IMPROVEMENTS IN SMALL-ARMS, THE SAME BEING SPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO THOSE SMALL-ARMS CALLED CARBINES
Year: 1877

page_text: '
LETTERS PATENT to William Christie, of Irvine, in the County of Ayr, North
Britain, Solicitor, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN SMALL-ARMS, THE
SAME BEING SPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO THOSE SMALL-ARMS CALLED CARBINES."
A communication from abroad by John Macredie Mure, at present residing at
Annet Abbey, Punjab, in the Empire of India.
Sealed the 13th October 1877, and dated the 2nd August 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Christie at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd August 1877.
WILLIAM CHRISTIE, of Irvine, in the County of Ayr, North Britain, Solicitor.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SMALL-ARMS, THE SAME BEING SPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO THOSE
SMALL ARMS CALLED CARBINES."" A communication from abroad by John Macredie
Mure, at present residing at Annet Abbey, Punjab, in the Empire of India.
This Invention bas especial reference to those small-arms called carbines, and
has for its object to so construct them that they may be as conveniently carried by
horse soldiers and used by them at close quarters, as can the carbine at présent in
use, and so also that when necessary they may be used as rifles at long ranges, or
when the soldiers have to dismount and act as infantry.
..
In constructing a carbine according to this Invention the barrel of the weapon is
made in two parts or lengths, the first part of the barrel being of about the length
of that of the ordinary carbine, and carrying the stock, lock, and sights, and the,
second part being of such a length as that when it is attached to the first part, it
will bring the total length of the weapon to about that of the ordinary rifle.
The first part of the weapon is provided at its muzzle end with a screw or
suitable fastening, and the second part or additional length is provided with a
corresponding screw or fastening at one end, so that the two parts may be readily
connected together.
The stock is preferably carried along the entire length of the first part of the
barrel, and the second part or additional length of barrel has a corresponding
portion of stock carried along part of its length, which, when the two parts are
secured together, will form a continuation of the stock of the first part.

page_text: For additional security it is preferred to form in one of the meeting faces of the
portions of stock on either parts of the barrel a pin urged outwards by a spring
and engaging when the parts are connected together in a recess in the other meeting
face of the stock.
The second part or length of barrel has and additional sight, and may be provided
with loops by which it can be slung to the shoulders, and with a handle or lever to
facilitate its attachment to the first part.
When it is desired that this improved weapon be rifled in order that the rifling
may truly correspond in both parts, it may be effected when the two parts of the
barrel are secured together, or only the second or additional part of the barrel or a
portion thereof may be rifled.
A weapon constructed according to this Invention can conveniently be carried
by a horse soldier with its two parts separated, and the first part may be used as
an ordinary carbine.
By screwing or fastening the two parts together a weapon is formed suitable for
use as an ordinary rifle.
Although I have described the Invention as applied to carbines, it will be under-
stood that it can also be applied to other small-arms having short barrels.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Christie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st February
1878.
.
WILLIAM CHRISTIE, of Irvine, in the County of Ayr, North Britain. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SMALL-ARMS, THE SAME BEING SPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO THOSE SMALL-
ARMS CALLED CARBINES.'" A communication from abroad by John Macredie Mure,
at present residing at Annet Abbey, Punjab, in the Empire of India, Captain in
the 34th Regiment of Foot.
The Invention has reference to those small-arms called "carbines," and has for
its object to so construct them that they may be as conveniently carried by horse
soldiers and used by them at close quarters as can the "carbines at present in use,
and so also that when necessary they may be used as rifles at long ranges, or when
the soldiers have to dismount and act as infantry.
In constructing a carbine according to this Invention the barrel of the weapon is
made in two parts or lengths, the first part of the barrel being about the length of
that of the ordinary carbine, and carrying the stock, lock, and sights, and the
second part being of such a length as that when it is attached to the first part it
will bring the total length of the weapon to about that of the ordinary rifle.
The first part of the weapon is provided at its muzzle end with a screw or
suitable fastening, and the second part or additional length is provided with a
corresponding screw or fastening at one end, so that the two parts may be readily
connected together.
The stock is preferably carried along the entire length of the first part of the
barrel, and the second part or additional length of barrel has a corresponding
portion of stock carried along part of its length, which, when the two parts are
secured together, will form a continuation of the stock of the first part.

