IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR PISTOLS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Albert Augustus Pope, of Boston, in the County of Suffolk,
and State of Massachusetts, in the United States of America, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR PISTOLS." A communication from Augustus
Celanus Carey, residing of Malden, in the County of Middlesex, and State of
Massachusetts, in the United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Albert Augustus Pope at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th March 1876.
ALBERT AUGUSTUS POPE, of Boston, in the County of Suffolk, and State of
Massachusetts, in the United States of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR PISTOLS."
A communication from Augustus Celanus Carcy, a person resident of Malden, in
the County of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, in the United States of
America.
This pistol is a breech-loading one. The barrel is hinged to the front end of the
air magazine, and its rear end tips up in loading. The bore of the barrel is in
alignement with and constitutes a prolongation on a reduced scale of the interior of
the air or plunger chamber, which latter is traversed by a spring impelled plunger.
The plunger is pulled backward in loading, and in its forward flight expels beforo
it through the barrel the dart which is placed in the rear end of the barrel, sinco
the bore of the barrel is the only outlet for the air expelled from the chamber by
the impulse of the plunger.
My improvements in this pistol embrace-
First. Joints of of peculiar character between the rear end of the barrel and the
forward end of the air magazine.
Second. The combination of the air magazine, barrel, and spring impelled plunger,
with their necessary adjuncts, under such a general arrangement that the barrel is
in alignement with the air magazine, and constitutes a prolongation of its bore; the
plunger traverses the air magazine, also in axial alignement with the bore of the
barrel, and is drawn backward in loading, and in its forward flight expels air from
the magazine through the barrel.
Third. In the form of the compound trigger whereby the latter is adapted to tho
movement of the plunger, which in its forward flight takes a direction opposite to
that in which the trigger is pulled.

page_text: My improvements also embrace minor details, to be herein-after explained.
The Drawings accompanying this Specification represent in Figure 1 a longitu-
dinal section of a pistol embodying my improvements, the barrel being closed and
the plunger in its idle position. Figure 2 is a plan of certain modifications of this
Invention. Figure 3 is a cross section taken through the joint of the barrel.
In these Drawings A represents the frame or stock of the pistol, the same con-
sisting of a straight cylinder pierced at either end by an axial hole a or b, the
former serving to open communication with the bore of the barrel, which is shown
at B, and the latter receiving the plunger rod C, which extends rearward from the
air magazine D, which latter is the interior of the cylinder A.
The plunger for expelling the air from the magazine D is shown at E as fitting
closely within such magazine, and impelled forward by a powerful spring F, which
is coiled about the plunger rod C, and exerts its power between such plunger and
the rear end of the magazine, the said rod C filling the core of the spring, in order
to preserve the latter in a straight line, and avoiding the wear which otherwise
would ensue to the interior walls of the magazine.
The rear end of the rod C is provided with an eye or knob, or other means of
sccuring a strong hold upon it, while the forward end of such rod is attached
rigidly to the plunger, or passes through it, and is formed with a head to bear upon
the front end of said plunger, and in either event serves to retract the latter.
G in the Drawings represents the trigger proper, which is pivoted to the lower
side of the stock A, as shown at c, the forward and upper extremity of such trigger
resting upon the rear or tail end d of a spring latch e, which is secured to the under
side of the stock A, and in advance of the trigger G, and is formed at its rear end
with a vertical stop or stud f to intercept the forward flight of the plunger. The
barrel Bis hinged at its rear under part to the adjacent part of the stock A by a
pivot g, and the joint between the said barrel and stock is disposed obliquely to
a vertical line projected through the axis of the two, in order to obtain a lap joint
by which to thoroughly guard against escape of air, while an elastic packing i
is interposed between the abutting ends of the barrel and stock and take more effec-
tually to ensure such result.
