Improvements in Single Trigger Double Barrel Drop Down Guns, and other Small Arms.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 24th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 27th Mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Single Trigger Double Barrel Drop Down Guns,
and other Small Arms.
I GEORGE BOUCKLEY the younger of No. 117 Warwick Road, Sparkhill in
the County of Worcester Gun Action Filer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists in combining with the single trigger locks of double barrel
drop down guns and other small arms, the mechanism hereinafter described whereby
the two barrels can be discharged in succession by the pressure upon or lifting of
the single trigger.
By the use of the mechanism constituting my invention, the right hand barrel
or the left hand barrel may be first discharged at the option of the user of the gun
or small arm.
The mechanism constituting my invention consists essentially of a nearly quadrant
shaped swing piece or rocker pivoted to the lock frame and working between the
tail ends of the right and left hand sears of the lock. The said swing piece or
rocker is pressed forward or towards the break off of the gun, when at liberty to
move by means of a spring bearing upon it above the centre on which the said
swing piece or rocker swings or oscillates.
The said swing piece or rocker is fitted with two radial bolts situated side by
side and pressed downwards by coiled springs. It is through these bolts, brought.
into the respective positions hereinafter described and made to engage with the
right angled tail ends of the sears of the lock, that the single trigger operates to
discharge one or other of the barrels. The bottom end of each radial spring
pressed bolt is provided with a side horizontal lip, the said lips being turned from
each other or situated on opposite sides of and projecting from the sides of the
swing piece or rocker. The lip on the forward spring bolt engages under the tail
of the right hand sear and the lip of the rear bolt engages under the tail end of
the left hand sear. By the rocking motion which the swing piece is capable of,
the front bolt can be engaged under the tail of the right hand sear and the rear
bolt engaged under the tail end of the left hand sear.
For the purpose of holding the swing piece or rocker, carrying the spring bolts,
in its back position or in the position in which the front bolt is engaged with the
right hand sear, 1 fix on the trigger plate, a plate spring having an inverted
V-shaped end. As the swing piece or rocker is brought into its back position,
the inclined end of its front bolt passes over and depresses the V-shaped
end of the plate spring and after the said bolt has passed that end of the
spring the latter rises and engaging behind the bolt holds the swing piece or rocker
in its back position. The swing piece or rocker is brought into its back position
on withdrawing the locking bolt of the barrels by the top lever in the following
manner.
The lock frame carries a spring pusher rod situated in line with the locking
bolt. When the locking bolt is withdrawn to open the gun, its rear end bears
against a head on the pusher rod and compresses its.coiled spring, and the front
end of the pusher rod operating on the swing piece or rocker turns the same on its
centre and brings it into its back position in which position it is locked as herein-
before described. On the locking bolt snapping into lugs on the barrels to fasten
them down the pusher rod takes its forward position by the action of its spring
ready to be again forced forward on the unlocking of the barrels.

page_text: The action of the lock mechanism is as follows:-When both barrels have been
charged and locked down the swing piece or rocker is in its locked back position
and its front bolt is engaged, by means of its side lip, with the right hand sear.
On pressing the single trigger it first lifts the front bolt and disengages it from
the plate spring and thereby liberates the swing piece; the further pressure on the
trigger fully lifts the front bolt and with it the tail end of the right hand sear and
the right hand barrel is discharged. On removing the pressure from the trigger,
the swing piece, by the action of its spring, makes its return or forward motion
and thereby brings the rear bolt in the swing piece into such a position that its side
lip engages under the tail of the left hand sear situated at the opposite side of the
swing piece to that at which the right hand sear is situated. By now pressing on
the single trigger the rear bolt together with the tail end of the left hand sear
is lifted and the left hand barrel is discharged. In this way the two barrels can
be discharged in succession by pressure upon the single trigger.
