Improvements in Breech-loading Small Arms.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 14th Jan., 1899
Improvements in Breech-loading Small Arms.
I, ALLAN EDWARD LARD, of No. 801, Hall Street, in the City of Saint Joseph,
County of Buchanan and State of Missouri, United States of America, Merchant,
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:
This invention relates to improvements in firing mechanism for fire arms and
more particularly to firing mechanisms of that class more commonly used in shot-
guns having a plurality of barrels and in which a single trigger is employed and
the firing of the several barrels is accomplished by successive movements of the
single trigger.
The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and pointed out in
the appended claims.
The invention is herein shown in connection with a shotgun provided with three
shot barrels and locks or firing mechanisms embracing three hammers, together
with means for actuating the same by successive pulls upon the trigger. The
invention may, however, he applied to fire arms of other kinds and to those having
two, or more than three barrels.
In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention,
Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a breech mechanism embodying my inven-
tion, the lock plate together with one of the hammers and its actuating spring
carried by said plate being removed so as to show the main operative parts of the
firing mechanism in side elevation.
Figure 2 is a sectional view, taken through the barrels on line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure is a view in elevation of one of the lock plates with the lock or striking
mechanism thereon.
Figure 4 is a detail plan section, taken on line 44 of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the parts in changed position.
Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing that side of the firing mechanism
opposite to that illustrated in said Figure 1 and illustrating still another position
of the parts.
Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing a third position of the parts,
Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 1.
Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 1.
Figure 10 is a detail view showing a modified construction in the detent which
controls the movement of the firing plate.
Figure 11 is a detail view showing a modified construction in the detent which
controls the movement of the firing plate.
Figure 12 is a view of the firing pin designed to discharge the third barrel.
Figure 13 is a detail view showing a second trigger which may be used for
firing the third barrel independently of the others.
Figure 14 is a detail view showing a modified construction in the detent and
toothed post which controls the movement of the firing plate.
The fire arm in the accompanying drawing is a shotgun of the kind known as

page_text: “ breech loading or one in which the barrels are pivotally connected with the
breech frame at a point forward of the rear ends of the barrels and wherein the
rear ends of the barrels are thrown upwardly above the breech frame for the inser-
tion of the cartridges. The breech mechanism illustrated, is, moreover, of that class
known as
hammerless" or one in which the retraction or cocking of the hammers
is accomplished by the act of "breaking" the gun through suitable connections
between a part attached to the swinging barrels and the said hammers.
and at
As shown in the said drawings, A indicates the body or wooden portion of the
gun stock, 13 the breech frame, C the barrels which are pivoted to the front end of
the breech frame and D the "fore end" which is detachably connected with the
barrels beneath the same in the usual manner. E indicates the top suap lever by
which the locking detent, for holding the barrels in place, is actuated. F F indicate
the lock plates upon which the locks or striking mechanisms belonging to the two.
main or upper barrels are mounted and G is the trigger plate which carries the
trigger and upon which, in the particular instance illustrated, the main parts of
the mechanism embodying my invention are mounted. Said trigger plate is
attached at its forward end to the breech frame B by means of a screw
its rear end is connected with the rearward extension or tang B' of the breech
frame by means of bolts g¹ g which also serve to attach the stock to said frame.
The locks for the main or upper barrels are mounted on the lock plates F and
are shown as consisting each of the usual hammer or tumbler F1, main spring F³,
gear and sear spring F. A supporting plate F³, attached to each lock plate,
forms a support for the inner end of the hammer pivot. The lock for the lower
or central barrel is mounted on the trigger plate G and consists of the hammer H
which is pivotally mounted on a lug G2, integral with the trigger plate, by means
of a pivot pin h from which it extends upwardly; an open spiral main spring H
of sufficient strength which is interposed between a stud H extending upwardly
from the breech frame B and a lug or arm H5 upon the lower forward part of the
hammer H; a sear H3 and a sear spring H³; the said sear being pivotally mounted
on the lug G2 and said sear spring being mounted on the trigger plate G behind
the hammer H.
