring, connected to the tumbler by a link, said tumbler having the usual
full-cock notch and half-cock notch for engagement with the toe of the trigger.
The unlocking-lever occupies a position on the top of the lock-casing and is secured
to, or forms part of a stem, which is free to turn in suitable bearings in the top
and bottom of the lock-casing, & has two cam-surfaces formed upon it. One cam
surface is formed by cutting one side of the stem near the lower end of the same,
and this cam acts upon a toe on the rear end of the locking bolt, so that movement
of the unlock-lever from one position to another, effects movement of the stem,
thereby moving the locking-bolt laterally to such an extent as to unlock the barrel
of the gun, the spring tending to restore the bolt to locking position as soon as
pressure is removed from the lever. The other cam consists of the beveled base
of a recess formed in the rear of the stem, and this cam acts upon a forwardly-
projecting tongue on the tumbler, so that the same movement of the stem which
effects the projection of the locking bolt will effect a lift of the forward end of the
tumbler, so as to permit the trigger to engage with the half-cock notch of the
same, the hammer being thereby lifted to the position of half-cock.
Dated this 1st day of December 1801
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Drop-down Gun.
1 GEORGE HUGHES, of 38, Chancery Lane, London, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, (a communication to me from abroad, by Granville Henry, of
Nazareth, Pennsylvania, U.S. America, Gun Manufacturer) 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 that class of breech-loading fire-arms in which a side-
acting bolt is used for locking the barrel, the object of my invention being to
provide a simple device for moving the bolt so as to unlock the barrel, and for
moving the hammer to the position of half-cock simultaneously with the unlocking
| Duinn Q17

page_text: of the barrel.
This object I attain in the manner hereinafter set forth, reference
being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the lock mechanism of a breech-loading gun
constructed in accordance with my invention, the side plate being detached to show
the internal parts.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the devices in a different position from that
represented in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view of that part of the mechanism to which
my invention specifically relates.
Fig. 4 is a side view of the lock mechanism, showing the parts in a position
similar to those shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a like view showing the parts in a position similar to those represented
in Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 is a view partly in plan and partly in section on the lines 1. 2. Fig. 4 and
Fig. 7 is a like view, the section being on the lines 3. 4. Fig. 5.
A represents the lock-casing, which has a rearwardly-projecting portion A¹ for
entering the stock of the gun and forwardly-projecting cheek-pieces A³, between
which fits the pivot-plate of the barrel structure, said check-pieces having open-
ings a for the reception of the pivot-pin of the barrel.
The barrel is locked in position by means of a laterally-sliding bolt B, suitably
guided in an opening in one side of the lock-casing and having a stem b projecting
into a socket in the other side of the lock-casing, as shown in Figs. 6. and 7, a
spring being interposed between the head end of the stem and the base of the
socket, and this spring having a tendency to draw the bolt B inward, so as to cause
it to engage with the usual slot in the pivot-plate of the barrel, and thus locking
said barrel. The hammer D of the gun has within the lock-casing the usual
hammer-lever or tumbler D', which is acted upon by a main spring F, connected to
the tumbler by a link F, said tumbler having the usual full-cock notch and half-
cock notch for engagement with the toe of the trigger G. The unlocking-
lever Joccupies a position on the top of the lock-casing and is secured to or forms
part of a stem I, which is free to turn in suitable bearings in the top and bottom of
the lock-casing, and has two cam-surfaces i and m formed upon it.
The cam-surface i is formed by cutting away one side of the stem I near the
lower end of the same, and this cam acts upon a toe n on the rear end of the
locking-bolt B, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. so that movement of the unlocking-
lever from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2 effects movement
of the stem from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. 7, thereby
moving the locking-bolt B laterally to such an extent as to unlock the barrel of the
gun, the spring/tending to restore the bolt to locking position as soon as pressure is
removed from the lever J. The cam m consists of the beveled base of a recess
formed in the rear of the stem I, and this cam acts upon a forwardly-projecting
tongues on the tumbler D', so that the same movement of the stem which effects
the projection of the locking-bolt B, will effect a lift of the forward end of the
tumbler, so as to permit the trigger to engage with the half-cock notch of the same,
the hammer being thereby lifted to the position of half-cock. (See Figs. 4 and 5.)
An effective but extremely simple device for the purpose is thus provided, which
does not require any material change in the other parts of the lock as now
constructed.
Having now particularly described my invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
--:
1. The combination of the lock-casing and the laterally-sliding locking-bolt therein,
having a laterally-projecting stem contained in a recess in said casing and having
an enlarged head, a spring surrounding said stem and acting upon the head of the
same, the top lever, and the lever-stem having a side cam acting upon the locking-
bolt to laterally project the same against the action of the spring, substantially as
specified.

page_text: 2. The combination of the lock-casing, the laterally-sliding locking-bolt, the
hammer, the tumbler, and the trigger with the top lever and its stem, the latter
having a side cam acting upon the locking-bolt to laterally project the same, and a
lifting-cam acting on the tumbler to move the hammer to the position of half-cock,
substantially as specified.
Dated this lot dar of Santambor 1905
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.