Improvements in or relating to Foresights for Fire Arms.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 9th Feb., 1891-Accepted. 14th Mar.. 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Foresights for Fire Arms.
We, FRANK WILLIAM HADDAN, Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding
the 4th V.B. Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment, and HENRY HAMBLYN SLADE,
Serjeant in said Corps, both of 73, New Street, Kennington, in the County of
Surrey do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to fire arms and is mainly intended for rifles the principle
being however applicable to machine guns and other firearms on which aiming
sights are used.
According to the present improvement a false or additional foresight is placed
on the rifle or fire arm (it being preferably not to alter in any way the existing
fixed foresight) said false foresight being made movable or adjustable in relation
to the backsight so that when the rifle or fire arm is used in practice at a short
range (the false foresight having been made according to the known distance
of said short range) firing may be made direct on the target at the short range
with the backsight arranged for any range within the capacity of the backsight,
after relative adjustment of the said foresight for the nominal range for which the
backsight is set, the object to provide incans for practising shooting at any
nominal range within the capacity of the firearm while actually shooting at a
range of fixed and comparatively small distance.
The aforesaid false foresight is made so that at its zero or commencing position
the rifle or fire arm on which the sight is to be placed will be accurately
collimated for the actual length of the range used when the usual backsight is
at its lowest position. Thus if the range in which practice is to be made is
twenty five yards the rifle being sighted for a minimum of 100 yards, the false
foresight is made so that at its zero or commencing position the elevation of the
rifle barrel nominally correct for 100 yards range shall be correct for 25 yards
range.
From this commencing point the false foresight shall be movable in conformity
with the back sight so that the same actual range is retained while the nominal
range is increased.
The false foresight may be conveniently arranged on a socket to be passed
onto the end of the barrel and provided with a slot for passage of the fixed
foresight with a spring catch inclined on one side to be pressed back by the
fixed foresight when the socket is placed on the barrel and to lock behind the said
fixed foresight when the socket is fully in place. Or when the slot has a lateral
extension similar to a "bayonet" socket and the false foresight is raised by an
inclined plane then the false foresight or part of the lifting or settling device
thereof may be made to slide transversely to the lateral extension of the bayonet
slot for locking the device on the barrel.
The false foresight may have one or more folding leaves for convenient adjust-
ment or it may consist of a single leaf only mounted on a spring arm raised by
a sliding inclined plane notched for different heights or it may be made on or at
the hinged junction of two bars, the outer end of one of which is hinged to the
socket and the outer end of the other made so that it may be slid to and from the
aforesaid hinged end of this contrivance so that the sight is supported on
the apex of the triangle so formed or one of the said bars may be produced
beyond said junction and the sight be placed on the end thereof in either case, so
that the sight is raised to a greater or less height as the angular distance between
the legs is made less or greater. The movable end of this contrivance may ride

page_text: in or on a notched way or groove and be held thereto by a spring or the spring
may be otherwise arranged in connection therewith to tend to open or to close th
said contrivance this tendency being restrained by the shape or inclination of the
notches in which the movable end is made. Both ends of the contrivance may be
movable in like manner but this is not preferred.
The movable end of the contrivance may likewise be connected to a notched
sliding part and a spring be contrived for holding the latter in place by engagement
in the notches. A set screw may be used to move the contrivance. The leaf or
sight may be made as a section of a circular shape so that whether it be moved
or pleed more or less inclined away from or towards the marksman it will always
give an outline of the same shape. It may be made hollow cover and enclose the
true foresight when in its lower positions.
The false foresight is however preferably mounted or made on the upper side of
a crossbar or arch piece uniting two parallel bars which slide in guides on
each side respectively of the socket preferably at or near the rear end of said
socket.
These parallel bars or one of them is provided with notches and a spring catch is
arranged to lock into the noteles of the said bar or of each bar: range marks are
also made on one of the bars for indiention in connection with a fixed mark, the
nominal range for which the sight is set. A leaf or plate loosely hinged behind
the false foresight rests with its outer end lightly on the larrel and so hides the
fixed foresight from the view of the mark-man.
It is preferable to adjust the sight by means always wholly below the sight so
that there shall not be any impediment to view at or near the foresight, otherwise
such sight might be made to slide upon a hinged frame in a manner similar to
backsights at present in use.
The socket should extend only to such distance from the muzzle that a sword
bayonet may be placed on the latter and fixed in the usual way for enabling practive
to be made with bayonets fixed.
A set screw is provided for locking the movable part of the false sight in its place
of adjustment if desired.
Dated this 9th day of May 1890.
HERBERT & Co.,
Agents to Applicant-.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Foresights for Fire Arms.
We, FRANK WILLIAM HADDAs, Colonel and Lieut. Colonel, Commanding
the 4th V.B. Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment, and HENRY HAMBLYN SLADE,
Serjeant in said Corps, both of 73, New Street, Kennington, in the County of
Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, aud in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
This invention relates to firearms and is mainly intended for military or other
rifles the principle being however applicable to machine guns or other firearms on
which aiming sights are used.
The invention consists in an improved foresight which is made as an additional
or removal false foresight and may be fixed on the rifle or other firearm without
any permanent addition to or alteration of the structure thereof and without
altering or removing the existing fixed foresight for the purpose of practice with
full service or other charges at short ranges.
The improved foresight is provided with means for fixing it on the firearm and
is movable or adjustable in relation to the backsight so that when the rifle or
firearm is used in practice at a short range (the false foresight having been
provided with marks for adjustment nccording to the known distance of said short

