IMPROVEMENTS IN HAMMERLESS PROAL
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Woodward and Thomas Woodward, the younger,
both of Number 10, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Gun Makers, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HAMMERLESS
PROVISIONAL. SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Woodward and
Thomas Woodward, jr., at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
9th July 1881.
THOMAS WOODWARD and THOMAS WOODWARD, the younger, both of Number 10,
Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun Makers.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
HAMMERLESS BREECH LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND SAFETY
BOLTS TO BE USED THEREWITH."
The first part of our Invention relates to that kind of hammerless double
breech-loading guns with drop down barrels in which the opening lever is placed
on the top thereof, the said lever having a leg or spindle passing down through the
back of the false breech and having an arm or eccentric thereon by means of which
the sliding bolt for fastening down the barrels is withdrawn. To effect the cocking
of the gun by means of the lever aforesaid two slots or recesses are formed in the
back of the false breech opposite the tumblers of the locks. (These locks are of the
well known pattern in which the tumbler is extended, so as to form an internal
hammer for firing the gun by means of a striker.) In these slots or recesses and
mounted upon a squared shaft, solid spindle, or trunnion passing across the
false-breech in a position as nearly as possible parallel with the axes of the tumblers
of the locks aforesaid are two arms or eccentrics, which engage with projections on
the front of the tumblers or batumers. One of these eccentrics has another arm
which engages with an arm on the lever spindle aforesaid. The act of opening the
gun by means of the lever before described causes the arm on the spindle to turn
round the eccentrics or arms by engaging with the second arm thereon, these arms
or eccentrics bearing under the projections on the hammer lifts or turns them round
to full-cock, where they are retained in the usual manner by the sears.
The firing

page_text: of the gun is performed in the usual manner by pulling the trigger. The second
part of our Invention consists of the application to double guns with drop down
barrels of the self cocking principle (by means of the trigger) so extensively used in
revolvers. To carry out this idea we place the triggers directly at the back of each
other below and at the back of the hammers, and if the lock-work is in the trigger
plate, levers are connected with the short-arms of the said triggers by means of a
leg on the right and left sides thereof respectively. These levers engage in a notch
or bent on the hammer. On pulling the trigger the hammer is pushed round by
means of the aforesaid lever; when the hammer has been raised as far as is
considered desirable a projection on the hammer comes against the lever, thereby
lifting it out of the bent when the hammer is driven down by means of the main
spring, thereby exploding the cap by means of a striker. The trigger is then
returned to its normal position by means of a spring, and at the same time the
lever is also raised into the bent by means of a light spring. This part of our
Invention can also be applied to guns with independent locks in the following
manner: The tumbler or hammer is kept in position on the lock plate by means
of a suitable bridle. Passing along the lower side of the lock and under the main
spring in the case of a back-action is a sliding bar or a bar connected to a crank-
motion at its rear end; this bar engages in a bent in the hammer in the manner
before described. Projecting from this bar on the right or left side, as the case
may be, is an arm which goes across the gun after the manner of an ordinary sear.
The triggers are placed at the back of each other, as before described, and so that
their short arms come directly at the back of the projections before mentioned. On
pulling the trigger the short arm pushes forward sliding bar by engaging with the
projection thereon, thereby firing the gun in the manner before described. The
sliding bar is returned to its normal position by means of a spring, at the same time
carrying with it the trigger. By this arrangement all necessity for safety bolts is
done away with, as the gun is not cocked till the moment of pulling the trigger.
The third part of our Invention consists of an improved safety bolt for application
to hammerless guns; the said bolt may be automatic or not as desired. The
construction of this bolt is as follows:-Beneath the break off strap we place a
slide, which passes through the said strap at one end, having a suitable thumb-plate
on the top thereof, by means of which the slide may be worked at will. The said
slide may be made to move backwards automatically on the opening of the gun by
extending it foreward so as to engage with the lever spring peg, the lever, or an
extension of the action bolt for that purpose. Directly over the sears we suspend
a rocking lever on a suitable pivot, the said lever having its short arm formed into
a ball, or such form as may be found best. This short arm fits into a slot in the
slide before described, and is thereby turned on its ceutre by the action of the
same.
When the slide is moved automatically (on the opening of the gun) or at will
the lever described is turned round so that its longer arm engages with the sears,
and the triggers thereby securely locking the same. The gun may be unlocked at
will by means of the thumb-plate on the top. The bolt is retained in position by
means of a suitable spring.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Woodward and Thomas Woodward, jr., in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 9th January 1882.
THOMAS WOODWARD and THOMAS WOODWARD, the younger, both of Number 10,
Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun Makers.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HAMMERLESS BREECH LOADING FIRE ARMS AND SAFETY
BOLTS TO BE USED THEREWITH.'
"
The first part of our Invention relates to that kind of hammerless double breech
loading guns with drop down barrels in which the opening lever is placed on the
top thereof, the said lever having a leg or spindle passing down through the back
of the false-breech, and having an arm or eccentric thereon by means of which the
sliding bolt for fastening down the barrels is withdrawn. To effect the cocking of
the gun by means of the lever aforesaid two slots or recesses are formed in the
back of the false breech opposite the tumblers of the locks. (These locks are of the
well known pattern in which the tumbler is extended so as to form an internal
hammer for firing the gun by means of a striker.) In these slots or recesses, and
mounted upon a squared shaft, solid spindle, or trunnion, passing across the false
breech in a position as nearly as possible parallel with the axis of the tumblers of
the locks aforesaid are two arms or eccentrics, which engage with projections on
the front of the tumblers or hammers. One of these eccentrics has another arm,
which engages with an arm on the lever spindle aforesaid.
The act of opening the gun by means of the lever before described causes the
arm on the spindle to turn round the eccentrics or arms by engaging with the
second arm thereon; these arms or eccentrics, bearing under the projections on the
hammers, lifts or turns them round to full cock, where they are retained in the
usual manner by the sears. The firing of the gun is performed in the usual manner
by pulling the trigger.
guns
The second part of our Invention consists of the application to double with
drop down barrels of the self cocking principle (by means of the trigger) so
extensively used in revolvers. To carry out this idea we place the triggers
directly at the back of each other below and at the back of the hammers, and if
the lock work is on the trigger plate levers are connected with the short arms of
the said triggers by means of a leg on the right and left sides thereof respectively.
These levers engage in a notch or bent on the hammer. On pulling the trigger the
hammer is pushed round by means of the aforesaid lever, when the hammer has
been raised as far as is considered desirable a projection on the hammer comes
against the lever, thereby lifting it out of the bent, when the hammer is driven
down by means of the main spring, thereby exploding the cup by means of a
striker. The trigger is then returned to its normal position by means of a spring,
and at the same time the lever is also raised into the bent by means of a light
spring. This part of our Invention can also be applied to guns with independent
locks in the following manner :-The tumbler or hammer is kept in position on
the lock plate by means of a suitable bridle. Passing along the lower side of the
lock and under the main spring in the case of a back action lock is a sliding bar
or a bar connected to a crank motion at its rear end. This bar engages in a bent
in the hammer in the manner before described. Projecting from this bar on the
right or left side as the case may be, is an arm which goes across the gun after the
manner of an ordinary sear. The triggers are placed at the back of each other as
before described, and so that their short arms come directly at the back of the

