Improvements in Sights for Firearms.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 25th June, 1895-Accepted, 10th Aug., 1995
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sights for Firearms.
I, WILLIAM LYMAN, of Middlefield, County of Middlesex, State of Connecticut,
United States of Americas Manufacturer, do hereby declare tire 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 relates to an improved sight for firearms, the object being to
provide sights of great compactness, simplicity and strength, the rear sight being
adapted for easy and rapid vertical adjustment for range, and the front sight being
fixed, but adapted as a combination sight, that is, to readily exhibit contrasting
sight surfaces as a white or ivory sight and a dark or metal sight, as required by the
nature, intensity, and direction of the light, which improvements render this sight
system especially applicable to military use.
In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this Specification_
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the rear sight fitted to a firearm. Figure 2 is a
plan view, and Figure 3 a rear elevation of the same.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section on the line y. y. Figure 1.
Figure 5 is an end view of the clamping nut viewed from the inner end.
Figure 6 is a horizontal section through the sight on the line a Figure 1.
Figure 7 is a vertical lengthwise section on the line 2. 2. Figure 2.
Figure 8 is a plan view of a spring washer. Figure 9 is a similar view of the
combined indicator arm.and spring.
Figure 10 is a view of the clamping lever.
Figure 11 shows a modification of the clamping mechanism.
Figure 12 is a perspective view of the front sight in the form designed for general
use, and detachably secured to the gun barrel. Figure 13 is a side elevation of
the same, and Figures 14 and 15 are vertical cross-sections respectively on the
lines and yy Figure 13.
Figure 16 is a front and Figure 17 a plan view of the base plate.
Figures 18, 19 and 20 are longitudinal sections on the line zz Figure 14
respectively showing the folding sight in vertical, inclined, and horizontal
positions.
Figure 21 is a perspective view of the military sight proper, rigidly affixed to the
barrel. Figure 22 is a vertical lengthwise section of the same on the line v
Figure 23.
Figure 23 is a vertical cross section on the line w w Figure 22.
v
Figures 24 and 25 are end and plan views respectively of the base of the military
sight, and
Figure 26 is a lengthwise vertical section similar to Figure 23 but showing a
modification.
Figure 27 is a side elevation of a modification of the rear sight, mounted upon
a military rifle, and adjusted to the lowest or "point blank" position.
Figure 28 is a rear end elevation of the sight as taken upon the vertical cross
section of the rifle denoted by the line in Figure 27.
Figure 29 is a plan view.
Figure 30 is a horizontal section on the line y y, Figure 27.
Figure 31 is a vertical cross section on line 22, Figure 27 showing the sight bar
in elevated position.
Referring to the drawings in Figures 1 to 11 inclusive which show the preferred
form of rear sight A designates a portion of the breech of a fire arm. B designates

page_text: a lever fitted against and pivoted to the flatted surface on the left hand side of the
breech as far forward as possible, and it should be made as long as it can con-
veniently be without interfering with the operation of the hammer. In general the
form of the lever will be substantially as shown, comprising an arm or lever proper b³,
a depending clamping spur or branch 62 having a vertical slot 63, and a sight base 54
projecting laterally from the lever and overhanging the barrel to form a support
upon which the sight C is mounted. The forward end 6 of the lever is pivoted
to the breech by the screw D, and a screw stud E is screwed into the breech through
the slot 6 in the branch 62, upon which stud is mounted the mechanism for clamping
the sight in its various positions, as hereinafter described.
While the lever might be pivoted upon the screw D by having a simple circular
bearing fitting the screw, the slot also being curved in an arc struck from
the pivot as a center. I prefer to make the slot 6 perfectly straight and to
elongate the hole 68 through which the screw D passes sufficiently to permit the
bodily rearward movement of the lever to conform to such configuration of the
slot, the movement of the lever lengthwise being about equal to the versed sine
of the are through which the lever would swing were the slot curved instead of
straight. The lever is recessed to partly receive the head of the screw D, but
such recess may be a simple circular counterbore, as shown, provided that it is
made sufficiently large to permit the lengthwise movement of the lever aforesaid.