Means for setting or cocking the several hammers is provided as follows: I I are
two cocking levers which are mounted in recesses in the breech frame B at either
side of the same, inside of the forward ends of the lock plates F, said levers being
mounted on pivot studs i. The forward ends of the said cocking levers extend into
recesses d formed in the metal part D₁ of the fore end D. Said forward ends of
the cocking levers are so shaped and arranged as to bear upon the upper walls of
said recesses & whereby when the muzzles of the barrels are thrown downwardly,
said forward ends of the cocking levers will be depressed. At their rear ends the
cocking levers extend rearwardly to points adjacent to and engage forwardly pro-
jecting lever arms f of the hammers F', the cocking levers acting on the under
surface of the said arms so as to lift or force the same upwardly and thereby throw
backwardly the hammers in the usual manner. For the purpose of retracting or
cocking the central hammer H, one of the cocking levers is provided at its rear
end with an offset extension I which extends at the inner side of and past the
hammer F and is adapted at its rear end for engagement with a forwardly project-
ing arm H on the hammer H.
Now referring to the firing mechanism by which the several sears F3 F3 and H2
are actuated for releasing the hammers, the same is made as follows; J indicates
the trigger which is mounted on a pivot j in the trigger plate G in the usual
manner. The thin part or "blade" of said trigger is extended upwardly in the
lock case in the form of a trigger arm J¹. K indicates a movable part or plate
which is also pivoted to the trigger plate and which is preferably mounted on the
same pivot by which the trigger is supported. Said plate constitutes a medium
by which the motion of the trigger is transmitted to the several sears and for con-
venience the same will be herein called the firing plate. Said firing plate extends
rearwardly and upwardly from the pivot ; and is swung or moved by a suitable

page_text: "
connection with the trigger in such manner that its rear end rises and its upper
part moves forwardly. Actuating engagement of said plate with the sears F
is secured by means of two laterally projecting lugs k kon said plate K which lugs
are adapted for engagement with the inwardly bent rear extremities f¹ of the said
sears and are provided with adjusting screws kk, which come in direct contact
with the sears. Similarly, actuating connection of the plate with the sear H³ is
formed by means of a forward projection or stud which is located in position
for contact with the upwardly extending end of the said sear H². The screws kk
on the lugs k k¹ and the lug are not arranged for simultaneous engagement with
the several sears but are so constructed as to come successively in contact with the
same as the plate is swung or moved on its pivot by the action of the trigger, the
intent being that the sears shall be successively moved and the barrels successively
fired by a progressive or step by step movement of the said firing plate.
The said firing plate is moved ΟΙ swung on its pivot, when the
trigger is pulled backwardly, by means of a stop or shoulder on the
firing plate which is located in position for engagement with a part of or upon the
trigger, the stop or projection herein shown having the form of a stop pin which
is located near the upper edge of the firing plate in position to engage the front
edge of the trigger arm J. Said trigger arm is not always in contact with the
stud but stands slightly at the rear thereof so as to afford a small degree of
independent motion between the trigger and the firing plate when the trigger is
drawn or pulled rearwardly, such independent motion giving the trigger a short
preparatory movement before the firing plate is engaged and moved thereby. The
trigger is held normally at the forward limit of its movement by means of a suit-
ably applied trigger spring herein shown as consisting of a leaf spring which
is attached to the trigger plate at the rear of the trigger and at its forward free
end is bent at right angles or provided with a lateral arm which enters a small
hole formed in the rearwardly extending thin part or blade" of the trigger at
the rear of the sustaining pivot j. Mounted on the firing plate, is a movable detent L
adapted for engagement with teeth or shoulders m m¹ which are located or formed
upon a stationary part of the breech frame. As herein shown, the detent L pro-
jects at the rear of the firing plate K and the teeth m m² are located on a bar or
bolt M which is attached at its lower end to the rear part of the trigger plate. The
upper end of the bolt abuts the tang thereby holding the trigger plate and the
tang always the same distance apart when the bolts g1 g are tightened. The
detent L is actuated from the trigger through the medium of a lever connection
or equivalent mechanism giving to the detent a much greater amplitude of move-
ment than that of the trigger itself and which is so arranged as to advance the said
detent L into position for engagement with one of the teeth m, during the pre-
liminary movement of the trigger J which takes place before the stop pin on the
firing plate is engaged by the trigger arm and the firing plate is thereby bodily
moved. In the particular construction illustrated, the detent L has the form of a
sliding bar held in suitable guides on the firing plate and motion is transmitted
thereto from the trigger arm J' by means of a lever N and a link N¹ by which said
lever N is connected with the upper end of the trigger arm. The said lever N is
mounted on a pivot pin n which engages the said lever at a point near the upper
end of the same, this construction making the arms of the lever of unequal length
and the lower arm of the lever very much longer than the upper one so that a very
slight movement in the upper end of the trigger arm, when transmitted to the
upper or shorter arm of said lever N will produce a considerable extent of move-
ment of the lower arm of said lever N and the detent which is attached thereto.
