Improvements in Small Arms.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 28th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 17th Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Small Arms.
We, JOHN STEWART WALLACE of Cliftonville Avenue, Belfast in the County
of Antrim Ireland Timber Merchant and BENJAMIN THOMAS LINDSAY THOMSON
of 4 Altenburg Gardens Clapham Common in the County of Surrey Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to rifles and other small arms of that kind or class wherein
the projecting or propelling force is derived from compressed or liquefied gas and
now commonly known as "Giffard" guns. These guns are described in the
Specification of Letters Patent No. 11050 A.D. 1889. The reservoir containing
the compressed or liquefied gas is provided with a valve which is momentarily
opened by the blow of the hammer when the trigger is released thereby allowing
a portion of the contents of the reservoir to escape into the barrel of the gun and
eject the projectile therefrom.
Our said invention comprises various improvements in such small arms, the said
improvements being hereinafter set forth.
One important feature of our invention, is the construction and arrangement of
the lock mechanism in such a manner that the hammer does not project from the
breech as is the case in Giffard guns heretofore constructed.
Our said improved lock mechanism is not therefore liable to be accidentally
operated by the striking of the hammer against any object, as might happen with
such a gun having an externally projecting hammer.
Another feature of our said invention is the construction of the lock mechanism
so that the plug through which, the bullet or projectile is introduced into the barrel
is turned as required by the same lever that cocks the hammer. That is to say,
when the cocking lever is operated to cock the hammer the aforesaid plug is turned
and caused to open the aperture through which the bullet or projectile is introduced,
and when the cocking lever is put back to its normal position the said plug is by
such movement turned back and closes the said aperture.
A further important feature of our invention relates to the provision of a safety
locking device which is automatically put into action each time the hammer is
cocked and which operates to prevent the accidental discharge of the gun.
Our said invention also comprises other improvements hereinafter set forth.
The aforesaid cocking lever in one arrangement is suitably formed to engage
with the hammer in such a manner that when turned about its pivot it forces the
hammer back against the pressure of the main spring and effects the cocking. The
said lever is preferably pivoted to the lower side of the stock and constructed to
act also as the trigger guard. We provide a spring catch for holding the lever
against the stock when it is not in use for cocking the hammer. We further
connect the cocking lever to the plug that receives the projectile, preferably by
means of a link coupled to the said lever and to a crank arm formed on or fixed to
the plug. By means of this connection the said plug is partially rotated about its
axis when the cocking lever is operated and is thus brought into the position for
receiving the bullet or projectile simultaneously with the cocking of the hammer,
and is turned to bring the bullet or projectile in line with the bore of the gun when
the cocking lever is returned to its initial position.
In a modification of our invention the cocking lever is attached directly to the
aforementioned plug and is connected by a crank pin and link or other equivalent
device to the hammer. When operated, it effects both the cocking and the turning
of the plug as in the arrangement above described.

page_text: We preferably construct the hammer in the form of a quadrant, and form the
scar notches on the periphery thereof so that the sear will not require so strong a
spring as has been heretofore usually employed.
According to another improvement we reduce the unbalanced area of the
reservoir valve to a minimum, preferably by curving the face thereof; we thereby
diminish the resistance which has to be overcome to force the valve open against
the pressure of the compressed or liquefied gas in the reservoir. In some cases we
use an equilibrium valve. We sometimes also construct and arrange the main
spring so that it shall operate on both the trigger and the hammer.
The improved safety locking device constructed according to this invention
comprises a spring actuated lever mounted in the stock and arranged to engage
with the trigger to prevent the latter being pulled until the said locking lever is
moved out of engagement therewith. The locking lever moreover in its normal
position also engages with the hammer. It thus acts to lock both the hammer and
the trigger. This device is automatically put into the locking position each time
the hammer is cocked.
A further improvement relates to the plug through which the projectile is
introduced and consists in constructing this plug with an internal conical cavity
adapted to fit and turn upon the coned end of the barrel. The aperture through
which the projectile is inserted is cut through the coned portion of the plug and
barrel.
Dated this 28th day of January 1802
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Small Arms.
We, JOHN STEWART WALLACE, M.P. of Cliftonville Avenue, Belfast, in the
County of Antrim, Ireland, Timber Merchant, and BENJAMIN THOMAS LINDSAY
THOMSON, of 4 Altenburg Gardens, Clapham Common, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, 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:―
Our invention relates to rifles and other small arms of that kind or class wherein
the projecting or propelling force is derived from compressed or liquefied gas and
now commonly known as Giffard" guns. Such guns are described in the
Specification of Letters Patent No. 11050 A.D. 1889. The reservoir containing
the compressed or liquefied gas is provided with a valve which is momentarily
opened by the blow of the hammer when the latter is released by the pulling of
the trigger, thereby allowing a portion of the contents of the reservoir to escape
into the barrel of the gun and eject the projectile therefrom.
