Improvements in Safety Mechanism for Double Barrel Small Arms.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Mar., 1.93-4ccepted, 6th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Safety Mechanism for Double Barrel
Small Arms.
We, FREDERICK JAMES PENN of Frederick Villa, Linwood Road, Hands-
worth in the County of Stafford, Gun Action Maker and JoHN DEELEY, the
Elder of No. 82 High Street, Birmingham in the County of Warwick Gun
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In double barrel small arms it sometimes happens that in pressing one trigger
for the discharge of the corresponding barrel the finger by accidentally touching
the other trigger causes the discharge of the other barrel. By other accident the
nearly simultaneous discharge of both barrels may also be unintentionally effected
and the object of our invention is to prevent accidents of the kind referred to and
consists of mechanism of the kinds hereinafter described whereby the pressing of
the trigger of one barrel is made to lock the discharging mechanism of the other
barrel and thereby to prevent its discharge.
According to one of our improvements we prolong the trigger beyond the centre
on which it turns, the prolongation forming the short arm of a lever in the body
We will
of the gun the trigger proper being the long arm of the said lever.
suppose the trigger referred to, to be the left hand trigger. To the safety sear of
the right hand hammer and near the lower end of the said sear a horizontal pin or
rod is affixed. The end of this rod projects in front of the short arm of the left
hand trigger.
When the left hand trigger is pressed by the finger its short arm
advances and pressing upon the pin or rod of the right hand safety sear brings
the lower end of the said scar immediately over the bent in the tumbler of the
right hand hammer and prevents the fall of that hammer. Thus so long as the
finger presses on the left hand trigger the right hand hammer is locked. A similars
arrangement of parts causes pressure on the right hand trigger to lock the left
hand hammer. As cach of the pins carried by the safety sears projects beyond
the middle of the lock they are situated at different levels and the trigger lever
arms operating upon them are situated at the same levels respectively. In this
arrangement both hammers are unlocked when the parts are in their normal
positions, the pressure of the finger on one trigger simultaneously discharging the
corresponding barrel and locking the hammer of the other barrel."
According to another of our improvements the safety sears of both locks are
engaged in the bents of their respective tumblers when the parts are in their
normal positions, the pressure of the finger on one trigger simultaneously dis-
This is
charging the corresponding barrel and locking the other safety sear.
effected by making the trigger of one barrel depress the arm of a lever, the end
of which is thereby brought in front of the safety sear of the other barrel which
is thereby locked.
According to another of our improvements we make the inner end of one trigger
when the said trigger is pressed by the finger to bear against and advance a short
lever at the end of the axis of which is a safety sear and thereby advance the said
sear into a bent in the tumbler of the other hammer simultaneously with the said
trigger discharging the barrel with which it is connected and thus locking the
hammer of the other barrel.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Safety Mechanism for Double Barrel
Small Arms.
We FREDERICK JAMES PENN, of Frederick Villa, Linwood Road, Handsworth
in the County of Stafford Gun Action Maker and JOHN DEELEY, the Elder of
No., 82 High Street, Birmingham in the County of Warwick, Gun Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
.statement :—
In double barrel small arms it sometimes happens that in pressing one trigger
for the discharge of the corresponding barrel the finger by accidentally touching
the other trigger causes the discharge of the other barrel. By other accident the
nearly simultaneous discharge of both barrels may also be unintentionally effected
and the object of our invention is to prevent accidents of the kind referred to and
consists of mechanism of the kinds hereinafter described whereby the pressing of
the trigger of one barrel is made to lock the discharging mechanism of the other
Darrel and thereby to prevent its discharge.
