IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING SMALL ARMS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Middleditch Scott, of the firm of W. and
C. Scott and Son, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun Manu-
facturers, for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING SMALL
ARMS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Middleditch Scott
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th March 1882.
WILLIAM MIDDLEDITCH SCOTT of the firm of W and C. Scott and Son of
Birmingham in the County of Warwick Gun Manufacturers "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH LOADING SMALL ARMS
גן
My invention has reference to breech loading small arms of the kind commonly
called drop down guns; and consists of the constructions and combinations or
arrangements of parts herein after described for cocking the internal hammers of
the said drop down guns by the raising of the breech ends of the barrels from the
break off for opening the guns.
By my invention the power required to cock the hammers on opening the gun
for charging is considerably reduced and the manipulation of the gun thereby
facilitated.
In constructing cocking mechanism according to one arrangement of my invention
I use internal hammers provided with the ordinary main springs and in the body
of the gun, and opposite each of the hammers, an inclined recess or opening is made
extending from near the joint on which the barrels turn to the back of the break
off. In each of the said recesses or openings, a sliding rod herein after called a
cocking rod works. The inner end of the cocking rod projects, in its normal
position, a short distance beyond the back of the break off and its end is situated
opposite the breast of the hammer. On the underside of the barrels and near the
joint on which they turn, a cranked lever is situated; or a fixed arm projecting
downwards may be used in place of the cranked lever. To the nearly vertical arm
of the cranked lever, or to the fixed arm described, the outer end of the before
mentioned cocking rod is jointed. Around the cocking rod a strong coiled spring
is placed, one end of the said spring taking an abutment against a shoulder on the
cocking rod and the other end of the said spring taking an abutment against a
shoulder made in the recess or opening in the body in which the cocking rod works.

page_text: When the breech ends of the barrels are raised from the break off, the cranked
lever or the fixed arm described on the barrels, acting upon the cocking rod pushes
the said rod backwards in the body and its nose end bearing against the breast of
the hammer lifts it to full cock, the hammer being retained in its cocked position
by the ordinary sear mechanism. When the breech ends of the barrels are depressed
for closing the gun the cocking rod is drawn forward leaving the hammer in its cocked
position and the strong coiled spring around the cocking rod is compressed between
the shoulder in the body and the shoulder on the cocking rod. The result of this
arrangement is that the spring of the withdrawn cocking rod is held in a state of
tension so that when the breech ends of the barrels are raised from the face of the
break off for opening the gun, the power of the compressed spring assists in forcing
outwards the cocking rod for cocking the hammer. Thus the power exerted to
close the gun is utilized at the next opening of the gun for assisting in the cocking
of the hammers; the cocking is thereby rendered much easier than when the
leverage only of the barrels is used for that purpose.
Instead of making the cocking rod act on the breast of the hammer for the
purpose of cocking it, the hammer may be provided with a short arm or lever below
the centre on which it turns. In this case the cocking rod engages with the said
short arm on the hammer and the cocking is effected by the cocking rod moving
downwards the muzzle end of the barrels. In order to make the raising of the breech
ends of the barrels give the required motion to the cocking rod the cranked lever
instead of being fixed to the barrels is jointed to the body of the gun. One arm
of the said cranked lever engages with the cocking rod and the other arm bears
against the underside of the barrels at a point somewhat more distant from the
breech ends of the barrels than the joint on which the barrels turn. On raising
the breech ends of the barrels the cocking rod is drawn forward the hammer is
cocked and the spring of the cocking rod compressed.
The arrangements of parts for cocking the gun may be used without the spring
described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Middleditch Scott in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th September 1882.
WILLIAM MIDDLEDITCH SCOTT of the firm of W and C Scott and Son of
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun Manufacturers
BREECH LOADING SMALL ARMS."
"
IMPROVEMENTS IN
My invention has reference to breech loading small arms of the kind commonly
called drop down guns; and consists of the constructions and combinations or
arrangements of parts hereinafter described for cocking the internal hammers of
the said drop down guns by the raising of the breech ends of the barrels from the
break off for opening the guns.
By my invention the power required to cock the hammers on opening the gun
for charging is considerably reduced and the manipulation of the gun thereby
facilitated.
In constructing cocking mechanism according to one arrangement of my invention,
I use internal hammers provided with the ordinary mainsprings and in the body of
the gun, and opposite each of the hammers, an inclined recess or opening is made
extending from near the joint on which the barrels turn to the back of the break
off. In each of the said recesses or openings, a sliding rod, hereinafter called a
cocking rod, works. The inner end of the cocking rod projects, in its normal
position, a short distance beyond the back of the break off and its end is situated
opposite the breast of the hammer. On the underside of the barrels and near the
joint on which they turn a cranked lever is situated; or a fixed arm projecting
downwards may be used in place of the cranked lever. To the nearly vertical arm
of the cranked lever, or to the fixed arm described, the outer end of the before
mentioned cocking rod is jointed. Around the cocking rod a strong coiled spring
is placed, one end of the said spring taking an abutment against a shoulder on the
cocking rod and the other end of the said spring taking an abutment against a
shoulder made in the recess or opening in the body in which the cocking rod
works.