In order to enable the left hand sear to be operated upon so as to first discharge
the left hand barrel, I joint to the trigger plate and above the finger plate of the
trigger, a finger lever, the tail end or short arm of which lever bears against a
cross bar on the plate spring herein before described by which the swing piece is
locked in its back position. The end of the long arm of the finger lever projects
through the trigger plate and is within easy reach of the fore finger. By pressing
upwards the finger lever its tail end depresses the plate spring and releases the
swing piece and the latter takes its forward position thereby bringing the rear bolt
in the said swing piece into such a position that its side lip engages with the left
hand sear at the same time removing the front bolt from the tail end of the right
hand sear. By pressure on the trigger the left hand barrel may be discharged.
In order to discharge the right hand barrel the swing piece is made to take its
back position by withdrawing the locking bolt of the gun.
Dated this Fourth day of June 1896.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
.. Improvements in Single Trigger Double Barrel Drop Down Guns,
and other Small Arms.
I, GEORGE BOUCKLEY, the younger, of No. 117 Warwick Road, Sparkhill,
in the County of Worcester, Gun Action Filer, do hereby declare the nature of
my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention consists in combining with the single trigger locks of double
barrel drop down guns and other small arms, the mechanism hereinafter described
whereby the two barrels can be discharged in succession by the pressure upon or
lifting of the single trigger.
By the use of the mechanism constituting my invention the right hand barrel
or the left hand barrel may he first discharged at the option of the user of the
gun or small arm.
The mechanism constituting my invention consists essentially of a nearly
quadrant shaped swing piece or rocker pivoted to the lock frame and working
between the tail ends of the right and left hand sears of the lock. The said
.swing piece or rocker is pressed forward or towards the break-off of the gun,
when at liberty to move, by means of a spring bearing upon it above the centre
on which the said swing piece or rocker swings or oscillates. The said swing

page_text: piece or rocker is fitted with two radial bolts situated side by side and pressed
downwards by coiled springs. It is through these bolts, brought into the respective
positions hereinafter described and made to engage with the right angled tail ends
of the sears of the lock, that the single trigger operates to discharge one or other
of the barrels. The bottom end of each radial spring pressed bolt is provided
with a side horizontal lip, the said lips being turned from each other or situated
on opposite sides of and projecting from the sides of the swing piece or rocker.
The lip on the forward spring bolt engages under the tail of the right hand sear
and the lip on the rear bolt engages under the tail end of the left hand sear.
By the rocking motion which the swing piece is capable of, the front bolt can be
engaged under the tail end of the right hand sear and the rear bolt engaged
under the tail end of the left hand sear.
For the purpose of holding the swing piece or rocker, carrying the spring bolts,
in its back position or in the position in which the front bolt is engaged with the
right hand sear, I fix on the trigger plate, a plate spring having an inverted
V shaped end. As the swing piece or rocker is brought into its back position,
the inclined end of its front bolt passes over and depresses the V shaped end of
the plate spring and after the said bolt has passed that end of the spring the
latter rises and engaging behind the bolt holds the swing piece or rocker in its
back position.
The swing piece or rocker is brought into its back position on withdrawing the
locking bolt of the barrels by the top lever in the following manner.
The lock frame carries a spring pusher rod situated in line with the locking
bolt. When the locking bolt is withdrawn to open the gun, its rear end bears
against a head on the pusher rod and compresses its coiled spring, and the front
end of the pusher rod operating on the swing piece or rocker turns the same on
its centre and brings it into its back position in which position it is locked as
hereinbefore described. On the locking bolt snapping into lugs on the barrels to
fasten them down, the pusher rod takes its forward position by the action
of its spring ready to be again forced forward on the unlocking of the barrels.
The action of the lock mechanism is as follows;-
When both barrels have been charged and locked down the swing piece or
rocker is in its locked back position and its front bolt is engaged by means of
its side lip, with the right hand sear. On pressing the single trigger it first lifts
the front bolt and disengages it from the plate spring and thereby liberates che
swing piece; the further pressure on the trigger fully lifts the front bolt and with
it the tail end of the right hand sear and the right hand barrel is discharged. On
removing the pressure from the trigger, the swing piece, by the action of its spring,
makes its return or forward motion and thereby brings the rear bolt in the swing
piece into such a position that its side lip engages under the tail of the left hand
sear situated at the opposite side of the swing piece to that at which the right
hand sear is situated. By now pressing on the single trigger the rear bolt
together with the tail end of the left hand sear is lifted and the left hand barrel.
is discharged. In this way the two barrels can be discharged in succession by
pressure upon the single trigger.
