IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING AND MUZZLE LOADING SMALL ARMS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Anson, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Gun Maker, and John Deeley, of Birmingham aforesaid, Gun..
Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING
AND MUZZLE LOADING SMALL ARMS."
Sealed the 26th August 1879, and dated the 7th March 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Anson and John
Deeley at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th March.
1879.
WILLIAM ANSON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun Maker, and
JOHN DEELEY, of Birmingham aforesaid, Gun Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH LOADING AND MUZZLE LOADING SMALL ARMS."
Our Invention has for its object to prevent the accidental discharge of the said.
small arms, and consists of the improvements hereinafter described in the safety
apparatus for the said small arms.
Our Invention is for the most part applicable to breech loading small arms of
the kind called "drop-down." guns, but may also in part be applied to muzzle
loading small arms.
According to one of our improvements we place a small lever in a recess imme-
diately behind the face of the break off, the inner short end of the said lever
projecting into the recess in the break off, into which the prolonged end of the rib
enters when the breech ends of the barrels have been shut down after charging.
The end of the longer arm of the said lever projects from a slot in the outer side of.
the break off. When the long arm of the lever is in its lowered position the middle
of the lever is in front of the hole through which the striker passes to discharge
the gun, and the said hole is virtually closed; the gun consequently cannot be dis-
charged until by the application of the finger or thumb the protruding arm of the
lever has been raised, when the said hole is uncovered and the gun can be discharged
by pressing upon the trigger: The short end of the lever engages in a curved slot
in the side of the rib, and when the breech ends of the barrels are raised in order to
charge the gun the end of the said slot lifts the said short arm of the lever, and
thereby brings the said lever into the position in which it prevents the discharge

page_text: of the gun until the longer arm of the lever is raised, as hereinbefore described.
By the arrangement of parts described the safety apparatus is put into operation
by the act of lifting the breech ends of the barrels for charging, and prevents the
discharge of the gun until the long arm of the lever has been raised.
According to another of our improvements we place an axis at the back of and
parallel to the face of the break off. The said axis is horizontal, and is at a lower
level than the hole through which the striker passes to discharge the gun. That
portion of the axis situated in front of the hammer is partly cut away, so that when
the said axis is in such a position that the uncutaway portion is uppermost the
hammer cannot fall sufficiently far to discharge the gun, but when the axis has been
turned through a sufficient angle to bring the cut away part uppermost the hammer
is not obstructed by the said axis, and the gun can be discharged. The said axis
is brought into the former or safety position by the raising of the barrels for
charging, a rod sliding in the body of the gun in a line parallel with the axis of
the barrel being pressed backwards or towards the break off by the lump on the
barrels. This rod acts on the inner end of the axis, and gives it the required
motion to bring it into the position of safety. After the barrels have been shut
down the said rod is at liberty to move in the direction opposite to that described,
and the safety axis can be thrown out of action, and the gun made ready for
discharge by turning the axis through the required angle by means of a small lever
on the outer exposed end of the said axis.
Instead of turning the said axis through a small angle in order to permit or
prevent the fall of the hammer, a like effect may be produced by giving the axis a
sliding motion, the figure of the axis being such that when one part of it is in front
of the hammer its fall is prevented, and when another part is in front of the hammer
its fall is permitted. The rod, actuated by the lump on the barrels, is inclined at
its inner end, the said rod acting on the inclined end of the axis to give the required
sliding motion necessary to lock the hammer.
Another of our improvements consists of an addition to or improvement upon a
safety apparatus described in the Specification of a Patent granted to one of us,
namely, the said William Anson, on the 21st day of November 1876, No. 4513.
The said safety apparatus effects the locking and unlocking of the triggers by
the-motion of a lever working in a slot in the tang of the break off. We add to
the said apparatus the following parts, whereby the said lever is made not only to
lock and unlock the triggers, but at the same time to lock and unlock. the hammers.
At the back of the hammer we place a lever, the said lever having a motion nearly
similar to that of the hammer, and having a figure following that of the back of
the hammer, so that when the hammer is raised and the said lever is pressed towards
the hammer the lever fits nearly close upon the back of the hammer. The top of
this lever is hooked, and a depression or "bent" is made at the back of the hammer
suitable for receiving the hooked end of the lever. If by a blow or other accident
the hammer is liberated while the trigger is locked the hooked end of the lever
engages in the "bent" in the back of the hammer, and prevents its fall. The gun is
thus doubly locked when the safety apparatus is in operation, the trigger being
prevented from rising, and the hammer prevented from falling. By operating upon
the lever at the tang of the break off the safety apparatus can be thrown out of
action, and the gun may be discharged by pressure upon the trigger.