When the breech ends of the barrels are raised from the break off, the cranked
lever, or the fixed arm described, on the barrels acting upon the cocking rod pushes
the said rod backwards in the body and its nose end bearing against the breast of
the hammer lifts it to full cock, the hammer being retained in its cocked position
by the ordinary sear mechanism. When the breech ends of the barrels are
depressed for closing the gun, the cocking rod is drawn forward leaving the
hammer in its cocked position and the strong coiled spring around the cocking rod
is compressed between the shoulder in the body and the shoulder on the cocking rod.
The result of this arrangement is that the spring of the withdrawn cocking rod is
held in a state of tension so that when the breech ends of the barrels are raised
from the face of the break off for opening, the gun, the power of the compressed
spring assists in forcing outwards the cocking rod for cocking the hammer. Thus,
the power exerted to close the gun is utilized at the next opening of the gun for
assisting in the cocking of the hammers, the cocking is thereby rendered much
easier than when the leverage only of the barrels is used for that purpose.
Instead of making the cocking rod act on the breast of the hammer for the
purpose of cocking it, the hammer may be provided with a short arm or lever below
the centre on which it turns. In this case the cocking rod engages with the said
short arm on the hammer and the cocking is effected by the cocking rod moving
towards the muzzle end of the barrels. In order to make the raising of the breech

page_text: ends of the barrels give the required motion to the cocking rod the cranked lever
instead of being fixed to the barrels is jointed to the body of the gun. One arm
of the said cranked lever engages with the cocking rod and the other arm bears
against the underside of the barrels at a point somewhat more distant from the'
breech ends of the barrels than the joint on which the barrels turn. On raising
the breech ends of the barrels the cocking rod is drawn forward, the hammer is
cocked and the spring of the cocking rod compressed.
The arrangements of parts for cocking the gun may be used without the spring
described.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings
the manner in which my invention may be performed.
Figure 1 represents in longitudinal vertical section, the breech end of a double
barrel drop down gun containing cocking mechanism constructed according to one
of the arrangements of my invention, the barrels being represented shut down and
the hammer in its discharged position; Figure 2 represents the same with the
barrels raised from the break off for loading and the hammer in its cocked position;
Figure 3 represents the cocking rod separately and Figure 4 the cranked lever
separately used for actuating the cocking rod.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, 3
and 4.
The same kind of cocking mechanism constituting my invention is situated at
both sides of the double gun for operating the two hammers, but I will confine my
description to the cocking mechanism situated at one side only of the gun.
a are the barrels; b the break off and c the body of the gun; d is the internal
hammer of the gun actuated by the ordinary main spring e; fis the sear and g the
trigger; is the sliding cocking rod, shown separately in Figure 3. The said
rod h works in an inclined recess or opening i in the body c of the gun. The nose
or inner end of the cocking rod h projects a short distance beyond the back of the
break off b and is situated opposite and takes a bearing against the breast of the
hammer d; k, k³ is the cranked lever for giving a reciprocating sliding motion to
the cocking lever on the opening and closing of the gun. This lever turns on the
same centre as the barrels a and the said lever is situated in a recess in the body c
of the gun and is not permanently connected to the barrels. It is kept in its place
by means of a cross-pin m² passed through the body c and taking into the curved
slot m in the said lever (see the plan Figure 7) so that the barrels a may be
removed without removing the cocking lever k, k³. The horizontal arm k³ of the
lever bears against the underside of the barrels and the other and nearly vertical
arm is engaged with the cocking rod h, the said rod h working in an eye or
loop h² on its outer end.
Instead of making the cranked lever k, k² turn on the same centre as the barrels,
it may turn on an independent centre carried by a lump on the barrels, or a fixed
arm may be situated on the underside of the barrels for operating the cocking rod.
Around the cocking rod h is a strong coiled spring p, one end of which takes an
abutment against the shoulder q of the said rod and the other end of the spring
bears against a shoulder r at the outer end of the recess i in which the rod h works.
By means of the said strong coiled spring p the cocking of the hammers is
assisted as berein after explained.