The part of the screw fitting the hole 66 is cylindrical and forms a shoulder to
gauge the depth to which the screw may be screwed into the wall of the breech,
a cupped spring washer being fitted on the screw under the head thereof to prevent
lateral play of the lever on its pivot, the lever throughout its length fitting snugly
against the flat surface a' of the firearm.
The screw or stud E is also screwed into the Hatted surface a¹ near the rear enl
thereof, and it has a middle cylindrical portion e' fitting the slot 63 in the lever, and
somewhat larger than the threaded inner end of the screw, thus forming a shoulder e²
which may be screwed tightly against the flat side of the firearm. Said cylindrical
portion in length exceeds the thickness of the lever and projects through the slot 63
sufficiently to form a bearing for a spring g which consists of a flat spring bar
having one end coiled around to form an eye g titting the part e¹ of the screw said
eye portion being made somewhat spiral or having its end 2 deflected from the plane
of the straight part or arm g³ of the bar whereby it is adapted to form an elastic
washer between the lever and the means for clamping the lever against its seat as
hereinafter described. A straight groove his formed in the lever at the side of
and parallel with the slot 3 and a screw is screwed through the end of the arm g³
of the spring, projecting into said groove whereby as the lever is oscillated upon its
pivot in operation the arm g is maintained in a position parallel with the slot (3
the eye gl correspondingly swiveling upon its bearing el. Thus arranged said arm
is adapted to carry a pointer 2 fitting upon it and held in place by the aforesaid
screw, clamped between the head of the screw and the arm. The lever is
graduated by a series of lines I in the path of said pointer to indicate the various
elevations or range. The hole in the pointer through which the screw passes is
somewhat elongated vertically to permit a slight adjustment of the pointer or its
arm in setting the lever in the zero position or "point blank." And a screw 18 is
set in the part bearing upon the breech for adjusting the lever to such position..
The outer portion of the stud E is screw threaded to receive an annular nut i,
which is received within the eye k¹ of a clamping lever or handle K, the nut being
provided with a flange 2 on its outer end to hold the said handle in place. A series
of notches are milled on the periphery of the nut, and a set screw * is screwed
through the rim of the eye of the clamping handle, having its pointed end adapted
to enter the notches 3 of the nut. Thus in operation the clamping handle may be set
in any required position or radial line from the stud E and the nut clamped firmly
down upon it, by means of a screw driver fitting the slot in its flange, after which
the set screw 2 may be screwed down into one of the notches 3 thus insuring the
proper position of the clamping handle when clamped down, which is preferably

page_text: that shown in the figures a result that could not readily be accomplished were the
nut and handle made integral. The nut is made of less length than the eye of the
handle, and does not impinge upon the spring g, the face of the eye of the handle
only being brought in contact with the spring and subjected to frictional pressure.
The spring g not only provides an anti-rattling joint between the parts, but enables
the clamping action of the nut to be graduated, as for instance if the clamping
handle be slightly loosed from the position in which it clamps the sight lever rigidly
in place, it will still hold the sight lever in position while at the same time
permitting ready adjustment thereof by sufficient force exerted upon a small
knob provided as a thumb piece for convenient manipulation of the sight lever by
the thumb, and very handy in use whether the handle is wholly or partly loosed.
If desired the nut ¹ may be screwed into the eye k¹ and secured by set screw,
the thread of the nut serving the function of the flange 2, as shown in
Figure 11.
The sight mounted on the lever, may be a notch or bead, but I prefer a simple
tubular sight C. secured on a plate c', which is fitted in a groove m on the over-
hanging lateral projecting part or sight base 6 of the lever, and held by a clamping
screw n. The cross sectional configuration of the slot is preferably that shown in
Figure 7 the sides thereof being inclined as shown and parallel, that is one forming
an acute angle and the other an obtuse angle, with the surface of the sight base, the
side having the obtuse angle being adjacent the clamping screw, whereby said screw
having its head over-lapping the plate c¹ will force the plate downward and
laterally, by means of said inclined sides of the plate and slot, and the plate will be
held in place on one side by the "dovetailed " form of the surfaces in contact, and
on the other by the overlapping head of the screw, thus securely holding the sight
in place. To limit the end wise movement of the plate a portion of its edge may
cut away and the screw correspondingly set over into such space as shown in
Figure 2.
be
The operation of this sight is extremely simple, and it may be readily and rapidly
adjusted in any position. When at point blank it fits the gun very snugly and has
no projecting parts to engage twigs or objects. It is capable of a large range of
elevation and if desired an auxiliary folding sight as t in Figure 1 may be attached
to the side of the lever to be used in connection with a bead or other simple form
of sight attached to the side of the gun in position to provide greater ranges thus
are obtainable by the regular rear and front sights. This rear sight may be
attached to firearms by simply drilling and threading two holes for the reception of
the screws D and E, extreme accuracy not being essential in laying out the holes
owing to the lengthwise play of the lever on the screw D.
