IMPROVEMENTS IN GUN LOCKS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, THOMAS STEAD, of Langham Hotel, London, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN GUN LOCKS, & communication to
me from abroad by Daniel Moore and Frank S. Moore both of 436 Gates Avenue,
Brooklyn, United States, to be as follows:-
This invention relates to Gun Locks, and consists in the application of an
independent acting safety lever, arranged and combined with the ordinary parts,
or works of a gun lock, wherein the ordinary devices of a detented tumbler, and
sear, are made use of, and so arranged therewith, as to render accidental discharge
impossible by the hammer being struck, or coming in contact, with any matter, or
by a sudden striking or dropping of the breech of the gun upon the ground, which
act often causes the point of the sear to jump out of the detent of the tumbler
from a half or a full cock, of the hammer; or when passing from a half cock to a
full cock before it has reached the full cock notch, or detent, any of which results
may occur; especially, when the detent, or sear point, becomes worn away, or when
said points are too hardly tempered.
The application of my automatic independent acting safety lever, is also adapted
to be combined with a swinging lever, and a blocking piece, so as to dispense with
a detented tumbler, and sear, as will hereinafter be fully described.
The object of the double levers, each moving independent of the other (in part),
is not only to produce a lock in which accidental discharge is impossible, by
striking, or pulling on the hammer, but also to render the lock more durable, than
the ordinary detent, and sear lock; and the cost of making to be such, as will
enable it to be placed on guns of the medium, and common qualities.
In the drawings, Fig. illustrates a gun lock, constructed in the usual and
ordinary manner, except that the tumbler is not provided with the usual detent,
nor has it the ordinary sear, but in lieu thereof, it has two swinging levers; (that
at the required point engage one with the other, at the required instant of time) a
blocking piece, (swung upon a stud, or fulcruin) and a tumbler provided with
quare shoulders, or abutments, in or on the tumbler, against one of which takes
the blocking piece, and upon the other, takes the end of the safety lever; a is the
[Price 81

page_text: lock plate, b the hammer, c the tumbler, d the bridle, e the swivel, f the main
spring, g the double or split spring, operating the levers, h the blocking lever,
h¹ the safety lever, and i the blocking piece, against which takes the end of the
lever h.
Similar letters refer to similar parts, in the several views. Fig. 2 represents the 5
position of the tumbler, blocking piece, and levers, when the hammer is down.
Fig. 3 when the same is at a half-cock; and Fig. 4 when the same is at a full cock.
Fig. 5 is a side view of the tumbler of Figs. 7 and 9. Fig. 6 shows a similar
tumbler to that of Figs. 5 and 7, except, that the safety lever at its front end, as
shown at j, is provided with an upper extension, that takes into a recess made
coincident therewith, which prevents a pull upon the trigger from setting the
hammer free.
Fig. 7 is a modification of Fig. 6, dispensing with the blocking piece i, but
lengthening the lever h, so as to take and bear direct upon the shoulder k; Fig. 8
is a front end view of the tumblers c, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4. Fig. 9 is a rear view of
tumblers c, Figs. 5 and 7.
Fig. 10 illustrates a gun lock, made with the usual detented tumbler, and sear,
with my safety lever h¹, combined therewith; and the side of the tumbler,
provided with an elevation, against which, the end of the safety lever h¹, takes,
(as shown at ) when the hammer rebounds, or is set at half cock. To operate this
safety lever a spring m, is bent over the sear spring n, and takes upon the safety
lever, (as shown in said Fig. 10).
The tumblers c, Figs. 5, 6, 7 have no side elevation at their lower portion, (as
shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 10) but in lieu thereof, the lower rear portion of the
tumbler is recessed, one half its thickness, and the levers h, and h¹ and the blocking
piece i, is made of a thickness equal to the depth of said shouldered recesses, so as
to take therein, so as to allow the levers, and blocking piece to freely work each
over the other (see Figs. 9 at o, and 5 at r).
It will be noticed that the bridle d, as shown in Figs. 1 and 10, is extended
rearward sufficiently so, that the aperture p, made therein, may receive the end of
a stud, or screw, that forms the fulcrum on which the levers h, and h¹, turn, or
swing, thereby affording additional support to said stud, or screw.
The lock is operated in the usual manner by the hammer, the several parts
working automatically, requiring no other attention than the ordinary lock, in
cocking and pulling the trigger, for discharging, or freeing the tumbler, which is
effected by the lateral extending arm q, of the lever h¹, being acted upon by the
trigger plate, the lever h, being also acted upon by the lever h¹, and freeing it, at
the proper instant, so as to permit the blocking piece i, to swing away from the
shoulder k, when the point of the lever h¹, has passed below the tumbler pro-
jection 1, or of the shoulder r. The lever h¹, has on its inner side, a pin, extending
laterally, so as to engage with the lever h, at 8, Figs. 2, 6, 7, to pass it upward, and
swing it upon its fulcrum stud p, so as to set it free from its bearing against the
blocking piece i, or shoulder k.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gun Locks.
I, THOMAS STEAD of Langham Hotel, London, Gentleman, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention a communication to me from abroad by Daniel
Moore and Frank S. Moore, both of 436 Gates Avenue, Brooklyn, United States,
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 gun locks, and consists in the application of an
independent acting safety lever, arranged and combined with the ordinary parts,
or works of a gun lock, wherein the ordinary devices of a detented tumbler, and
sear, are made use of, and so arranged therewith, as to render accidental discharge
impossible by the hammer being struck, or coming in contact, with any matter, or
by a sudden striking or dropping of the breech of the gun upon the ground, which
act often causes the point of the sear to jump out of the detent of the tumbler
from a half or a full cock, of the hammer; or when passing from a half cock to a
full cock before it has reached the full cock notch, or detent, any of which results
may occur, especially, when the detent, or sear point, becomes worn away, or when,
said points are too hardly tempered.
The application of my automatic independent acting safety lever, is also adapted
to be combined with a swinging lever, and a blocking piece, so as to dispense with
a detented tumbler, and sear, as will hereinafter be fully described.
The object of the double levers, each moving independent of the other (in part),
is not only to produce a lock in which accidental discharge is impossible, by
striking, or pulling on the hammer, but also to render the lock more durable, than
the ordinary detent, and sear lock; and the cost of making to be such, as will
enable it to be placed on guns of the medium, and common qualities.
Referring to the drawings filed with my provisional specification, Fig. 1 illustrates
a gun lock, constructed in the usual and ordinary manner, except that the tumbler
is not provided with the usual detent, nor has it the ordinary sear, but in lieu
thereof, it has two swinging levers; (that at the required point engage one with
the other, at the required instant of time) a blocking piece, (swung upon a stud, or
fulcrum) and a tumbler provided with square shoulders, or abutments, in or on the
tumbler, against one of which takes the blocking piece, and upon the other, takes
the end of the safety lever; a is the lock plate, b the hammer, c the tumbler, & the
bridle, e the swivel, f the main spring, g the double or split spring, operating the
levers, h the blocking lever, h¹ the safety lever, and i the blocking piece, against
which takes the end of the lever h.
Similar letters refer to similar parts, in the several views. Fig. 2 represents
the position of the tumbler, blocking piece, and levers, when the hammer is down.

