An Improved Controlling Device for the Sight of Fire-arms of all kinds.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 27th May, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Controlling Device for the Sight of Fire-arms
of all kinds.
I, AUGUST HEINERICH HERMAN MAIN, of 24, Alexandrinenstrasse, Rostock i/M.,
in the Empire of Germany, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, and accompanying
drawing, that is to say:-
It is well known that it is impossible for even the best marksmen. (soldiers)
to determine with absolute certainty whether the sight is normally adjusted or
not, or whether it is a trifle too much inclined to the right or left. Only after
the result of the shot the marksman learns that the sight has not been normally
adjusted correctly at the time of aiming, and that the unnoticed deviation of
the sight from the normal direction has caused the unexpected result. The least
degree of deviation of the sight, as is well known, during the flight of the pro-
jectile, is a hundred or more times multiplied.
The marksman, therefore, has no criterion for judging the deviation of the
sight before the moment of firing. Hitherto, he has only been able to rely upon
his faculty of seeing and on his self-confidence, which two factors do not always
prove absolutely reliable.
The present invention has for its object to obviate this disadvantage, as by its
aid the marksman, whose rifle has, besides the sight arrangement proper, been
provided with the improved arrangement, is enabled to at once see at a glance
from the position of the lower point of a hanging bar or pendulum in relation
to that of the immoveable bottom point of a frame, whether the sight is normally
adjusted correctly or not. Supposing the arrangement so correctly adjusted,
the point of the pendulum will always be in a vertical line with the point on
the fixed frame, whereas it will, otherwise, deviate from that position.
The sight-controlling device consists of a fixing plate a, a frame 6 moveably
attached to the plate by means of hinges f¹, the bottom of which frame has an
inner upwardly directed rigid point b, b, or sight point; the closing plate d
which, when raised, acts as a lever on the frame b, its hinge f being placed
underneath its bottom end and above the hinge fl of the fixing plate a.
At the head of the frame b, the part o of which, indicated by dotted lines,
may if necessary be made moveable, a recess is provided to receive the top part
of the pendulum c, which is thus inserted and held by the screw bolt m, upon
which it is suspended.
The sight-controlling device is, by means of the fixing plate a and the
screws g, g, or in any other suitable manner, laterally attached to the rifle, and
in the direction of the eye of the marksman, in such a manner that it is placed
at a corresponding distance between the lock and the rear sight proper.
In cases where the sight-controlling device cannot be inserted into the butt-
end of the rifle, the fixing-plate a is made angular (as shown at r, Figure 8)
077

page_text: for the purpose, of fixing the said sight-controlling device in a horizontal position
on the side of the rifle.
The sight-controlling device is, when closed, similar to a flat bar, and being
only slightly visible, does not in any way interfere with the use of the rifle. The
device is secured when closed by the pin h on the locking plate d, the said pin
passing through an opening provided for that purpose in the head of the frame,
and resting in the recess of the locking plate. In order to adjust the sight-
controlling device for use, the locking-plate is raised up and drawn backwards
with the tip of a finger, the whole arrangement being such that, on the said
plate being raised, it acts like a lever on the frame b, thus bringing the whole
apparatus in a position ready for use. By raising the plate d, the apparatus is
again closed and assumes its original position.
The annexed drawings represent the sight-controlling device, which is
shown in
Figure 1 in a closed position, as seen from above;
Figure 2 in a perspective view, whilst being opened;
Figure 3 in a position ready for use;
Figure 4, showing the fixing plate a;
Figure 5, the frame b, without the pendulum;
Figure 6, the pendulum c;
Figure 7, the closing plate d;
Figure 8, the fixing plate a, with angular projecting plate r, for attaching it
to the butt-end of the rifle ;
Figure 9, a form of the screw employed as a hinge.
any
The sight-controlling device may be made of any desired size and in suit-
able form, and of any metal or other durable material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
The sight-controlling device for fire-arms of all kinds, characterized by a
frame b, mechanically assuming a position ready for use on a closing plate d
being raised and drawn backward, the inner bottom of which frame is adapted to
form a pointed stud b, b, whilst from the top of the said frame is suspended a
pendulum c which, when the sight is normal, is in exactly the same perpendicular
as the point of the stud b, b; and deviates from that direction at the least deviation
of the sight from its normal position.
1000
EDWARDS AND CO.,
Chartered Patent Agents, 65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.