A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE TAKING OF AIM WITH FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Armand Mieg, now residing at Spandau, in the Kingdom
of Prussia, Captain in the Bavarian Army, for the Invention of "A NEW
OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE TAKING OF AIM WITH
FIRE-ARMS."
ealed the 20th April 1877, and dated the 31st October 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Armand Mieg at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st October 1876.
ARMAND MIEG, now residing at Spandau, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Captain in
the Bavarian Army. "A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE
TAKING OF AIM WITH FIRE-ARMS."
My Invention relates to an apparatus intended for controlling the aiming and
firing of military fire-arms, whereby an inspector standing on the left hand of a
soldier about to fire may at once see to which point of the target the soldier's fire-
arm is aimed. For this purpose I have placed above the ordinary and actual sight
line a second line of sight to be seen in a mirror.
The construction of this apparatus which is composed of two different parts is
shown on the accompanying Sheet of Drawing, and is as follows:-
The first part consists of a box a having a notch or slot b and a mirror C, which
box is fixed upon the barrel of the fire-arm, so that the direction of the notch or
slot b corresponds exactly with that of the notch or slot b' of the fire-arm. The
mirror is thus situated behind both the back sight and the front sight, and will
reflect the aiming to the left hand. The bottom surfaces of the two side pieces
or cheeks g and g¹ of the box a are set upon the upper plane of the block sight o,
and the bow or strap k is tightened against the stock m of the fire-arm by the two
screws and in order to secure the apparatus from shifting when the gun
is fired.
The second part of my apparatus consists of a box d with the aim sight e, and is
to be put upon the front end of the barrel and so far forward as to bring the aim
sight e exactly over the real aim sight e¹ of the fire-arm. A line drawn through the
slot b and the aim sight e to the point aimed at will give a second line of sight, the
control sight linen running parallel to the original sight line n¹, and keeping the same
vertical plane with it; this vertical plane is cut by the mirror e at an angle of 45°,

page_text: so that in aiming the slot b, the sight e, and the point aimed at will be reflected.
Assuming a third line of sight n², Figure II., drawn through these reflected points
this third line would cut the before-mentioned line at an angle of 90°. In this line
the eye of the inspector standing at the side of the soldier is as far distant from the
mirror as the eye of the soldier is distant from the slot b' of the musket. When
the soldier takes aim with his musket at the target the inspector will see in the
mirror above the slot b' and the sight e, both the target and that point of it at which
the soldier has aimed. Thus the inspector will be enabled to correct any errors and
give instructions to the soldier how to practice in aiming and firing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Armand Mieg in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th April 1877.
ARMAND MIEG, now residing at Spandau, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Captain in
the Bavarian Army. "A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE
TAKING OF AIM WITH FIRE-ARMS."
Figure 1 representing a side elevation of the barrel and part of the stock of a firé-
arm with my Invention applied thereto; Figure 2, a top plan view of the same;
and Figures 3 and 4, sectional views at A, B, C, D, Fig. 1.
My Invention relates to an apparatus intended for controlling the aiming and
firing of military fire-arms, whereby an instructor of musketry standing on the left
band of a soldier about to fire may at once see to which point of the target the
soldier's fire-arm is directed and where the shot will strike. For this purpose I
have placed above the ordinary and actual sight line of the soldier firing, a second
line of sight to be seen in a mirror by a bystander.
The construction of this apparatus which is composed of two different parts is as
follows:-
The first part consists of a box a having an opening or slot b and a mirror c,
which box is fixed upon the barrel of the fire-arm, so that the direction of the
opening or slot 6 corresponds exactly with that of the slot b¹ of the fire-arm; the
mirror is thus situated behind both the back and the front side, and will reflect to
the left of the marksman the aim that he is taking. The lower surfaces of the two
side pieces or cheeks g and g¹ of the box a are set upon the upper plane of the
block sight o, and the bow or strap k is tightened up against the stock m of the fire-
arm by the two screws 1, 1, in order to secure the apparatus from shifting when the
gun is fired.
The second part of my apparatus consists of the box d with the sight e¹, and is
put upon the front end of the barrel so far forward as to bring the sight e exactly
over the real aim sight e¹ of the fire-arm. A line drawn through the slot b and
sight e to the point aimed at will give a second line of sight; this control sight
linen running parallel to the original sight line n¹ and keeping the same vertical
plane with it; this vertical plane is cut by the mirror c at an angle of 45 degrees,
so that in aiming the slot b, the sight e, and the point aimed at will all be reflected.
Assuming a third line of sight n², Fig. 2, to be drawn through these reflected points,
this third line would cut the before-mentioned line at an angle of 90 degrees. In
this line the eye of the instructor standing at the side of the soldier is as far distant
from the mirror as the eye of the soldier is distant from the slot b¹ of the musket.
When the soldier takes aim with his musket the instructor will see in the mirror
above the slot and the sight e, both the target and that point at which the soldier
has aimed. Thus the instructor will be enabled to correct any errors and give
instruction to the soldiers how to practice in aiming and firing.
The importance of my apparatus in the instruction of young soldiers is self-
evident; it is equally applicable for long and short ranges and may be fitted so as
to move up and down with the sight.

page_text: Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is or may be performed, I would have it understood that [
do not confine myself to the precise details shown on the Drawing, as such may be
varied while retaining the principle of my Invention, and that what I claim as of
my Invention is, the superposition of a second line of sight above the ordinary line
of sight in combination with a mirror, substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Armand Mieg, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-eighth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Declared, Berlin Consulate General,
by the said Armand Mieg, this
28th day of March, before me
W. WEBER,
Proxy of H.B.M. Consul-General.
ARMAND MIEG. (L.S.)