CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN GUNS
Year: 1845

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN HALE, of Leicester Square, in the County of Middlesex; send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria,
by Her Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain,
bearing date at Westminster, the Second day of October (One thousand
eight hundred and forty-five), in the Ninth year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said John
Ilale, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full power,
sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Johu Hale, my exors,
aduiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Hale, my exors,
adñiors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in all
Her said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, and in the Islands
of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, my Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN GUNS;" in which said Letters Patent, there
is contained a proviso obliging me, the said John Hale, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, to particularly describe and

page_text: ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, and cause the same to be inrolled in Her said
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as
in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and
at large appear..
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the
said John Hale, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed and carried into prac-
tical effect, to be as the same are described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, and by reference to the illustrative
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters of reference
marked thereon respectively (that is to say):
My Invention of "Certain Improvements in Guns" consists, firstly, in
certain new mechanical combinations and arrangements of parts to be
employed in the construction of guns, whereby the possibility of acci-
dental or unexpected discharge of the contents thereof is effectually pre-
vented. Secondly, in giving to the rib a convex formn, and by arranging
or disposing the hammer or hammers, and parts in connection therewith,
below the surface of the rib, whereby the elevation of the gun is con-
siderably improved, inasmuch as the sight is not impeded, as is the case
with guns as hitherto constructed, in which the hammer stands above
the rib.. Thirdly, in a new arrangement of parts, by which the priming
of the gun or placing of the patch or cap upon the nipple. is more
readily and simply effected than by the means hitherto employed for
that purpose. And I propose a further improvement in the construction
of guns by affixing, in addition to the pin or sight which is near the end
of the barrel, a second pin or sight which I fix to the barrel end at a
distance from the breech of about one third of the length of the barrel;
and I form that portion of the stock of the gun which is immediately
under the breeching of metal, instead of wood, as hitherto practised,
whereby that hand which supports this part of the gun is protected
from injury in the event of the barrel bursting.
And in order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible
I will proceed to describe the mechanical combinations and arrange-

page_text: ments of the several parts which I consider best calculated for carrying
my said Invention into practical effect.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
The Figure 1, represents a side elevation of a single barrelled gun
with the improvements above mentioned attached thereto. Figure 2,
is a side elevation of a portion of the barrel of the gun, shewing the
mechanical arrangement of parts to be employed for actuating the
hammers, and other parts in connection therewith, for which purpose
these parts are represented as detached from the stock of the gun.
Figure 3, is a plan view of the under side of the gun, the hammer of
which is shewn detached therefrom at Figure 4. Figure 5, is a side
elevation, and Figure 6, is a top plan view of another arrangement of
parts to be employed for actuating and securing the hammer of the gun
and other parts in connection therewith. Figure 7, is a side elevation
of the hammer detached from the lock. Figure 8, is a top plan view of
another arrangement of parts to be employed in the construction of
double barrelled guns, representing also that portion of the stock of the
which is formed of metal. Figure 9, is a bottom plan view of the
last-mentioned arrangement; the hammers being removed. Figure 10,
is a side elevation of the last-mentioned arrangement; and Figure 11, is
a transverse section thereof, taken through the line A, B, at the Figures 8,
9, 10, shewing the relative positions of the hammers. Similar letters of
reference are placed upon and denote corresponding parts, in so far as
such parts appear or can be seen at each of the Figures respectively. ¡
gun
At the Figures 1; 2, 3, A, A, marks the stock of the gun, the fore end
of which, or that part which extends from the break-off or false breech-B,
is composed of metal, and is connected to the false breech by bolts or
pins C, attached to the end of the part A', of the stock,' and being
passed through holes formed in the false breech to receive them, and
are secured therein by nuts D, screwed upon the ends of the bolts or
pins, which have a thread or screw formed thereon to receive them. The
barrel E, is connected to the false breech by a hook in the usual way of
connecting gun barrels to the stocks; and the barrel is secured to the
metal part A', of the stock by a screw passing through the same and

