IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS." A. communication from abroad by Baron
Richard Walterskirchen, of Pressburg, in the Kingdom of Hungary.
Sealed the 8th September 1877, and dated the 10th March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th March 1877.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS." A communication
from abroad by Baron Richard Walterskirchen, of Pressburg, in the Kingdom of
Hungary.
The object of this Invention is to reduce the effect of the recoil of a fire-arm,
and if desired the means employed for this purpose may be used for simul-
taneously effecting such a change in the position of parts of the ordinary gun-lock
mechanism as to diminish the number of manual movements necessary for reloading
the gun.
The Invention consists in arranging at the butt end of the fire-arm a moveable
plate or hood suitably guided at the ends or in the middle, and connected with a
spring or springs in the stock in such a manner that when the discharge takes place
the effect of the recoil is reduced by the said spring or springs. If desired this
recoil plate may be connected with the hammer or other part of the gun lock in
such a manner that when the recoil takes place, and the plate changes its position,
the said hammer or other part of the gun lock is set in motion.
In carrying this Invention into practise the following construction has been found
to answer the purpose of diminishing the effect of the recoil:-At the butt end of
the fire-arm a metal plate, hood, or cover is so attached as to be moveable in suitable
guides more or less towards the said butt end, and against the pressure of a spring
or springs. The pressure of the spring may be regulated by loosening or tightening
a nut on a screw bolt. When the fire-arm is held to the shoulder in the usual
position for discharging, the said metal hood rests against the shoulder, and on the

page_text: discharge taking place the recoil of the fire-arm and the pressure of the shoulder
will force the said hood on to the butt end against the pressure of the spring.
It will be evident that the recoil hood or plate may be so arranged that when it
is moved towards the butt end of the gun stock by the action of the recoil it will
then automatically move a rod communicating with the hammer or other part of the 5
gun-lock mechanism, thus causing the same to change the position it had just
previous to the discharge of the fire-arm.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th September 1877.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS." A communication
from abroad by Baron Richard Walterskirchen, of Pressburg, in the Kingdom of
Hungary.
The object of this Invention is to reduce the effect of the recoil of a fire-arm,
and if desired the means employed for this purpose may be used for simul-
taneously effecting such a change in the position of parts of the ordinary gun-lock
mechanism as to diminish the number of manual movemonts necessary for reloading
the arm.
According to the said Invention I arrange at the butt end of the fire-arm a
movable plate or hood suitably guided at the ends or in the middle, and connected
with a spring or springs in the stock in such a manner that when the discharge
takes place the effect of the recoil is reduced by the said spring or springs. If
desired this recoil plate may be connected with the hammer or other part of the
gun lock in such a manner that when the recoil takes place and the plate changes
its position, the said hamner or other part of the gun lock is set in motion.
In carrying this Invention into practice the following construction has been
found to answer the purpose of diminishing the effect of the recoil:-To the butt
end of the fire-arm a metal plate, hood, or cover is so attached as to be movable
in suitable guides more or less towards the said butt end, and against the pressure
of a spring or springs. The pressure of the spring may be regulated by loosening
or tightening a nut on a screw bolt. When the fire arın is held to the shoulder
in the usual position for discharging, the said metal hood rests against the shoulder,
and on the discharge taking place the recoil of the fire-arm, and the consequent
pressure of the shoulder, will force the said hood upon the butt end against the
pressure of the said spring or springs.
It will be evident that the said recoil hood or plate may be so arranged that when
it is moved towards the butt end of the gun stock by the action of the recoil it will
automatically move a rod communicating with the hammer or other part of the gun-
lock mechanism, thus causing the same to change its position.
The said Invention is illustrated in various forms in the accompanying Drawing.
Figure 1 is a side view partly in section of a gun stock provided with the said
recoil check; Figure 2 is an end view; and Figure 3 is a transverse section of the
same.
A is the stock; B is the plate or hood, sliding with its two guide pieces b, b¹, in
the guide ways c, c¹; the latter are sunk into the stock and fixed thereto by means
of the screws d, d. The plate or hood B is attached to the stock by means of the
two jaws e, e, (Figures 1 and 3), and the cross piece f which slides in the longitudinal
slot 9. The two springs a, a, are placed on the projections h, h, of the plate or
hood B, and their tension may be regulated by the two screws i, i.
The remaining Figures show side views illustrating various modifications of the
said Invention.

page_text: Figure 4 shows the springs a, a¹, on the rods j, j¹, in this case without a tension ·
screw.
In the construction shown in Figure 7 the springs a, a¹, may be more or less
compressed by adjusting the screw nut on the screw rod k. The ends m, m³, of the
two screws,, serve as guides to the springs a, a, whilst the other ends can be
adjusted in the screw plate o, o'. The pieces r, 71, on the plate or hood B are passed
through the longitudinal slots 8 of the guides c, c¹, and fastened thereto by means of
keys q, q¹.
For removing the plate or hood B the screws d, d, must be first unscrewed and
then the heel plate with its guideways c, c¹, and springs a, a¹, can be drawn off the
stock.
The aperture C, Figure S, which may be closed by means of the cover p, permits
the springs a, a, to be tightened or loosened without removing the plate or hood.
In Figure 5 the hooked pieces t, t, of the plate or hood B are arranged in the
longitudinal slots 8 of the guideway picces c, c'. This Figure also illustrates the
manner in which the recoil may be utilised for effecting a movement of part of
the mechanism of the breech lock, the rod k striking in this case against jointed
levers pivoted to the cock or hammer, and thus cocking the gun.
In Figure 6 the plate or hood B is connected with the guide pieces c, c¹, by means
of the screws u, u¹, and the nuts v, v, sliding in the longitudinal slots 8. For
removing the said plate or hood it is only necessary to screw out the screws u, u².
The operation of the above-described mechanism in firing or discharging the arm
is as follows:-In consequence of the shock of the explosion the gun recoils against
the shoulder of the person using the arm, but as the check plate or hood encounters
a firm point of support on the shoulder, the two springs a, a, are compressed and
absorb the recoil.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I am aware that hinged or swinging spring, actuated check plates, and india-
rubber plates have been proposed as means for absorbing the recoil of fire-arms,
but the present improvements are as above specified, and I claim,-
First. The arrangements for checking the recoil of fire-arms by means of sliding
and guided spring actuated plates or hoods, as above described, and as shown in the
accompanying Drawing.
Second. The arrangement for utilizing the recoil of fire-arms for the purpose of
effecting a movement of part of the mechanism of the lock, as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
T715
TAR
W". ROD". LAKE. (L.S.)