AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MAINSPRING BEARING OF THE REBOUNDING BACK-ACTION SAFETY GUN, RIFLE, AND PISTOL LOCKS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Stanton, of No. 13, Clifton Street, Wolverhampton,
in the County of Stafford, Gun Lock Manufacturer, for the Invention of" AN
IMPROVEMENT IN THE MAINSPRING BEARING OF THE REBOUNDING BACK-ACTION
SAFETY GUN, RIFLE, AND PISTOL LOCKS.”
Sealed the 21st August 1877, and dated the 8th March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Stanton at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th March 1877.
JOHN STANTON, of No. 13, Clifton Street, Wolverhampton, in the County of
Stafford, Gun Lock Manufacturer. "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MAINSPRING
BEARING OF THE REBOUNDING BACK-ACTION SAFETY GUN, RIFLE, AND PISTOL
Locks."
The main object of my Invention is to make the locks of single and double
barrelled guns, rifles, and pistols, sounder or firmer, and more perfect in action than
the ordinary locks made for such purposes, thereby making the sears perfectly free,
and rendering the gun, pistol, or rifle lock, less liable to accident.
The ordinary locks have been hitherto made with the leg or stud on the bridle,
and with the mainspring bearing against it, causing the sear to work with great
and injurious friction, which soon disarranged the lock, which required repairing. By
my Invention I fix the leg or stud upon the lock plate, and into this stud I screw
the bridle upon it. This solid stud does not retard, but perfects the action of the
sear and sear spring, which is most important for the safety and free action of all
back-action gun locks. By this arrangement the bridle is kept firm upon the plate,
and perfect action produced. This reversal of the location of the solid stud or leg
from the bridle to the lock plate does not change the appearance of the parts of the
lock, but effects very desirable results in its wear and its easy action.
In order that this reversal of the location of the leg or stud from the bridle to
the lock plate may be clearly understood, I annex Drawings of the lock plate and
bridles, with letters of reference thereto.
Fig. 1, plan of lock plate shewing position or place of the leg or stud (a); into
this stud I fix the screw which holds fast the bridle.
Fig. 2, perspective view of the lock plate showing the stud or leg upon it at (a).

page_text: Fig. 3, plan of the bridle; b, b, bridle pin holes; c, tumbler pivot hole; d, sear peg
hole; e, hole in bridle, which is placed upon the stud (a), Fig. 2.
Fig. 4, perspective view of the bridle without a stud at (f).
Fig. 5, perspective view of the bridle as hitherto made on ordinary locks, shewing
the stud or leg (g) upon it, which was screwed to the lock plate, but which 5
stud I do not require, as I now put it upon the lock plate as before described
at Fig. 2.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Stanton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd August
1877.
JOHN STANTON, of [No. 13, Clifton Street, Wolverhampton, in the County of
Stafford, Gun Lock Manufacturer. "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MAINSPRING
BEARING OF THE REBOUNDING BACK-ACTION SAFETY GUN, RIFLE, AND PISTOL
Locks."
The main object of my Invention is to make the rebounding locks of single and
double barrelled guns, rifles, and pistols, sounder or firmer, and more perfect in
nction than the gun locks hitherto made for such purposes, thereby making
the sears perfectly free, and rendering the gun, pistol, or rifle lock less liable to
accident.
The rebounding gun locks have been hitherto made with the leg or stud on the
bridle, and with the mainspring bearing against it, causing the sear to work with
great and injurious friction, which soon disarranged the lock and made it work stiff.
By my Invention I place the leg or stud upon the lock plate, and into this stud I
screw the bridle upon it. This solid stud does not retard, but perfects the action
of the scar and sear spring, which is most important for the safety and free action
of all back-action gun locks. By this arrangement the bridle is kept firmly upon
the plato, and perfect action is thereby produced. This reversal of the location of
the solid stud or leg from the bridle to the lock plate does not change the appearance
of the parts or appearance of the fittings of the lock, but it effects very desirable
results in its wear and in its action.
In order that this reversal of the location of the leg or stud from the bridle to
the lock plate may be clearly understood, I annex Drawings of the lock plate and
bridles, illustrating the improvement according to my Invention, also Drawings
of the lock plate and bridle as hitherto made for such locks, with letters of reference
to these Drawings.
Figure 1 is a plan of the lock plate, and shows the location of the stud upon it
at A; B shews the position of the axle hole; C, D, the bridle pin holes; E the scar
pin hole; F the sear spring pin hole; G the sear spring stud hole; H the mainspring
stud hole, and I the hook.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the lock plate in a line through the parts B,
A, F, I, the letters of reference corresponding with the letters of reference shewn on
plan, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lock plate, shewing the stud A upon it,
and the position of the holes corresponding with plan, Figure 1, and the hook I.
Figure is a plan of the bridle, the holes corresponding with the holes shewn on
plan, Figure 1. By invertion of the bridle the holes will correspond, and the holo
at A can be screwed upon the improved stud or leg A, Figures 1, 2, and 3.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the bridle shewing the studs C, D, upon it, but
at the hole A there is no stud; B is the axle hole; E, the sear pin hole.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the bridle as hitherto made showing the stud M
upon it. By inverting this bridle the stud M corresponds with the hole in the lock
plate at section A, Figure 7.
Figure 7 is a vertical section of the lock plate, upon which there is not a stud,

page_text: and to which the stud has not been hitherto made, but has been upon the bridle,
as shewn by M, Figure 6; A, the hole upon which the stud M, Figure 6, of bridle
was fixed; B, the axle hole; F, the sear spring pin hole; I, the hook.
Having now explained the object of my Invention, and the manner of carrying
the same into effect, I claim the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as afore-
said, the making of the rebounding gun, rifle, and pistol locks, with the leg or stud
upon the lock plate, and making the bridle without the leg or stud upon it,
Sherein described, thus effecting a firm and secure bearing for the mainspring of
such gun locks.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Stanton, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-second day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
JOHN STANTON. (L.S.)