page_text: For additional security it is preferred to form in one of the meeting faces of the
portions of stock ou either part of the barrel a pin urged outwards by a spring
and engaging when the parts are connected together in a recess in the other meeting
face of the stock.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in which the same is or
may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had to the annexed Sheet
of Drawings, and and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
Figure 1 represents the improved weapon with the two parts or lengths of barrel
joined together to form a rifle.
Figure 2 shews the first part or length of barrel constituting the carbine
detached.
And Figure 3 shews the second part or length of barrel detached.
Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 are details herein-after referred to.
The first part or length of barrel is provided at its muzzle end with a male
screw A, and the second part or length of barrel is provided with a corresponding
female screw B, by which the two lengths of barrel are secured together.
Figures 4 and 5 are a side elevation and an end elevation respectively of the end
of the first length of barrel, and Figures 6 and 7 are a longitudinal section and end
elevation respectively of the end of the second length of barrel shewing clearly the
form of the attachment.
To facilitate the engagement of the screws, portions of the said screws are cut
away at the parts marked a on the first part or length of barrel, and 6 on the
second part or length of barrel, leaving a projecting screw thread at the parts
marked a¹ and 6' respectively.
"
The stock C is carried up to the muzzle of the first length of barrel, as shewn in
Figures 1, 2, and 4, and the second length of barrel has a portion of stock C¹ carried
along part of its length, as shewn in Figures 1, 3, and 6.
In the abutting or meeting end of the part of the stock C is formed a recess c,
and in a hole in the abutting or meeting end of the part of the stock C₁ a pin or
bolt works, being urged forward by the spring c².
In fastening the two parts or lengths of barrel together, the end of the second
part is presented to the end of the first part, so that the projections 6' will enter
the recesses a, along which they are slid till they nearly reach the bottom, when by
partial rotation of the second part upon the first part, the portions of screw thread
bengage with the portions of screw thread a¹, the taper projection a seating
itself in the taper seating 62, and forming a gas-tight joint. The bolt c', when the
second part is fully screwed home, comes opposite the recess c in the first part, and
entering it, prevents the two parts from being unscrewed until the said bolt is
drawn from the said recess by the handle c³. The two parts thus joined together
form a weapon (as illustrated in Figure 1), which may be used at long ranges, and
generally in the same manner and for the same purposes as is the ordinary rifle, the
second part or length of barrel being provided with a foresight as shewn at D.
When it is desired that the weapon be used as is the ordinary carbine, the two
parts or lengths of barrel are disconnected by drawing back the bolt c¹ by its
handle, when the portions b' of the screw B may be turned into the recesses a in
the screw A, when the second part can readily be slid off from the first part. The
second part may then be slung to the shoulders by a strap attached to the loops E,
or carried in other convenient manner, and first part constitutes a short barelled
weapon (as illustrated in Figure 2) which may be used as is the ordinary carbine.
When it is desired that this improved weapon be rifled in order that the rifling
may truly correspond in both parts, it may be effected when the two parts of the
barrel are secured together, or only the second or additional part of the barrel or a
portion thereof may be rifled.
I have described the Invention as applied to carbines, but it will be readily.
understood that it can also be applied in the same manner to other small arms
having short barrels.

page_text: I have described and illustrated the best mode with which I am acquainted for
fastening together the two parts or lengths of barrel, but I do not limit myself to
that precise mode, as the said fastening may be effected in various ways; but what
I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,--
First. The new or improved fire-arm herein-before described, and illustrated in
the accompanying Drawing, consisting of two parts or lengths of barrel capable of
being connected together and detached from each other for the purposes described.
Second. Providing carbines and other short barrelled small-arms with an additional
piece for lengthening the barrel, essentially as herein-before described, and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawings,
4
In witness whereof, I, the, said William Christie, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of December, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-seven
W. CHRISTIE. (L.S.)