IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Henry, Gun and Rifle Manufacturer, and
Daniel Fraser, both of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 6th July 1877, and dated the 21st April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Henry and
Daniel Fraser at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st April
1877.
ALEXANDER HENRY, Gun and Rifle Manufacturer, and DANIEL FRASER, both
of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FIRE-ARMS.'
This Invention, which relates to certain improvements in fire-arms, has reference
more especially to such fire-arms as are used in rifle matches or competitions, and
which are fired from the back position.
The first part of the improvements consist in providing the fire-arm with a
second trigger some distance in advance of the ordinary trigger, and in forming the
stock at the part where the second trigger is situated with a pistol grip or handle,
or the equivalent thereof, for enabling the fire-arm to be conveniently held when the
person using it is lying in the back position.
In that portion of the stock which is situate between the second trigger and the
lock or action of the fire-arm a long slot or groove is cut, in which a sliding bolt or
bar is situated. This bolt or bar is so arranged that when the second trigger is
pulled or moved but very slightly the bolt or bar is correspondingly moved back-
wards, and either acts directly upon the ordinary trigger or indirectly upon the
sear, in either case so as to lift the sear out of the bents or notches of the tumbler,
and thereby releasing the tumbler, causes the arm to be discharged.
In place of the second trigger, a thumb or finger piece acting after the manner of
a lever or wedge, or the equivalent thereof, may be used for pushing back the
sliding bolt.
Another part of the improvements consist in forming the butt or large portion
of the stock with a deep hollow cut up into it from the underside, and with a
long pistol grip or handle projecting below, thus forming an ample rest for the
fire-arm against the shoulder of the person using it when in the back position.

page_text: Another improvement consists in adapting to the upper part of the butt end of
the stock a sliding pad, the object of which is that coming into contact as it does
with the cheek of the person using the fire-arm at the instant of firing, any abrasion
of the flesh due to the recoil is prevented.
The foregoing improvements are applicable both to new fire-arms and for converting
old arms
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Henry and Daniel Fraser in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 18th October 1877.
ALEXANDER HENRY, Gun and Rifle Manufacturer, and DANIEL FRASER, both
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain.
FIRE-ARMS."
Our said Invention, which relates to certain improvements in fire-arms, has
reference more especially to such fire-arms as are used in rifle matches or com-
petitions, and which are fired from the back position.
The first part of the improvements consists in providing the fire-arm with a
second trigger some distance in advance of the ordinary trigger, and in forming the
stock at the part where the second trigger is situated with a pistol grip or handle,
or the equivalent thereof, for enabling the fire-arm to be conveniently held when the
person using it is lying in the back position.
In that portion of the stock which is situate between the second trigger and the
lock or action of the fire-arm, a long slot or groove is cut, in which a sliding bolt
or bar is situated. This bolt or bar is so arranged that when the second trigger is
pulled or moved but very slightly the bolt or bar is correspondingly moved back-
wards, and either acts upon the ordinary trigger or upon the sear, in either case so
as to lift the scar out of the bents or notches of the tumbler, and thereby releasing
the tumbler, causes the arm to be discharged.
In place of the second trigger, a thumb or finger piece acting after the manner
of a lever or wedge, or the equivalent thereof, may be used for pushing back the
sliding bolt.
Another part of the improvements consist in forming the butt or large portion
of the stock with a deep hollow cut up into it from the underside, and with a long
pistol grip or handle projecting below, thus forming an ample rest for the fire-arm
against the shoulder of the person using it when in the back position.
Another improvement consists in adapting to the upper part of the butt end of the
stock a sliding pad, the object of which is that coming into contact as it does with
the cheek of the person using the fire-arm at the instant of firing, any abrasion of
the flesh due to the recoil is prevented.
These improvements are applicable both to new fire-arms and for converting old
arms.
And in order that our said Invention may be properly understood, we have
hereunto appended two explanatory Sheets of Drawings, on Sheet 1 of which are
shown the arrangements for applying our Invention to muzzle-loading fire-arms, and
on Sheet 2 the arrangement for applying the same to fire-arms fitted with the
breech-loading action of the said Alexander Henry.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, of the appended Drawings is a part section, and a part side
elevation of the butt end or stock of a muzzle-loading fire-arm fitted with a second
trigger A some distance in advance of the ordinary trigger B, and that part of the
stock in the neighbourhood of which the second trigger A is situated is formed
with what is known as a pistol grip or handle C, which enables the fire-arm to be
conveniently held when the person using it is lying in the "back position."
second trigger A is suspended from and moveable on a pin c passed through the
stock, and between the two triggers A and B the stock has formed in it a long alot
The