When the gun has been discharged the parts occupy the positions represented
in Figure 1, the strong coiled spring p having been compressed between the
shoulders q, r by the closing of the barrels as represented, the tension of the
compressed spring being utilized at the next opening of the gun for assisting in
cocking the hammers. In order to reload and cock the gun, the hand lever 8 is
turned aside so as to unfasten the barrels. As the breech ends of the barrels rise
from the face of the break off b the vertical arm k of the cranked lever k, k³ (or
the fixed arm described) pushes the cocking rod h backwards or towards the butt
end of the gun and the nose end of the said rod h bearing against the breast of the
hammer & lifts it to full cock as illustrated in Figure 2, the hammer being retained

page_text: in its cocked position by the sear f. As the barrels are opened, the compressed
spring p expands and assists in forcing backwards the cocking rod h and the
cocking is thus rendered much easier than when the leverage only of the barrels
is used. On closing the barrels the cocking rod h is drawn forward by the arm k
of the lever, leaving the hammer d in its cocked position and the coiled spring p
is compressed between the fixed shoulder r and the shoulder q on the cocking rod
as represented in Figure 1.
Figures 5 and 6 represent longitudinal sections of the breech end of a double
barrel drop down gun, containing another arrangement of my invention, Figure 5
showing the breech closed and the gun discharged and Figure 6 the breech opened
ready for loading and the hammer in its cocked position; Figure 7 represents a
plan of the body of the gun together with the cocking levers; Figure 8 represents
the cocking rod separately and Figure 9 the cranked or hooked cocking lever
separately.
In this arrangement the cocking rod on opening the breech operates upon the
short arm of the hammer, the cocking rod having a forward motion or motion
towards the muzzle end of the barrels for cocking the hammer.
on the
d is the internal hammer having a short arm d³ below the centre on which it
turns; h is the inclined cocking rod working in a hole or recess in the body c.
The said cocking rod has a hooked end or lip h³ which engages with the short
arm d of the hammer, when the latter is in its discharged position and during the
cocking of the said hammer; p is the strong coiled spring around the cocking
rod h, one end of the said spring taking a bearing against the shoulder
cocking rod and the other end taking a bearing against a shoulder r at the end of
the recess in the body; k, k is the cranked lever, shown separately in Figure 9,
used for operating the cocking rod This lever is situated in a recess in the body c
and turns on the same centre as the barrels. It is secured in its place by the
side pin m³ passed through the body o and taking into the curved slot m in the
said lever as before described. The arm k of the lever is hooked and turned
upwards and is engaged with the cocking rod by being passed through the eye or
loop h in the said rod, and the other arm k takes a bearing against the underside
of the barrels as represented.
When the gun has been discharged, the parts occupy the positions repre-
sented in Figure 1, the coiled spring p having been compressed by the closing
of the barrels. On the raising of the breech ends of the barrels for charging
the gun,
the lever k, k moves with the barrels and its hooked arm k draws
forward the cocking rod h; that is, moves it towards the muzzle ends of the
barrels. By this forward motion of the cocking rod h its lip or hook h³ which is
engaged with the short arm of the hammer d, cocks the said hammer as
illustrated in Figure 6, the tension of the compressed spring p forcing outwards
the cocking rod and assisting in cocking the gun as herein before particularly
explained with respect to the arrangement Figures 1 and 2.
On closing the gun the cocking rod h is pressed inwards by the hooked arm k
and the coiled spring p is compressed as illustrated in Figure 5, the lip or hook h³
on the cocking rod being removed from the short arm d³ of the hammer d leaving
the said hammer in its cocked position.
The coiled spring p in both of the arrangements represented may be dispensed
with.
Having now described the nature of my invention and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my invention
of "Improvements in cocking the internal hammers of drop down guns by the
raising of the breech ends of the barrels from the break off for opening the
gun"
First The combination or arrangement of the sliding cocking rod h, h' with the
cranked lever k, k³ working in the body and taking a bearing against the under-
side of the barrels, or a fixed arın on the barrels, herein-before described and
illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying Drawings, the said cocking

page_text: rod on the opening of the gun having a backward motion or motion towards the
butt end of the gun and operating upon the breast of the hammer to cock it
substantially as described and illustrated.
Secondly-The combination or arrangement of the cocking rod h, h³, h³ with the
cranked or hooked lever k, working in the body and taking a bearing against
the underside of the barrels, or a fixed arm on the barrels, hereinbefore described
and illustrated in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the accompanying Drawings, the said
cocking rod on the opening of the gun having a forward motion or motion towards
the muzzle ends of the barrels and operating upon a short arm of the haminer,
below the centre of the hammer for cocking it substantially as described and
illustrated.
Thirdly The combination with the arrangements or combination of parts
claimed in the first and second claims of the strong coiled spring p which is
compressed on the closing of the gun and its tension on the opening of the gun
made use of for forcing inwards or outwards the cocking rod and thereby assisting
in the cocking of the hammers substantially as herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof I the said William Middleditch Scott have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Fourth day of September in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT
37 Temple Street
Birmingham,
WILLIAM MIDDLEDITCH SCOTT. (L.&.)