According to one of our improvements we prolong the trigger beyond the centre
on which it turns, the prolongation forming the short arm of a lever in the body.
of the gun, the trigger proper being the long arm of the said lever. We will
suppose the trigger referred to, to be the left hand trigger. To the safety sear of
the right hand hanımer and near the lower end of the said sear, a horizontal pin
or rod is affixed. The end of this rod projects in front of the short arm of the
left hand trigger. When the left hand trigger is pressed by the finger its short arm
advances and pressing upon the pin or rod of the right hand safety sear brings the
lower end of the said sear immediately over the bent in the tumbler of the right
hand hammer and prevents the fall of that hammer. Thus, so long as the finger
presses on the left hand trigger the right hand hammer is locked. A similar
arrangement of parts causes pressure on the right hand trigger to lock the left
hand hammer. As each of the pins carried by the safety sears projects beyond
the middle of the lock they are situated at different levels and the trigger lever
arms operating upon them are situated at the same levels respectively.
arrangement both hammers are unlocked when the parts are in their normal
positions, the pressure of the finger on one trigger simultaneously discharging the
corresponding barrel and locking the hammer of the other barrel.
In this
According to another of our improvements the safety sears of both locks are
engaged in the bents of their respective tumblers when the parts are in their normal
positions, the pressure of the finger on one trigger simultaneously discharging the
corresponding barrel and locking the other safety sear. This is effected by making
the trigger of one barrel depress the arm of a lever, the end of which is thereby
brought in front of the safety sear of the other barrel which is thereby locked.
According to another of our improvements we make the inner end of one trigger
when the said trigger is pressed by the finger to hear against and advance a short
lever at the end of the axis of which is a safety sear and thereby advance the said
sear into a bent in the tumbler of the other hammer simultaneously with the said
trigger discharging the barrel with which it is connected and thus locking the
hammer of the other barrel.
We will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings
the manner in which our invention is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in longitudinal section, partly in elevation, and Figure 2 in
back elevation, with a portion detached, the breech body of a double barrel gun
or small arm containing lock safety mechanism constructed according to one of the
arrangements of our invention, both hammers of the lock being in the cocked

page_text: positions and both the safety sears being out of action; Figure 3 represents the
same view as Figure 1 after the left hand trigger has been pressed and the left
hand hammer discharged and the right hand safety sear engaged with and made
to lock the right hand hammer. In Figures 1 and 3 the right hand safety sear
only is seen; Figure 4 represents a portion of Figure 1 drawn to a larger scale
and Figure 5 represents the right hand safety sear detached; Figure 6 represents
the left hand trigger detached and Figure 7 represents the right hand trigger
detached, drawn to the same scale as Figure 4.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
and 7.
a is the left hand trigger and b the right hand trigger turning on the common.
centre c; a³, are the prolonged parts or short arms of the said triggers. In the
head of the short arm a² the left hand trigger a is a slot and recess at d and in
the head of the short arm of the right hand trigger is a slot e (see Figures 6
and 7). The ordinary sears of the hammers are marked f; g is the left hand safety
sear and the right hand safety sear, the said scars turning on the common centre i.
Both the safety sears are shown in Figure 2. The left hand hammer is marked k
and is represented in its discharged position in Figure 3 and the right hand
hammer marked is represented unlocked in Figures 1 and 4 and locked in
Figure 3. To each of the safety sears and h, a horizontal pin or rod marked
respectively and ³ is affixed (see Figure 2) the said pins or rods being situated
at different levels and the heads of the trigger lever arms b² and a² are situated at:
the same levels respectively as the said pins or rods. The inner end of the said
pin or rod of the left hand safety sear g passes through the recess d in the
arın a² of the left hand trigger a and is engaged in the slot e in the arm b' of the
right hand trigger band the inner end of the pin or rod h² of the right hand safety
sear is engaged in the slot or contracted part of the recess at d in the arm a³ of
the left hand trigger a as seen in Figure 2. Each of the comb parts of the.
hammers k,l of the lock mechanism has a bent or shoulder at m for the lower end
of the safety sear appertaining to the hammer to engage with when the safety sear
is put into action.
