IMPROVE- MENTS IN SIGHTS FOR RIFLES AND SHOT GUNS WHEN BOTH EYES ARE KEPT
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Gilbert of No 6 Upper Brook Street Grosvenor
Square in the County of Middlesex Gentleman for an invention of" IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SIGHTS FOR RIFLES AND SHOT GUNS WHEN BOTH EYES ARE KEPT
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Gilbert at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th May 1882.
THOMAS GILBERT of No 6 Upper Brook Street, Grosvenor Sq. in the county of
Middlesex Gentleman IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGHTS FOR RIFLES AND SHOT GUNS
WHEN BOTH EYES ARE KEPT OPEN
This Invention will be found to render great advantages in the use of all rifles
and shot guns when both eyes are kept open This two eyed system has long been
universally acknowledged by practical sportsmen as absolutely necessary to attain
a brilliant and successful performance with the Sporting Shot Gun and has been
strongly advocated in spite of the known fatal drawback viz: the left eye directing
the aim which all who have the use of both eyes are more or less deluded by-The
object of this Invention is to abolish the necessity for closing either eye by
supplying a simple and sure remedy which secures or confines the aiming sight to
the right eye absolutely when any gun with the ordinary shaped stock placed at
the right shoulder and keeping one or both eyes open
At the same time the vision
of the left eye is in no way obstructed from the advantage of seeing all space as
with the ordinary sight
The Invention consists of a piece of steel or gun metal about 4 inches long
and in height 3/16th of an inch or thereabout The Inventor reserves to himself
the right to slightly vary the length size or height to enable him to meet the
fancies or requirements which different sportsinen may consider suitable to
themselves and fixed on the rim or barrel of Gun or Rifle in same place as the
ordinary sight-The end extending towards the breech is cut at an angle away
from the sight of the left eye (when the gun is placed at the right shoulder) on
this said angle or slanting end of the sight notches are filed behind each other the
said notches will face and impart a solid substance distinct and attractive to the
D
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right eye only also have the appearance of what the eye has always been
accustomed to employ in directing the aim while the left eye is altogether debarred
from any familiar attraction or sight of any sort to induce it to attempt the duty
which the right eye will correctly perform through the special advantages secured
to itself alone In the construction of this sight another important object has been
considered and which has hitherto escaped the attention it deserves viz the colour
of sights the colour of backgrounds to which shot guns are brought to bear against
are so varied that it requires two distinct colours viz. Black and a glancing silver
white one or the other of these will be instantly observed against all backgrounds
under any reflection of shade The notched part of this new sight will be black
with a small piece of silver at the top which will be slightly rounded to give a
white glancing effect-Its appearance is a black sight with a silver tip visible
only to the right eye when the Gun is placed at the right shoulder with both eyes
open
This contrasting difference of appearance and effect to the right and left eyes
respectively forms the substance which the Inventor seeks protection for by Letters
Patent For the few who shoot from the left shoulder and left eye these sights can
be supplied with their ends cut the reverse side and consequently give them also
the full benefit which this valuable Invention will convey to all.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Gilbert in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th November 1882.
THOMAS GILBERT of 6 Upper Brook Street, Grosvenor Square in the county of
Middlesex, Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGHTS FOR RIFLES AND SHOT GUNS
WHEN BOTH EYES ARE KEPT OPEN
"
This invention relates to an improved sight for small fire arms which will afford
great advantages in the use of rifles, shot guns and revolvers, more especially
shot guns, when both eyes are kept open. I call my improved sight for fire arms
a "two eyed sight." The two eyed system has long been universally acknowledged
by practical sportsmen as absolutely necessary to obtain a brilliant performance
with the sporting shot gun, and has been strongly advocated in spite of the known
fatal drawback, viz, that the left eye tends to misdirect the aim and which
tendency all who use both eyes are more or less deluded by. The object of this
invention is to abolish the necessity of closing either eye when shooting by
supplying a novel simple and efficient sight, which secures or confines the aiming
line of sight to the right eye absolutely, when any gun with the ordinary shaped
stock is placed at the right shoulder, and when either one or both eyes are kept
open; at the same time the vision of the left eye is in no way obstructed froin
seeing surrounding space, as when the usual sight is employed.
In order to enable my invention to be better understood I will proceed to

page_text: describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawing in which figure 1,
is a plan and figures 2, and 3 side elevations of a sight constructed according to my
invention shewing the construction of sight I have found most advantageous for
shot guns. Figures 4, 5 and 6 similar views of the form of sight I have found
most advantageous for use with rifles or other ball fire arms. The several figures
are drawn about full size.