This last described improvement is applicable both to breech loading and muzzle.
loading small arms. The other improvements are applicable only, to drop down
guns.
The lever by which the hammer is locked may be inverted with nearly the same.
effect, and the said lever for locking the hammer may be used independently of the
trigger locking apparatus, and may be operated either by a top or a side lever.

page_text: TION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters I atent med by
the said William Anson and John Deeley in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 30th August 1879.
WILLIAM ANSON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun Maker, and
JOHN DEELEY, of Birmingham aforesaid, Gun Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH LOADING AND MUZZLE LOADING SMALL ARMS."
Our Invention has for its object to prevent the accidental discharge of the said
small arms, and consists of the improvements herein after described in safety
apparatus for the said small arms.
Our Invention is for the most part applicable to breech loading small arms of
the kind called drop down guns, but may also in part be applied to muzzle loading
small arms.
According to one of our improvements we place a small lever in a recess imme-
diately behind the face of the break off, the inner short end of the said lever
projecting into the recess in the break off, into which the prolonged end of the rib
enters when the breech ends of the barrels have been shut down after charging.
The end of the longer arm of the said lever projects from a slot in the outer side of
the break off. When the long arm of the lever is in its lowest position the middle
of the lever is in front of the hole through which the striker passes to discharge
the gun, and the said hole is virtually closed. The gun consequently cannot be
discharged until by the application of the finger or thumb the protruding arm of
the lever has been raised, when the said hole is uncovered and the gun can be dis-
charged by pressing upon the trigger. The short end of the lever engages in a
curved slot in the side of the rib, and when the breech ends of the barrels are raised
in order to charge the gun the end of the said slot lifts the said short arm of the
lever, and thereby brings the said lever into the position in which it prevents the
discharge of the gun until the longer arm of the lever is raised, as herein before
described.
->
By the arrangement of parts described the safety apparatus is put into operation
by the act of lifting the breech ends of the barrels for charging, and prevents the
discharge of the gun until the long arın of the lever has been raised.
According to another of our improvements we place an axis at the back of and
parallel to the face of the break off. The said axis is horizontal, and is at a lower
level than the hole through which the striker passes to discharge the gun. That
portion of the axis situated in front of the hammer is partly cut away, so that when
the said axis is in such a position that the uncutaway portion is uppermost the
hammer cannot fall sufficiently far to discharge the gun, but when the axis has
been turned through a sufficient angle to bring the cut away part uppermost the
hammer is not obstructed by the said axis, and the gun can be discharged. The
said axis is brought into the former or safety position by the raising of the barrels
for charging, a rod sliding in the body of the gun in a line parallel with the axis of
the barrel being pressed backwards or towards the break off by the lump on the
barrels. This rod acts on the inner end of the axis, and gives it the repuired motion
to bring it into the position of safety. After the barrels have been shut down the
said rod is at liberty to move in the direction opposite to that described, and the
safety axis can be thrown out of action and the gun made ready for discharge by
turning the axis through the required angle by means of a small lever on the outer
exposed end of the said axis.
Instead of turning the said axis through a small angle in order to permit or
prevent the fall of the hammer, a like effect may be produced by giving the axis a
sliding motion, the figure of the said axis being such that when one part of it is in
front of the hammer its fall is prevented, and when another part is in front of the
hammer its fall is permitted. The rod actuated by the lump on the barrels is

page_text: inclined at its inner end; the said rod acting on the inclined end of the axis to
give the required sliding motion necessary to lock the hammer.
Another of our improvements consists of an addition to or improvement upon the
safety apparatus described in the Specification of a Patent granted to one of us,
namely, the said William Anson, on the 21st day of November 1876, No. 4513.
The said safety apparatus effects the locking and unlocking of the triggers by the
motion of a lever working in a slot in the tang of the break off. We add to the
said apparatus the following parts, whereby the said lever is made not only to lock
and unlock the triggers, but at the same time to lock and unlock the hammers.
At the back of the hammer we place a lever, the said lever having a motion nearly
similar to that of the hammer, and having a figure following that of the back of the
hammer, so that when the. hammer is raised, and the said lever is pressed towards
the hammer, the lever fits nearly close upon the back of the hammer; the top of
this lever is hooked, and a depression or "bent" is made at the back of the hammer
suitable for receiving the hooked end of the lever.
If by a blow or other accident the hammer is liberated while the trigger is locked
the hooked end of the lever engages in the "bent" in the back of the hammer, and
prevents its fall; the gun is thus doubly locked when the safety apparatus is in
operation, the trigger being prevented from rising, and the hammer prevented from
falling. By operating upon the lever at the tang of the break off the safety apparatus
can be thrown out of action, and the gun may be discharged by pressure upon the
trigger. This last described improvement is applicable both to breech loading and
. muzzle loading small arms.
