Improvements in Firing Mechanism for Double Barrel Guns.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 6th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 18th Feb, 1895-Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Firing Mechanism for Double Barrel Guns.
We, THOMAS WILLIAM WATSON and ARTHUR HENRY WATSON, both of
29 Old Bond Street, in the County of Middlesex, Gun Makers, and THOMAS
BRAIN, of 76 Slaney Street Birmingham in the County of Warwick, Gun Maker,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention relates to improvements in connection with the construction of the
locks and triggers of double barrel guns.
It has heretofore been customary to construct double barrel guns with two
triggers, one standing to the front to fire one barrel and one standing behind it to
fire the other barrel but the present invention relates to a method and mechanism
whereby only one trigger is necessary. The mechanism or contrivance for which
novelty is now claimed is that hereinafter described by which the user is enabled
by always pulling this one trigger to fire first one barrel and then the other. This
mechanism is so arranged that the second barrel is not fired until after the first lock
has been operated and the user gives a second movement to the said trigger to
operate the second lock.
The invention cousists substantially in making the trigger of two parts, one part
being connected with the other or trigger proper and sliding or oscillating upon it
and so arranged that while the trigger proper moves up and down on an axis, the
sliding portion moves backwards and forwards upon it; this sliding part is so
shaped that when in its backward position and it is lifted up by the movement of
the trigger it releases the sear of one lock and when in the forward position and
lifted up it releases the sear of the other lock. This backward and forward motion
is brought about by the movement of one of the locks which as its tumbler
is moved backwards to the cocked position, causes the said sliding portion to
move back also into the aforesaid backward position ready for firing the first lock.
Having fired this first lock the hammer or tumbler of the same has travelled
forward and down on to the cap, is out of the way and the sliding portion of the
trigger by the pressure of a spring travels forward into the forward position ready
to fire the second lock. The movement of the tumbler of the lock is conveyed to
the sliding and oscillating part of the trigger by means of a tumbler or rocking
piece so shaped and placed that while one end of it is pressed by the tumbler of the
lock the other end presses against the sliding part of the trigger in such a manner
that the movements follow each other in the requisite sequence.
In what are
commonly known as box body hammerless guns we preferably set this intervening
rocking piece on the axle pin of the sears of the locks, but in guns of other
construction it has to be attached to the back portion of the body of the gun or to
the framework of the lock itself as may be desired. The trigger mechanism is also
provided with a safety bolt to prevent the second barrel being jarred off or fired
unintentionally when the first is fired off. This consists of a small hook which
stands over the second sear and holds it while the first lock is being operated this
hook is pivotted on to the framework supporting the trigger and is made with
inclined surfaces against which the sliding part of the trigger rubs and is so shaped
that when firing the first lock it is kept in close contact with the sear of the second

page_text: lock, but on the travelling of the sliding part into position and the trigger pulled
to fire the second, lock it is pushed out of the way.
Dated June 6th 1894.
Improvements in Firing Mechanism for Double Barrel Guns.
We, THOMAS WILLIAM WATSON and ARTHUR HENRY WATSON, both of
29 Old Bond Street, in the County of Middlesex, Gun Makers, and THOMAS
BRAIN, of 76 Slaney Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun Maker,
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 :-
The invention relates to improvements in connection with the construction of
the locks and triggers of double-barrel guns.
It has heretofore been customary to construct double-barrel guns with two
triggers, one standing to the front to fire one barrel, and one standing behind it to
fire the other barrel, but the present invention relates to a method and mechanism
whereby only one trigger is necessary.
The mechanism or contrivance constituting the subject of the present invention
is that hereinafter described, by which the user of a double-barrel gun is enabled,
by always pulling this one trigger, to fire first one barrel and then the other.
This mechanism is so arranged that the second barrel is not fired until after the
first lock has been operated and the user gives a second movement to the said
trigger to operate the second lock.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which :—
Fig. 1 is a side view of the breech of a double-barrel gun of the character known
as box-body hammerless gun fitted with our improved firing mechanism, showing
parts broken away for the sake of clearness.
Fig. 2 is a plan partly in section of some of the parts shown at Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing some of the
parts as seen from the rear.
Fig. 4 is a cross section drawn on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, also showing some of
the parts as seen from the rear.
Fig. 5 is a side view and Fig. 6 is a rear view of the main or pivoted part of the
trigger.
Fig. 7 is a side view and Fig. 8 is a rear end view of the sliding part of the
trigger.
Fig. 9 is a side view of the safety bolt or hook seen from the right hand side of
the gun, and Fig. 10 is a rear view of the same.
and
Fig. 11 is a side view showing the safety bolt in engagement with the left sear,
Fig. 12 is an inner side view of parts of the lock of a gun showing the method of
applying the invention to guns having side or detachable locks.
The invention consists substantially in making the trigger of two parts, one
part, B, being connected with the other, or trigger proper, A, and sliding upon and
oscillating with it, and so arranged that, while the trigger proper A moves up and
down on an axis a, the sliding portion B moves backwards and forwards upon it;
the sliding part B is formed saddle, shaped and straddles the trigger part A; it is

