improvem zaujmoua
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 10th Feb., 1900
improvem zaujmoua
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM COLE, of 4, Hendham Road, Upper Tooting, London, S.W.,
Gunmaker, 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 try or measuring guns which are provided with adjustments
or means for altering or varying the length, bend, cast-off and shape of the stock in
order to enable a gun-maker to fit a customer, or to ascertain the measurements or
dimensions and pattern of stock that will be most suitable to the requirements of any
particular person for whom a gun is to be made, and my said invention has for its
objects, to provide a firing try-gun which may be of the same weight and balance as
an ordinary gun, and in which the various joints or hinges and adjustments arranged
for obtaining the aforesaid alterations in the stock are fitted with means for positively
locking them in their set positions, and for taking up or compensating for any
wear and tear that may oceur in the said joints, whose absolute rigidity is thereby
ensured.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents an elevation of the stock and
adjacent parts of an adjustable try or measuring gun constructed and provided with
special forms of hinges and adjustments having means for clamping and taking up
wear in the same in accordance with one form of my invention. This particular form
of gun has a double swivelling joint in the grip or neck of the stock for altering the
position of the latter both vertically and laterally relative to the barrels in order to
determine bend and cast-off, also a vertically adjustable comb and face piece, and a
longitudinally adjustable heel plate for obtaining variations in the length and shape
of the stock.
Figure 2 represents a longitudinal vertical section of the said stock with its joint
and adjustments.
Figure 3 is a plan of the said stock, but with the joint at the grip shown in
horizontal section and the comb of the stock removed.
Figure 4 shows an end view of the adjustable heel plate.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the said Figures 1.
to 3.
a is the stock, and the barrels of the gun, which preferably has the locks fitted
at c. d is the double joint for adjusting the bend and cast off which is located in the
e is the
grip of the stock, rearwards of and completely distinct from, the action.
adjustable comb and ƒ the adjustable heel plate. The double joint d, provides for
adjustment of the stock in respect of bend and cast off, and consists of pairs of
knuckles d', d², respectively attached by means of screwed shanks d³, d, to
shoes c, a¹, fitted to the grip adjacent back of the action c, and the inner end of the
stock a.
The knuckles d, are disposed in a horizontal plane and the other ones d²,
are set vertically and they are connected together by a junction piece do, having
tongues de, d, at its opposite ends, set at right angles to one another and adapted to
take between the wings of the aforesaid knuckles and be there secured by a pair of
joint pins do, do, the last-named of which is disposed in a horizontal plane, trans-
versely to the longer direction of the gun, and constitutes the centre about which
the stock is turned in a vertical direction for adjusting the bend, whilst the other

page_text: joint pin d³, is vertically disposed and the stock may be moved about it horizontally in
either a right or left hand direction for varying the cast-off.
For locking these joints, and to provide a means for taking up wear or slack in the
same, I propose to employ a system of wedges, actuated and kept in position by
adjusting set screws and operating in conjunction with inclined planes or shoulders
arranged on the body of the hinge. For this purpose, the joint is fitted with a pair
of carriers or swinging frames g¹, g², embracing the respective knuckles and preferably
secured thereto by the hinge pins d³, d³, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3. Each
of these carries is provided with a pair of opposite and inside-wormed sockets g³,
fitted with adjusting set pins h, having squared sinkings h¹, in their outer ends for
the reception of a key by which they are rotated, whilst their inner ends i are
considerably pointed to form or act as wedges which are forced between and impinge
against opposite inclined shoulders j, j¹, and j², ³, on the respective members of the
joints. Thus the wedge ends of the screws h of the swivelling carrier gl, impinge
against opposite shoulders j, j³, on the end of the knuckle d², and the contiguous end
of the junction piece d³, whilst the wedges of the other carrier g, act upon like
shoulders 2, 3, on the other end of the junction and the knuckle d¹.
Assuming that it is required to make an adjustment in the cast-off of the stock by
swinging it horizontally to the right hand, then, by means of a key, the right hand
set screw is backed out of its socket so as to remove its wedge end from between the
contiguous shoulders 2, to such a distance as will permit the stock to be swung
to the desired extent horizontally upon the pin d³, after which the opposite screw is
advanced inwards and by its inner end being driven between the shoulders 73, with
which it impinges, and by the end of the first-named pin formed a stop against
the closing together of the shoulders 2, it follows that these parts of the joint are
firmly wedged or locked against movement in either direction upon the pin d³, and
when so wedged, the joint is perfectly rigid and the gun may be fired any number
of times without the adjustment being disturbed.