The operation of this pistol is as follows, assuming as a starting point the position
of parts shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings:-The barrel is first
turned upon its pivot, and its rear end raised, which exposes its bore; a projectile
is then inserted in the bore of the barrel, and the latter returned to place. The
plunger is now retracted by pulling upon the rod C until such plunger passes in
rear of the stud f of the latch e, when the said stud, by the inherent elasticity of
such latch, rises in front of and intercepts the plunger, and maintains it in this
position, and against the stress of the spring F, until released by a pull upon the
trigger. The trigger is now pulled, which lowers the stud f, and allows the spring F
to impel the plunger forward, and expel through the barrel the air which is con-
tained in the magazine D in advance of such plunger, while as a consequence the
dart or other projectile in the barrel will be expelled with great force, since, as
before stated, the barrel is the only means of exit of such air.
The pulling back of the plunger may be effected prior to inserting the projectile
within the barrel, but for some reasons I prefer that it shall be subsequent to such
loading; and I would here state that if the rod C passes loosely through the
plunger, such rod is to be pushed forward within the machine or returned to its
norinal position before the trigger is pulled, otherwise it is left protruding from the
rear end of the air magazine.
The lap joint, before described, between the barrel and stock enable me to com-
pensate for any slight deficiencies in the accuracy of the joint, and in connection
with the elastic packing enables me to guard with ease and certainty against
leakage or escape of air.
In order to guard against any approach to a vacuum, and a consequent drag in
rear of the piston, I create a passage in the handle of the pistol, by which air
can enter the rear end of the magazine D.

page_text: To provide a plunger which shall exclude escape of air between itself and the
walls of the air magazine without undue friction, I create in the periphery of the
plunger a concentric channel a, and within this channel I place a circular ribbon
spring 6', whose inherent elasticity causes it to expand with a gentle pressure and
fill the bore of the air chamber, the ends of the said spring b' being preferably
scarfed and lapped, as shown at c', to prevent escape of air past the joint.
Figures and 5 in the accompanying Drawings represent, the first a perspective,
and the second a longitudinal section of a portion of a pistol embodying certain
modifications in the method of uniting the barrel to the stock.
In these Figures A¹ represents the frame or stock of the pistol of the form before
stated. The barrel is represented at G' as secured at its rear end to an annular
disc or hub H, which is pivoted at its lower part to the front end of the air
magazine B', and eccentrically with respect to the bore of the latter and of the
barrel. When the barrel is in a closed or firing position its bore a¹ is in alinge-
ment with and constitutes with a reduced diameter a continuation of the bore of
the air chamber, and the contiguous faces of the hub H' and frame A' are disposed
obliquely to the common axis of the two in order that when the barrel is returned
from an open to a closed position the parts shall crowd against each other and effect
an air-tight joint.
Figure 6 in the accompanying Drawings represents a perspective view of a mode
of attaching the barrel to the stock which I propose using under some circumstances,
and which consists in adding to the front of the air magazine or the frame A' a
lower branch or support b', whose outer end is tubular, as shown at c', to receive
and support in part the barrel G', which slides within it, the depression or space fl
intervening between the support and magazine, permitting of the introduction of
the projectile in the barrel when the latter is pulled out or forward. The rear end
of the barrel is let into a countersink in the end of the frame A' to obtain a tight
joint, and I prefer to add to the top of the barrel a pointed stop or guide e, which
enters a corresponding noteh d" in the frame A', and determines the proper position
of the barrel.
H in the accompanying Drawings represents a rod or strap or equivalent object,
provided at one end with a hook ' to enter an eye in the rear end of the
plunger rod, or otherwise adapted to seize hold of such rod, and at its other end
provided with a stirrup or handle ', in which the user's foot may be placed to
obtain great power over the stress of the plunger spring, and relieve the hand of
the user of the labor of contracting such spring in cocking or setting the plunger.
Figure 7 in the Drawings represents a side view, and Figure S a section of n
pistol, showing the addition of a revolving many chambered or perforated cylinder,
to convert the pistol into a revolving or repeating one.