The improved sight shewn in figures 1, 2 and 3 is constructed of a strip of steel,
gun metal, ivory or other suitable material a, of suitable length and of about the
same height as the sight now ordinarily employed and which can be fixed on the
rib or barrel of the gun, rifle or other fire-arm in the same place as the usual sight.
Part of the right hand side of the sight from about the point b, towards the breech
end of the arm is cut at an angle away from the sight of the left eye; on this
said angle or slanted part of the sight a number of notches c, are formed one behind
the other preferably increasing in length, the one nearest the breech being the
shortest, and being cut with small saw like teeth; the ends of the said notches c,
when the sight is attached to a gun or other fire arm will face, and will present a
solid substance, distinct and attractive to the right eye only and will also have the
appearance of the ordinary sight which the eye has hitherto always been accustomed
to employ in directing the aim, at the same time the left eye will be altogether
debarred from any familiar attraction or sight of any sort to induce it to attempt
the duty which the right eye will correctly perform by the use of my improved
sight.
In the construction of this sight another important object has been considered,
which has hitherto escaped the attention it deserved, viz, the colour of sights.
The colour of backgrounds against which shot guns are brought to bear is so
varied that a sight should properly possess two distinct colours, such as black and
a glancing silver white, one or the other of which will be instantly observed
against any background under any reflection of shade. I therefore make the
notched part of the sight by preference black with a small piece d, of silver,
platinum, ivory or enamel on one, two or more of the notches and which piece (or
pieces d, serves to give a white glancing effect whereby the sight will present a
black appearance with a silver centre visible only to the right eye, when the gun
is placed at the right shoulder. In the drawing only one piece of platinum d, is
shewn. This contrasting difference of appearance and effect to the right and left
eyes respectively forms the essential feature of the invention. The notch or
notches provided with the silver or platinum is or are rounded as shewn in
figure 3, so that the said silver or platinum shall be entirely out of the sight of the
left eye.
The sight shewn in figures 4, 5 and 6 is constructed substantially in the same
manner as that herein before described and shewn in figures 1, 2 and 3, except
that it is of a pyramidal form the right hand side thereof being cut with saw
like teeth or notches with a groove or recess e, in the middle thereof, at the end of
which is placed the piece of platinum d,. Although this sight is best suited for
rifles and other ball arms it may also be used for shot guns.
The improved sights can be applied to old as well as to new fire arms and are
fixed in any suitable manner such as by means of solder or pins. I have described
the sights as arranged for shooting from the right shoulder but it will be evident
that in cases where the gun is to be fired from the left shoulder and left eye the
notches c, would be formed on the left hand side of the sight instead of on the right
hand side of the sight as hereinbefore described. For revolvers the sight may be
made reversible by forming the fore part of the right side with notches in the
reverse direction and in addition to the notches on the breech end; the sight would
be fixed on a central pivot so that it could be turned to suit either the right or left
eye according to whether the revolver be held in the right or left hand as will be
understood without further description.
When my improved sights are made of ivory I stain the sides of the notches
black leaving the ends opposite the sight eye white. It will also be evident that

page_text: the piece or pieces of platinum or silver may, where economy is an object, be
dispensed with.
The diagram at figure 7 will serve to illustrate the principle of my invention.
Let f, represent a gun barrel; a, the improved sight; r, the right eye and 7, the
left eye of the person firing.
The dotted lines will shew that the right eye will see only the notched portion
of the sight and which will present the appearance of the ordinary sight, while the
left eye as shewn by the dotted lines will take in the whole length of the left hand
side of the sight which from its angle to the left eye will have a glancing and
unattracting effect although in no way obstructing its vision of space.
Having thus described my invention and the manner of performing the same
What I claim is :-
Firstly. The manufacture and use of the improved sights for small arms con-
structed substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and represented
in the figures of the accompanying drawing.
Secondly. A sight for small arms having a number of notches on one side
thereof as and for the purposes herein before described and represented in the
drawing.
Thirdly. A sight for small arms having one or more pieces of silver, platinum,
ivory or enamel in one or more notches on one side of the said sight as and for the
purposes described.
Fourthly. A sight for small arms having a number of notches on one side
thereof of a dark color, one or more of the said notches having a piece or pieces of
silver or platinum or the like as and for the purposes described.
Fifthly. The reversible sight herein described suitable for revolvers as and for
the purposes hereinbefore described.
In Witness whereof I the said Thomas Gilbert have hereto set my hand
and seal this ninth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty two
THOMAS GILBERT (L.S.)