In order to enable the left hand sear to be operated upon so as to first discharge
the left hand, barrel, I joint to the trigger plate and above the finger plate of the
trigger, a finger lever the tail end or short arm of which lever bears against
a cross bar on the plate spring hereinbefore described by which the swing piece is.
locked in its back position. The end of the long arm of the finger lever projects
through the trigger plate and is within easy reach of the forefinger. By pressing
upwards the finger lever its tail end depresses the plate spring and releases the
swing piece and the latter takes its forward position, thereby bringing the rear
bolt in the said swing piece into such a position that its side lip engages with
the left hand sear, at the same time removing the front bolt from the tail end
of the right hand sear. By pressure on the trigger the left hand barrel may be
discharged.

page_text: In order to discharge the right hand barrel the swing piece is made to take its
back position by withdrawing the locking bolt of the gun.
Instead of providing the swing piece or rocker with a pair of lipped spring
sliding bolts the sliding bolts may be dispensed with, and the rocker be provided
with side projections only, in one piece therewith, and be capable of a rising and
falling motion in addition to its angular or swinging motion.
In order the better to exhibit the construction and action of my invention I have
shown in the accompanying drawings guns containing my improvements drawn to
double the full size.
Figure 1 represents partly in side elevation and partly in section a portion of
a single trigger double barrel drop down gun containing my improvements, the
parts of the lock mechanism being in their normal position that is to say, cocked
ready for firing; Figure 2 represents the parts with the single trigger raised and
the first or right hand barrel discharged by the fall of the hammer of that barrel,
and Figure 3 represents the left hand side of the gun after the trigger has been
released, the swing piece or rocker having taken its forward position for operating
on the left hand sear on the next pull of the trigger; Figure 4 represents a
portion of the gun partly in vertical cross section and partly in rear elevation and
Figure 5 is a plan of a portion of the trigger plate and mechanisin connected there-
with; Figure 6 represents in side elevation, vertical section and plan the swing
piece or rocker detached.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures
of the drawings.
The mechanism constituting my invention consists essentially of the quadrant or
nearly quadrant shaped swing piece or rocker a pivoted at c to the block b' on the
trigger plate b, the said rocker or swing piece a carrying two radial spring pressed
sliding rods or bolts e, f. The said bolts e, f are pressed outwards by the
springs d, d, their outward motion being limited by the set screws or stop pins 9, 9.
Each of the sliding bolts e, f has on its lower eud, a side horizontal lip or projection
marked respectively e', f', the said bolts being so arranged on the rocker a that
the lips e', turn in opposite directions, that is, project respectively from opposite
sides of the said rocker, the lip e¹ being in a forward position with respect to the
bolt f.
When the rocker a is in its normal or back position Figure 1, the bolt e is
situated immediately over and in contact with the blade of the trigger h and
the lip of the said bolt e is situated under the right angled turned in end of
the tail of the right hand sear i so that when the trigger his lifted, the spring
bolt e is raised in the rocker and through its lip e', the tail end of the right hand
sear is lifted and the right hand barrel discharged, the parts of the lock
mechanism now occupying the respective positions represented in Figure 2. The
swing piece or rocker a is urged forward, when free to move, by the spring pressed
pink in a recess in the upper part of the block b', the said rocker being held, when
the parts of the lock mechanism are in their normal positions Figure 1, by the
plate spring on the trigger plate b, an inverted V shaped projection or stop on
the said plate spring being situated in front of the lip e' on the front boit e, thus
holding the rocker in its back position as seen in Figure 1.
When the trigger his raised for the discharge of the right hand barrel of the
gun, as represented in Figure 2, the lip of the bolt e is raised above the
projection or stop so that when the trigger is released and allowed to fall,
the released swing piece or rocker a urged by the spring pin k takes the forward
position represented in Figure 3, in which forward position the second or rear
bolt is situated over the trigger and the lip 7 of the said bolt under the
right angled turned in end m¹ of the left hand sear m, so that on the next
pressing of the trigger h to discharge the gun, the bolt will be raised and
through its lip f¹ the tail end of the left hand sear m will be lifted and the left
hand barrel discharged.