In the firing mechanism from which the accompanying drawing was made, a back-
ward movement of the trigger of about 1/32 of an inch produces a movement in
the said detent of about 1/8 of an inch. If desired, the movement of the trigger
with respect to that of the detent may be much less than that stated but a too small
movement is not feasible and by properly proportioning the parts, the most prao-
tical results may be obtained by a movement of the trigger of about one sixty-fourth

page_text: 3
part of an inch. The detent L together with the teeth m m³, constitute an escape
or stop mechanism by which the movement of the firing plate is made intermittent,
instead of continuous, and by which the movement of the said plate is arrested
after the release of each hammer, thereby preventing the firing of more than one
barrel at a time; the release of the said detent from the teeth engaged by it after
each barrel has been fired being permitted by a relaxation of the pressure upon and
a very slight forward movement of the trigger, under the action of its spring,
owing to the connections described between the detent and trigger by which an
exceedingly slight movement of the trigger produces a much greater movement of
the detent.
The said detent L is held normally at one limit of its movement by a suitably
applied spring N herein shown as having the form of a flat spring attached at one
end to the rear edge of the firing plate and having at its opposite end a lateral
arm which overlaps and bears on the lever N below the pivot of the latter and tends
to draw the detent L inwardly. The lever N is shown as provided with a rearward
projection against which the spring Na bears. Inasmuch as said spring N* acts
on the lever N in a direction to hold the detent retracted, it also acts to hold the
rear end of the firing plate elevated and the stud away from the trigger arm, it
being obvious that in the absence of the spring N2, the said plate would be free
to fall by gravity with the result of bringing the stud 3 in contact with the trigger
arm and at the same time throwing outwardly the detent. The presence of said
spring N insures that the stud will be held free from the trigger arm, and the
detent will remain in its retracted position except when the plate is moved by the
trigger into contact with one of the sears, at which time the resistance of the sear
spring will retard the movement of the firing plate until the detent has been thrown
outwardly or into its holding position, after which the further movement of the
firing plate will release the sear, and the detent will strike the tooth m or m¹ and
prevent further movement of the firing plate until the trigger has been allowed to
move slightly forward and the detent retracted to clear the tooth engaged by it.
It will be observed that the teeth m m¹ are inclined downwardly and forwardly
or have their under surfaces at an angle to lines which are radial to the pivot of
the firing plate and that the detent L is inclined to correspond with the inclination
of said teeth, while the lever N is also inclined so as to stand approximately at
right angles with the said detent. The downward inclination of the teeth
described is of great importance in actual practice, for the reason that in the use of
straight teeth or those which are radial to the firing plate pivot, it is found that
the detent is liable to be released from the teeth by the jar occasioned by firing
heavy charges while in the use of inclined teeth a positive engagement of the detent
with either tooth takes place when the detent is advanced and possibility of the
firing of the second barrel by release of the detent under the recoil of the first
barrel is avoided. By arranging the detent in an inclined position as described,
it is withdrawn from engagement with the inclined teeth without downward move-
ment of the firing plate and its releasing movement is accomplished as easily as
though the teeth were not so inclined.
.... Inasmuch as the firing of the several barrels is accomplished by a progressive
movement of the firing plate, it is desirable that the said plate and trigger should
be held from backward movement after each barrel is fired and for this purpose
I have provided a detent so arranged as to engage and hold the firing plate after
the firing of each barrel. Said detent is shown as having the form of a stepped
bar O pivoted at its lower end to the trigger plate and provided at its upper end
with two shoulders o o'; said bar being located in such position that the shoulders
may engage the lower surface of the lug k on one side of the firing plate.
.
The detent is shown as inserted in a slot in the trigger plate and engaged with
a pivot pin passing through said slot, so that the pivotal axis of the detent is
below the top of the plate. The said detent is actuated by the spring O¹ so arranged
as to throw its upper or free end toward the said lug k. This spring is shown in
the form of a leaf spring attached at one end to the trigger plate at a point at the

page_text: rear of the detent, and curved upwardly at its opposite and free end so as to bear
against the rear surface of the detent and press the latter forward toward the lug K.