When the left hand trigger a is pressed by the finger to withdraw the ordinary
sear of the left hand hammer k for discharging that hammer, the short arm a² of
the said left hand trigger a advances and pressing upon the pin or rod 2 of the
right hand safety sear (the said pin or rod occupying the slot at d of the short
trigger arm a) advances the end of the said safety sear hover or upon the bent
at m in the right hand hammer thereby locking and preventing the fall of that
hammer as represented in Figure 3, where the left hand hammer & is represented
in full lines in its discharged position and the right hand hammer indicated in
dotted lines is shown locked by the advance upon its bent m of the right hand
safety sear h. When the left hand trigger a is pressed it does not operate upon
the rod of the left hand safety sear in consequence of the said rod g² being
situated in the recess d in the short arm of the trigger as will be understood by
comparing the positions of the said rod g³ in the recess d before and after the left
hand trigger has been pulled illustrated in Figures 1, 4 and 3.
When the right hand trigger is pressed to discharge the right hand hammer 1,
the advance of the short arm of that trigger pushes forward the rod g' of the
left hand safety sear, the end of the said rod g being situated in the slot e in the
said short arm 2, and puts the left hand safety sear g into bent with and locks
the left hand hammer in the manner herein before described with respect to the
locking of the right hand hammer on pressing the left hand trigger. As the rod g²
of the left hand safety sear is advanced to put that sear into bent with the left
hand hammer, the said rod g², occupying the recess d in the arm a' in the left hand
trigger a, does not operate that trigger. Thus, so long as both triggers are in
their normal positions both hammers are unlocked, being held in their cocked
positions by the ordinary sears but the pressure of the finger on one trigger
discharges the corresponding barrel and simultaneously locks the hammer of the

page_text: other barrel by the safety scar of that barrel being brought into action as hercin-
before particularly described.
Figures 8 and 9 represent longitudinal sections of the body of a double barrel
breech loading gun or small arm containing lock safety mechanism constructed
according to another arrangement of our invention, Figure 8 representing the
hammers of the gun cocked and both safety sears in action and Figure 9
representing the left hand hammer discharged, and the right hand safety sear held
in bent with and locking the right hand hammer; Figure 10 represents a portion
of Figure 8 drawn to a larger scale; Figure 11 represents the same view as
Figure 8 with the trigger plate and parts carried by it removed and Figure 12
represents a back elevation of Figure 11; Figure 13 represents in side elevation
and plan, the trigger plate carrying the ordinary scars and safety sear locking
levers detached from the body of the gun; Figure 14 represents elevations of the
right hand safety sear detached, drawn to the same scale as Figure 10.
In this arrangement the safety sears of both locks are engaged with the bents of
their respective cocked hammers when the parts are in their normal positions, the
pressure of the finger on one trigger taking out of bent the safety sear of the
corresponding barrel and locking the other safety sear.
a is the left hand trigger and is the right hand trigger, each trigger carrying
a safety scar locking lever, as best seen in Figures 10 and 13. The safety sear
locking lever on the left hand trigger is marked m and the safety sear locking
lever on the right hand trigger is marked 'n. It will be seen that the acting ends
of the levers m, n are situated at different levels; g, h are the two safety sears
turning on the centres i and pressed into bent with the shoulders on the cocked
hammers k, by the spring 2. Each safety sear g and has a tail which said tails
are marked respectively and ² each tail bearing on the ordinary scar over
which it is situated, so that the lifting of the ordinary sear by the trigger also lifts
the safety sear and withdraws it out of bent with the hammer. The said safety
sears g, h are provided with horizontal bars at right angles to the tails of the said
sears, and at different levels (see the end elevation Figure 12). The cross bar of
the left hand sear 9 is marked and the crossbar of the right hand scar his
marked ³. The said bars g³, are situated at levels corresponding respectively
with the levels of the acting ends of the safety sear locking levers m n when the
ends of the said levers are in their depressed or acting positions. When the left
hand trigger a is pressed it disengages the ordinary sear from the left hand
hammer k. The rising of the ordinary scarf at the same time lifts the tail g² of
the left hand safety sear g bearing upon it and unlocks the left hand hammer k
which can thereby be discharged. Simultaneously with the withdrawal of the
left hand safety sear, the end of the safety sear locking lever m descends in front
of the bar h³ of the right hand safety sear hand locks that sear and the hanumer
corresponding with it as seen in Figure 9, where the left hand hammer k has been
disengaged and the right hand hammer (indicated in dotted lines) has been locked
by the lever m bearing in front of the crossbar / of the safety sear / as indicated
in dotted lines.