The other improvements are applicable only to drop down guns.
The lever by which the hammer is locked may be inverted with nearly the same
effect, and the said lever for locking the hammer may be used independently of the
trigger locking apparatus, and may be operated either by a top or side lever.
We will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings
the manner in which our Invention is to be performed.
Figures 1 and 2 represent cross sections of the break off of a double barrel drop
down gun provided with a safety apparatus constructed according to the first
described part of our Invention. In Figure 1 the safety levers are situated in their
lowest positions, and the holes in the break off through which the strikers pass
covered, and the discharge of the gun prevented; and in Figure 2 the safety levers
are shown in their highest positions, and the holes in the break off uncovered, and
the gun free to be discharged.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in both Figures.
a is the break off of the gun having in its top the recess b into which the
prolonged end of the rib c (see Figure 2) between the barrels takes when the said
barrels are shut down after charging; d, d², and d, d², are the two safety levers
turning on the centres d³, and working in the recesses e, e, in the break off; f, f, are
the holes in the break off through which the strikers pass to discharge the gun. In
the sides of the prolonged rib c are curved grooves or recesses g, g, for the purpose
herein after described. The outer end of the long arm d of each of the safety
levers d, d², projects from the slot e in the break off, and for convenience in moving
the said safety levers swivelling finger plates may be connected to the said outer
ends of the arms d, and lie against the outer sides of the break off.
When the long arms d, d, of the safety levers d, d², d, d, are in their lowest
positions as seen in Figure 1, the middles of the said arms d, d, are opposite the
Loles f, f, through which the strikers pass, and the said holes are covered and virtually
closed.
When it is wished to discharge the gun the projecting ends of the safety
levers d, d², are moved into the positions represented in Figure 2; the striker
holes ff, are thereby uncovered, and the gun can be discharged in the usual way.
The safety levers are independent of one another. It will be seen by an examination
of Figure 2 that when the barrels have been shut down, and the prolonged end c of
the rib has seated itself in the recess b. in the break off, the curved recesses g, g, in

page_text: the sides of the said rib c are brought opposite the outer ends of the short arms d², d²,
of the safety levers, and when the said safety levers are moved into the positions
represented in Figure 2 to permit of the discharge of the gun, the ends of the said
short arms enter the said curved recesses g, g, as seen in the said Figure 2. When
after discharge the barrels are raised from the break off a, a, for recharging the gun
the prolonged rib c as it rises from the recess b lifts the short arm d², d, of the
safety levers, and depresses their longer arms d, d, as illustrated in Figure 1, and
thereby brings the safety levers into the positions in which they cover the striker
holes, and prevent the discharge of the gun as herein before described. Thus the
act of lifting the breech ends of the barrels for recharging them brings the safety
levers into their acting or safety positions, and the gun cannot be discharged until
the said levers have been raised by hand into the positions Figure 2.
Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6, represent the arrangement of our Invention in which a
safety axis or bolt is used for preventing the accidental discharge of the gun.
Figures 3 and 4 represent longitudinal sections of the breech ends of the gun,
Figure 3 exhibiting the safety axis or bolt in position to block or prevent the fall
of the hammer, and Figure 4 the said safety axis or bolt in the position in which
it permits the hammer to fall; Figure 5 represents a longitudinal section of the
gun taken through the middle of the lump on the barrels near the joint, and
exhibits the sliding rod by which the safety axis or bolt is moved into its acting or
safety position on opening the gun for recharging; Figure 6 represents the two
safety axes of the double barrel gun in two positions.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 3, 4, 5,
and 6.
h is the safety axis or bolt working in an opening at the back of and parallel to
the face of the break off a. Each hammer is provided with a safety axis, the two
axes being independent of one another. The safety axis has motion through a
quadrant in one or other direction, a stop pin taking into the slot i, limiting the
motion of the said axis. Each axis h projects from the side of the break off, and
has a small lever or handle k upon it for moving it by hand.
That part of the safety axis situated in front of the hammer is cut away at l.
