An Improved Method of Attaching Sights to Lee-Metford Magazine Rifles and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Oct., 1897
Complete Specification Left. 14th July, 1898-Accepted. 27th Aug.. 1898
PROVISIONAL FICATION.
An Improved Method of Attaching Sights to Lee-Metford Magazine
Rifles and the like.
We, EDWARD HENRY PARSONS, of 44, Wilson Road, Birchfields, near Birming-
ham, Rifle Sight Maker, and LESLIE BOWN TAYLOR, of 129, Pershore Road,
Birmingham, Gun Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention has for its object a new method of attaching orthoptic sights to
rifles constructed on the bolt system in which the backward travel of the breech
bolt prevents the placing of the ordinary orthoptic sight on the grip.
To obtain this object, with regard to back sights in the case of the Lee Metford
government pattern magazine rifles we attach our orthoptic sight to the sight at
the side of the stock known as the aperture sight. Our orthoptic sight consists
of a pillar through which works a fixed vertical screw carrying a slide & in the
pillar we cut a recess to receive & fit over the before named aperture sight. The
orthoptic eye piece is carried by a bar extending from the slide, and the eye piece
is made to travel laterally by means of a screw and slide. This sight is used in
conjunction with the ordinary foresight, but we can attach to the side sight known
as the dial sight a piece of metal carrying a foresight for use with the above
described orthoptic sight or with any other orthoptic sight placed on the rifle.
In rifles which have not the aperture or dial sights similar pieces are attached
to the rifle to which the above mentioned back and foresights are fixed.
Dated this 13th day of October 1807
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Attaching Sights to Lee-Metford Magazine
Rifles and the like.
We, EDWARD HENRY PARSONS, of 44, Wilson Road, Birchfields, near Birming-
ham, Rifle Sight Maker, and LESLIE BOWN TAYLOR, of 129, Pershore Road,
Birmingham, Gun Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
Pine 871

page_text: what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
-
Reference being had to the accompanying drawings.
This invention has for its object a new method of attaching orthoptic sights, to
rifles constructed on the bolt system in which the backward travel of the brecch
bolt prevents the placing of the ordinary orthoptic sight on the grip.
To obtain this object with regard to back sights in the case of Lee Metford
and Lee-Enfield magazine rifles we attach our orthoptic sight to the sight at
the side of the stock of these rifles, known as the "aperture sight."
To assist in the description of our invention we will refer to the accompanying
drawings upon which similar letters of reference on the various figures relate to
similar parts.
Fig. 1, illustrates our invention applied to Lee Enfield magazine rifles.
Figs. 2 & 3 are enlarged views of our orthoptic sight in different positions.
Fig. 4 shews the arm used for carrying the orthoptic sight of Mannlicher rifles
of the bolt system which have no side aperture.
Our orthoptic sight consists of a pillar A through which works a fixed vertical
elevating screw B carrying a slide piece S. In the pillar A we form a recess F
to fit over the before named aperture sight, and secure it by the fastener or slide
bolt G or by any other suitable means. The orthoptic eye piece X is carried by the
cranked arm or bar C. This arm or bar C works in the slide S and may be
adjusted at different distances from the eye by means of the ratchet R and spring
catch D or by any other suitable means.
Or the pillar A may have a vertical slot, the slide piece works within the pillar,
and the cranked arm C be attached to it through the slot.
The eye piece X. is made to travel laterally by means of the traversing screw E
working the slide T which carries the eye piece X.
The orthoptic back sight may be divided at A¹ with an elevation scale for different
ranges. The windgauge bar may be, also, divided at H with a scale for horizontal
direction.
This orthoptic sight is used in conjunction with the ordinary foresight or any
suitable attachable foresight but we can attach to the side sight known as the
"dial sight" a piece of metal carrying a foresight for use with the above described
orthoptic sight or with any other orthoptic back sight placed on the rifle.
In rifles of the bolt system which have not the side aperture or dial sights a
separate piece for, attaching to the side of the stock is provided carrying the
orthoptic sights. At Fig. 4 one of these arms M M¹ is shewn for attaching the
orthoptic back sight to a Mannlicher rifle. The upper part M is of the same shape
as the side aperture of the Lee Metford or Lee Enfield rifle, so that the orthoptic
back sight may be attached to it in the same way by the recess F in its pillar A
fitting over the arm M. The lower part M¹ is slotted at P, as shewn, to fit on the
bolt catch or retainer at the side of the Mannlicher rifle action. The bolt of a
Mannlicher, rifle being of a different shape to that of the Lee-Enfield rifle, this
arm M M is jointed at N so that the sight may be bodily moved sideways (as
shewn by the position of the upper portion M of the arm in dotted lines on the
drawing Fig. 4) out of the way of the bolt to enable the bolt to travel in opening
and closing the weapon.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. Attaching orthoptic back sights to magazine rifles of the bolt system by means
of the side apertures or similar pieces.
2. Attaching orthoptic foresights to rifles by means of the dial sights or similar
pieces.

page_text: 3. In orthoptic back sights the combination of the pillar A with its slide S and
the cranked arm C carrying the eye piece X substantially as described and illus-
trated.
4. For attaching orthoptic sights to Mannlicher rifles fitting an upright piece
to the bolt catch or retainer as described and illustrated by Fig. 4.
D1 L
1011
TL 1000
HENRY F. TALBOT,
30, Temple Street, (late of 7, Cherry Street,) Birmingham,
Agent for the Applicants.