Improvements in Small Arms.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 31st July, 1896-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1896
Improvements in Small Arms.
I, GERBACIO PROTACIO APPLEYARD, of Grafton House, Halifax, in the
County of York, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in safety devices or bolts applicable to
small arms and guns such as are fired from the shoulder,. the object being to lock
the triggers and sears of the gun by intersepting bolts at all times except when
the gun is against the shoulder of the user. The invention consists of an inter-
cepting bolt applied to each trigger of the gun, such bolt locking the trigger and
sear, and preventing its being moved at all times except when the stock of the
gun is pressed against the shoulder, whereon a pusher pad and spindle removes the
bolt from the trigger and the piece can be discharged in the ordinary manner.
According to this invention, and when applied to an ordinary double barreled
fowling piece, I form a hole or notch in each trigger. Mounted on a pin or stud
are a pair of intercepting bolts made somewhat after the manner of a pair of
scissors, and each bolt has a projection corresponding to the holes or notches in
the trigger. The opposite ends of the bolts are enclosed in inclined slots in a
small block: fixed to a spindle carried in a hole in the interior of the stock of the
gun, and such spindle passes through the heel plate, and terminates in a small
projecting pad. A spring acting on the spindle or pad keeps the latter projecting
beyond the heel plate, and the intersepting bolts in the holes or notches in the
triggers.
When the gun is raised to and pressed against the shoulder, the pad and spindle
are moved inwards, and the inclined slots acting on the bolts, open the opposite
ends of the latter, and withdraw the projections from the holes or notches, and
the triggers can be pressed and moved and the piece discharged as ordinary.
The sear is locked and prevented from jarring off by being held in a notch in
the trigger.
In order to prevent the pad and spindle being moved when the heel of the gun
is resting on the ground, I employ a swinging catch, which as the gun is moved to
the vertical position, will swing into a notch in the spindle or pad, and prevent
the latter being pressed inwards, and so the triggers and the sears remain bolted.
Dated this 30th day of October 1895.
BRIERLEY & HOWARD,
Penny Bank Chambers, Halifax, Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Small Arms.
I, GERBACIO PROTACIO APPLEYARD, of Grafton House, Halifax, in the
County of York, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described aud
ascertained in and by the following statement :—
This invention relates to improvements in safety devices or bolts applicable to

page_text: small arms and guns such as are fired from the shoulder, the object being to lock
the triggers and sears of the gun by intercepting bolts at all times except when
the gun is against the shoulder of the user. The invention consists of an inter-
cepting bolt applied to each trigger of the gun, such bolt locking the trigger and
sear, and preventing its being moved at all times except when the stock of the gun
is pressed against the shoulder, whereon a pusher pad and spindle removes the bolt
from the trigger, and the piece can be discharged in the ordinary manner.
Such being the nature and object of my said invention, the following is a
complete description of same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,
in which :-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the trigger. mechanism of a fowling piece having
my improvements applied thereto.
Fig. 2 is a plan view (inverted) of Fig. 1, the trigger guard being omitted.
Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2, the triggers being omitted, and the intercepting
expanding and contracting bolts expanded.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation partly in section of a gun stock showing the shoulder
pad and pusher spindle connected to the block and inclined slots for operating
the intercepting expanding and contracting bolts (hereinafter referred to as
scissors).
At 1 is the left hand trigger, through a hole 2 in the blade 3 of which is the
projecting cranked end 4 of one arm of the scissors intercepting bolt 5 which is
hinged on the screw or pin 6, its other arm 7 being received and enclosed by the
slot 8 of the block 9 fixed to the pusher spindle 10, on the other end of which is
the pusher pad or block 11. At 12 is a blade bow spring for returning the spindle
and parts to the normal position when the pressure on the block 11 is removed, and
at 13 is a spring catch which enters the notch in the adjustable nut 14 so as to
lock the block 11 when the butt of the gun is resting on the ground, or foot of
the user.
The right hand trigger 1" is fitted with like expanding and contracting parts to
those of the left hand trigger as described, the two forming a device not unlike a
pair of scissors.
When the gun is at "safe," the intercepting bolts or scissors are closed as
clearly shewn by Figs. 1 and 2; the cranked ends 4 being, through the holes 2 in
their respective triggers and the latter are thereby locked and held;, but when the
puslier block 11 is pressed forward, the spindle 10 and block 9 are moved in the
direction of the triggers, and, the inclined surfaces 8. 8 by sliding down and bearing
wedgewise against the insides of the shorter arms 7. 7 of the scissors, force the
latter open (see Fig. 3) producing a corresponding action of the longer arms 5 of
the scissors, thereby withdrawing the cranked ends 4' from the holes in the blades
of the triggers 1. 1 and the latter are then freed' for the pull off. When the
pressure is removed from the pad 11, the spring 12 expands, pushing outwards the
pad' 11, and the latter draws back the rod 10 and by means of the block 9 and its
inclined slots, the scissors are closed and.the cranked parts 4. 4ª again pass through
the holes 2. 2 in the trigger blades 3.
As a means of holding down the sear 15 so. as to prevent accidental discharge
through the sear or sears being shaken or jarred off, the cranked arm of the sear
which rests on its trigger blade is secured in a slot formed in its trigger blade, or
a slot may be conveniently formed by means of a strip of metal or spring 16, one
end of which is let into.the trigger blade. At 17 is a cover plate for euclosing the
block 9 and shorter arms of the scissors.
It will be obvious that the forms of the scissors which engage with the trigger
blades may be varied without departing from the invention, so long as it is provided
that the triggers are locked or bolted' and released' by expanding, and contracting
device such as described, and so as to shew visibly that the triggers are locked.
I am aware that it is not new to operate trigger locking mechanism through the
use of a presser pad and push rod, and I make no claim to such separately or
collectively.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1.) The general construction, combination, and arrangement of parts constituting
the improvements herein described, and illustrated by drawings annexed.
(2.) The block 9 baving inclined slots together with and for operating the
scissors 5 as and for the purpose herein described and illustrated.
(3.) The parts 9. 5. 15. 1 and 13 all in combination and as and for the purpose:
herein described.
Dated this 30th day of July 1896
GERBACIO PROTACIO APPLEYARD,
By his Agents, Brierley & Howard,
Penny Bank Chambers, Halifax.