When the firing plate is in its normal or lowermost position, the said detent at a
point below the lowermost step o¹ bears against the lug and the said steps or
notches are so disposed with respect to the teeth m m¹ that when the firing plate
is swung upwardly so as to bring the detent against the first tooth m, the lug will
be engaged by the first step o' and when said detent is brought against the second
tooth m, the lug will be engaged by the second step o. It will, of course, be
understood that the detent O is located in the position described and arranged to
act upon the lug k merely as a matter of convenience and that a similarly acting
detent may be arranged in other positions to operate upon or in connection with
the firing plate.
+5
The operation of the firing mechanism above described may be better understood
froni the following: When the parts are in their normal position as seen in
Figure 1, the lower end of the firing plate will rest against the trigger plate and
the trigger will be held by the trigger spring at the forward limit of its movement
and with the trigger arm J¹ slightly at the rear of the stop pin on the firing
plate. At this time, the sear belonging to the lock which is to be first released,
will be in contact with one of the lugs k. The pressure required to operate the
detent L against the action of its holding spring Na being much less than the
pressure required to move the sear, the first movement which takes place will be
the throwing out of the said detent into position to engage the first or lowermost
tooth m. By the time the said detent has reached or made contact with said tooth,
(as seen in dotted lines in Figure 5), the hammer of the lock first to be actuated,
will have been released and the stepped detent O will fall into position to hold the
firing plate from backward movement. This is the position of the parts shown in
full lines in Figure 5. A release of the pressure upon the trigger will result in
the retraction of the detent, mainly through the action of the trigger actuating
spring, which, by throwing the trigger forward while the firing plate is held from
backward movement, will move the trigger arm backwardly with respect to the
firing plate and thereby retract the detent. This movement of the detent will
be aided by the detent spring N. As soon as this slight forward movement of
the trigger takes place, the detent will be free from the tooth m and the firing plate
will be free to rise when pressure is again applied thereto by the action of the
trigger, as seen in said Figure 5. As soon as pressure is again applied to the
trigger, the firing plate will be advanced until another lug thereon strikes the
sear of the lock that is next to be fired when the detent will be advanced into
position to engage the second tooth m³, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 6. The
parts are so arranged that the firing plate will move a short distance after its release
by the retraction of the detent, before it strikes the next sear, this movement being
necessary in order that the detent shall be carried past or above the tooth last
engaged by it, before it is advanced to engage the next or succeeding tooth. Such
movement of the firing plate with the trigger, before the detent is advanced, is
insured by the detent spring N2, which holds the firing plate and trigger from
relative movement and prevents advance of the detent, until the plate strikes the
sear of the lock which is next to be fired and through the resistance of the scar
spring, is retarded until the trigger arm strikes the lug and the detent has been
advanced, after which it moves with the trigger until the second lock has been
fired, after which its motion is again arrested by the contact of the detent with the
second tooth ml. By the time this second tooth has been struck by the detent,
the second lock will have been released and the forward movement of the firing
plate will be arrested by contact of the detent with said second tooth. The stepped
or holding detent will at the same time engage the firing plate so as to prevent
backward movement of the same and upon release of the pressure upon the trigger,
the detent will be retracted by the action of the trigger spring and detent spring
and the parts will then be in readiness for the release of the third lock and the
firing of the third barrel. This is the position shown in full lines in Figure 6.

page_text: The sear of the lock belonging to the third barrel will be actuated by pressure of
the firing plate thereon, as seen in Figure 7, no special stop mechanism being
required in this instance as the firing plate will have reached the upward limit
of its movement when the firing of the third barrel is accomplished.
It is to be noted that when the firing plate is in position for the actuating of
either one of the sears, said plate rests against a back stop formed in the first
instance by the trigger plate itself and in the other instances by the stepped detent
described and that when the said firing plate thus rests against its back stop, the
pressure of the trigger spring holds the trigger arm J a short distance away from
the stop pin or stud 3. It will also be noted that when the trigger is pulled in
firing the second and third barrels, it moves the firing plate a short distance before
the latter strikes the sear of the lock which is next to be released, thereby insuring
that the detent shall move past the tooth last engaged by it before being again
advanced. The sear spring is so much stronger than the detent spring N or the
power required to move the sear is so much greater than that required to move the
detent, that, as soon as the firing plate strikes the sear, the trigger arm will move
with respect to the firing plate, such movement of the said arm with respect to the
plate serving to move or actuate the detent L and thereby bring the same into
position for engagement with one of the stop teeth so as to prevent a movement
of the firing plate at any one pull on the trigger in excess of the distance needed,
to actuate the same and release the hammer.