Our said invention comprises various improvements in such guns, as will be
hereinafter set forth.
One important feature of our invention relates to the construction and arrange-
ment of the lock mechanism in such a manner that the hammer does not project
from the breech as is the case in Giffard guns heretofore constructed. Our said
improved lock mechanism is not therefore liable to be accidentally operated by the
striking of the hammer against any object, as might happen were the gun provided
with the usual externally projecting hammer.
Another feature of our said invention is the construction of the lock mechanism
so that the plug through which the bullet or projectile is introduced into the gun
barrel is turned to the required position by the same lever that cocks the gun.
That is to say, when the cocking lever is operated in order to cock the gun, the
aforesaid plug is moved and caused to open the aperture through which the bullet

page_text: or projectile is inserted in the barrel, and when the cocking lever is put back to its
normal position the said plug is by such movement turned back so as to close the
said aperture.
A further important feature of our invention relates to the provision of a safety
locking device which is automatically put into action every time the gun is cocked
and which operates to prevent the accidental discharge of the gun.
Our said invention also comprises other improvements, hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is an elevation, partly sectional, of the stock and breech portions of a
gun constructed according to our invention, the cocking lever being shown in its
initial or normal position and the hammer being uncocked.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the hammer cocked, the cocking lever being
indicated by full lines in the position it occupies on the completion of the cocking
movement, and by dotted lines in its initial position, or after it has been returned
and latched to the stock.
Figure 24 is another view indicating the position of the parts immediately after
the trigger is pulled, and showing also a portion of the reservoir and the gas valve
in section.
Figure 3 is a section on the line 3, 3 Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a section on the line 4, 4 Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a plan, and
Figure 6 is a side elevation, of the plug through which the bullet or projectile is
introduced into the gun.
Figure 7 is a rear view of the trigger.
Figure 8 is an elevation partly sectional of a portion of a gun illustrating a
modification of our invention the hammer being shown in the uncocked position.
Figure 9 is a similar view, the hammer being cocked, and the plug hereinafter
described being in the position to allow of the insertion of the bullet or projectile
into the gun barrel.
Figure 10 is a section on the line 10, 10 Figure 8, and
Figure 11 is a section on the line 11, 11 Figure 9.
Figure 12 is a longitudinal section through the stock of a gun showing a further
modification of our invention the hammer being shown uncocked, and
Figure 13 is a similar view, the hammer being shown cocked.
A is the gun barrel, B is the breech shoc, C is the stock, and D the reservoir for
the compressed or liquefied gas.
Referring to Figures 1 to 7 a is the hammer pivoted at a' and wholly enclosed
within the stock. The said hammer is substantially in the form of a quadrant and
has a plane face at a² for striking the end of the valve spindle b. c is the main
spring, the movement of which is limited by a pin c¹ fixed in the shoe B. This pin
serves also to maintain the spring under a certain amount of initial distortion.
The roller c of the main spring acts upon the rear edge or tail of the hammer.
The cocking lever d, which also forms the trigger guard, is pivoted on the same
pin al as is the hammer. The said cocking lever is forked at its inner end. The
limbs d' of the fork are arranged one on each side the hammer as is clearly shown
in Figure 4. They are connected together at their upper ends by a pin d². a³ is
a notch formed in the face of the hammer a. With this notch, the pin is
adapted to engage. is a spring catch mounted in the stock and adapted to engage
with a notch d formed in the end of the lever d for the purpose of holding the said
lever when required in its normal or closed position.
The trigger e is pivoted at e' behind the hammer. It is slotted at see Figure 7
to allow the main spring e to pass through it. The part of the trigger just above
the slot is constructed with a square edge e³ which forms the sear.
The sear is
adapted to engage with a notch a formed in the periphery of the hammer. e' is the
sear spring which presses against a fixed pin and maintains the trigger in a
forward position bearing against the hammer.
The bullet or projectile is introduced into the gun through a plug f which is

page_text: clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6. This plug is seated in a hole f¹ provided in the
shoe to receive it, and is capable of rotary motion about its axis in the said hole.
The plug is pierced transversely at f to receive the bullet. By turning the plug
about its axis the hole can be brought in line with the bore of the barrel or with
an opening ƒ³, Figure 3, formed in the top of the shoe. A plate / forming a
crank arm is attached to one end of the plug. In this plate is fixed a pin fon
which is pivoted one end of a bent link g.
The other end of the said link is pivoted on the pin d². A recess B¹ is formed
in the side of the breech shoe to receive the crank arm f. f is a screw cap for
closing the opening in the side of the breech shoe through which the plugfis
inserted. is a screw adapted to screw into the end of the plug f and retain the
plug in position in the breech.
