IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Blake, of the City of New
York, United States of America, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN FIRE-ARMS."
Scaled the 7th January 1873, and dated the 25th July 1872.
'
First to produce a gun with the stock so constructed that the end or
shoulder and head rest of the same can be used as a shovel or spade when
so required.
Also to give the connection neck between the said rest and the barrel
rest such a bend or twist, that it will be easier to fire and aim with than
the straight neck hitherto used, and will serve the purpose of a spade or
shovel better than a straight neck would.

page_text: Also to use the hollowed out shoulder and head rest as a receptacle
for ammunition and tools for the gun.
Also to use the end piece of the said rest as a hammer and screw
driver.
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Also to provide a cover for the said rest when the same is not used as
a shovel or spade.
At present soldiers, especially sappers, miners, and engineers, are
provided with an extra shovel or spade, carried in a separate sling or
belt when on duty in throwing up embankments, fortifications, rifle pits,
and the like. Such an extra tool is a great detriment to the marching
and the movements in general of the soldiers. Experience has. shown
that soldiers in engagements throw away all implements and weighty
articles which are not absolutely necessary for their safety and comfort.
The last article a soldier would part with is his gun, because on this he
depends for defence and life. This Invention converts the gun into a 1
spade or shovel without burdening the soldier or carrier with an extra
weight, or in any way impairing the efficiency of the gun.
The shoulder and head rest A is made of a hollow piece of metal, or
partly of wood and partly of metal (I prefer cast steel); it has the form
of a shovel or spade. To the end of this rest is fitted a movable piece E,
which at any moment can be attached or detached by the aid of a spring g
and notches b, b, in the inside and near the end of the rest A. A screw-
driver c is attached to this end piece E, running in the groove d, which
can be pushed out through an opening f.
The bend and twist of the neck B, which connects the barrel rest D
to the shoulder and head rest A, serves a double purpose; firstly, to give
facility for aiming and firing the gun; secondly, it makes the spade or
shovel more serviceable, more convenient, and easier to handle than a
straight neck.
To protect the shoulder and head rest A as well as the end piece E, and
make the handling of the metal of which the rest A is constructed more
convenient, and also to form a receptacle for ammunition or other
articles, a cover is slipped H over the said rest and end piece, and
fastened by the neck B in any convenient manner.
In a modification of my Invention the neck B is made hollow, and a
bayonet spring m is attached to the same. To the spade or shovel

page_text: shaped shoulder and head rest N is attached a short stock n, which fits
into the hollow neck B. At the sides of this stock n are notches, into
which a spring fastener p fits. Thus, if the fastener p is introduced
into o one notch, the shoulder and head rest is used for firing the gun, but
if the said fastener p is introduced into r the other notch, the shoulder
and head rest is used as a spade and shovel.
For firing the gun a hollowed out piece R is introduced into the shovel
or shoulder shaped rest N, whose end pieces constitutes the shoulder.
rest, and one side t the head rest. A spring u laid into the rest N on.
the outside, fits with the fastener v into a notch w of the said hollowed-
out piece R, which holds it in place when the gun is used for firing or
on the march, but serves to unlock the said piece R and remove the
same when the gun is used as a spade or shovel. This piece R is hol-
lowed out in order to receive ammunition or tools, when the said piece:
is introduced into the spade or shovel part of the shoulder and head
rest N..
SPECIFICATION in. pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Edward Blake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 24th January 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM*
EDWARD BLAKE, of the City of New York, United States of America,
send greeting.

page_text: by the aid of the knob e through an opening f. The spring 9 is fastened
to the end piece E by the aid of the catch i, guide j, and notches b, to
hold it in its place.
In Figure 2, the bend and twist of the neck B, which connects the
barrel rest D to the shoulder and head rest A is represented. This
bend serves a double purpose; firstly, it gives facility for aiming and
firing the gun; secondly, it makes the spade or shovel more serviceable,
more convenient, and easier to handle than a straight neck.
To protect the shoulder and head rest A, as well as the end piece E,
and make the handling of the metal of which the rest A is constructed
more convenient to the soldier or other person carrying the gun, and
also to form a receptacle for ammunition or other articles, a cover is
slipped over the said rest and end piece and fastened by the neck B in
any convenient manner.
In the modification of my Invention, illustrated in Figures 6, 7, 8,
and 9, M is a side view of a gun. The neck B is made hollow and a
bayonet spring m is attached to the same. To the spade or shovel-
shaped shoulder and head rest N is attached the short stock n which
fits into the hollow neck B. At the sides of this stock n are introduced
the notches o and r, into which the spring fastener p fits. Thus, if the
fastener p is introduced into the notch o, the shoulder and head rest may
be used for firing the gun, but if the fastener p is introduced into the
notch, the shoulder and head rest may be used as a spade and shovel.
For firing the gun, the hollow piece R is introduced into the shovel or
shoulder-shaped rest N, whose end pieces constitutes the shoulder rest,
and the side t the head rest. A spring. u laid in the rest N on the
outside fits with the fastener v into the notch wo of the piece R, which
holds it in place when the gun is used for firing or on the march, but
serves to unlock the piece R and remove the same when the gun is used
as a spade or shovel. This piece R is hollowed out in order to receive
ammunition or tools when the said piece is introduced into the spade
or shovel part of the shoulder and head rest N.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it understood that I claim,—
First. A shovel or spade formed of the head and shoulder rest A of a
gun stock, as herein set forth and for the purpose specified.

page_text: Second. A twist or bend given to the neck B of a gun stock, as herein
set forth and for the purpose specified.
Third. The end piece E, with the screwdriver c, and spring g, as
herein set forth and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. The cover, as herein set forth and for the purpose specified.
Fifth. The hollow neck B, the spring m, the spade or shovel formed
shoulder and head rest N, the stock n, fastener p, spring m, and the
piece R, with the notches o and r, as herein set forth and for the purpose
specified.
WILLIAM EDWARD BLAKE. (L.S.)