page_text: range) firing may be made direct on the target at that short range with the
backsight adjusted for any nominal range within the capacity of the backsight
provided the false fore-sight be also adjusted at the time for the same nominal
range for which the backsight is set the object of the invention being to provide
means for practising shooting at any nominal range within the capacity of the
firearm while actually shooting at a range of fixed and comparatively small
distance.
The aforesaid false foresight is made so that at its "zero" or commencing
position the rifle or firearm on which the false sight is to be placed will be
accurately collimated for the actual length of the range used when the backsight
is at its lowest position, this position for the foresight having been formed by
calculation in the known manner or by experiment will be marked or indicated as,
or with the number of, the same range as the lowest position of the backsight.
Thus if the range at which practice is to be made is twenty five yards, the
rifle being sighted for a minimum range of 100 yards, the false foresight is made
so that at its zero or commencing position (to be marked for 100 yards) the
clevation of the rifle barrel nominally correct for 100 yards range shall be actually
correct for 25 yards range. From this commencing point the position of the
false foresight for other ranges may be marked off by making the increased
height of the foresight for each range equal to the increased height by which
the back sight is raised for the respective range so that while the nominal range
is increased the actual range shall remain always the sume.
The means for fixing the adjustable false foresight on the rifle or firearin
consists principally of a length of tube adapted to be slid onto the barrel or its
equivalent and having a recess to pass about the fixed foresight and a suitable
spring or movable part for fixing it in place by locking behind the fixed foresight.
The tube so fixed carries the false foresight adjustably fixed thereon in a suitable
manner, for instance being placed on a frame inovable vertically between guiles
on the sides of the tube and provided with divisions or marks corresponding to the
nominal ranges and with recesses for engagement of a pawl or spring to retain
the frame at the elevation corresponding to the nominal range desired, or also
provided if desired with a micrometer screw adjustment for raising and lowering
it or with a set screw by which it may be fixed at the desired elevation.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention as applied to a military
rifle.
Figs. 1. 2 and 3 are elevations of the attachment. Fig. 4 is a side elevation
thereof showing the same fixed upon a rifle and adjusted for a range of 700 yards.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same with part removed. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the
end of a rifle showing also the attachment thereon and a sword bayonet fixed.
A is the tube of diameter sufficient to pass along the barrel of the rifle and of a
length sufficient to provide for the front strengthening piece a passing across in
front of the fixed sight B of the rifle and to provide sufficient bearing for the
frame on which the false sight D is fixed so that the latter may descend behind
the fixed sight B without the latter coming in contact therewith or with the frame C.
a' is the slot in the tube A to receive the fixed sight 13, the said slot is open to the
rear and into the one side of the slot projects the nose of the catch which
latter is curved to lie closely to the tube A and is pivoted by pin between the
flanges on said tube. The rear edge of the nose is inclined to admit of
the fixed sight deflecting the catch when the attachment is put onto the rifle.
When the tube A is arrived in place with the piece a against the front face of
the fixed foresight the nose of the catch falls behind the fixed foresight and
holds the attachment securely on the rifle.
The spring presses the catch into this position and the projecting tail of the
catch serves for its disengagement by hand when removing the attachment.
On the hinder part of the tube A on each side are the parallel guides a² a² u u²
between which are accurately guided the two parallel bars which connected
above by the cross bar e' constitute the frame C. On the centre of the cross bar c¹

page_text: is fixed the false foresight D and on the rear edge of said cross har is hinged
the leaf plate which rests lightly with its lower edge on the barrel of the rifle
and obscures the fixed foresight from the view of the marksman.
On the outside of one of the barse are the lines with corresponding numbers
indicating the range at which the shooting is nominally made. The lowest position
of the backsight being for instance for a range of 100 yards the position of the
line on the bar e will be determined according to the necessary elevation which
must be given to the false foresight above the fixed foresight to render the sighting
correct for the actual range at which the false sight is to be used.
Having found the same and marked it opposite the indicating mark a³ on the
flange the remaining fines 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 ele, equivalent to so many
hundred yards are measured from the line 1 the distance of each being equal to the
elevation of the back-ight for the respective range above the lowest position of
100 yards.
On the other bare are made the recesses corresponding to the different ranges
indiente by the lines 1 to 8 te, and on the tube A is fixed the spring
which enrries at its end the nose engaging in said recesses so as to hold the
frame (at a true elevation for each range.
The tongue at which may be made in one piece with the spring, holds the
bare in the groove between the flanges ²² on one side of the tube A. and
the projecting end of the pin fulfils the same purpose for the other bare on
the other side of the tube. The thickness of the cross piece a and the length of
tube A projecting in front of the fixed sight is not sufficient to interfere with the
fixing of sword layonets as is shown in Fig. 6 for the purpose of practising firing
with bayonets fixed.
We
do not confine ourselves to the exact shape or method of combining the parts
here shown but the same will be varied according to the nature of the firearin or
rifle used and the nature of the sight thereon.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
For rifles and other sighted firearms.
1. A movable foresight adapted to be adjusted in conformity with the backsight
whereby the correct inclination of the axis of the firearm for a definite range is
retained when the backsight is adjusted for any nominal range.
2. A removable support adapted to be temporarily fixed on a rifle or firearm
and carrying an adjustable foresight to be used in place of the fixed foresight for
the purpose described.
3. A. removable support adapted to be temporarily fixed on a rifle or firearm and
carrying a movable frame with means for its adjustment and a false foresight.
thereon for the purpose set forth.
4. A removable tube having a socket for receiving the fixed sight and a locking
catch for fixing snid tube upon the barrel or equivalent by engagement behind said
fixed sight, a sliding frame with adjustment marks and adjustment recesses thereon
and a spring pawl for holding said frame, a false foresight on said frame and a ninsk
for obscuring the fixed foresight, the whole substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
13 "
Dated this 9th day of February 1801.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.,
Agents to Applicants.