Improved Means for Ascertaining the Particular Form of Gun-stock Adapted to an Individual User.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Oct., 1889-Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Ascertaining the Particular Form of Gun-stock
Adapted to an Individual User.
I, HENRY WILLIAM HOLLAND, of 98, New Bond Street, London, Gunmaker, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention comprises an improved method of and apparatus for ascertaining
the particular form of gun-stock adapted to an individual user, and consists in the
employment of a pair of barrels or their equivalent fitted with an adjustable stock
furnished with screws or other moans whereby its length may be altered and the
position of the heel-plate varied. For ascertaining the requisite amount of 'bend'
and cast-off, I add an adjustable back-sight, capable of being movod both vertically
and laterally. The adjustable back-sight may consist of an aperture slot or V-notch
formed in a plate or block, or a bead or its equivalent may be substituted. The said
back-sight is preferably mounted in the face of the break-off; although it may be
fitted to some other part of the action, to the stock or to the barrels. A fore-sight of
ordinary character may be employed.
The method of using the apparatus is as follows:-The individual to be fitted by
its means is directed to aim therewith at a certain mark. The stock is then adjusted
for length and the position of the heel-plate regulated. The back-sight is then moved,
if necessary, until the two sights and the mark are brought into alignment. The
amount of bend and cast-off may then be readily determined by the relative position
of the back-sight; tho extent to which the latter has been moved sideways relatively
to the axis of the barrels indicating the cast-off, and the height of the back-sight
measured from the same datum determining the bend.
Dated this 7th day of February 1889
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Ascertaining the Particular form of Gun-stock
Adapted to an Individual User.
I, HENRY WILLIAM HOLLAND, of 98, New Bond Street, London, Gunmaker, 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 :-
This invention comprises an improved method of and apparatus for ascertaining
the particular form of gun-stock adapted to an individual user, and consists in the
employment of a pair of barrels (or their equivalent) fitted with an adjustable stock
furnished with screws or other means whereby its length may be altered and the
position of the heel-plate varied, and to which, for ascertaining the requisite amount
of 'bend' and 'cast-off," is added an adjustable back-sight, capable of being moved
both vertically and laterally. The adjustable back-sight may consist of an aperture,
slot or V-notch formed in a plate or block; or a bead or its equivalent may be sub-
stituted. The said back-sight is preferably mounted in the face of the break-off,
although it may be fitted to some part of the action, to the stock or to the barrels. A
fore-sight of ordinary character may be employed.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents in side elevation, Fig. 2 in end
elevation and Fig. 3 in plan an improved measurement-gun constructed in accordance
with this invention; Figs. 4 and 5 being detail views, drawn to an enlarged scale,

page_text: heroinafter more particularly referred to. Figs. 6 and 7 shew a modified form of
construction.
The barrels A are mounted in a suitable 'action' B, to which is fitted an adjustable
stock C. The bend' may be varied by permitting the stock to turn about the trans-
verse joint-pin b, which is situated at the rear end of the action. The parts may be
locked in any desired position by means of the set-screw b', which engages with and
holds a tongue projecting from the stock and working in a recess at the back of the
action. The cast-off may be altered to the required extent by turning the barrels
laterally about the vertical pin B. The stock may be lengthened or shortened by
pressing in one of or hotlì the buttons e and pulling out or pushing back the
heel-piece . The buttons e are forced outwards by springs and serve as or are
connected to catches for engaging with and holding the racks or notched bars
The upper bar is pivoted to the heel-piece e; the lower bar e being so jointed
to the heel-piece e as to permit vertical movement to take place when the depth
of the stock or the relative position of the comb is altered by turning one of
or both the finger-pieces. The latter actuate the rols through screw or other
gearing. For enabling apparatus of the kind described to be readily manipulated
and the desired dimensions ascertained without undne loss of time, I add an adjustable
back-sight 1, which preferably takes the form of a plate d (Figs. 4 and 5) provided
with a central aperture d. The plate d is mounted on a carrier d', which is fitted to
slide laterally in a slot in the barrels An adjusting screw is fitted to rotate in a
bracket on the carrier d², and is retained in position by a set-screw ³, which
permits the screw to be rotated but prevents longitudinal displacement thereof. The
scrow enters a corresponding hole in the barrels beneath and parallel with the
groove in which the carrier slides. Rotation of the scrow serves to vary the
position of the carrier and consequently the lateral position of the plato d, which
contains the sight-aperture d'. The plate d is moved vertically by a second adjusting
screw mounted in a bracket d' on the carrier d' in a similar way to that in which
the screw is mounted in the bracket d'; the screw passing through a corre
sponding hole in an enlargement on a bridge-piece attached to or forming part of
the plate d. Rotation of the screw serves to raise or lower, as the case may be, the
plato d and, therefore, the sight-aperture d'.
The method of using the apparatus is as follows :-The individual to be fitted by
its means is directed to aim therewith at a certain mark. The stock is then adjusted
for length and the position of the heel-plate regulated. The adjustable back-sight
is then moved, if necessary, until the said back-sight, the fore-sight and the mark are
brought into alignment. The amount of bend and cast-off may then be readily
determined by the relative position of the back-sight; the extent to which the
lattor has been moved sideways relatively to the axis of the barrels indicating the
cast-off, and the height of the back-sight measured from the samo datum detormining
the hond.
The apparatus may then be altered to fit the individual to be measured; and the
back-sight having been restored to its original position upon the barrels, and frosh
nim being taken, the two sights and the mark should once more be found in
alignment.
In Figs. 6 and 7, the adjustablo lack-sight is fitted on the action instead of on the
barrels. The operation of the parts romains, however, substantially the same. In
this modification, I prefer to employ two sights on the barrels, a fore-sight of the
ordinary construction and a back-sight, which may, if desired, be adjustable. The
three sights D, and e, when employed in combination, are used in the following
manner: The sight D is altered, as before described, until it properly indicates the
amount of bond and cast-off. The sights D and e should thon ba in alignment. The
pin B'is then loosened and the barrels turned Interally until the three sights D, and e
are in the same vertical plane. Upon fresh aim being taken, the three sights and the
mark should hon be in alignment.
For the purpose of facilitating adjustment, the moving parts in the apparatus may

page_text: be furnished with or slide against suitable scales for denoting the amount of deviation
from the normal position.
The sight D, instead of being mounted directly on the barrels or the action, may be
carried by a clip or holder adapted for engaging with the barrels or the action
of the gun to which the said sight is to be applied. The sight in this form
may be employed as means for ascertaining whether any particular gun fits the
user.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. The improved means, substantially as herein described, for ascertaining the par-
ticular form of gun-stock adapted to an individual user.
2. The adjustable back-sight capable of lateral and vertical movement, substantially
as herein described, and adapted for indicating the extent (if any) to which the cast-
off or bend of the gun to which the said sight is applied requires to be altered in
order to fit the gun to the user.
3. In a measurement-gun, the combination of an adjustable back-sight, operating
substantially as set forth for enabling the required amount of bend or cast-off to be
ascertained, with means for enabling the gun to be adjusted accordingly.
Dated the 21st day of October 1889.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.