IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS PROVIDED WITH INTRENCHING TOOLS OR IMPLEMENTS, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SUCH TOOLS OR IMPLEMENTS
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th February 1878. A communication
from abroad by James L. Buskett, of Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of
America.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS PROVIDED WITH
INTRENCHING TOOLS OR IMPLEMENTS, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SUCH TOOLS
OR IMPLEMENTS,' [A communication from abroad by James L. Buskett, of Saint
Louis, Missouri, United States of America.]
The object of this Invention is to provide a fire-arm, such as a musket or rifle,
with a spade or intrenching tool that can be readily attached thereto when desired
to be used, and secured thereon out of the way when not in use.
The said spade or intrenching tool is provided with a shank which has a trans-
verse groove on its front side and a transverse notch on its rear side. The stock is
recessed on one side for the reception of the spade or intrenching tool when not
in use, the said recess being made of such depth that when the spade or intrenching
tool is secured therein, it will be flush with the face of the stock. The said stock is
provided with a spring catch which locks into the said transverse notch on the
shank of the spade, which, in connection with the metal plate on the end of the
stock, secures the intrenching tool therein.
A spiral or other spring secured to the stock throws the said spade or intrenching
tool out of the said recess when released from contact with the spring catch. The
aforesaid metal plate is provided with a hole for the reception of the shank of the
spade or intrenching tool when it is to be used; and the said tool is secured therein
by a spring catch which rests in the aforesaid transverse groove of the shank.
It is very well known that by throwing up an earthwork of a very few inches
in height, and especially by excavating in the earth ditches of just sufficient depth
to allow the inen to lie on their faces or backs and not be above the level of the
ground in which the ditches are dug, troops may remain a long time exposed to the
enemy's fire without serious loss as the shot will be thrown over them, or, striking
the earth in front, will ricochet over them. The aforesaid spade can be used

page_text: efficiently in hard and even partially frozen ground, and being of steel and provided
with a sharp cutting edge will cut any ordinary roots that may be in the way. Its
novel construction allows it to be readily affixed to any rifle or musket now in use
and at a very small cost.
I do not limit myself to a spring catch for securing the spade or intrenching
tool in the recess of the stock, as other fastening devices could be substituted therefor,
nor do I limit myself to the metal plate for the edge of the blade of the spade to
rest under when secured in the recess, as the recess at the lower or butt end of the
stock could be provided with an inwardly flaring groove for it to rest in, and that
would take the place of the said metal plate.