page_text: formed with a slot or slots bat its forward end, through which passes the axis a,
and it has a pin which passes through the slot a' in the trigger part A. This
sliding part B has projections G G, one on each side, the projection G being
somewhat in advance of the projection G1, so that when in its backward position.
as shown at Figs. 1 and 2, and it is lifted up by the movement of the trigger
proper A, it, by the projection G, releases the sear E' of one lock, and when the
part B is in the forward position and when the trigger is lifted up, the projection G
releases the sear E2 of the other or left lock. This backward and forward motion
of the part B is brought about by the movement of one of the locks, which, by its
hammer or tumbler C being moved backwards to the cocked position, shown by
the full lines in Fig. 1, causes the said sliding portion B to more back also into
the aforesaid backward position, as shown at Figs. 1 and 2, with its projection G
underneath the rearward end of the sear E' ready for firing the first or right hand
lock. Having fired this first lock, the hammer or tumbler of the same has
travelled forward to the dotted position shown at C1, Fig. 1, and down on to the
cap, is out of the way, and the sliding portion B of the trigger, by the pressure of
a spring D acting between the parts a² 6, travels forward into the forward position
with its projection G' under the rear end of the sear E2 ready to fire the secon 1 or
left hand lock. The movement of the right hand tumbler C of the lock is conveyed
to the sliding and oscillating part B of the trigger by means of a tumbler or
rocking piece E³ preferably mounted on the axle pin E and formed with an arm e
projecting to the right behind the right hand hammer or tumbler C, so that while.
the arm e is pressed by the tumbler or hammer C of the lock, the vertical part of
such rocking piece E³ presses against the sliding part B of the trigger in such a
manner that the movements follow each other in the requisite sequence. The
trigger mechanism is also provided with a safety bolt or hook F to prevent the
second or left hand barrel being jarred off or fired unintentionally when the first is
fired off. This consists of a small hook F, the nose of which stands over the
second or left hand sear E², see Fig. 11, and holds it securely while the first or
right hand lock is being operated; this hook is pivoted at to the framework
supporting the trigger and is made with inclined surfaces f1f2, against which the
sliding part B of the trigger rubs, and is so shaped that when firing the first or
right hand lock, it is kept in close contact with the sear E2 of the second or left
hand lock, but on the travelling of the sliding part B forward into position and the
trigger pulled to fire the second lock, it is pushed out of the way. The shape of
this hook is clearly shown at Figs. 9 and 10 and the following is a fuller description
of the mode in which the safety bolt or hook F is acted upon by the trigger and
As the
caused to engage with and disengage from the second or left hand sear.
trigger rises to fire the right hand lock, the forward edge of the stud or
projection Grubs against the incline" and pushes the hook F forward and thus
causes the hook to hold firmly on to the sear E*. When the trigger is released by
the finger, the sliding part B of the trigger travels forward to such a position that
the backward edge of stud or projection G¹ rubs against the forward surface or
incline of the hook, when the trigger is raised to free the second or left hand
lock. In Fig. I the safety bolt F is shown in its forward position to avoid
confusion of the drawing; it should however be in its backward position when the
other parts are in the position shown in said figure.
In what are known as box-body hammerless guns we preferably set the
intervening rocking piece E' on the axle pin E of the sears, as shown at Figs. 1,
2, 3, but in guns of other construction it has to be attached to the back portion of
the body of the gun, or to the framework of the lock itself as may be desired.
In double-barrel guns with side or detachable locks wherein the locks are in a
different relative position to the body and have not an axle pin E common to both
sears, we adopt the arrangement shown at Fig. 12, in which we pivot the rocking
piece on to the frame of the right hand lock at E' and form it with a part Es
extending far enough to the left to come in front of the sliding part B of the
trigger, and we fix a stud K to the right hand hammer or tumbler C, which, as the

page_text: latter is being cocked, presses the rocking piece E³, and consequently the sliding
piece B, backward and holds them there until the first or right hand lock is fired.
In this case the trigger A B and safety bolt or hook F will be constructed and
arranged substantially as herein shown and described; we have not thought it
necessary to show these parts in connection with Fig. 12 as such will be clearly
understood from the foregoing description.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In double-barrel guns, the peculiar combination and arrangement of parts
whereby a single trigger is enabled to fire each barrel in succession, substantially
as herein shown and described.
2. In double-barrel guns having a single trigger so arranged as to be capable of
firing each barrel in succession, the combination therewith of a safety bolt or hook
to prevent the second barrel from being fired unintentionally when firing the first,
substantially as herein shown and described.
gun and
3. In double-barrel guns having a single trigger provided with a sliding portion
to fire off both barrels in succession, the method of pushing the sliding portion of
the trigger into position for firing off the first barrel by the opening of the
consequent backward movement of the hammer or tumbler and rocking piece, the
said sliding piece being moved forward by a spring into position for firing the
second barrel, substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 18th day of February 1895.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.