IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH- LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Adsett, of Upper Bridge Street, Canterbury, in
the County of Kent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-
LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 13th November 1877, and dated the 19th May 1877.
:
-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Adsett at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th May 1877.
JAMES ADSETT, of Upper Bridge Street, Canterbury, in the County of Kent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
This Invention mainly consists as follows:-The gun cannot be opened without
placing the locks at full cock, and can be fastened when at cock with safety bolt,
which locks the whole action of gun, making it quite safe (over gates, &c.).
The safety bolt can be removed when the shooter has the gun in shooting
position without taking his aim off, and without removing the gun from his shoulder,
by drawing the bolt back with the thumb.
Each lock consists of four parts, namely, tumbler or striker, sear, sear spring,
and main spring; the whole working on one lock plate.
The gun is placed in working order by pressing down the lever, drawing the
tumblers to full cock ready for use, and the stock is not weakened by lock-work
arrangements.
Noteworthy points in this Invention are, the action of cocking the gun or
fowling piece, whether single or double barrelled, by means of a contrivance by
which the gun, on being opened to receive the charge, places the locks at full cock,
which can be fastened at pleasure, if required for safety, by a bolt acting on the
arms of the sears, the locks connecting a few parts or limbs, as four, for instance,
each attached to and working in one lock plate only, the .tumbler, striker, and
swivel being combined, and the lever actuating the arrangement for placing the gun
at full cock. And I attach particular importance to the arrangement for cocking
the gun by the swivel that connects the tumbler and striker, which are combined,
and also the arrangement for fastening the gun, and making same perfectly safe by
bolt when at cock.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Adsett in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th November
1877.
JAMES ADSETT, of Upper Bridge Street, Canterbury, in the County of Kent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
By the arrangements herein-after described the gun cannot be opened without
placing the locks at full cock, and can be fastened when at cock with safety bolt,
which locks the whole action of gun, making it quite safe. (over gates, &c.).
The safety bolt can be removed when the shooter has the gun in shooting position,
without taking his aim off, and without removing the gun from his shoulder, by
drawing the bolt back with the thumb.
Each lock consists of four parts, viz., tumbler or striker, sear, sear spring, and
main spring; the whole working on one lock plate.
The gun is placed in working order by pressing down the lever, drawing the
tumblers to full cock, ready for use, and the stock is not weakened by lock-work
arrangements.
Noteworthy points in this Invention are, the action of cocking the gun or
fowling piece, whether single or double barreled, by means of a contrivance by
which the gun, on being opened to receive the charge, places the locks at full cock,
which can be fastened at pleasure, if required for safety, by a bolt acting on the
arms of the sears, the locks connect a few parts or limbs (as four, for instance);
each attached to and working on one lock plate only; the tumbler, striker, and
swivel are combined, and also the lever actuating the arrangement for placing the
gun at full cock. I attach particular importance to the arrangement for cocking
the gun by the swivel that connects the tumbler and striker, which are combined,
and also the arrangement for fastening the gun, and making same perfectly safe by
bolt when at cock.
Having thus far described the nature of the said Invention and incidentally
intimated in what manner the same is to be performed, I will now proceed (aïded
by the accompanying Drawings) to further and particularly describe and ascertain
in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in practice, that is to
Aa.V
Fig. 1 is view of a portion of a gun showing my improved arrangements at full
cock; Fig. 2 shows same when discharged; Figs. 3 to 9 show the various parts in
detail.
In these Figures A is the stock of the gun, in which the arrangements are con
tained; B is the lock plate; C, bolt and sear spring; E, mainspring; F, combined
tumbler and striker; G, lifter, which is actuated by the lever H; J, triggers.
In Fig. 1 the arrangements are shown at full cock; on pulling the trigger, the
'sear D is pressed, which releases the part d from the tumbler and striker F, thus
allowing the combined tumbler and striker to fly forward and discharge the cartridge.
in the barrel, as shown in Fig. 2.
To lock the gun, all that is required is to press the spring and bolt forward, so
that same rests against the upper part of the arms of the sear (as shown in Fig. 1),
'and, without the bolt being withdrawn, it is impossible to discharge the gun.
To bring the gun back to cock, all that is required is to press the lever H; and
this action brings down the tumbler and striker to the position shown in Fig. 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed or put in practice, I hereby
declare that I claim the Invention of "Improvements in Breech-loading Fire-arms,"
substantially as the same is herein-before set forth and described and illustrated by
the accompanying Drawings important points in said Invention being the action

page_text: of cocking the gun or fowling piece, whether single or double barrelled, by means
of a contrivance by which the gun, on being opened to receive the charge, places
the locks at full cock, which can be fastened at pleasure, if required for safety, by a
bolt acting on the arms of the sears. The locks connecting a few parts or limbs (as
four, for instance), each attached to and working on one lock plate only. The
tumbler, striker, and swivel are combined, and also the lever actuating the arrange-
ments for placing the gun at full cock. Particular importance is attached to the
arrangements for cocking the gun by the swivel that connects the tumbler and
striker, and also the arrangements for fastening same by bolt when at cock.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Adsett, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Seventeenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
WOTTON HUTCHINSON,
3, Upper Bridge Street,
Canterbury.
JAMES ADSETT, (L.S.)
Gun Maker,
4, Upper Bridge Street,
Canterbury,
Kent.