The swing piece or rocker a is brought into its back or normal position again.on

page_text: the turning aside of the thumb or top lever n to effect the unlocking of the barrels
prior to opening the breech of the gun in the following manner. In a hole in the
block 6' on the trigger plate ba pusher rod p is situated, the said rod being urged
by a spring p' against the end of the sliding locking bolt g of the barrels. When
the thumb or top lever n is turned aside for withdrawing the sliding locking bolt q
from its notch in the lump on the barrels, the said locking bolt being urged back-
wards, forces the pusher rod p through the hole in the block b' on the trigger
plate b and the rear end of the said pusher rod acting on the rocker a turns it into
its back or normal position Figure 1, the lip el of the sliding bolt e in the said
rocker, passing over and engaging with the projection or stop of the spring !,
thereby locking the said rocker in its back position; by the same motion, the said
lipe passes under the turned in end of the right hand sear i.
In order to permit of the discharge first of the left hand barrel, I place in an
opening in the trigger plate, a finger lever the inner end or short arm of which
overhangs a cross bar (see Figure 5) on the plate spring 1. By lifting the outer
or long arm of the lever r, the plate spring is depressed and its stop is carried
below the lip el of the sliding bolt e and the rocker a moves forward to the position
represented in Figure 3 by the action of the spring pin k. After the discharge of
the left hand barrel, the rocker a may be brought into its back or normal position
for the discharge of the right hand barrel by the turning aside of the thumb or top
lever n for unlocking the barrels.
Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 represent a modification of my invention in which
the spring sliding bolts in the swing piece or rocker are dispensed with, the swing
piece or rocker being provided with side projections or lips in one piece therewith
and being capable, in addition to its swinging or angular motion, in a vertical
plane, of a rising and falling motion as hereinafter particularly explained.
Figure 7 represents a part of the gun with the lock mechanism in its normal
position and Figure 8 represents a portion of the said Figure 7 after the trigger
has been raised for the discharge of the first or right hand barrel; Figure 9
represents the said gun after the release of the trigger, the swing piece being in
its changed position ready for the next raising of the trigger to effect the lifting
of the other or left hand sear for the discharge of the left hand barrel:
Figure 10 represents in side and front elevation and in plan, the swing piece or
rocker detached; Figures 11 and 12 represent respectively in elevation and plan,
the former partly in section, a portion of the trigger plate and mechanism in
connection therewith.
The swing piece or rocker a in this modified arrangement is provided with two
side projections or lips a', a² and also with a bearing block a³ fitted into a side slot
or opening in the rocker and taking on the fixed joint pin c. A coiled spring s
occupying a radial hole in the rocker a bears at top against the underside of the
bearing block a³ and at bottom against a screw plug a³ (see Figure 10) closing the
said radial hole.
In the normal position of the parts (see Figure 7) the swing piece or rocker a is
situated over and in contact with the blade of the trigger and the projection a¹
of the said rocker is immediately under the right angled turned in end of the
right hand sear i. The rocker is held in this, its normal, position against the action
of the spring pin k, which tends to force the said rocker backwards, by a
blade spring, a side projection or stop on which engages in a notch in the lip a
of the rocker. On the pressing of the trigger for the discharge of the gun, the
swing piece or rocker a is raised and its springs compressed, as seen in Figure 8,
and the lip a¹ of the rocker acting on the tail of the right hand sear i effects the
release of the right hand hammer and the discharge of the right hand barrel. By
the raising of the rocker a into the position Figure 8, the lip a¹ is disengaged from
the stop ou the blade spring 1 so that on the release of the hammer, the rocker in
addition to a downward sliding motion, partakes by the action of the spring s,
a backward swinging motion on its pin or centre c until it comes in contact with the
stopt as represented in Figure 9. In this changed position of the rocker, its lip a²

page_text: is situated under the right angled turned in end of the left hand sear m so that on
the next pressing. of the trigger for the discharge of the gun the tail end of the said
left hand sear is raised simultaneously with the lifting of the rocker. From the
-description herein before given it will be understood that the motion of the rocker a
in this modified gun is the reverse of that first described; that is, the rocker in
this modification in the forward position operates the right hand sear and in its back
position the left hand sear.