page_text: projections before described. On pulling the trigger the short arm pushes forward
the sliding bar by engaging with the projection thereon, thereby firing the gun in
the manner before deseribed. The sliding bar is returned to its normal position
by means of a spring, at the same time carrying with it the trigger.
By this arrangement all necessity for safety bolts is done away with, as the gun
is not cocked till the moment of pulling the trigger.
The third part of our Invention consists of an improved safety bolt for
application to hammerless guns, the said bolt may be automatic or not, as desired.
The construction of this bolt is as follows:-Beneath the break off strap we place
a slide which passes through the said strap at one end having a suitable thumb
plate on the top thereof, by means of which the slide may be worked at will. The
said slide may be made to move backwards automatically on the opening of the
gun by extending it forward so as to engage with the lever spring peg the lever
or an extension of the action bolt for that purpose. Directly over the sears we
suspend a rocking lever on a suitable pivot, the said lever having its short arm
formed into a ball or such form as may be found best. This short arm fits into a
slot in the slide before described, and is thereby turned on its centre by the action
of the same, when the slide is moved automatically (on the opening of the gun) or
at will. The lever described is turned round so that its longer arm engages with
the sears and the triggers, thereby securely locking the same. The gun may be
unlocked at will by means of the thumb plate on the top. The bolt is retained in
position by means of a suitable spring.
We will now describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the
manner in which our Invention may be performed.
The letters refer to the same parts in Figs. 1 to 7 Fig. 1 is a longitudinal
sectional view of a gun constructed according to the first part of our Invention,
shewing the hammer raised to full-cock and a safety bolt applied thereto
according to the third part of our Invention.
Figs. 2, 3, and 3 A, represent the cocking arms as made when they are mounted
upon a squared shaft.
Fig. 4, the same on a solid trunnion, the dotted lines shewing the hole through
which the wire upon which it turns passes; Figs. 5 and 6, parts of the safety bolt;
Fig. 7, the lever spindle when removed from the gun; Fig. 8, a lock and triggers
as described in the second part of our Invention.
When the gun is opened by means of the lever A, Fig. 1, the projecting arm B on
the lever spindle C, Figs. 1 and 7, turns round the trunnion or lifter D.
Figs. 1, 3, and 4, by engaging with the upper arm thereof, thereby lifting the
hammer E to full-cock, as shewn in Fig. 1, where it is retained in the usual
manner by the sear, as shewn. At the same time the lever spring peg, shewn in
dotted outline, Fig. 1, pushes back the slide F, Figs. 1 and 5, of the safety bolt.
This slide has a notch G, Fig. 5, in which the ball H of the rocking-lever, Fig. 6,
works, thereby turning it on its centre, when it falls over the sears and triggers, as
shewn at Fig. 1, the dotted outline shews the position when off the triggers;
Fig. 8 shews one method of construction of the second part of our Invention, it not
being necessary to describe more, as the principles involved are the same. A is the
hammer constantly urged forward by means of a main spring B. On pulling the
trigger C in the usual manner, the short upper arm thereof engages with an arm on
a sliding bar D, as shewn; this bar is pushed into a notch E in the hammer A by a
spring F, so that it pushes round the hammer as it moves forward; when the
hammer has been raised far enough the back part thereof comes against the bar D,
lifting it out of the notch and allowing the hammer to fall. The bar D is carried
back ward by means of a coiled spring H working against the pin which retains the
bar in position and the rear end thereof. The bar D may be jointed to a crank
motion at its rear end, this it is not necessary to shew; K shews the position in
which the second trigger would come on the other side of the gun.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the manner in which

page_text: the same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that we claim as our
Invention,―
Firstly. The combination of parts of mechanism for effecting the cocking of the
gun, substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 3 A, 4, and 7.
Secondly. The application to double breech-loading guns of the self-cocking
principle (so extensively used in revolvers), substantially as described and
illustrated in Fig. 8.
Thirdly. The construction of safety-bolt, substantially as described and illustrated
in Figs. 1, 5, and 6.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Woodward and Thomas Woodward,
the younger, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Seventh day of
January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
eighty two.
THOMAS WOODWARD.
(LS.)
THOMAS WOODWARD, THE YOUNGER. (L.S.)