page_text: Fig. 3 when the same is at a man-cock, and Fig. when
cock.
Fig. 5 is a side view of the tumbler of Figs 7 and 9. Fig. 6 shows a similar tumbler
to that of Figs 5 and 7, except, that the safety lever at its front end, as shown at j,
is provided with an upper extension, that takes into a recess made coincident
there with, which prevents a pull upon the trigger from setting the hammer free.
Fig. 7 is a modification of Fig. 6, dispensing with the blocking piece i, but
lengthening the lever h, so as to take and bear direct upon the shoulder k; Fig. 8 is
a front end view of the tumblers c, Figs 1, 2, 3, 4. Fig. 9 is a rear view of
tumblers c Figs 5 and 7.
Fig. 10 illustrates a gun lock, made with the usual detented tumbler, and sear,
with my safety lever h¹, combined therewith; and the side of the tumbler, provided
with an elevation, against which, the end of the safety lever h¹ takes, (as shown
at ) when the hammer rebounds, or is set at half cock. To operate this safety
lever a spring m is bent over the sear spring n, and takes upon the safety lever, (as
shown in said Fig. 10).
The tumblers c, Fig 5, 6, 7, have no side elevation at their lower portion, (as
shown in Figs 1, 2, 3, 4, 10) but in lieu thereof, the lower rear portion of the
tumbler is recessed, one half its thickness, and the levers h, and h³ and the blocking
piece i, is made of a thickness equal to the depth of said shouldered recesses, so as
to take therein, so as to allow the levers, and blocking piece to freely work each
over the other (see Figs 9 at o, and 5 at r).
It will be noticed that the bridle d, as shown in Figa 1 and 10 is extended
rearward sufficiently so, that the aperture p, made therein, may receive the end of
a stud, or screw, that forms the fulcrum on which the levers h and h³ turn, or
swing, thereby affording additional support to said stud or screw.
The lock is operated in the usual manner by the hammer, the several parts
working automatically, requiring no other attention than the ordinary lock, in
cocking and pulling the trigger, for discharging, or freeing the tumbler, which is
effected by the lateral extending arm q, of the lever h¹, being acted upon by the
trigger plate, the lever h, being also acted upon by the lever h¹, and freeing it, at
the proper instant, so as to permit the blocking piece i, to swing away from the
shoulder k, when the point of the lever h¹, has passed below the tumbler projection V,
or of the shoulder r. The lever h¹, has on its inner side, a pin, extending laterally,
so as to engage with the lever h at 8, Figs 2, 6, 7, to pass it upward, and swing it
upon its fulcrum stud p, so as to set it free from its bearing against the blocking
piece i, or shoulder k.
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
:
1. In a gun lock in combination, the swinging levers h, and h¹, blocking piece i,
and shouldered tumbler c, constructed and operated, substantially as described, and
shown, and for the purposes as specified.
2. In a gun lock, in combination a swinging lever, a blocking piece, an inde-
pendent safety lever, provided at its front end with a projecting arm, and a
tumbler shouldered and recessed, so as to receive the end of said lever, substantially
as described.
3. In a gun lock, in combination two independent acting levers, and a shouldered
tumbler, against which abutments or shoulders, take direct the front ends of said
levers, actuated by proper springs, and arranged to engage and disengage each with
the other, substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.
4. In a gun lock, in combination a tumbler detented in the usual manner, a sear,
to take therein, said tumbler provided with an offset, or elevation, at its lower face
section, forming an abutment, or shoulder thereon, and a safety lever, (independent

page_text: in its movement of the sear) the forward end of which, takes against said abutment,
BO as to prevent accidental discharge, substantially as described and shown, and for
the purposes specified.
5. In a gun lock, the combination with a tumbler and sear, a secondary or
auxiliary lever, adapted to engage an offset or recessed notch, on the tumbler, to
form a safety device, substantially as described.
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