page_text: through which a long bolt D capable of sliding therein is passed. The sliding
bolt D is of such a length that its ends bear upon or touch the respective triggers A
and B, so that as the trigger A is pulled by the person using the fire-arm when in
the "back position" that pull is communicated by the long bolt D to the ordinary
trigger B, which is thereby moved or lifted on its axis or pivot just as if it had
been directly pulled by the hand in the ordinary manner, and in being so operated
it lifts the soar E out of the bents or notches in the tumbler F, which being thereby
released causes the discharge of the fire-arm.
In order to enable the bolt D to pass freely over or round the screws or pins by
which the action or trigger guard are secured to the stock of the fire-arm, its after
part is formed with a long slot therein, as shewn in plan in the detailed view,
Figure 2, Sheet 1, in which the slot is marked G.
That part of the Invention for preventing the abrasion of the cheek of the
person using the fire-arm is also shown at Figure 1, Sheet 1, of the appended Drawings.
It consists in the sliding pad H fitted to the upper part of the stock. This pad may
be covered with leather, cloth, or other equivalent smooth or soft material, and its
under part consists of a thin metallic plate I, on to which the pad or cushion of soft
material is fastened, this plate I being shaped so as to correspond with and slide
freely upon the upper side of the butt. In this upper side of the butt a deep slot J
is cut for the purpose of receiving the block K to which the pad and plate Ĥ and I
are fastened by screws, as shown at Figure 1, Sheet 1. The sliding block K is kept
in its place by a long pin or bolt L driven longitudinally into the stock, as shown at
Figure 1, Sheet 1, and over the forward end of this pin or bolt L a spiral spring M
is placed, which being compressed between one end of the block K, and the forward
end of the slot J, presses the block K and pad H into their nearmost position, so
that the pad H may rest quietly, or with but little motion, against or upon the cheek
of the person using the fire-arm, whilst the arm itself recoils at the instant of firing,
and thus the abrasion of the cheek or flesh of the person using the arm, which
would be otherwise caused by the bare and rigid surface of the stock being suddenly
rubbed against the cheek by the recoil due to the discharge of the weapon is
prevented.
At Figure 3, Sheet 1, of the appended Drawings the butt or large end of the
stock is shewn as formed with a deep hollow N cut up into it from the under side,
so as to form a long pistol grip or handle O, this arrangement admitting of an
ample rest for the fire-arm against or upon the shoulder of the person using it when
in the "back position.""
The sliding pad H and its connections shewn at Figure 1, Sheet 1, may also be
applied to a stock constructed as shewn on Figure 3, Sheet 1. At Figure 3, Sheet 1,
the long sliding bolt D in place of being made to bear directly upon the trigger is
shewn as bearing upon the sear E, which is formed with a tail piece for that
purpose.
At Sheet 2 of the appended Drawings are shewn such parts of the said Alexander
Henry's breach action, namely, that wherein a sliding breech piece is used as are
necessary to illustrate the application of our arrangements for firing from the "back
position." Of these Figures, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of that portion of
the breech-loading arrangement, in which the breech cavity A is situated, and to
which the lock or firing parts of the arrangement, which with the exception of the
trigger B are not shown in the Drawings, it being unnecessary for the purpose of
illustrating the application thereto of our present improvements to there show
them.
Figure is a plan corresponding to Figure 1; Figure 3 a plan of the under
trigger plate; Figure 4, a side elevation of the breech cavity; and Figure 5, an
elevation of the face of the breech cavity showing the application of our present
improvement.
The forward end of the stock to which the breech-loading arrangement illustrated
on Sheet 2 of the appended Drawings is applied, is fitted with a second trigger
and long bolt, after the manner of those herein-before described with reference to

page_text: Sheet 1 of the Drawings, and this bolt acts upon the head a of a second sliding bolt P
carried in the lower part of the breech action on the bottom plate Q, to which it is
held by a screw b, which passes through a slot therein of sufficient length to allow
of the bolt P being moved sufficiently to operate the trigger B for lifting the sear
out of the bents or notches of the tumbler. At its after part the bolt P is enlarged
and formed somewhat fork like, as shown at the several Figures on Sheet 2. This
larger portion passing to some extent beneath the projecting bracket R, to which
the trigger B is attached, which arrangement also affords additional security for
keeping the bolt P in its proper position.
With all the arrangements herein-before described in place of using the second
trigger.A, its equivalent, such as a thumb or finger piece acting after the manner of
a wedge or lever upon the sliding bolt D, may be substituted.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be
used or practically carried into effect, we would observe in conclusion that what
we consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The second trigger A or its equivalent for operating the sliding bolt D
for discharging fire-arms when firing from the "back position," substantially as
herein-before described and shown at Figures 1 and 3 of the appended Drawings.
Second. The bolt P or its equivalent as applied to the breech-loading action
of the said Alexander Henry, as shown at the Figures on Sheet 2 of the appended
Drawings, and operated by the sliding bolt D, in the manner herein-before
described.
Third. Constructing the stock of fire-arms with a pistol grip or handle in the
neighbourhood of the second trigger A, as herein-before described and shown at
Figures 1 and 3, Sheet 1, of the appended Drawings.
Fourth. Constructing the butts of fire-arms with a large hollow N cut up into
the underside of the larger part thereof, as herein-before described and shewn at
Figure 3, Sheet 1, of the appended Drawings.
Fifth. The sliding pad H and its attachments, or the equivalent thereof, sub-
stantially as herein-before described and shown at Figure 1, Sheet 1, of the appended
Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Alexander Henry and Daniel Fraser have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Thirteenth day of October, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven years.
ALEXANDER HENRY. (LS.)
D. FRASER.
(L.S.)