In other words, inasmuch as the firing plate is free to move except when
restrained by the engagement of the detent L with one of the stop teeth, the detent
spring would hold the said detent from movement with respect to the plate and
said plate would move with the trigger were it not for the engagement of the plate
with the sears and the fact that the sear springs are much stronger than the said
detent spring, so that as soon as one of the lugs on the firing plate comes in
contact with its corresponding sear, movement of the firing plate is temporarily
arrested until the trigger has been moved the short distance necessary for bring-
ing the trigger arm against the stop pin and for throwing the stop detent out-
wardly into position to engage one of the stop teeth. After such preliminary
movement of the trigger, and the actuation of the 'detent, however, the firing plate
moves with the trigger as the same is pulled backward and thereby effects the lift-
ing or actuation of that one of the sears which is at the time engaged by, or is in con-
tact with, the firing plate. It will, of course, be understood, that the contact of the
sear with the firing plate or in other words, the resistance of the sear spring to
the movement of the plate, is necessary in order to hold the plate from movement
while the detent is being actuated; it being obvious that, in the absence of any
resistance to the movement of the plate, the latter would be moved or shifted by
the action of the trigger without any movement of the detent itself; the detent
spring tending to hold the detent in its retracted position. The sear spring being
very much stronger than the detent spring and as considerable pressure is required
to draw the sear out of engagement with the notch in the tumbler, in which it is
held by the pressure of the main spring, much greater pressure is required to move
the sear and release the hammer than is needed to move the detent so that the
pressure of the sear against the firing plate will always hold said plate from move-
ment until the holding detent has been advanced against the action of the detent
spring, after which the plate will be bodily moved and the sear thereby actuated
'to release the hammer.
It will also be noted that the trigger spring acts to retract the detent L, and
would, in connection with the detent O, be sufficient for this purpose if the detent
spring were omitted, it being obvious that the pressure of the trigger spring does
not come directly upon the firing plate but is conveyed thereto through the medium
of the trigger arm, the lever N and link N so that when the firing plate is resting
against one of the back stops formed by the trigger plate or one of the two shoulders
on the stepped detent O, the trigger arm will be pressed backwardly and the detent
carried inwardly by the trigger spring and such backward or rearward movement

page_text: of the trigger arm with respect to the plate will be limited by the contact of the
said lever N, on the detent, with a surface or shoulder on the plate which forms a
back stop to limit the retraction of said detent. In the instance illustrated, the
said lever N strikes a pin 4 when the detent is at the rearward limit of its retract-
ing movement so that said pin forms such a back stop.
It will be further observed that inasmuch as the trigger spring and detent spring
act in the same direction upon the detent and both tend to withdraw the detent
from engagement with the teeth on the frame when the firing plate is resting
against its backstop, the said detent spring is not in all cases required but may be
dispensed with, provided the detent is so constructed that it will automatically
rise above the tooth m or m', after its withdrawal therefrom, in order that it may
not again engage the same tooth in its subsequent advance.
In Figure 10 I have shown a modification of the construction above described,
wherein a detent spring N is used which spring is applied between the firing plate
and lever N in such manner as to hold the lower or free end of said lever and the
detent extended instead of retracted and the detent is made vertically movable at
its outer end and held at the upper limit of its movement by a lifting spring .
When the said spring is thus applied, it tends to hold the detent L in its extended
position making it absolutely impossible to fire more than one barrel at a time and
in such case, said spring is preferably a weak one and of very much
less strength than the trigger spring. The nction of the mechanism
in this latter instance is generally the same as that before described
the only difference being that in the one before described, the detent spring tends
to aid the trigger spring in retracting the detent while in the modified construction
the detent spring acts against the trigger spring and the former is made relatively
weak so that the trigger spring will operate positively and certainly to withdraw
the detent from engagement with that one of the teeth m or m', with which it may
at the time be engaged.
In the latter construction, the detent lifting spring yields downwardly and per-
mits a slight depression of the detent when the latter strikes the tooth m or m in
the upward movement of the firing plate, so that, as soon as the detent is retracted
by the action of the trigger spring upon the release of the trigger,
said detent will be lifted above the tooth, and in its subsequent advance will
pass over the same. When the detent is made to yield or move in the
manner shown in said Figure 10, no actuating spring for either advancing or
retracting it is absolutely necessary, but the use of an advancing spring is pre-
ferred for the reason that it holds the detent normally in a positive engaging
position.
