Improved Trigger Mechanism for Double Barrelled Guns.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 17th Apr., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Trigger Mechanism for Double Barrelled Guns.
I, EDWIN JOHN BLAND, of 47 Brook Street, London, in the County of Middlesex,
Gunmaker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statenient:―
My invention has reference to improved trigger mechanism for double barrelled guns
or rifles whereby only one trigger is necessary for the firing of both locks or barrels
and is so devised that the shooter can fire either right and left barrels, or left and right,
alternately without the aid of a switch or bolt.
The way in which I carry out my invention is as follows:-
I provide a pivoted piece (hereinafter called the "swivel") on the trigger-plate,
under the head of the trigger-hox situated at the forward end of the slot or hole in
said plate through which the trigger works, the trigger and trigger-blade being
formed of separate pieces halved or dovetailed and pinned together in a vertical groove
or passage cut in said swivel a light trigger spring being also pinned or otherwise
attached thereto for the purpose of keeping the trigger in the forward position said
spring bearing on the top or upper edge of the trigger-blade. A spring is provided on
the trigger-plate which bears against the swivel and presses it over to the right so as
to keep the trigger and trigger-blade normally in position for firing the right hand
barrel first, another spring being provided for automatically moving the swivel and
its connected parts (trigger and trigger-blade) over to the left, by the action of
firing the right hand lock, into position for firing the left hand lock or barrel. If
desirable the position of these springs may be reversed on the trigger-plate so as to
hold the swivel, trigger, and trigger-blade normally over to the left to be always in
position for firing the left hand barrel first. The slot or hole in the trigger-plate
through which the trigger works is slightly prolonged at each side of its rear end so as
to allow for the involuntary pull on the trigger after firing. The rear end of the trigger-
blade engages with the sears for the purpose of releasing the hammers and firing the
gun as hereinafter described.
In order that my invention may be better understood and more readily carried into
effect I will now describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which,―
Figure 1 is a side elevation of part of a double barrelled gun comprising my
invention, one of the lock plates being removed to more clearly show the trigger
mechanism, the right hand hammer being shown in the cocked position.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same showing the swivel and trigger-blade in the right
hand position for normally firing the right hand lock or barrel first, both hammers
being in the cocked position.
Figure 3 is a plan showing the right band luck fired and the swivel and trigger-
blade moved over into position for firing the left hand lock.
Figure 4 is a plan of the trigger-plate showing the spring holding the swivel and
trigger-blade over to the right and the spring for moving same to the left when the
right hand lock is fired.
Figure 5 is a side view of same.
Figure 6 is a plan of the trigger-plate showing the trigger box at the forward end
of the slot or hole through which the trigger works and the prolongations of said slot
at each side of its rear end.

page_text: Figure 7 is a side elevation of same.
Figures 8 and 9 are plan and side view and plan and end view respectively of the
trigger-blade and trigger separated, showing one method of joining same by means
of halving or cutting away portions of the metal at the point of juncture and pinning
them together in the swivel.
Figure 10 shows respectively side elevation and plan of the swivel showing the pin
hole for pinning the trigger-blade, trigger, and trigger-spring thereto.
Figure 11 shows side view and plan respectively of one form of trigger-spring.
Figures 12 and 13 are plans and side views respectively of the springs for moving
the swivel, trigger-blade and trigger to the right and left hand positions for firing the
right or left hand barrels or locks.
The same numbers refer to the same parts in the several figures of the drawings.
1 is the trigger-plate, 2 the slot or hole through which the trigger works, 3 and 4
(Fig. 6) the prolongations of said slot for the purpose of overcoming the involuntary
pull on the trigger after firing, 5 is the trigger-box at the forward end of said slot,
under the head of which is pivoted the swivel 6 by means of screw or pin 7; 8 (Figs. 2,
3 & 11) is the groove or passage in the swivel 6 in which the trigger 9 and trigger-
blade 10 are joined together at their ends 11 and 12 (Figs. 8. and 9) by means of
pin 13 (see Fig. 5), the trigger-spring 14 for keeping the trigger in the forward
position being also attached to the swivel by means of said pin; 15 is the spring for
keeping the swivel, trigger-blade and trigger normally in position for always firing
the right hand barrel first, and 16 is the spring for moving same to the left (on
firing the right hand lock) for firing the left hand lock or barrel. 17 and 18 (Figs. 2
and 3) are the sear tails with which the end 19 of the trigger-blade (Figs. 1, 2, and 3)
engages for the purpose of releasing the respective hammers 20 and 21 when the
trigger is pulled. 22 (Fig. 3) is the right hand cocking-rod which actuates
spring 16 to move the swivel, trigger-blade and trigger over to the left hand position
on firing the right. hand lock as described hereafter. 23 (Fig. 1) is the left hand
cocking-rod.
