Improvements in Single-trigger Double-barrel Guns.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Single-trigger Double-barrel Guns. ‹
I, WILLIAM NOBBS, of 45, Windsor Road, Holloway, in the County of Middlesex,
Gunmaker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
:
The object of this invention is to simplify the mechanism employed in con-
trolling the motion of the swinging bar carried by the single trigger of double-
barreled guns, and serving to 'release the sears of both barrels alternately.
It is well known that the involuntary pull of the trigger, occasioned by the
recoil of the gun, is liable to cause the swinging bar to fire both barrels, when only
one is desired to be fired. To prevent this, mechanism has been provided for
arresting momentarily the swing of the bar, and thereby preventing it from taking
up its position under the left sear, ready to fire the left barrel, until the involun-
tary pull occasioned by the recoil has taken place, and the trigger has been
released.
At the first pull of the trigger, the rise of the swinging bar is limited, so that
after firing the first barrel, it will swing into contact with a catch on the horizontal
bar, and be thereby arrested.
The swinging bar being now free of the sears (free to pass between them, one of
which limited the rise of the trigger), the involuntary pull immediately succeeding
the firing of the gun will, through a cam-shaped extension of the trigger bearing
against the catch bar, and pressing it back as the trigger rises, free the swinging
bar from the catch bar, and permit it to complete (on the removal of the finger
from the trigger) its movement to the left, ready for firing the second barrel.
When this second firing has taken place, or when the first barrel is required to
be fired again, the return of the swinging bar to its first position will be effected
through the breaking down of the gun, the cocking of the right-hand hammer
causing a cam projection on the tumbler to strike against a stud on the forward
end of the swinging bar, and, in opposition to a counteracting spring, restore it to
its first position.
This arrangement of stop greatly facilitates the fitting up of the gun, as all that
is requisite is, to see that the catch bar will arrest the movement of the swinging
bar, and hold the bar until the trigger is again pulled, and that this swinging bar,
on its return motion, shall press back the catch bar, to allow it to take up its
position in front of the catch.
T
1357

page_text: the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is to simplify the mechanism employed in con-
trolling the motion of the swinging bar carried by the single trigger of double-
barrelled guns, and serving to release the sears of both barrels alternately.
It is well known that the involuntary pull of the trigger, occasioned by the
recoil of the gun, is liable to cause the swinging bar to fire both barrels, when only
one is desired to be fired. To prevent this, mechanism has been provided for arrest-
ing momentarily the swing of the bar, and thereby preventing it from taking up
its position under the left sear, ready to fire the left barrel, until the involuntary
pull occasioned by the recoil has taken place, and the trigger has been released.
Now, according to my present invention, I provide a more simple and efficient
means than heretofore for arresting the motion of the swinging bar after the first
firing. This means is illustrated in the accompanying drawings under two forms,
both of which may be described as a spring catch or stop, standing in the path of
the swinging bar, to arrest its motion, and driven out of contact therewith by the
rise of the trigger blade, to allow of the swinging bar completing its movement.
In the accompanying drawings:-
-
Fig. 1 shows, in side view, so much of a single-trigger double-barrel gun as
will serve to explain the details of one arrangement of my invention, the left-hand
lock being removed.
Figs. 2, 3, 4, show, in plan views, the lock, the trigger plate, with its fittings,
and the spring catch or stop for arresting the movement of the swinging bar,-the
object being to show the swinging bar in its two extreme positions, and in its
intermediate position.
In these Figures, A is the trigger plate, B the trigger mounted thereon, and C
the swinging bar carried by the trigger blade on a vertical pin, and having a
tendency to move to the left, under the pressure of a spring c.
DD are the sears which overlie the trigger blade, as usual, the tail of the sear D
being slightly lower than the tail of the sear D, in order to act as a momentary
stop to the swinging bar. E is a spring catch or stop, pivotted, in this example,
to the right-hand lock plate, and held in contact with the rear end of the trigger
blade by means of a spring e.