Instead of the stepped detent O arranged to act upon the firing plate, a similarly
acting detent may be applied to operate upon the trigger or trigger arm in which
case both trigger and the firing plate will be held from backward movement after
each sear has been actuated by the engagement of such detent with the trigger,
When the detent is thus arranged, however, the presence of the detent spring N
becomes important, inasmuch as said spring by its tension on the lever N tends
to keep said lever at the rearward limit of its movement and prevents the firing
plate from falling by gravity so as to bring the stop pin against the trigger arm
with the result of preventing the proper actuation of the detent by the trigger.
For the purpose of releasing the stepped detent 0 from the firing plate and thus
permitting the said plate and the trigger to return to its original or starting point
preparatory to firing a new charge or set of charges, provision is made for auto-
matically moving said detent each time the breech is opened for loading. The
device herein illustrated for the purpose mentioned consists of a sliding trip bar P
which rests above the trigger plate and is, at its forward end, attached to an arm e
on the rod E which is attached to and moved by the snap lever E and through the
medium of which is actuated the locking bolt by which the barrels are locked or
held in operative position. The rear end of the trip bar is adapted to act on the
forward surface of the detent when said trip bar is thrown backwardly through the

page_text: nctuation of the snap lever; the said bar, by reason of the location of the pivot of
the detent, acting on the latter at a point above said pivot. The bolt E' is shown
as extending downwardly to the trigger plate and to avoid interference with the
action of the firing pin Ho of the third barrel, the said pin is enlarged at its rear
end, and provided in its enlarged part with an elongated slot or opening (Figure 12)
for the passage of said rod, said slot or opening being of sufficient length to afford
the necessary extent of movement in the firing pin without contact with said rod.
I have shown in the drawings a safety catch consisting of a lever Q pivoted to
the tang B and adapted at its lower end for engagement with a stop pin 7 on the
rear part of the firing plate; the upper end of said lever Q being engaged with a
slide q mounted on the outer surface of the tang. When said slide is moved for-
ward so as to bring the lower end of the stop lever alove and to the rear of the
stop pin q, the firing plate will be free to move and the gun can be discharged.
A firing mechanism embodying the principal features hereinbefore described
may be constructed for a double barreled gun without the use of any detent such
as has been described for forming a back stop for the firing plate. Assuming the
breech frame to have but one stop tooth m, as will be the case in a double barreled
gun and the holding detent to be omitted, it is obvious that after the first barrel
has been fired and the movement of the firing plate arrested by the action of the
detent upon the stop tooth, the firing plate will return to its original position in
contact with the trigger plate. Upon a second actuation of the trigger, no move-
ment of the locking detent will take place until the firing plate encounters and
is arrested by the second sear but as soon as said firing plate (or the lug thereon)
strikes said second sear, the second barrel will be fired in the same manner that
the third barrel is fired in the construction illustrated. The disadvantage arising
from the omission of the stepped detent or its equivalent is that considerable for-
ward movement of the trigger will occur after firing the first barrel before the firing
plate comes in contact with the back stop or trigger plate and a corresponding
advance movement of the trigger before the lug comes in contact with the second
sear, but at the same time, the amount of such motion need not be so great as to
be objectionable, for in quick action where both barrels are fired in rapid succes-
sion the trigger.and firing plate need not be allowed to return to their original
position after the firing of the first barrel, but if the trigger be quickly released
and again pressed, it will, upon relaxation of the pressure thereon, move forward
under the action of the detent spring N2, a short distance only to effect the retrac-
tion of the said detent and the passage of the same past the said tooth for the firing
of the second barrel, and the latter may be fired by a second pull without moving
the finger far enough or giving sufficient space for the return of the trigger to its
starting point.
In other words, if the firing plate needs to travel 1/16th of an inch to fire the
first barrel, the trigger must travel backward 1/16th of an inch (the firing lugs
and the middle of the lower half of trigger being equi-distant from pivot j) before
it would be in position to fire the second barrel, provided the finger were
entirely removed from the trigger after firing the first barrel; but as before stated,
in rapid shooting it is not necessary to remove the finger from the trigger and
instead of allowing the trigger to travel forward 1/16th of an inch after firing the
first barrel, it is only necessary to allow it to advance 1/64th of an inch before
again pulling it for firing the second barrel.
In Figure 11 I have shown a construction in the detent mechanism of the firing
plate, which is like that described with the exception that the detent L, as a
separate part, is omitted, and in its place is employed a detent tooth or spur L'
formed upon the lower end of the lever N and projecting rearwardly therefrom.