The action of my invention. is as follows:-
Assuming the hammers 20 and 21 (Fig. 2) to be cocked (which is effected in the
ordinary way by the cocking rods 22 and 23 on opening the gun), the trigger 9 and
its blade 10 as before described being normally held over to the right hand position by
spring 15, on pulling the trigger 9 the end 19 of the trigger-blade 10 will be raised
and pressing on the tail, 17 of the right hand sear will raise said sear, and release the
right hand hammer 20 (in the ordinary, way) to fire the right hand barrel; on the fall
of the right hand hammer 20 and its cocking-rod 22.(shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3)
the end 22 of said cocking rod presses against the end 16ª of spring 16 (see Figs. 2,
3 and 4) the end. 16b of said spring pressing against swivel 6 and moving it together
with trigger-blade 10 and trigger 9 to the left hand position for firing the left hand
barrel; on now pulling the trigger the end 19 of the trigger-blade will raise left
band sear 21 by coming in contact with its tail 18, which action releases the left hand
haminer to fire the, left hand barrel. If it is desired to fire, the left hand barrel first,
instead of the right, all that is necessary is to move the trigger 9 over to the left by
the pressure of the finger and then pull it and on releasing the trigger it will
automatically move to the right again, into the normal position (for firing the
right hand barrel), under the influence of spring 15 bearing against swivel 6. As
before mentioned the positions of springs 15 and 16 on the trigger-plate may be
reversed if desired so as to hold swivel 6, trigger-blade 10 and trigger 9 normally
over to the left for firing the left hand. barrel first, in which case on the fall of the left
hand hammer, 21 and its cocking rod 23; the end 23ª (Fig. 1) of said cocking rod will
act on the spring 16 and throw the swivel, trigger, and trigger-blade over to the
right, into position for firing the right hand lock, in a similar manner to that above
described with reference to normally always firing the right hand barrel or lock first.
In this arrangement, if it is desired to fire the right hand barrel first, instead of the
left as above described, the trigger will be moved over to the right by the finger of
the shooter and when said left hand barrel is fired the trigger will automatically

page_text: move back again to the left hand side by the action of spring 16 on the swivel similar
to that described with reference to the right hand barrel.
When both barrels have been fired and the gun is opened to reload, the swivel 6,
trigger-blade 10, and trigger 9 are automatically moved into position for firing
whichever lock or barrel it is arranged to always normally fire first by means of
spring 15 bearing against swivel 6.
It will be seen that, with my invention as above described, if it is desired to fire
first the opposite barrel to that which is usually or normally fired first (the right hand
barrel is usually fired first), all that is necessary is to press the trigger over by the
finger and then pull it and on the firing of said barrel the trigger automatically returns
to its position for firing the barrel which is usually or normally always fired first,
whereas in single trigger guns hitherto in use, in order to fire first the opposite barrel to
that which is usually fired first, it has been necessary to first operate the safety mechanism
to place the gun at "safe" and then press over and pull, or else pull down the trigger,
then press over and pull up again, and a further movement, either the operation of
the top lever to open the gun or of a switch or bolt, has to be gone through in order
to return the trigger to the normal position for firing the barrel or lock which is
usually or normally always fired first. Briefly, the same result is effected by two
operations or movements by the hand of the marksman that it has hitherto taken four
or five movements to do, as above set forth.
It is obvious that the precise form and positions of the various parts comprising my
invention may be varied to suit different guns, and any desired form of sears may be
employed in connection therewith. The method of joining the trigger and trigger-
blade may be also varied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I am
aware of Hill & Smith's Specification of Letters Patent No. 13,063 of A.D. 1895, and
do not desire to claim anything therein claimed, but what I do claim is :-
1. In single trigger mechanism for double barrelled guns or rifles, the combination
with the swivel 6, trigger 9, and trigger blade 10, of a spring such as 15 normally in
compression holding the trigger and its connected parts in position for firing that
barrel which is usually always fired first (right hand barrel) said spring automatically
returning the trigger and its connected parts to the normal position in the event of
the opposite barrel (left hand) being fired first, and also on opening the gun when
both barrels are fired in the ordinary way (right first and then left), substantially as
herein described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In single trigger mechanism for double barrelled guns or rifles, the combination
with the swivel 6, trigger 9, trigger-blade 10, and spring 15 as claimed in Claim 1, of
a spring 16 brought into compression by the firing of that lock or barrel which is
normally always fired first (right hand barrel) for the purpose of throwing the trigger
and its connected parts over into position for firing the opposite barrel or that which
is usually fired last, the whole arranged and operating substantially as herein described
and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL, Fel. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
70 & 71 Palace Chambers, Westminster, S.W.,
Agent for the said Applicant.
WARS LORD way
504
JOHN P. O'DONNELL, Fel. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
70 & 71 Palace Chambers, Westminster, S.W.,
Agent for the said Applicant.