This rear end is cam shaped, in order that, by the rising of the trigger blade,
the swinging bar may be released at the proper time from the catch E. Fig. 2
shows the relative positions of the swinging bar and catch before the first firing of
the gun, the swinging bar being under the tail of the sear D), ready for firing the
charge of the right-hand barrel at the pull of the trigger.
It should be here remarked that a limit is put on the movement of the sear D
by its rear striking a stop on the lock-plate; this is for the purpose of limiting the
rise of the trigger blade, and preventing its acting upon the catch E, so as to
effect the premature release of the swinging bar.
When the firing has taken place, the pressure of the spring e will drive the
swinging-bar into contact with the catch E, by which means that bar will be
arrested in its intermediate position, as shown at Fig. 3, when it will be clear of
the sears, and be free to rise between them, at the succeeding involuntary pull,
and consequent rise of the trigger blade. This rise of the trigger blade, caused by
the involuntary pull, thrusts back the catch to the position shown at Fig. 4; thereby
releasing the swinging bar, and allowing it to move into contact with the sear DI,
where it will rest until, by the descent of the trigger, after the involuntary puil,
it will complete its movement, and take up its position under the tail of the sear D'
(see Fig. 4), ready for firing, when the discharge of the second or left-hand barrel
is required.
After the discharge of the second barrel, the gun is ready for recharging.
The re-cocking of the hammers provides for the return of the swinging har to

page_text: its normal position (Fig. 2); this is effected, as heretofore, by a sliding pin F,
which stands in the path of the head of the swinging bar.
This pin works freely in the bridle piece G, and being pressed forward by a cam
surface on the tumbler of the right hand lock at the moment of cocking strikes the
head of the swinging bar, and returns it to the position of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 shows the right-hand side of the swinging bar, with its controlling
spring c, to better illustrate the shape of the head against which the pin F bears.
Figs. 6 to 1 illustrate a modification of the spring catch or stop arrangement
for arresting and releasing the swinging bar at its intermediate position. In this
case, instead of pivotting the spring catch to the lock-plate, I pivot it to the trigger
plate, thereby rendering the horizontal bar which carries the catch of Fig. 1
unnecessary.
Fig. 6 is a side view of this modification of the gun, corresponding with that
of Fig. 1, the left hand lock being removed.
Fig. 7 is a detached view of the trigger plate and its attachments; and
Fig. 8 is a view of the same parts, looking at the opposite side thereof.
Figs. 9, 10, and 11, are plan views illustrating the three different positions which
the swinging bar takes, as described with reference to Figs. 2, 3, and 4.
E is the spring catch pivotted upon the trigger plate A. B is the trigger, and C
the swinging bar, which receives a tendency from the spring, c to move towards the
sear D¹, as already explained.
Instead of giving the back edge of the trigger blade a cam shape, as in Fig. 1,
I form a tooth or projection thereon, which underlies a tooth or projection on the
catch E, for the purpose of tipping it, and throwing back the catch at the proper
moment, out of range of the swinging bar C. The action of the gun will be pre-
cisely like that already described; thus, the bar C, underlying the sear D, will,
when it is desired to fire the right-hand barrel, be lifted by the trigger, and caused
to disengage the sear I from its tumbler, when the firing will take place, it having
been placed in that position by the action of the tumbler cam on the pin F.
At the moment of firing, the swinging bar is caught by the spring catch E, and
retained in its intermediate position (shown at Fig. 10), until the involuntary pull
causes the tooth at the back of the trigger blade to tip the spring catch E, release
the swinging bar C, and allow it to strike against the sear D', which acts as a stop
to arrest its motion. So soon as the pressure of the finger on the trigger is released,
the swinging bar will take its position under the sear D¹ (as shown at Fig. 11),
ready for the next discharge. In this, as in the former instance, the movement of
the sear D is limited, so as to prevent the rising of the trigger to an extent sufficient
to tip the catch E out of the plane of motion of the swinging bar.
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:
The means above described for arresting the motion of the swinging bar, when
it has reached its intermediate position, and for releasing it, that it may complete
its movement under the pressure of its impelling spring, for the purpose above
set forth.