This construction has the advantage of being more simple and at the same time of
making the device more compact, so that it occupies less space and requires less
cutting away of the stock to give room for the parts.
In Figure 13, I have shown a construction in which a second trigger R is applied
in position to actuate the sear belonging to the third barrel. Such second trigger

page_text: is shown as pivoted on the pivot pin of the main trigger J and as extending
rearwardly so as to be out of the way of the said main trigger. It is also shown
as provided with an arm r which extends upwardly to the safety stop lever Q, in
position to be engaged by said stop lever when the latter is thrown into its opera-
tive position.
Said second trigger will not usually be needed but may sometimes be found
useful when it is desired to fire the third barrel without firing the first and second
ones; and especially when the third barrel is "choke" bored to a greater extent
than the other barrels for close shooting at long distances and it may be desired
to use the said third barrel alone for that reason.
The second trigger will, however, be usually dispensed with. When only one
trigger is employed and it is (when trap shooting) desired to fire the third barrel
only, the first and second barrels are pulled off on exploded cartridges. In field
shooting all three may be fired almost instantaneously and with only one aim, if
desired. The device can, of course, be applied to hammer as well as hammerless
guns.
The modification illustrated in Figure 14 does away with the intermediate travel
of the trigger heretofore described except so far as is necessary to carry the points
of the detent L past the point of the teeth m m. In this modification all parts of
the firing mechanism are constructed as heretofore described except that the stop
pin is omitted, and the lever N, detent L' and the post M and the teeth thereon
are modified as follows:-
The said post M bears upon its forward side the teeth m m', so constructed that
the lower side of the said teeth are convex and serrated with downwardly inclined
points, and the front sides thereof are vertical, the front side m² of the tooth m
forming the base from which extends outwardly the similar tooth ml, having also
a vertical front fact m³. The lever N is provided with an integral detent L'. the
upper surface of which is concave and serrated, with upwardly inclined points,
having the same curvature as the lower side of the said teeth m, m' and adapted to
fit to the same when by them engaged. The stop pin is so located upon the firing
plate that the lever N cannot come in contact therewith until after the detent
thereon has slipped past the point of the tooth m when the said stop prevents the
said detent from swinging away from the vertical face m³ of the tooth m' when the
trigger is released preparatory to firing the third barrel, thereby avoiding inter-
mediate pull or trigger movement prior to engaging the sear. The inclined post k
is located before the post M, and attached rigidly to the trigger plate, in such
position that when the lever N descends the said post will cause the detent L'
to move rearwardly into contact with the vertical face of the post M. The said
post is of such shape or inclination that the top thereof forms a stop for the said
detent L' when released to pass the point of the tooth m in a manner similar to that
heretofore described in explaining the stop action of the pin and for a similar
purpose. In operation the lever N being thrown rearwardly until the detent is
in contact with the vertical face of the post M, the sears being arranged to more
quickly engage the lugs k, k, it is obvious that the pull of the trigger will be
immediately upon the sear, thereby discharging the first barrel: after which the
vertical faces m2 m³ of the teeth m, m', operate in a similar manner to avoid inter-
mediate pull in discharging the second and third barrels. It is also obvious that
the correspondence in the curvature and serration of the under side of the teeth
and the upper side of the detent results in better holding contact, and obviates the
necessity of the detent extending so far beneath the tooth. The serration of the
teeth and detent serves a valuable purpose, in that the recoil due to firing is thereby
taken advantage of to carry the detent forward partly out of the tooth engaged
thereby when the serrations prevent its return to the full depth of the said tooth;
hence when it is desired to release for the next shot, it will be necessary to release
only enough to clear the last half of the said tooth."
Said Figure 14 also illustrates a construction by which the lever N is made
élastic or resilient so as to permit a slight forward movement of the trigger or firing

page_text: finger under the action of the recoil, without liability of disengagement of the
seriated surfaces of the detent L' from the tooth m or m' engaged thereby. As
shown in said Figure 14, said lever N is longitudinally slotted, and a cut is made
through the forward edge of the lever into the slot, while the rear edge is made
relatively thin and continuous, so as to form a spring. When the gun is fired, the
lever will be bent, as shown in dotted lines in said Figure 14. This bending of
the lever permits a slight forward movement of the trigger or finger thereon (due
to the recoil) without the serrated surfaces of the said detent and teeth being even
partially disengaged. This spring construction in the lever N need, however, be
used only when on large calibre guns or when heavy or excessive charges are used.