The operation of the mechanism is as follows:-
2
C
The cocking lever d on being released from the catch d³ and pulled down to the
position shown in full lines in Figure 2 forces the hammer back through the medium
of the pin against the action of the main spring c until the sear notch at in the
hammer engages with the sear e³. At the same time by means of the link g the
plug is rotated until the transverse hole ƒ² therein is brought to a vertical position
and in communication with the aperture f³ in the shoe. Through this aperture
the bullet or projectile is now inserted. The cocking lever is then returned to its
normal position against the stock and latched by means of the catch . During
this return movement the plug c is turned until the transverse hole is brought in
line with the bore of the barrel.
This position of the lever d is shown in Figures 1 and 2 and in dotted lines in
Figure 2. During the return movement of the cocking lever the hammer remains
locked by the sear. When the trigger is pulled, the sear e is withdrawn from
engagement with the sear notch a' and the hammer is then driven forward by the
main spring and caused to strike the end of the valve rod with its plane face a²,
thus discharging the gun.
C
For preventing the accidental discharge of the gun we provide a safety locking
device as follows, that is to say, we form the trigger with a tail piece and we
mount inside the breech shoe just above the trigger a locking piece e. The
said locking piece is attached by a screw e to a thumb piece e outside the breech
shoe and is capable of slight longitudinal movement. When in its rearmost position
the rear end of the piece e' is wedged between the inside of the breech shoe and
the tail piece. The trigger cannot then be moved. In order to discharge the
gun, the thumb piece must be first moved forward to release the trigger. At the
forward end of the locking piece is formed a projection which stands in the path
of one of the limbs d¹ of the cocking lever, so that when the cocking lever is
operated to cock the hammer the said limb d pushes back the piece e and auto-
matically locks the trigger. To prevent slipping of the locking piece e² we attach
thereto a spring e" the free end of which is adapted to engage one or other of two
notches in the stock and thereby retaių the said piece e in either of the two
positions to which it may be set.
In the modification shown in the Figures 8 to 11 the cocking lever d is attached
directly to 'the plug which in this case is arranged axially in the gun and is
connected with the hammer by means of a link h. This link is slotted horizontally
at its upper end, as shown at ' Figures 10 and 11, to receive a pin fixed eccen-
trically in the rear end of the plug and is formed with a vertical slot ² to allow
the valve spindle to project therethrough. The lower cross bar of the link /
is adapted to engage with a finger or projection a formed on the hammer. When
the plig is rotated, by means of the lever d, the eccentric pin operates to raise
the link and thereby to cock the hammer. The plug is coned externally to fit
in a conical, hole 'B in the shoe, and is also coned internally and fits over the
coned end A¹ of the barrel. A slot A large enough to admit the bullet or
projectile is formed in the coned end A¹ of the barrel. This slot is opposite
a similar slot B³ formed in the upper part of the breech shoe B.
A

page_text: corresponding slot is also formed in the forward part of the conical plug f
By turning the plug the slot can be brought in line with the slots A, B³
as shown in Figure 9 to permit the introduction of the bullet or projectile,
or the said slot can be turned away from the slots A2, B³ to close the
opening into the barrel. The plug is furnished with a channel which when
the plug is in the firing position as shown in Figure 8 places the barrel in com-
munication with a passage i leading from the valve of the reservoir. In this
modification the sear notch at in the hammer is formed near the pivot of the latter
instead of in the periphery as in the previously described arrangement. The main
spring c is pivoted to the frame at c and is bifurcated as shown, the second limb c
resting on the frame at c³ and having an extension c which is arranged to press on
the rear part of the trigger, and form the trigger spring. The first limb is furnished
with a roller that bears against the hammer.
The operation of this mechanism is as follows, when the cocking lever is raised
from the position shown in Figures 8 and 10 to the position shown. in the
Figures 9 and 11, the plug is rotated so as to enable the bullet or projectile to
be introduced into the gun through the slots B³/2 A2, and the link is raised as
above described and caused to cock the hammer. The hammer being thus cocked
and the bullet introduced through the aperture A2, the lever d is then returned to
its initial position as shown in Figures 8 and 10 thereby closing the said aperture A²
and placing the barrel in communication with the passage i leading to the valve of
the reservoir through the channel. When the trigger is pulled, its forward end
or the sear e is disengaged from the notch a' thereby releasing the hammer. The
hammer is then driven forward and caused to strike the end of the valve rod b thus
discharging the gun. The position of the parts just after a discharge is shown in
Figure 8.
The safety locking device in this modification operates to lock both the hammer
and the trigger. This device is shown in elevation in Figures 8 and 9 and comprises
a forked lever secured on a pivot j. One arm j¹ of the fork is adapted to engage
with a notch a in the hammer, and the other arm 2 is adapted to engage with the
tail end of the trigger. A lever is secured on the end of the pivot pin outside
the stock in a convenient position for being depressed by the thumb. is a light
spring for engaging with a toe piece on the end of the arm, and j is another
light spring for pressing against the rear edge of the said arm. is a ridge or
projection provided on the edge of the notch for a purpose hereinafter described.
