IMPROVEMENTS IN OR IMPROVED APPA- DATING. ADULTCABLE TO RIFLED OR OTHER MUSKETS. AND TO OTHER FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Jaques, of Droylsden, near Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Captain Commanding the Seventieth Rifle
Volunteers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR IMPROVED APPA-
DATING. ADULTCABLE TO RIFLED OR OTHER MUSKETS. AND TO OTHER FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 10th May 1861, and dated the 4th December 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Jaques at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th December 1860.
I, FRANK JAQUES, of Droylsden, near Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Captain Commanding the Seventieth Rifle Volunteers, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR IMPROVED
APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO RIFLED OR OTHER MUSKETS, AND TO OTHER FIRE-ARMS,"
to be as follows:-
The aforesaid Invention consists in means or appliances applicable to rifled
and other muskets, and to other similar fire-arms,
Firstly, for protecting the muzzle of the piece from violence and from
injurious collision with other objects, by the use of a cap or tube encirling the
muzzle, and furnished with suitable fastenings for securing it thereupon.
. Secondly, for intercepting the marksman's view of the pillar or block which
constitutes the base or pedestal of the "sight," and for regulating or varying
the apparent magnitude of the "sight" itself by the application of an adjustable
hoop, ring, or metal band encircling the cap or tube before mentioned, the

page_text: said hoop, ring, or band being so constructed and shaped that when in one
position it intercepts the marksman's view of the lower part of the " "sight,"
leaving only the apex thereof exposed to view, while in another position it
presents an opening through which the whole of the "sight" is visible, so that
the marksman has the option of using either a "full sight" or a "fine sight"
at discretion.
Thirdly, for shading the "sight" from the rays of the sun's light, by a shade
or cover projecting, over the same from above the before-mentioned opening in
the hoop, ring, or band.
Fourthly, for protecting the "sight" from accidental injury when the piece
is not in use, by a shield or guard so attached to some part of the hoop, ring,
or band before mentioned, that it can be applied and retained over the "sight"
by the adjustment of the hoop, ring, or band into the position proper for that
purpose.
The hoop, ring, or metal band before mentioned; if not used in combination
with the cap or tube, may be made to encircle the barrel 'or muzzle of the
piece, and the shield or guard mentioned under the fourth head may be
bined with the shade mentioned under the third head, the construction of each
being so modified as to make one instrument serve the contemplated purposes
of both.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,, filed
by the said Frank Jaques, in the Great Seal Patent Office: on the
3rd June 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANK
JAQUES, of Droylsden, near Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Captain
Commanding the Seventieth Rifle Volunteers, send greeting.
⋅
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her: Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of, Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said. Frank, Jaques, Her special licence that I, the said Frank
Jaques, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Frank Jaques, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and-Ireland;

page_text: the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN OR IMPROVED APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO RIFLED OR OTHER MUSKETS, AND TO..
OTHER FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said.
Frank Jaques, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing.
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be perfornied, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent..
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frank. Jaques, do hereby déclare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):
This Invention consists in means or appliances applicable to rifled and other
: muskets, and to other similar fire-arms,―
First, for protecting the muzzle of the piece from violence and from injurious
collision with other objects, by the use of a cap or tube encircling the muzzle,.
and furnished with suitable fastenings for securing it thereupon, which cap or
tube is formed of any suitable metal or material.
Secondly, for intercepting the marksman's view of the pillar or block which
constitutes the base or pedestal of the "sight," and for regulating the apparent
magnitude of the "sight" itself by the application of .a hoop, ring, or band of
any suitable metal or material, encircling the cap or tube before mentioned,
the said hoop, ring, or band being so constructed and shaped that the whole.
5 or a portion of the "sight" is visible, but no part of the pillar or block.
Thirdly, for shading the "sight".from the rays of the sun's light by a shade
or cover projecting over the same from above an opening in the before-mentioned
hoop, ring, or band..
Fourthly, for protecting the "sight" from accidental injury when the piece
is not in use, by a shield or guard so attached to some part of the hoop, ring,.
or band before mentioned, that it can be applied and retained over. the "sight"
by the adjustment of the hoop, ring, or band into the position proper for that.
purpose.
The hoop, ring, or band, without the eap or tube, may be made to encircle
the barrel or muzzle of the piece and the shield or guard, and also the shade:
used in combination with it, the barrel being grooved as required, and formed
either of the same configuration as the cap or tube, or of any other suitable
form. It is evident that I can also connect to the bayonet ring a shield.or
guard for preventing injury to the "sight" of the piece.

page_text: These improvements will be clearly understood by referring to the figures.
and letters on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which Figs. 1, 2, and 3,
are transverse sections, and Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7, external elevations of the
muzzle end of a rifle musket having my improvements attached; Figs. 8 and: 9.
are detached views shewing some of the parts, and Figs. 10 and 11 are views
of a bayonet ring with the shield or guard attached.
The muzzle of the piece is shewn at a, on which is the cap or tube 6 for
protecting the muzzle of the piece from violence and from injurious collision-
with other objects. The cap or tube is slotted as at c, to enable it to pass
over the sight block d, and has in its circumference a circular. groove. into
which is fitted the hoop, ring, or band e, having a cut or division at f, so that
the hoop can be opened sufficiently to pass over the projecting edge of the.
groove, and then be closed and held in its place by the screw 9, the divided.
part f being enlarged as at h, in order to allow the said hoop to pass over the
sight block and "sight."
For intercepting the marksman's view of the pillar or block d, which con-
stitutes the base or pedestal of the "sight," the aforesaid hoop, ring, or band e.
is formed of such thickness that the sight only is seen, as shewn at i, Figs..
3 and 8.
For the purpose of shading the "sight" from the rays of the sun's light, a
projection j, Figs. 6 and 7, is formed on the hoop, ring, or band e above the
opening k, Figs. 1 and 7.
For protecting the sight from accidental injury when the piece is not in use,
there is a shield or guard l, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 9, formed on the hoop
or ring e, which is shifted into the proper position for that purpose, and after-
wards held securely by the ramrod 'm, Figs. 4 and 7.
The hoop, ring, or band, without the cap or tube, may be made to encircle
the barrel or muzzle of the piece and the shield or guard, and also the shade
used in combination with it, the barrel being grooved as required, and formed
either of the same configuration as the cap or tube, or of any other suitable
form. I also connect to the bayonet ring a shield or guard for preventing
injury to the "sight" of the piece, as shewn in Figs. 10 and 11.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my Invention, I desire
it to be understood that I claim the application to rifled or other-muskets and
to other fire-arms,―
First, of a cap or tube held on the muzzle of the piece by a hoop, ring, or
band of metal or other suitable material for protecting the muzzle from violence
and from injurious collisions with other objects, and for obtaining a constant
uniformity of the "fore.sight.".

page_text: And, secondly, the application to the hoop, ring, or band which encircles
the cap, or tube, or barrel, and also the ring which holds on the bayonet, of a
shield or guard for protecting the "sight" from incidental injury when the
piece is not in use, and also the application of a shade for shading the sight
from the sun's rays, in combination with the aforesaid hoop, ring, or band, as
all such improvements are herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frank Jaques, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named Frank Jaques, in
the presence of
E. J. HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
Manchester..
FRANK JAQUES. (L.S.)