Improvements in Small Arms.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 10th May, 1894-Accepted, 4th Aug., 1894
IRUVIDIONAL
Improvements in Small Arms.
I, HENRY ROTHES STEWART MAITLAND, of Perrymead House, Bath, in the
County of Somerset, Lieut. 2nd Battn. the Princess of Wales' Own
Yorkshire Regiment, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention is an improved construction of the triggers of
rifles, fowling-pieces, revolvers and the like small arms whereby the firers aim is
in no way injured by the operation of firing as is at present often the case.
For the purposes of my invention I so bend or form my improved trigger that
the pressure necessary to fire the rifle or other small arm must be applied in an
upward direction at right angles or approximately at right angles to the length of
the barrel.
It will thus be seen that the possibility of the rifle gun or other small arm being
moved by the operation of the trigger, thus destroying the firer's aim, is obviated
owing to the fact that the firer is compelled to grip the gun firmly before the
operation of the trigger can be effected.
1000
CASTLE SMITH,
"Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Small Arms.
I HENRY ROTHES STEWART MAITLAND of Perrymead House Bath in the
County of Somerset, a Lieutenant in the Second Battalion of the Princess of
Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The invention relates to improvements in small arms.
In small arms, the trigger is usually formed so as to project approximately at
right angles with the lock or barrel.
In actual practice, in order to discharge the arm the trigger is pulled or pressed
but owing to its shape it is easier or more natural to pull it rather than press it
and that is the action commonly adopted.
It is generally recognised that this action of pulling is very detrimental to
accurate shooting inasmuch as the pull which in a rifle generally equals about
seven pounds, has a tendency to cause the arm to be imperceptibly turned in the
direction of the pull or to the right and this fault has become so apparent in the
army that special instructions are given in the service technical instruction books
on musketry shooting as to the great importance of pressing the trigger instead of
pulling it at the movement of firing.
Now the object of the present invention is to render it impossible for the firer
to pull upon the trigger, and to so construct the same that an upward pressure of
the forefinger and a downward pressure of the thumb will effect the desired object
and thus instead of the act of firing having a tendency to cause the rifle to swerve
to one side or to render the rifle unsteady there will be (no such tendency but the

page_text: .
rifle will be perceptibly steadied by the direction of the pressure exerted and the
shooting possibly improved.
In carrying the invention into effect the trigger within the trigger guard or bow
is so shaped as to take a horizontal direction lying close to the upper part of the
bow or guard, and in a direction approximately parallel with the lock and head
portion of the "small" of the rifle whilst in order that the trigger may occupy
the proper position with relation to the guard the latter is placed in a position
slightly to the rear of that which it occupies in the case of an ordinary trigger.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings more fully to
describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of part of an ordinary service rifle, having the
present invention applied thereto and
Figure 2 is a view of part thereof drawn to an enlarged scale the wooden
sheathing being broken away in order to expose the lock.
In both figures of the drawings like parts are indicated by similar letters of
reference.
a represents the stock of the rifle a' represents the barrel, 6¹ represents the
trigger guard and b represents the trigger.
The trigger b is mounted upon an axis of motion 6' and engages the sear cof
the lock, those parts above the axis 6' being of the ordinary form whilst the axis
occupies the usual position.
According to the present invention however that part of the trigger 6 within
the trigger guard or bow b¹ is so shaped as to take a horizontal direction towards
the stock of the gun, and is formed to lie close to the upper part of the trigger
guard or bow and in a direction nearly in the same plane with the axis band
approximately parallel with the barrel a¹ or lock so that when pressure is applied
thereto it travels in an upward direction and with little or rearward tendency.
In order that the trigger 6 may occupy a proper position with relation to the
trigger guard or bow b¹ without disturbing the axis 6 the guard or bow b¹ is placed
in a position slightly to the rear of that which it usually occupies in the case of a
trigger of ordinary construction as will be readily understood upon a comparison
of the guard or bow with the axis 63 which generally occupies a position about
midway of the length of the trigger guard or bow b¹.
The slot 63 in the upper part of the trigger guard or bow b¹ through which the
trigger passes extends to and slightly beyond the axis 63 and consequently in an
ordinary rifle is of considerable length but in the present case it is much shortened
as will be seen on reference to the drawings.
The trigger may be formed of the ordinary width upon its face, or if desired
it may be widened or spread out in order to afford a comfortable surface for the
finger to press against.
The other parts of the rifle are of ordinary and well known construction and
inasmuch as they form no part of the present invention it is unnecessary to give a
detailed description thereof.
By means of this invention it is rendered impossible for the firer to "pull" upon
the trigger at the moment of firing but he is compelled to exert an upward
pressure of the forefinger upon the trigger and a downward pressure of the thumb
upon the lock in order to effect the desired object and thus instead of the action
of firing tending to make the rifle swerve to one side or to render it unsteady there
will be no such tendency, but the rifle will be steadied by the direction of the
pressure exerted, and the shooting possibly improved.
It will thus be seen that in order to discharge the arm the firer must observe the
rule laid down in the service musketry instruction books; that is to say he will be
obliged to press the trigger instead of pulling it.
By the use of this invention in addition to the increased accuracy of shooting

page_text: hereinbefore referred to, an additional safety is obtained in the use of the weapon,
inasmuch as owing to the direction in which the pressure is exerted the muscles of
the hand are enabled to exert without detriment to the aim a greater force than in
arms of the old construction, and consequently it is possible to increase the weight
of the "pull" or pressure required to actuate the trigger to say twelve pounds
instead of the customary seven pounds thus reducing the risk of the accidental
firing of the weapon by violent contact with another object.
Although the invention is shown and described in connection with a rifle it will
be understood that it is equally applicable to fowling pieces and other small arms.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
In small arms a trigger formed or arranged in such manner that it occupies a
position nearly in the same horizontal plane with its axis and approximately
parallel with the barrel or lock substantially as herein shown and described and
for the purpose stated.
Dated this 10th day of Miny t
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.