When the cut away part is turned into the position represented in Figure 3, so
that it is uppermost, the hammer m is blocked and cannot fall sufficiently far to
discharge the gun. When it is wished to discharge the gun the safety axis or
bolt h is turned by its handle or lever through a quadrant. The cut away part
in the said axis is thereby brought into the position represented in Figure 4, that
is, facing the hammer m, and the said hammer is not obstructed by the said axis,
and the gun may be discharged, as shown in the said Figure 4, where the hammer
is represented in its discharged position. The axis h is brought into the safety
position, Figure 3, on raising the breech ends of the barrels for recharging them by..
the following arrangement of parts:-The inner end of each axis h is cut away at n
(see Figure 6), and sliding in the body of the gun is a rod p (see Figure 5). The
front end of the sliding rod p bears against the inclined face q of the lump r on
the barrels near their joint, and the other end of the said sliding rod p bears
against the cut away parts at n near the inner ends of both safety axes h, h. After
the gun has been discharged the safety axis h occupies the position represented in
Figure 4, and the sliding rod p that represented in Figure 5. On raising the
breech ends of the barrels for recharging the said rod p is pressed backwards or
towards the break off by the action of the incline q of the lump r, and the said rod
bearing against the two safety axes h, h, brings them into the position, Figure 3, or
into a position of safety, and the hammers cannot fall sufficiently far to discharge
the gun. The shutting down of the barrels removes the incline q from the rod p,
and permits the latter to be pushed back by the partial rotation of the safety axis,
when it is moved to bring it to the position, Figure 4, to permit of the discharge of
the gun.
When the safety axes h have a sliding motion instead of a rotary motion the.
rod p, Figure 5, is wedge shaped at that end which acts upon the said axes, and on

page_text: the raising of the barrels the wedge shaped end of the rod p enters between the
opposed ends of the safety axes h, h, and separating them brings the uncut-away
parts of the said axes in front of the hammers, which are thus prevented from
falling.
Figures 7 and 8 represent in longitudinal section the breech-end of a drop down
gun provided with safety apparatus of the kind described, represented, and claimed
in the Specification of the Patent granted to William Anson, herein before referred
to, in combination with mechanism constructed according to our Invention for
locking and unlocking the hammers. Figure 7 represents the safety apparatus in
action, and the triggers and hammers locked, and Figure 8 the same after the said
apparatus has been raised out of action and the triggers and hammers released and
.the gun ready to be discharged.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 7 and 8. At
the back of each of the hammers e of the double barrel gun we place a lever b
turning on the same axis or pin as the sears.
The safety lever b has nearly the same motion as and follows the figure of the
back of the hammer, as represented. Its upper end is hooked. Near the top of
the back of the hammer e is a "bent " or shoulder d, which may engage with the
hooked end of the safety lever b.
Should the hammer e be liberated by the accidental disengagement of the sear
from the bent in the tumbler of the hammer, when the safety lever b is in the
position, Figure 7, the bent or shoulder d of the hammer engages with the hooked
end of the said safety lever, and the hammer is locked and prevented from falling,
as will be understood by an examination of Figure 7.
The hammer safety lever b is withdrawn to permit of the discharge of the gun
in the following way: is the safety lever, by which the two triggers l, l, of the
gun are held down, the two safety levers i and 6 being coupled together by the
connecting link c. The trigger safety lever i is worked by the cranked lever m,
and the latter by the finger plate n on the tang of the break off, as described in
the Specification of the Patent before referred to. p is the spring rod in connection
with the locking bolt taking into the prolonged end of the rib for operating upon
the cranked lever m for putting the safety levers i and b into their acting positions
on opening the gun for reloading. When the parts are in the respective positions
represented in Figure 7 the safety lever i holds down the triggers L, L, and the
hammers e are prevented from falling by the safety levers b. To discharge the gun
it is necessary to press the thumb plate n on the tang towards the break off. By
this motion the trigger safety lever i acted upon by the lever m is lifted from the
triggers and the hammer safety levers b acted upon through the lever i and link c
are at the same time withdrawn from the hammers e, as represented in Figure 8.
The gun can now be discharged. On opening the gun for recharging it the rod p
operates upon the cranked lever m and puts the two safety levers i and b into
the positions in which they lock the triggers and hammers, as represented in
Figure 7.
Figures 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 represent the arrangement of our Invention in
which the position of the hammer safety lever last described is inverted and the
actuating parts modified. Figure 9 represents in longitudinal section the safety
levers in their locking positions; Figure 10 represents the same thrown out of action;
Figure 11 represents a cross section of the gun; Figure 12 represents the hammer
safety lever detached; and Figure 13 represents a plan of upperside of the lock
plate carrying the safety mechanism.
a, a, b, is the safety lever for locking and releasing the hammers e, e, the said lever
being centered at c near the top of the break off. The said safety lever a, a, b,
consists of two arms a, a, having the pawl like figure, best seen in the sections.
Figures 9 and 10, and a longer middle and hollow arm b (see Figure 12).