As a further means of avoiding disengagement of the detent from the tooth engaged
thereby under the recoil of heavy charges, I make the lower part of the trigger thin
enough to have some elasticity or resiliency. This construction in the trigger pro-
duces the same result that is obtained by the spring construction in the lever N;
similarly serving to prevent the detent L from being disengaged from the tooth
in which it is in contact under the shock of the discharge.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a firing
mechanism embracing a single trigger, a firing plate which acts successively on the
several locks and means operated by the trigger acting to arrest or interrupt the
movement of the firing plate after it has actuated each of the several locks.
2. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a single
trigger, a firing plate which is moved by the trigger and acts successively on the
several locks and a detent which controls the movement of the firing plate, said
letént being actuated by the trigger and being connected with the same by opera-
tive connections giving a greater amplitude of movement in the said detent than
in the trigger.
3. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a trigger,
a firing plate which is operated by the trigger and acts successively on the several
locks to release the same, said trigger having a limited movement with respect to
the firing plate and a detent which is operated by the trigger and controls the
movement of the firing plate said detent being connected with the trigger by con-
nections affording movement of the detent into position to arrest the movement of
the firing plate before each lock is actuated by the firing plate.
4. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a
trigger, a firing plate which is actuated by the trigger and acts successively upon
the several locks to release the same, a detent which is actuated by the trigger and
controls the advance movement of the firing plate and a second detent operating
to hold said firing plate from rearward movement.
5. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a
trigger, a firing plate which is actuated by the trigger and acts successively upon
the several locks to release the same, a detent which has 'operative connections with
the trigger and controls the advance movement of the plate and a second detent
operating to hold said firing plate from rearward movement and means for retract-
ing said second or holding detent after the locks have been released.
6. A breech loading fire arm having three barrels and in which the barrels are
hinged to the breech frame comprising a plurality of locks or striking mechan-
isms each having a hammer, a main spring for actuating the same and a sear, of
means for cocking each of the hammers embracing two levers mounted on the
breech frame and engaged at their forward ends with a part which is attached to
and moves with the barrels, one of said levers being provided with a rearward
extension for retracting the hammer of the third or intermediate barrel.
7. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, a trigger,
a firing plate which is actuated by the trigger and acts successively on the several

page_text: locks to release the same, a detent which is actuated by the trigger and operates
to arrest the advance movement of the firing plate after the release of each lock
and a movable safety stop adapted for engagement with the firing plate to hold
the same from movement.
8. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a
trigger, a firing plate which is moved by the trigger and acts successively on the
several locks, and a detent which controls the movement of the firing plate, said
detent being actuated by the trigger and being connected with the same by opera-
tive connections giving a greater amplitude of movement in said detent than in
the trigger, and a second trigger which acts upon one of said locks independently
of the firing plate and first named trigger.
9. The combination with a plurality of locks, or striking mechanisms, of a
trigger, a firing plate which is actuated by the trigger and is constructed to act
successively upon the several locks to release the same, said trigger having a
limited movement with respect to the firing plate, a detent mounted on the firing
plate and a holding tooth or teeth upon the breech frame, said tooth or teeth being
inclined and the holding face of the detent correspondingly inclined.
10. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a
trigger, a firing plate which is actuated by the trigger and is constructed to act
successively upon the several locks to release the same, said trigger having a
limited movement with respect to the firing plate, a detent mounted on the firing
plate and a holding tooth or teeth upon the breech frame, said tooth or teeth and
the detent being provided with serrated engaging surfaces.
11. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a
trigger, a firing plate which is actuated by the trigger and is constructed to act
successively upon the several locks to release the same, said trigger having a
limited movement with respect to the firing plate, a detent mounted on the firing
plate, a holding tooth or teeth upon the breech frame, and operative connections
between the detent and the trigger embracing a lever having arms of unequal
length, said lever having a spring or resilient portion between its ends.
12. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a
trigger, a firing plate which is actuated by the trigger and is constructed to act
successively upon the several locks to release the same, said trigger having a
limited movement with respect to the firing plate, a detent mounted on the firing
plate, a holding tooth or teeth upon the breech frame and operative connections
between the said detent and trigger giving a greater extent of movement in the
detent than in the trigger, the lower portion. of said trigger being made thin to
give it resiliency.
73
1
1
1
1000
.HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.