page_text: into a loop or piece F, brazed upon the barrel, as shewn at Figure (4*).
G, marks a piece of metal or knob, which is fixed into the part A',, of
the stock by screwing or otherwise; and in this piece of metal there is
formed a slot, into which fits a lever H, the fulcrum of which is a pin I.
The lower extremity of this lever is formed with a projecting piece K,
fitting in a hole formed in the piece G, and the upper end of the said
lever passes through a slot formed in the trigger bolt L, such bolt being
retained in its proper position by a groove formed in the stock, and by
the plate M, screwed thereto. N, marks the trigger plate, having an
opening O, formed through that end which joins the metal stock A'. P,
marks the trigger, which is connected to the trigger bolt Q, by the end
of the said trigger passing through a slot formed in the bolt. The upper
end of the trigger is connected to the piece R, by a pin S, which is thè
fulcrum thereof, such said piece being fixed to the trigger plate, to
another part of which there is fixed a spring T, the end of which takes
into a notch formed in the trigger bolt, as shewn at Figure (4*), for the
purpose hereafter described. U, marks a safety lever or catch situate
immediately behind the guard plate V. This catch is attached at one
end to the trigger plate by a-joint-W, and at its other end there is fixed
a T shaped piece or stud X, the lower portion of which works through a
hole formed in the trigger plate. Y, marks a spring for keeping the
upper part of the piece X, in contact with the end of the trigger bolt
when the pressure is removed from the safety lever or catch U. Z, Z,
marks projecting pieces fixed to or formed upon the metal stock A', and
leading to the nipple screw a, and to these pieces there is fixed by
screws b, b, a face plate c. d, marks a curved and dovetailed channel
or groove formed in the stock and barrel, as shewn at Figure 2, for
directing the patches or caps in their proper course. e, marks the
hammer placed upon the pin (f), which is attached to the false breech,
such pin being the fulcrum thereof. The construction of this hammer
is better shewn at Figure 4, where g, markes a hole for connecting it to
the pin f. h, marks the upper part of the hammer or point of per-
cussion; and i, is the lower part thereof. The part 1, of the hammer,
'when it is attached to the gun, is pressed against by a spring &, fixed to
the metal stock A', as shewn at Figures 1, and 2.

page_text: The operations of the gun thus constructed are as follow:---The cliarg-
ing of the primer is effected by passing the percussion patches or caps
one by one into the priiner at the end 2, which is left open for that pur-
pose, and this end of the said primer when filled is closed by a piece 1,.
moving upon a screw m, which is the fulcrum thereof. In order to dis-
charge the contents of the gun when loaded the point of the gun must first
be raised to allow the caps to descend by their own gravity from the primer
to the nipple screw a, and at the same time the hammer of the gun must be
cocked, the effect of which will be to cause the spring to press against the
piece n, and the upper part of this piece being pressed against the edge.
of that patch or cap which is next to the one about to be operated upon.
by the hammer will arrest it, and prevent it from again returning into the
primer by the alteration of position of the gun. The hammer is retained
in the proper position for cocking the gun by constructing the lower end
thereof as shewn at Figure (4) where o marks a groove formed in tliat
face of the hammer which is nearest to the trigger bolt (Q), and p marks
a square or oblong hole formed in the opposite face of the hammer, and
into this hole the end of the trigger bolt (L) takes when the gun is cocked,
and the escape of the hammer froni this position is effected in the follow-
ing manner: in pointing or levelling the gun to discharge its contents
the fingers of that hand by which the trigger is to be pulled will, in order.
te support the weight of the gun, necessarily press the catch or safety,
lever U upwards, whereby that end of the trigger bolt Q, which was
previously arrested by it, will be at liberty to move past it; and at the
same time that band which supports the fore part or barrel of the gun
must be so placed that the palm of the hand grasps that part of the
stock which is immediately beneath the breech, and by pressing the fore
fingers against the knob or piece (G) the lower end of the lever (H)
will be acted upon, and draw back that part of the bolt (L) which was
inserted in the hole (o) of the hammer by pressure of the spring (k).
The next operation is to cause the hammer to strike the point of per-
cussion at which is placed the patch or percussion cap, which is effected
by pulling back the trigger in the direction of the arrow, by which that
end of the bolt Q, which was inserted in the hole (p) of the hammer
by pressure of the spring (T) will be drawn therefrom, and the elasticity