The adjustment of the stock by turning it upon the pin do, for altering the bend,
and the subsequent locking of the parts in their set positions may be effected in a
similar manner to that described in regard to cast off, as also may the taking up of,
or compensation for, wear in any of the parts of the joints.
The heel plate f is provided with means for adjusting it at different distances from
the body of the stock so as to increase or decrease the total length, for canting it or
altering its inclination relative to the stock in a vertical plane to obtain either a high
toe or a low toe, and also for swinging it laterally to admit of the toe f¹, being cast
off more than the bump f, or vice versa.
The two first-named adjustments are obtained by means of a pair of screws k,
provided at their shanks k¹, with milled-edged turns 2, for rotating them, and being
connected at their outer ends, to the beel piece, whilst their body parts are directed
through screw boxes or inside-screwed bushes ³, secured to the end of the stock a,
and at the outward terminations of clearances a², formed up the said stocks, and into
which the said screws extend. Outwards of the shanks, the screws are formed into
wormed pins, extending respectively through the curved slots k5, of a pair of
plates, secured at the inward ends of the holes k7, formed through the heel piece,
and the said pins are provided with screwed-on nuts kes, having squared sinkings, in
their outer ends to enable them to be rotated by means of a key and which, when
screwed home upon the pins and against the inner faces of the plates, draw the
collars, on the shanks of the screws against the outer faces of the said plates and
by the frictional contact thereby set up, the screws are locked and their rotation is
prevented. Ou the other hand, when the nuts are slacked back either or both of the
screws may be rotated in one direction or the other for increasing or decreasing the
distance between the heel piece and the body of the stock, thus varying the full
length of the whole stock, or for tilting or tipping the heel piece backwards or
forwards in a vertical plane and upon the lower più as a fulcrum, in order to obtain a
bigh or low toe. To facilitate this last adjustment the edges of the slots k³, may be
rounded off (see Figure 2), whilst the adjustment of the heel piece transversely to

page_text: cast off the bump more than the toe or vice versa is effected by hand and is permitted
by the slots which work over the pins being curved in opposite directions, as shown
in Figure 4. After being set in the desired position, the heel piece is then locked
by screwing up the nuts.
The turns k² are preferably greater in diameter than the thickness of the stock, to
admit of the screws being rotated when the heel piece is close up and to reduce the
length, clearances may be formed in the stock for the turns to come into when the
heel piece joints right up to the stock.
The comb e, of the stock is adjustable vertically and either parallel with the body of
the stock, or one end may he raised more than the other. For this purpose the lower
and flat edge of the comb has pivoted to it, a pair of swinging pegs e¹, passing into
split sockets e2, let into the opposed top edge of the stock and having their split parts
closed around the pins to lock the parts in their set positions, by screws e³, taking
through the wings of the clips and having shoulders e, bearing against the outer
sides thereof and square sockets at e³, for the reception of a key for effecting their
rotation.
Figure 5 represents an elevation of the stock of an adjustable try gun fitted with a
double or right-angle joint at the hand or grip in accordance with a modified form of
my invention.
Figure 6 shows this form of hand joint in longitudinal vertical section and Figure 7
represents the same in horizontal section.
In the joint represented in the said Figures 5, 6 and 7, a pair of shoes a¹, e¹, are
fitted respectively to the forward end of the stock a, and the rear end of the body
part c, of the gun and these two parts are connected by a double-jointed junction
piece d, the rear end d', of which enters a gap a², in the face of the shoe a¹, and is
there pivoted by a transverse pin do, whilst the other end d², enters a similar gap c²,
in the opposed face of the shoe c¹, and is pivoted by a vertical pin d8. The gaps are
of such a size as to provide the necessary clearance for the movements made by the
parts when the stock is turned in a vertical plane on the pin do, for altering the bend
or in a horizontal plane on the pin 8 for adjusting cast off. The shoes also act as
carriers for the adjusting set screws or screw nipples h, which take through screw
holes in the walls of the said shoes and have at their inner ends, loose or swivelly
connected thrust studs i, having inclined faces ¹, adapted to bear against shoulders
or projections 1, 2, and 3, 4, standing away from the edges of the opposite ends of
the junction piece, which ends lie in planes at right angles to one another and the
points of contact of their shoulders against the inclines of the thrust studs are
preferably in line with the centres of the joint pieces.
When an adjustment of the stock in either direction upon one or other of the
joints is to be made, one of the set screws in connection with the particular joint is
slacked hack, to allow the stock to be placed in the desired position. The opposite
set screw is then driven home to form a stop by abutting against one shoulder of the
junction, the other shoulder of the junction being already in contact with the opposite
thrust stud and so the parts are locked.
