IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE- ARMS."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Sidney Heath, of Villa Street, Hockley, Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-
ARMS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Sidney Heath at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th March 1880.
•
JOHN SIDNEY HEATH, of Villa Street, Hockley, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick. "IMPROVEMENTS. IN FIRE-ARMS."
My Invention consists mainly,-
First. Of arrangements for lifting the hammer or hammers of breech loading
fire-arms.
To the lever which carries the bolt I attach a lever or bar also secured to
the first mentioned lever, the other end of the lever or bar being attached to
the back of the hammer, so that when the lever is pulled the bolt is withdrawn,
and at the same time the hammers are pulled back. When there is more than one'
hammer they can be connected by a cross bar and the lever will actuate both at
once.
Second. In having a screwed opening in the loop of the gun through which is
passed a screw thread or bolt which takes into an opening formed in the end of
the fore end, so that by screwing the bolt into the fore end same can be adjusted
at will.
Third. In arrangements whereby the gun, whether muzzle or breech loader, can
be converted from smooth bore to choke bore. To effect this at the end of the
barrel or barrels of a smooth bore I screw or secure on a piece with choke bore so
made that when applied to the gun it will practically convert same into a choke
bore, and by so forming this piece it can be affixed at an incline and give a longer
or shorter range for the fire. This piece may it is evident be made the same bore
as the barrels, so that when screwed on to the gun it will give greater length.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Sidney Heath in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
September 1880.
•
JOHN SIDNEY HEATH, of. Villa Street, Hockley, Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS."
My Invention consists substantially,―
First. Of arrangements for lifting the hammer or hammers of breech-loading
fire-arms. To the lever which carries the bolt I attach a lever or bar also secured
to the first mentioned lever, the other end of the lever or bar being attached to the
back of the hammer, so that when the lever is pulled the bolt is withdrawn, and
at the same time the hammers are pulled back. When there is more than one
hammer they can be connected by a cross bar and the lever will actuate both at
once.
Second. In having a screwed opening in the loop of the gun through which is
passed a screw thread or bolt which takes into an opening formed in the end of
the fore end, so that by screwing the bolt into the fore end same can be adjusted
at will.
3rdly. In arrangements whereby the gun, whether muzzle or breech loader, can
be converted from smooth bore to choke bore. To effect this at the end of the
barrel or barrels of a smooth bore I screw on or secure a piece with choke bore
so made that when applied to the gun it will practically convert same into a
choke bore, and by thus forming this piece it can be affixed at an incline and give
a longer or shorter range for the fire.. This piece may it is evident be made the
same bore as the barrels, so that when screwed onto the gun it will give greater
length.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS, SETTING FORTH THE DETAILS OF THE INVENTION.
Fig. 1 represents the lever with lever and bar attached, said lever or bar carrying
when there is more than one hammer a cross bar. a is the lever carrying the bolt;
b, arm or lever secured to lever a at a'. This arm or lever passes through an
opening in the trigger plate. To this arm or lever B when two hammers are
required a cross bar is secured at c. Fig. 2 shows the screwed opening in the loop.
d is body of gun to which fore end e is secured. In this fore end is an opening
into which the screw or pin f takes when screwed against the fore end. The screw
passes through the loop g. Fig. 3 shows arrangements for adapting to the muzzle
end of gun to convert same into choke bore or to elongate the barrel. To secure
this in position same is screwed at g' to under rib. In the top rib is the screwed
pin h, which is also screwed home, and thus the piece is secured firmly against the
end of the muzzle. For choke bore this piece is made slightly conical towards the
end further from the muzzle, but when used for longer range the piece is set so
that it is inclined to the barrels of the gun. I may here remark that by the
adoption of my Invention a smooth bore gun is readily converted into a choke
bore by securing the piece, as shown in the Figures, which can be readily removed
when required.
"
Having now particularly described the nature and object of the said Invention
and ascertained in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out into
practice, I hereby declare that I claim the said Invention [of Improvements in
Fire-arms in regard to the combination and arrangements, substantially as
herein before set forth and described, and particularly I claim the adapting to
"

page_text: barrels of smooth bore guns of a piece which is affixed thereto, as herein before
stated, so that the gun is converted into a choke bore, which piece may be put at
an inclination so that the range of the gun is increased, same being substantially
herein before set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Sidney Heath, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
JOHN SIDNEY HEATH. (L.S.)