In addition to the pressure of the finger upon the left hand trigger a causing
the locking of the safety sear h of the right hand hammer, the withdrawal of the
safety sear g of the left hand hammer, causes the bar g³ of the said sear g to pass
under the acting end of the lever n on the right hand trigger thus blocking the
said lever and preventing the movement of that trigger as illustrated in Figure 9.
Thus, both the right hand safety scar and the right hand trigger are locked on the
pressing of the left hand trigger. When the right hand trigger is pressed, the
ordinary sear of that trigger is disengaged from the bent of the hammer 7 as well
as the safety sear withdrawn from its bent. The pressing of the right hand
trigger brings the scar locking lever n into operation by causing its acting end to
descend in front of the bar g³ of the left hand safety sear gas described with
respect to the locking lever m, bar h³ and right hand safety sear h, and also causing
the right hand safety sear / by its withdrawal, to lock the left hand trigger by

page_text: bringing the bar of the said safety sear under the lever m of the left hand
trigger.
Figures 15 and 16 represent elevations, partly in longitudinal section, of the
breech end of a double barrel gun or small arm containing lock safety mechanism
constructed according to another arrangement of our invention, Figure 15 repre-
senting both safety sears out of action and Figure 16 representing the right hand
hammer focked by the pressing of the left hand trigger; Figure 17 represents a
back elevation of the two hammers, the two safety sears and the levers operated
upon by the triggers for bringing into action one or other of the safety sears and
Figure 18 represents in section the two safety sears and the levers of the same.
The
a and b are the left and right hand triggers, the short arm of each of which is
turned nearly at a right angle; p, are the hooked safety-sears for respectively
engaging with the left and right hand hammers r, s of the gun. The left hand
safety sear p is fixed on the end of the axis and carries the arm or lever p³ and
the right hand safety sear is fixed to the sleeve which also carries a lever or
short arm 3. The sleeve turns in a bearing carried by the trigger plate.
axis p carrying the left hand safety sear p and the lever or arm p³, is capable of a
limited angular motion in the sleeve q, and the sleeve q' carrying the right hand
safety sear 9. and lever or arm is capable of a limited angular motion on the
axis p, the sleeve being provided with a slot to permit of the partial rotation of the
arm in it. By means of springs at t at the back of the break off, or at any other
convenient part, acting on the levers or short arms p³, the safety sears are pressed
back into their out of bent positions represented in Figure 15 when the triggers are
removed from the said short arms p³, 7. The arm p³ of the left hand safety scarp
is situated opposite the short arm of the right hand trigger and the arm of the
right hand safety seary is situated opposite the short arm of the left hand trigger a.
The result of this arrangement is that when the left hand trigger a is pressed for
discharging the left hand barrel, the short arm of the said trigger a acting against
the arm or lever 3 of the right hand safety sear puts that scar into bent with its
hammers, thus locking that hammer simultaneously with the discharge of the
barrel with which the left hand trigger is connected as seen in Figure 16 where the
right hand sear 7, indicated in dotted lines, is shown engaged with and locking
the undischarged right hand hammer s, the other safety sear p being unoperated
upon.
When the right hand trigger b is pressed, it acts upon the arin or lever p³ of the
left hand safety sear p and puts that sear into bent with and locks the left hand
hammer r.
A modification of the arrangement last described may be employed for locking
the ordinary sears instead of locking the hammers by the safety sears. In this
modified arrangement, locking arms are substituted for the safety sears and the
pressing of one trigger locks the ordinary sear of the other trigger.
This modified arrangement of our invention is illustrated in Figures 19, 20
and 21 and details and separate parts in Figures 22, 23, 24, 25, 25ª, 26, 27, 28, 29
and 30.