After the second barrel has been discharged, the parts are returned to their
normal positions on the turning aside of the top hand lever n for the unlocking of
the barrels, to permit of the opening of the gun, by a hook shaped projection w
which forms with the slide a and thumb piece w the safety mechanism of the
gun. The fore end 2 of the safety slide u is bent downwards so as to bear against
the locking bolt g of the barrels and the said slide is forced into its back or dotted
position indicated in Figure 7 on the turning aside of the top lever u for unlocking
the barrels. It will be seen by reference to Figure 7 that when the rocker takes
its back position, an extension as of the rocker comes in front of and near to the
book shaped projection u¹ of the safety mechanism so that when the safety
mechanism is urged into its back position indicated in Figure 7, the said hook
shaped projection effects the turning of the rocker a into its normal or forward
position. Hence until the hook shaped projection u' of the safety slide is moved
by the thumb piece into the full line position the raising of the rocker a by the
pressure of the trigger is prevented as will be understood by an examination of the
drawing. When it is wished to discharge the left hand barrel first, the swing piece
or rocker a is permitted to take its back position by operating the small or finger
lever the inner arm of which acting against the inclined end of the plate spring!
effects the pressing aside of the said spring to such an extent as to release the
rocker. The rocker a is brought into its normal position for the discharge of the
right hand barrel by turning aside the top lever n or by pulling back the thumb
piece
I wish it to be understood that the swing piece or rocker of the arrangement
Figures 1 to 6, may be provided with the projection a' and the rocker be moved
into its normal position by the safety slide described with respect to the gun
Figures 7 to 12, but inasmuch as this construction and arrangement necessitates
that the forward position of the rocker shall be its normal position, it follows that
where it is desired that generally the right hand barrel of the gun shall be
discharged first, the lips or projections of the spring bolts must be arranged to
project on the opposite sides of the rocker to those represented in the said
Figures 1 to 6.
The swing piece or rocker may be hung or centred on the top strap of the gun,
instead of being carried by the trigger plate, according to the pattern of the gun or
the position of the scars.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I claim as
my invention of "Improvements in single trigger double barrel drop down guns
and other small arms";-
First. The construction and arrangement or combination of the parts of single
trigger lock mechanism of double barrel drop down guns and other small arms
hereinbefore deseribed and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the
accompanying drawings, the said construction and arrangement of parts consisting
essentially in the combination with the single trigger, of a pivoted swing piece
or rocker carrying two radial spring bolts having lips or projections situated
respectively on opposite sides of the swing piece or rocker, one lip being in advance
of the other lip, the spring bolt carrying the forward lip being situated over and
in contact with the blade of the single trigger and the lip of the said bolt being
situated under the sear of one of the hammers, when both hammers are cocked the
other spring bolt and its lip being brought into their acting position with respect

page_text: to the sear of the other hammer by the forward swing or angular motion which the
rocker takes on the discharge of the first hammer and release of the trigger
substantially as described and illustrated.
Secondly. The construction and arrangement or combination of the parts of
single trigger lock mechanism of double barrel drop down guns and other small
arms hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the
accompanying drawings, the said construction and arrangement of parts consisting
essentially in the combination with the single trigger of the lock, of a swing piece
or rocker capable, in addition to a swinging or angular motion, of a rising and
falling motion on the pressure and release of the trigger the said swing piece or
rocker having on each of its opposite sides, a lip or projection, one being situated
in advance of the other, the forward lip of the rocker being under the sear of the
first hammer, when both bammers are cocked, the other lip being brought under
the sear of the other hammer by the swinging or angular motion which the rocker
takes on the discharge of the first hammer and the release of the trigger
substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated the Twenty-second day of February 1897.
GEORGE BOUCKLEY.