The said arms a, a, are capable by the motion of the lever of being brought over
or of being removed from over the notches or bents d, d. in the hammers e, e.
..In the middle hollow arm 6 of the safety lever the spring end f² of the sliding

page_text: rod f, f, engages. The said sliding rod f is guided by the block g, and its rear end
carries a vertical stud or pin h which rocks in a hole or recess in the safety lever i
by which the triggers are locked and unlocked.
The trigger safety lever i is operated upon by the horizontal arm of the cranked'
lever m, worked by the slide n on the tang of the break off, as before described.
After the gun has been cecked the parts of the safety apparatus occupy the
respective positions represented in Figure 9, that is, the hammer safety lever a, a,
is brought over the bents or notches d in the cocked hammers e, e, and the trigger
safety lever i is pressed upon the triggers 1, 1, by the operation of the parts p, m,
on unbolting the gun, as before described with respect to Figures 7 and 8, and the
hammers and triggers are locked, the triggers being prevented from rising and the
hammers from falling. When it is wished to discharge the gun the hand slide n is
pressed towards the break off. The two levers i and a, a, are thereby lifted from
the triggers and hammers respectively, as illustrated. in Figure 10, and the gun is
free to be discharged.
Instead of connecting the trigger safety lever i and hammer safety lever a, a, b,
by the sliding rod h, f. f, as represented, the said levers i and a, a, b, may be
coupled together by a link.
Figure 14 represents the arrangement of hammer safety lever last described
modified, to be worked independently of the trigger safety lever. In the arrange-
ment Figure 14, the safety lever a is provided with an upper arm, to which one
end of the connecting link or rod a² under the tang is jointed:
The other end of the said link or rod a² is expanded, the expanded part having
an oblong slot in it, through which the lower part of the sliding finger plate n on
the tang passes and is fixed by a pin. When the locking bolt is withdrawn by the
action of the lever on the tang the rod p strikes the projecting part of the sliding
finger platen and puts the safety lever a into its safety or locking position, as
represented in the Drawing. By moving the sliding finger plate n towards the
break off the safety lever a is thrown out of action and the gun may be discharged.
When a side lever is employed it may be fixed on the axis of the hammer safety
lever a. In this case the said safety lever is brought into its unlocking position
by moving the said side lever, and brought to its locking position by the action of
the rod p on the rod or link a². Instead of the slide n, in the arrangement Figures
9, 10, 11, 12, and 13, a side lever may be placed on the axis of the cranked lever m,.
or on the axis of the safety lever a for taking the safety lever out of action.
The safety apparatus described with respect to Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13
may be applied to muzzle loading small arms as well as to breech loading small
arms.
When applied to muzzle loading small arms the safety apparatus is thrown
into and out-of action by operating by hand upon the thumb plate n.
Having now described the nature of our Invention and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that we claim as our Inven-
tion of "improvements in safety apparatus for breech loading and muzzle loading
small arms,
First. The construction and combination of the parts of safety apparatus for drop
down guns, herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accom-
panying Drawings, that is to say, the safety lever or levers d, d², for covering and
uncovering the holes in the break off through which the strikers pass to discharge
the gun, the said lever or levers being put into the safety position by the act of
lifting the breech ends of the barrels for reloading, substantially as described and
illustrated.
Secondly. The construction and combination of the parts of safety apparatus for
drop down guns, herein before described and illustrated in Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 of
the accompanying Drawings, that is to say-The safety axis or safety axes h and
parts connected therewith for blocking the hammers or permitting the said hammers
to fall by the motion of the said axis or axes through a quadrant, substantially as
described and illustrated; also the combination with the said safety axis or axes of
the sliding rod p, operated by an incline on the lump near the joint of the gun for

page_text: putting the safety axis or axes into a safety position on lifting the breech ends of the
barrels for recharging, substantially as described and illustrated; also the modifica-
tion described with reference to Figure 5, in which the safety axes have a sliding.
instead of rotary motion.
Thirdly. The construction and combination of the parts of safety apparatus herein
before described and illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying Drawings,
for locking and unlocking the hammers of breech loading and muzzle loading small
arms, that is to say-The construction of the hammer safety lever or levers b and
parts connected therewith, substantially as described; also the construction and
combination of parts herein before described, and illustrated in Figures 9, 10, 11, 12,
13, and 14 of the accompanying Drawings, in which the position of the hammer
safety lever is inverted and the parts otherwise modified, substantially as described
and illustrated.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Anson and John Deeley, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty eighth day of August, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
Witness,
-
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
WILLIAM ANSON. (LS.)
JOHN DEELEY. (L.S.)