page_text: of the spring (k) will cause the upper end h of the hammer to strike
the patch or catch, by which the contents of the gun will be discharged:
And it will appear evident that in order to effect such discharge the
several operations of disengaging the safety catch or lever U from the
end of the trigger bolt Q, the withdrawing of the bolt L from the hole
(o) in the hammer, and the releasing of the hammer from the trigger
bolt Q, must be simultaneously performed, or the discharge will not be
effected. The arrangements represented at Figures 5, 6, 7, and which
are more particularly applicable to single barrelled guns, are as follow:-
A, A, marks the trigger plate. B, marks a lever, fixed to the upper part
of the said plate by a screw C, which is the fulcrum thereof. D, marks
the trigger, one end of which is attached to the trigger plate by a joint
and screw E, which is the fulcrum thereof; and to another part of this
trigger there is fixed a piece of metal or stud F, which works through a
hole in the trigger plate. The upper part of this piece is formed of a
T shape, similar to that before described, and represented at Figure 2, and
is for the same purpose. G, marks a spring fixed to the trigger plate for
keeping the upper part of the piece or stud F, in contact with the lever B,
as shewn at Figure 6. H, marks a spring employed for keeping the end 1,
of the lever B, in the position shewn; and I form the edge 2 of this end of
the said lever bevilled, in order that the end (4) of the hammer, shewn
detached at Figure 7, which is inserted into, the hole 1 in the trigger
plate, may be readily disengaged therefrom by pressure of the spring
(marked K, at Figures 1, 2, 3,) at the point 5, of the said hammer. And
I would remark that in all other respects the arrangements are similar
to those before described; and represented at Figures 1; .2, 3. The
operations of a gun constructed upon this arrangement are as follow:-
By pressing up the trigger and stud (D, & F), and depressing the end 4
of the hammer at the same time, the end I of the lever B will be
forced back until the opening K in the hammer is brought opposite to
it; when the elasticity of the spring (H) will force this end of the lever
therein, and securely hold it in that position. The discharge of the contents
of the
gun when loaded is effected by pressing against the trigger in a
vertical direction, by which that end of the lever B. which is in contact
with the stud or piece (F) will he' disengaged, and the pressure of the

page_text: spring k, shewn at the Figures 1, 2, 3, acting against the point 5 of the
hammer, will overcome the resistance offered by the spring (H), by which
the hammer will be released, and strike the point of percussion at which
the patch or cap is situate, and thereby effect the discharge of the
contents of the barrel. At the arrangements represented at Figures 8,
9, 10, 11, which are intended to be used in the construction of double
barrelled guns, it will be seen that the: difference of arrangement of the
parts from those shewn and described in respect of Figures 1, 2, 3, con-
sists simply in repeating the arrangement: there shewn at the side of
cach barrel for double barelled guns, and employing two triggers in
connection with the trigger bolts, such connection being formed either
by screwing the upper ends of the triggers to the said bolts, as shewn.at
Figures 8, 9, 10, or by the arrangement shewn at Figure 2. In each of
these last-mentioned Figures similar letters of reference are placed upon
and denote corresponding parts to those shewn at the Figures 1, 2, 3, 4.
Having now described the nature of my said. Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed and carried into practical effect,
I desire it to be distinctly understood that I do not claim the exclusive
use of any of the separate parts above mentioned and referred to, except
in so far as the same may be employed in combination, and for the
purposes of my said Invention, which I lereby declare to consist in, and
and.I claim, firstly, the new mechanical combinations, and arrange-
ments of parts,.as above described, and represented in respect of those
portions of Figures 1, 2, 3, employed for effecting the priming of the
gun or placement of the patch or cap upon the nipple screw, as consti-
tuting improvements in guns. Secondly, I claim the new mechanical.
combination and arrangements of parts, as above described, and repre-
sented in respect of those portions of Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, employed for
securing and releasing the hammer of the gun, and by which arrange-
ment the several operations of disengaging the safety catch or lever U
from the end of the trigger bolt. Q. the withdrawing of the bolt L from
the hole (c) in the hammer, and the releasing of the hammer from the
other end of the trigger bolt Q, must be simultaneously performed to
effect the discharge, and these I claim as constituting improvements in
guns. Thirdly, I claim as an inprovement in guns the forming of the
rib convex, instead of concave, and by the-application of two sights or

page_text: points of sight, instead of one only, as hitherto practised, as above
:described, and represented at Figures 1, and 2. Fourthly, I claim as
: an improvement in guns that part of the stock of the gun marked A',
at Figures 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 11,.which supports the barrel by forming
. it of metal, instead of wood, as hitherto practised. Fifthly, I claim the
new mechanical combinations and arrangements of parts, as above
described, and referred to in respect of Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, to be
employed in the construction of double barrelled guns, as constituting
improvements in guns. And such my Invention being, to the best of
my knowledge and belief, entirely new, and never before used within
that part of Her said Majesty's United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland called England, Her said Dominion of Wales, and Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in the Islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney,
Sark, and Man, and in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations
abroad, I do hereby declare this to be my Specification of the same,
and that I do verily believe this my said Specification doth comply in
all respects fully and without reserve or disguise with the proviso in the
said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent contained; wherefore
I hereby claim to maintain exclusive right and privilege to my said
Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Hale, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-six.
JOHN (L.8.) HALE.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Second day of April, in
the year of our Lord 1846, the aforesaid John Hale came before our
said Lady the Queen, in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Speci-
fication aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified,
in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped