on In- PROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO GUNS AND OTHER FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1824

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I
SAMSON DAVIS, of Upper East Smithfield, in the County of Middlesex,
Gun Lock Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the
Eighteenth day of December now last past, did, for Himself, His heirs
and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Samson Davis, His
especial license, that I, the said Samson Davis, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Samson Davis, my
executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter, during
the term of fourteen years therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town
of Berwick upon Tweed, my Invention of an "IMPROVEMENT on In-
PROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO GUNS AND OTHER FIRE-ARMS;" in which said
Letters Patent is contained a proviso, obliging me, the said Samson
Davis, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particu-
larly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in

page_text: what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be
enrolled in His said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being there-
unto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the
said Samson Davis, do hereby declare that the nature of my said In-
vention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is
described and ascertained by the Plan or Drawing hereunto annexed
and as follows, that is to say:
My said improvement or improvements consist in forming and con-
structing the parts of a lock and the extra breach of guns and other
fire-arms, to prevent accidents arising from the explosion of the per-
cussion cap or other percussion priming, or blowing out the nipple
or peg, and to secure the percussion powder from the mischievous
effects arising from the introduction of wet. Figure 1, in the annexed
Drawing represents the lock and piece in its priming position, with a
strong joint at its upper extremity A, by which the lock and but opens
from the barrel C, and fore end D, to receive the percussion priming.
It is fastened by a bolt E, Figures 1 and 2, which renders it perfectly
safe and leaves a cavity to receive the exploded cap or other priming,
and effectually prevents any wet finding its way to the prime. The
breach not being reduced in one part more than another, makes it
particularly strong. F, Figures 1, and 3, the nipple in the centre of
the plug to receive the percussion cap; G, Figure 1, the cavity which
receives the exploded cap. Figure 2, is the extra breach, shewing two
screws which fasten it in its proper place, with a strong wire bolt which
passes through the extra breach and shank of the plug; Figure 3, the
lock, showing the works when at half cock; Figure 4, the bridle,
which not only secures the tumbler but keeps the sliding striker in
its proper place; Figure 5, the seer; Figure 6, the sliding striker;
Figure 7, the tumbler, shewing the hole A, in which the sliding striker
works. II, Figures 1, and 3, the cock as fastened to the tumbler,
which draws back the sliding striker to the extremity of the action,
when by drawing the trigger I, Figure 1, the main spring K, Figure 3,

page_text: moves the tumbler forward, which carries the sliding striker with great
velocity against the percussion cap or other priming fastened on the
nipple, and discharges the piece.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samson Davis, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty-five.
SAMSON DAVIS. (L.S.)
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Eighth day of
June, in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid Samson Davis came
0 before our Lord the King, in His Chancery, and acknowledged the
Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained, in
form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped
according to the tenor of the Statute in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the same Eighth day of June, in the year above written.