Figure 8 represents a longitudinal vertical section of another form of hand joint
constructed and provided with means for locking the parts in their adjusted positions
and taking up wear in accordance with my invention. This joint is adapted for
connecting the stock, which contains the lock mechanism, directly to the body of the
gun and provision is made for communicating the motion of the lock plungers to the
strikers mounted in the body.
Figure 9 shows the joint in horizontal section and Figure 10 represents a
transverse section upon the dotted line x Figure 9.
Figure 11 is a view showing the method of communicating motion from the
plungers to the strikers whilst still permitting of the stock being adjusted for bend
and cast-off.
Figure 12 is an elevation of the universal connection between one of the plungers
and its strikers.

page_text: Figure 14 is a separate view of the junction piece used in this joint and Figure 13
one of the locking wedges.
In the said Figures 8 to 12, a is the stock and c the action body the end of the
stock is fitted with a shoe a', and this is connected to the body by a double joint,
consisting of a junction piece d to which the stock is pivoted to swing in a vertical
plane, by the transverse pin d³, carried by the body c. For locking these joints, I
provide a system of sliding double or forked wedges i, swivelly connected to the
lower ends of two sets of advancing and retiring adjusting set pins 1, working within
screwed holes in the sides of the body c and top and bottom of the stock shoe a¹,
and acting respectively in conjunction with two sets of duplicated inclined
planes, 2, and j³, jt.
Thus, the sliding and forked wedges for locking the parts against movement upon
the body joint pin ds, embrace or saddle the opposite edges of the forward end of the
junction and their inclines respectively impinge upon the duplicated double inclined
planes j, j, on the two sides of the said junction, whilst the other sets of planes j³ js,
are disposed at a right angle to those first named, and act in conjunction with their
contiguous wedges for locking the parts against movement upon the stock joint
pin do on the screw home of their operating set pins.
For communicating the movement of the lock plungers k, which may be actuated
by spiral main spring, to the strikers m, in the body of the gun, I propose to
employ universal joints, such as the ball and socket arrangements marked n and
represented in Figures 11 and 12. These will admit of the stock being set at any
inclination in respect of bend and cast off relative to the other part of the gun,
and will still admit of the transmission of the necessary motion for actuating the
strikers.
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:-
First In the hand joints of try-guns, the employment of wedges, cones or
inclined planes formed with, or operated by, adjusting set screws or their equivalent,
acting in conjunction with shoulders, inclined planes or other abutments on the
members of the joints, substantially as and for the purposes berein described, and
also as set forth in the accompanying drawings.
Secondly: In the hand joints of try guns, the employment of wedge or conical-
ended adjusting set screws, mounted in carriers pivoted to the joints, and acting in
conjunction with inclined shoulders on the members of the joints, forming or
comprehending gaps into which the said wedge ends are forced, substantially as and
for the purposes herein described and also as set forth in Figures 1 to 3.
Thirdly-In the hand joints of try guns, the employment of inclined-ended
thrust studs, operated by adjusting set screws or screw nipples mounted in shoes or
carriers and acting in conjunction with shoulders or projections on the members of the
joint, substantially as and for the purposes herein described, and also as set forth in
Figures 5, 6 and 7.
Fourthly-In the hand joints of try guns, the employment of wedge blocks or
slides, connected to or operated by adjusting set screws or screw nipples, and acting
in conjunction with the members of the joint which have inclined-plane impingements
or abutments, substantially as and for the purposes herein described, and also as set
forth in Figures 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.
Fifthly In try guns, the employment of an adjustable heel plate or heel piece,
provided with means for adjusting or altering its distance from, and inclination
relative to, the stock and for rigidly securing it in its adjusted position, with
or without means for adjusting the cast-off of the said heel plate, the parts
being arranged and operated substantially as herein described and set forth in
Figures 1 to 4.
:-
Sixthly In try guns, the employment of an adjustable comb piece, provided with
pivoted and depending pegs working within split sockets in the body of the stock

page_text: and locked in their adjusted positions by closing the said split sockets by screws or
screw nipples, substantially as and for the purposes herein described, and also as set
forth in Figures 1, 2 and 3.
Seventhly-In firing try guns having right angled hand joints the employment of
universal swivelling connections between the lock plungers in the adjustable stock
and the strikers in the body of the gun with or without spiral main springs for
actuating the said plungers, substantially as and for the purpose herein described and
also as set forth in Figures 11 and 12.
Dated thin 15th day of December 1000
FREDERICK WILLIAM COLE,
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.