Iм- PROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by David Kirkwood at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th December
1866.
I, DAVID KIRKWOOD, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun
Action Filer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows, that is to say :-
The object of this Invention is to facilitate the ordinary working of the
double grip Lefaucheux fire-arm, by cither a simple spring or the joint action
of a lever and spring, thus combining the grip and the snap action if required.
The Diagrams herewith given are intended to shew more fully the various
ways in which I effect my improvements..
(a), Figure I, is the grip lever, in which I form a hollow for receiving the
one end of the lever (6), which has formed upon it a solid fulcrum (c) working
in the body; (d) is a spring secured to the back of the body, by which, in
combination with the lever (b) the snap action of the double or single grip
lever (a) is effected as follows:-Upon the grip lever handle (a) being turned
to open the breech after discharge the lever (b) is forced into the position
shewn in dotted lines, and when there the spring (d) can have no com-
mand over it, being past the line of its action, but immediately upon the
closing again of the action, and the consequent part revolution of the grip
Jever, the lever (6) no longer being held will by the force of the spring (d) fly
back, taking with it the grip lever handle (a¹), thus effectually closing
the parts.
.:

page_text: Figure 2 represents my Invention with the application of a spring (e) only,
part of which (e¹) is secured to the action, the other end being free, but
working in and upon the grip lever (a) in the same manner as already
described.
Figure 3 is another method of carrying out my Invention; in this instance
the one end of a bar (f) works in a sinking formed in the lever (a), the
other end being attached to an upright spring (9), and when in the position
shewn in dotted lines it is evident it will be fixed, but directly the lever is
moved slightly the bar and spring (g) will regain power, flying back together
with the lever handle a¹.
Figure 4) shews the application of a rack movement in combination with a
spring similar to that employed in Figure 8. When the parts are in the
position shewn in dotted lines they are retained by the lumps of the barrels
not being allowed to come completely out of the slots in the grip lever.
Figure 5 is another method of carrying out my Invention by a spring fixed
at one end by a set screw, the other end being provided with a small friction
roller, which by the movement of the lever handle (a¹) is caused to ascend an
inclined groove provided in the lever (a) until it comes to a stop or rest (k),
where it remains until the movement again of the barrels releases it, and
causes the spring by its action upon the bevil of the grip lever to fly back
again into position.
Figure 6 shews a method by which I dispense with the form of springs
already described, and employ a helical spring contained within a chamber
formed in the body; (2) is the bar which works in the grip lever, provided
with a shoulder piece bearing against the spiral spring, the spring being kept
in its place by means of a screwed disc (n).