IMPROVEMENTS IN RIFLES AND OTHER FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Simkin, of Bolton-le-Moors, in the County
of Lancaster, Gun Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RIFLES
AND OTHER FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 19th June 1855, and dated the 16th January 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Simkin at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th January 1855.
I, JAMES SIMKIN, of Bolton-le-Moors, in the County of Lancaster, Gun
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN RIFLES AND OTHER FIRE-ARMS" to be as follows:-
My improvements are more particularly applicable to that class of fire-arms
known as rifles, but are also applicable to any description of fire-arms or
ordnance wherein moveable or adjustable "sights "are or may be employed.
My Invention consists, first, in a novel method of raising or lowering the
"breech" "sight," by means of a screw or other suitable equivalent, for the
purpose of holding or affixing the said "sight" at any desirable elevation;
and thus preventing its falling or slipping down accidentally or otherwise, and'
particularly when applied to the "Minie "rifle.
Secondly, my improvement is applicable to the end of the barrel or "point
sight," which is furnished with a lateral movement, whereby the "sight"
be adjusted either to the right or left of the centre of the barrel, according to
the degree of deviation of the projectile from its true or central course.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James. Simkin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th July 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
SIMKIN, of Bolton-le-Moors, in the County of Lancaster, Gun Maker, send
greeting.
our
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of January, in the
year of
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said James Simkin, Her especial license that I, the said James
Simkin, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said James Simkin, 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, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RIFLES AND OTHER FIRE ARMS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said James Simkin, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention, and what manner the same was
to be performed, 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 James Simkin, do hereby declare
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 and accompanying Drawings (that is to say):-
My improvements are more particularly applicable to that class of fire-armis
known as rifles, but are also applicable to any description of fire-arms or
ordnance wherein moveable or adjustable "sights" are or may be employed.
My Invention consists, first, in a novel method of raising or lowering the
"breech sight," by means of a screw or other suitable equivalent, for the
purpose of holding or affixing the said sight at any desirable elevation,
and thus preventing its falling or slipping down accidentally or otherwise, and
particularly when applied to the "Minie" rifle.
Secondly, my improvement is applicable to the sight at the opposite end of
the barrel or "point sight," which is furnished with a lateral movement,

page_text: whereby the sight can be adjusted either to the right or left of the centre
of the barrel, according to the degree of deviation of the projectile from its true
or central course; this "sight" is also furnished with a rising and falling
motion, similar to the "breech sight."
In order that my improvements may be better understood and explained in
detail, I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawing, made about full size, and
having the same letters of reference marked upon the corresponding parts of
the apparatus-in all the Figures.
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of the end of the barrel, upon which the
"breech sight" is fixed, Fig. 3 being a front view of the same; Fig. 2 exhibits
a side elevation of the opposite end, having the "point sight" attached, of
which Fig. 4 is a front view; Fig. 5 represents a plan, or under view, looking
upwards at the barrel, and shewing the bars that are fixed on the side of the
barrel for supporting the "point sight," as well as the springs and screws
which hold the entire apparatus together. In Fig. 1, a, a, is the barrel,
with the sight raised as when in use. Fig. 3, a, a, is the barrel; b, b, is a
graduated piece of metal, having a slot in its centre, through which the "point
sight" is to be seen; c is a small bar or plate, placed transversely across
the piece b, b, and raised or lowered by means of the screw d to any of the
graduated marks, in order to give the proper elevation to the barrel. Fig. 2
and 4, a, a, is the barrel; e, c, are two standards of metal rising on each side
of the barrel, between which is fixed a slight bar f, over which runs the sight g,
with the screw h passing through it, by which means it can be moved from one
side to the other, in order to obviate any inaccuracy in the barrel. For this
same purpose the "sight" 9 can be raised or lowered by means of the screws
i, i, which act upon the sliding pieces attached to the screw h. The standards
e, e, are provided with tail pieces k, k, upon which press the springs 1, 7, in
order to keep the apparatus upright and steady when in use, and in the position
shewn by the dotted lines when not in use. m, m, are the bars; and n, n, are
the screws, by which the standards e, e, are supported; 0, 0, are studs or pins,
working in double collars p. p, on each vertical screw of the two sights, by
which means the lift is secured.
Having now particularly described the nature of my Invention, together
with the manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be
distinctly understood that I claim,-
First, causing the transverse bar c to be raised or lowered or secured in its
place when adjusted by means of a screw, or other mechanical equivalent.
Secondly, the application of a "moveable or adjustable point sight.
And, thirdly, the apparatus, as herein-before described and set forth, and

page_text: fully illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, together with any modification
or variation of the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Simkin, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
JAMES SIMKIN. (L.S.)