AN IMPROVED DEVICE TO BE APPLIED TO FIRE-ARMS, TO FACILITATE THE ACCURATE USE OF THE SAME
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
<t
AN IMPROVED DEVICE TO BE APPLIED TO FIRE-ARMS, TO FACILITATE THE
ACCURATE USE OF THE SAME;" A communication from abroad, by James
McGuigan, of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Engineer.
Sealed the 12th November 1878, and dated the 6th September 1878.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th September 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED DEVICE TO BE APPLIED TO
FIRE-ARMS, TO FACILITATE THE ACCURATE USE OF THE SAME." A communica-
tion from abroad by James McGuigan, of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Engineer.
This Invention is designed for the purpose of enabling persons carrying fire-arms
to take accurate aim at objects behind them.
It, consists in a plane mirror so fixed to the stock of the weapon, that when
required it can be almost instantly placed in position, and when so placed will give
an accurate reflection of objects behind the bearer of the weapon.
The conditions of success in fixing this mirror are,-
First. That when in position it shall be at right angles to the top of the gun-
stock.
.
And, Secondly. That its axis shall be at a slight angle with the line of sight of
the weapon to which it is affixed, say about 5° towards the right-hand side of the
stock.
In the accompanying Drawing, Figure 1 shews a side view of the device or
apparatus constructed according to this Invention, as the said device appears when
closed up and not in use.
Figure 2 shews a side view of the same when open for use.
Figure 3 shews a plan of the bed plate.

page_text: Figure 4 shews a front elevation of the plane mirror and section of bed plato
at a, a, in Figure 3.
A is a metal bed plate which is affixed to the top of the gun stock and near the
heel by means of screws A'. Care must be taken that this is set exactly level
transversely, and so that the dotted line b, b, indicates the line of the sight. To
this bed plate I hinge at C a metal framing D which carries a plane mirror D¹ on
its inner face. The heel D of this framing I thicken, so as to lessen the probabilities
of the milled headed screw D³ being overscrewed and lost. When this framing is
fully open I preserve it in position by means of the screw D³ which screws into a
tapped recess in the heel of the bed plate, as shewn, and so holds it. When not in
use the said metal framing is kept closed on the bed plate by a metal button A².
· Whenever the said apparatus requires to be used, that is to say, whenever the
bearer of the weapon to which it is attached requires to fire at any object behind
him, he has simply to place the weapon over his right slioulder, open the apparatus
as at Figure 2, turn the weapon round and elevate or depress it until the reflected
image of the object coincides with the reflection of the sights of the weapon, and
the line of aim is then as true as if taken in the ordinary way. In fact a steadier
aim ought to be taken by reason of the rest which the shoulder.affords.
It seems obvious that this simple and inexpensive contrivance must be of the
very greatest service, more especially to retreating troops, inasmuch as it places
them more nearly on an equality with their pursuers, enabling them to perceive the
movements of their enemies, and to take aim at them without turning round.
Having thus fully described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to any
particular size, shape, or materials in the manufacture of the said Invention, so long
as the nature thereof be retained, and that I claim, the improved device herein
described, and illustrated in the Drawing, and consisting essentially in mounting
the stock of a fire-arm with a plane mirror in the manner and for the purposes set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.