In these Figures A represents the stock or frame of the pistol, as before, and B
the air magazine, whose outer end is contracted to a size equal to that of the bore
of the barrel, which is shown at C as mounted at its rear end in a tubular block
or hub D, supported upon the outer end of a pin or rod E, which is placed
below and parallel with the barrel and air chamber, and extends into the stock
sufficiently far to obtain a firm bearing. Within the space intermediate between
the front end of the air chamber and the block D² I place a many chambered or
perforated cylinder F, such cylinder being mounted and revolving axially upon the
pin E, and being so constructed that any one of its bores a* is capable of coinciding
with the bore of the barrel. The nature and uses of this revolving cylinder will bo
understood at a glance.
Figure 10 in the accompanying Drawings represents in a vertical section a modo
of retracting the plunger E, which consists in the employment of a curved rod or
lever m, whose upper part is disposed over the air magazine or stock A, and its
rear or vertical part n placed in rear of the handle t, the lower end of the said rear
part n of the lever m being pivoted to the lower part of the said handle, while to
the bend o of such lever the rear end of the plunger rod C is pivoted, as shown
The said rod C is split or formed with a long slot q to straddle the pivot p,
at P.

page_text: which connects its rear end to the lever m, and allows such rod, when the plunger
is set or cocked, to be pushed or returned to its normal position within the air
chamber. A ring may be swiveled to the front end of the lever m for convenience
in overcoming the stress of the plunger spring.
EE
Figure 11 in the accompanying Drawings illustrates a method of connecting the
tip down" barrel (shown in Figure 1) to the plunger, in order that when said
barrel is tipped down to open its breech for the insertion of a cartridge the same
movement shall set or cock the plunger. To effect this I add to the under side of
the barrel B, immediately below its pivot g, an arm s, the lower end of which I
pivot to the front or outer end of a pitman t, while the rear or inner end of said
pitman is pivoted to the front end of a slide bar u, which is disposed and plays
within a chamber or passage v created in the stock A below the air chamber, the
extreme rear end of such slide bar terminating in an upright furcated head w, which
straddles the plunger rod C and bears against the inner end of a head or nut z
secured to the extreme rear end of such plunger, or is pivoted to the latter in such
manner that the rod may follow the movement of the slide bar. As the barrel is
tipped down in the act of loading the slide bar u, by means of the arm 8 and
pitman t, is forced rearward, and the plunger is carried with it until set or
cocked to the trigger y. The dart is next inserted in the barrel and the latter
returned to place, the plunger rod C by the return movement of the slide bar u
being carried forward to its normal position in the air chamber in order not to
interfere with the flight of the plunger when the trigger is pulled.
I do not restrict myself to this method of enabling the loading movement of the
barrel to set or cock the plunger, as this is a principle which may be carried out by
various mechanical means.
CLAIMS.
First. The various methods herein described of hinging the barrel to the stock,
substantially as and for purposes stated.
Second. The combination of the hinged barrel B, air magazine D, and spring
impelled plunger E, under the arrangement substantially as herein described,
whereby the bore of the barrel is in alignement with and constitutes a continuation
on a reduced scale of the bore of said air chamber, and the plunger traverses such
air chamber in an axial line with the latter and the bore of the barrel, essentially
as and for purposes stated.
Third. The compound trigger herein explained, consisting of the trigger proper G
and the spring latch e, essentially as and for purposes stated.
Fourth. The combination of the hinged barrel B, air magazine D, spring
impelled plunger E, and compound trigger e, G, substantially as and for purposes
stated.
Fifth. The combination with air pistols of a revolving many chambered or per-
forated cylinder, substantially as and for purposes stated.
Sixth. The construction of parts whereby a movement of the barrel preparatory
to loading or enabling it to be loaded has the effect of setting or cocking the
plunger, substantially as and for purposes stated.
Seventh. The combination with the plunger and stock and other features of the
pistol, of the lever m pivoted to the plunger rod and to the stock, as and for
purposes stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Albert Augustus Pope, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of March 1876.