When the hammer is cocked, the safety lever is forced by the springs into the
position shown in Figure 9, in which position the trigger cannot be pulled
sufficiently far to release the hammer, by reason of its tail end meeting the
locking arm 2.
When it is desired to fire the gun, the thumb lever ³ is depressed, and the
locking arm thereby removed from the path of the trigger tail piece e, the trigger
can then be pulled and the hammer released. If it should happen that the hammer
has not been properly cocked, then on turning back the cocking lever, the hammer
will spring forward until arrested by the locking arm engaging the notch a
In this position the hammer cannot be released because of the ledge a' which
prevents the arm being moved out of engagement with the said notch. It is
obvious therefore that to fire the gun the hammer must first be properly cocked.
We prefer to form the face of the reservoir valve of spherical form for the
purpose of reducing the unbalanced area thereof and consequently the resistance
which has to be overcome to force the valve from its seat against the pressure of
the liquefied gas in the reservoir. The force of the blow required to open the valve
is thereby reduced to a minimum. Such a valve is shown in Figure 8. is the
valve, kits rounded or spherical face. is the valve seat which is slightly
recessed to receive the valve. In some cases we employ an equilibrium valve for
the same purpose.
In the modification shown in Figures 12 and 13, the cocking lever is connected
with the hammer through a link and a bell-crank lever m. The latter lever is

page_text: pivoted to the stock at m' and engages with a recess a formed in the top of the
hammer. The sear notch is on the lower side of the hammer, and the sear is
formed by a pawl-shaped projection on the trigger. In other respects the
mechanism is similar to that above described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. A Giffard gun having a hammer which is wholly situated within the breech,
that is to say, does not project therefrom, substantially as described, for the
purpose specified.
2. A rifle or other small arm, having a plug through which the bullet or
projectile is introduced into the gun, said plug being connected with the lock
mechanism and rotated thereby to open the aperture when the hammer is cocked,
substantially as described.
3. The combination of a hammer wholly contained within the breech, a cocking
lever pivoted to the stock, and a pin fixed in said lever and adapted to engage with
the hammer to effect the cocking, substantially as described.
4. In a rifle or other small arm, the combination with the cocking lever, of lock
mechanism having a hanımer wholly contained within the breech, and sear notches
formed on the periphery of said hammer, with or without a safety device, sub-
stantially as described, for the purpose specified.
5. The safety device comprising a tail piece formed on the trigger, and a sliding
block supported in a slot in the stock, and adapted to be automatically moved by
the cocking lever, into a position above the said tail piece, when the lever is
operated to cock the hammer, in which position the said block locks the trigger,
substantially as described.
6. The combination, with the plug through which the bullet or projectile is
introduced into the gun, of a cocking lever secured to the said plug, a pin fixed
eccentrically in the end of the plug, and a link engaging with the said pin and with
the hammer, so that the hammer will be cocked when the plug is rotated to open
the aperture, substantially as described with reference to Figures 8 to 11.
7. The combination of a gun barrel having a coned end, a conical plug adapted
to fit and turn on the said coned end, and slots or openings formed in the barrel and
plug, through which the bullet or projectile is introduced into the barrel said
slots being arranged so that the aperture can be opened and closed by turning the
plug, substantially as described.
8. The modified safety device comprising a double spring lever within the stock,
one of the limbs thereof being adapted to engage with and lock the trigger, and the
other being adapted to engage with a notch in the hammer and to lock the hammer
when so engaged, in combination with a thumb lever for moving the said locking
lever out of the locking position, substantially as described.
9. The combination, with the safety device claimed in the last preceding claiming
clause, of a projection formed on the hammer to prevent disengagement of the
hammer and locking lever until the hammer is properly cocked, substantially as
described.
10. The combination of a hammer wholly contained within the breech, a cocking
lever pivoted to the stock, and a bell crank lever pivoted within the stock, one leg
of said bell-crank lever being adapted to engage with a recess formed in the
hammer, and the other leg being coupled to the cocking lever, substantially as
described with reference to the modified small arm shown in Figures 12 and 13.
11. In a rifle or other small arm operated by compressed or liquefied gas,
rounding or bevelling the face of the reservoir valve to reduce the area thereof,
substantially as described for the purpose specified.
12. In a rifle or other small arm operated by compressed or liquefied gas, the
combination, with the reservoir containing the stored energy, of an equilibrium
valve operated by the hammer, substantially as described.

page_text: 13. A small arm constructed substantially as described with reference to
Figures 1 to 4 or to the modified form illustrated in Figures 8 to 11, or to the
still further modified form shown in Figures 12 and 13, and operating as specified.
Dated this 28th day of October 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.