Figure 19 represents in side elevation, partly in longitudinal section the body of
a double barrel breech loading gun containing this modified safety mechanism, the
sear locking arms being represented out of action; Figure 20 represents the same
view as Figure 19 after the left hand trigger has been pressed and the ordinary sear
of the right hand trigger locked; Figure 21 represents a portion of Figure 20
drawn to a larger scale; Figure 22 represents in section, the sear locking arms and
the parts upon which the triggers act together with the trigger box and the
bearing of the sear locking arms, and Figure 23 represents the locking arms and
parts in side and end elevations detached; Figure 24 represents in perspective
the trigger box and bearing for the parts represented in Figures 22 and 23;
Figure 25 represents one of the triggers and Figure 25 represents a modified
trigger and Figure 26 represents one of the ordinary sears, the said Figures 22, 23,
24, 25, 24 and 26 being drawn to the same scale as Figure 21; Figures 27 and 28

page_text: represent a modified trigger box and Figures 29 and 30 the parts to be fitted in the
said box.
:
a, y are the arms for locking the ordinary scars t, u the arm a locking the left
hand seart and the arm y locking the right hand sear u. The locking arm is
carried on the pin or axis and the other locking arm is carried on the sleeve q².
The sleeve having within it the pin or axis p, turns in the bearing on the top
of the trigger box. The short arm p³ on the pin or axis p and the short arm y³ on
the sleeve 2 have the shapes best seen in Figure 23. The short arm p³ of the
pin is fitted in a recess of the shape represented at vin Figure 25 in the right
hand trigger and the short arm on the sleeve 2 is fitted in a similar recess in the
left hand trigger so that when either trigger is pressed the short arm p³ or q³ fitted
in the trigger is lifted with the trigger and either the locking arm or the locking
army has a backward angular motion given to it and its curved bottom edge made
to bear upon the cross arm 2 (see Figure 26) of the ordinary sear and lock the
sear of the lock mechanism of the barrel which is not to be discharged. It will
thus be understood that on pressing the left hand trigger a it lifts the ordinary
seart and discharges the left hand hammer. As the left hand trigger a is lifted
it carries with it the short arm q of the sleeve thereby giving an angular motion
to the said sleeve in its bearing and causing its locking arın y to bear upon the
right hand sear u and lock that sear as illustrated in Figure 20 and the enlarged
view Figure 21 where the left hand hammer is represented discharged and the
right hand hammer s indicated in dotted lines, held in a position of safety by the
locking in the manner described of the sear of that hammer. On removing
the pressure from the left hand trigger a it is returned to its original position
taking with it the short arm and thereby removing the locking arm y from the
sear of the right hand trigger. On pressing the right hand trigger to discharge
the barrel in connection with that trigger, it acts upon the arm p³ on the pin or
axis p² and causes its locking arm a to bear upon the left hand sear t and lock that
sear and prevent the discharge of the barrel in connection with it as described with
respect to the locking of the right hand sear.
?'
The triggers may have the form given to them represented in Figure 25^.
In this case the arms p³ and q3 on the axis and sleeve have a shape given to them
proper to engage in slots of the shape shown at ' Figure 25ª.
The
The axis and sleeve ' carrying the scar locking arms, are fitted in and
secured to the slotted bearing on the trigger box in the following manner.
sleeve is first passed from the right hand side of the bearing into the said
bearing, the arm q3 entering the main slot q3 at the said right hand of the bearing
until the said arm is situated opposite the cut away part q' into which the said
arm is turned. By the raising of the arm q³ into the part q' the slot go in the
side of the sleeve is brought into line with the main slot 9. The pin p² is next
passed into the bearing from the left hand side until its arm p³, which has occupied
the slot q, reaches the slot q in the sleeve q, which slot q* coincides with the
slot in the bearing z. The combined axis and sleeve are then turned through a
right angle in the bearing. By this motion the arm 73 is turned out of the cut
away part and turned down into the lower part of the same opening in the
bearing. By the same motion the arm på is turned into the opening in the
bearing. The parts are thus locked and occupy the respective positions in
the bearing represented in Figure 22.
The bearing on the trigger box for receiving the sleeve and axis carrying the
locking arms may be made in the manner illustrated in perspective in Figure 27
and end elevation in Figure 28. The hole in the bearing has a downward
extension or slot 3 made in it passing from end to end of the said hole in addition
to the openings q and in which the arms p³ and 3 respectively work. The
arm on the sleeve q' shown in Figure 29, is inserted in the slot 3 at the right
hand end of the bearing until the said arm ³ comes opposite the vertical opening q
in the bearing. The sleeve 92 being turned through a quadrant the arm 9³ is
turned into the opening ' and the slot q" in the sleeve made to coincide with the

page_text: slot 3 in the bearing. The axis p² Figure 30 is next passed into the hole in the
bearing at the left hand side so that its arm p³ enters both the slot 3 in the bearing
and the slot q in the sleeve and the said arm på brought into the opening 9" in
the bearing. The sleeve g' is next turned back through a quadrant so as to
engage the slot q* in it with the arm p³ on the axis p², thereby locking the axis and
sleeve together in the bearing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed we declare that
we claim as the said invention :-
First The construction and combination of parts of lock safety mechanism for
double barrel small arms hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings, whereby the pressure of the finger on
one trigger discharges the corresponding barrel and simultaneously locks the
hammer of the other barrel by putting the safety sear of that hammer into bent
the said construction and combination of parts consisting in the combination with
the slotted short lever arms of the triggers of the lock mechanism, of safety sears
provided with horizontal pins or rods situated at different levels and overlapping
one another at their inner ends, the pin or rod of the left hand safety sear engaging
with the slot of the lever arm of the right hand trigger and the pin or rod of the
right hand safety sear engaging with the slot of the lever arm of the left hand
trigger so that the pressing of one trigger discharges the corresponding barrel and
puts the safety sear into bent with and locks the hammer of the other barrel
substantially as described and illustrated.
Secondly The construction and combination of parts of lock safety mechanism
for double barrel small arms hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 8, 9,
10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 of the accompanying drawings, whereby the pressure of the
finger on one trigger withdraws the safety sear from the corresponding hammer
and locks the safety sear engaged with the hammer of the other barrel and also
locks the trigger of the last named hammer, the said construction and combination
of parts consisting in the combination with the ordinary triggers of the lock
mechanism of safety sear locking levers brought into action by the lifting
of the said triggers and the use with the said sear locking levers of safety
sears provided with overlapping horizontal bars the said safety sears being pressed
into bent with the hammers by a spring or springs and taken out of bent by the
lifting of the ordinary sears, the pressing of one trigger besides releasing the
hammer in connection with the pressed trigger also causing its safety sear locking
lever to lock the safety sear of the other hammer and the trigger of the last named
hammer to be locked by the withdrawn safety sear acting on the safety sear lever
of that trigger substantially as described and illustrated.
-
-
Thirdly The construction and combination of parts of lock safety mechanism
for double barrel small arms hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 15,
16, 17 and 18 of the accompanying drawings, whereby the pressure of the finger
on one trigger discharges the corresponding barrel and simultaneously locks the
hammer of the other barrel by putting the safety sear of that hammer into bent;
the said construction and combination of parts consisting in the combination with
the short or lever arms of the triggers of the lock mechanism of safety sears fitted
together and carrying arms or levers so arranged that the arm of the left hand sear
is situated opposite and is acted upon by the lever arm of the right hand trigger
and the reverse so that when one trigger is pressed, the safety sear of the hammer
in connection with that trigger is unoperated upon while the safety sear of the other
hammer is put into bent and that hammer locked substantially as described and
illustrated.
;-
Fourthly The adaptation of the construction and combination of parts
referred to in Claim 3 to the locking of the ordinary sears of the lock safety
mechanism of double barrel small arms by substituting locking arms for the safety
sears referred to in the said Claim 3 and connecting the locking arm of the left hand

page_text: ordinary sear with the right hand trigger and the reverse so that the pressure of the
trigger connected with one sear causes the liberation of that sear and locks the other
sear substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 19 20, 21, 22,
23, 24, 25, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated the Twentieth day of March 1893.
FREDERICK JAMES PENN.
JOHN DEELEY, SENR.