The front sight is shown in Figures 12 to 26 inclusive referring to which two
forms are illustrated one detachable from the firearm and the other formed
integral therewith for the purpose of affixing a bayonet to the barrel. Referring
to the drawings, A" designates the base of the detachable sight, or that intended
for general use. It is formed with two parallel, vertical lengthwise flanges all on
its upper side and provided with a transverse dovetailed part B on its lower side
adapted to fit in a suitable transverse recess c¹¹ milled in the barrel D", in the
ordinary and well known manner. In the front end of the groove ell formed by
the flanges a", that is, the end nearest the muzzle of the piece, is fitted a vertical
abutment F having a rearwardly projecting tongue f" extending nearly the whole
length of the groove and bent upward at its rear end to form a short vertical pro-
jection. The rear side of the abutment is a vertical plane except that it is cut
under at its junction with the tongue to form a triangular notch g in the
abutment for the purpose hereinafter specified. The abutment is held in place by
a screw passing through it and the flanges a", being screwed into one of the
flanges, and having its head countersunk in the other. The flanges are sufficiently
thin and light to enable them to spring together under the force of the screw and
thus clamp the abutment firmly between them.
11
Fitted in the groove " back of the abutment F" is a sight K" of ivory or other

page_text: suitable white material, standing upon the tongue ƒ" in contact with the abutment,
and having a forwardly projecting spur fitting the triangular notch " therein.
A similar spur projects rearwardly from the sight, having its upper side. curved
to fit the hub of the folding metal sight fitted in the groove ell, and hinged and
adapted to be folded from the vertical position against the ivory sight K shown
in Figures 13, 14, 15 and 18 to the horizontal position shown in Figures 12 and 20
or set to occupy an intermediate inclined position as shown in Figure 19. The
pivot on which the dark or metal sight is hinged, is a screw it, similar to the
screw, being passed through the folding sight and screwed into one of
the flanges a" and having its head countersunk in the opposite flange as shown.
By the clamping action of the screw upon the thin yielding flanges a" any
required amount of friction may be imposed upon the folding sight, whereby it
will be retained in any desired position while admitting of being readily turned on its
pivot. The rear side of the ivory sight is beveled or "backed off" as shown for
the purpose of reflecting light and allowing the insertion of the finger nail when
the metal sight is about to be turned down from the vertical position, and the rear
edges of the flanges all are beveled inward slightly, or the folding sight is
otherwise proportioned so as to project sufficiently to obtain a suitable hold upon
it to raise it from the horizontal position. The hub. of the folding sight exactly
fills the space between the ivory sight and the upturned projection 21 of the
tongue which projection is of such height that the sight when folded down
to the horizontal position, will rest upon it, as shown in Figures 12 and 20.
The upper rounded surfaces of the abutment, the ivory sight, and the folding
sight are of exactly similar outline and in the same horizontal plane, hence in
operation, when the folding sight is turned down flat, as shown in Figure 12, the
ivory sight will be exhibited to the view of the marksman, in glancing along the
gun barrel, presenting a bright, white surface, but if the folding sight is raised to
the vertical position, as shown in Figure 13, the ivory sight will be entirely hidden,
and a dark metallic surface will be exposed, according as conditions may require.
If the folding sight is partly folded down as shown in Figure 19 only a slight
crescentic white line will show, corresponding to the height of the ivory sight
above the metallic sight, which is a combination, sometimes desired. The front
angle of the abutment F" is preferably rounded off as shown, to avoid a sharp
corner.
When a firearm is intended to be used with a bayonet or other implement
attached at the muzzle of the barrel, a detachable sight cannot be employed, as
the sight is required for holding the bayonet, in place, and therefore must be
rigidly secured to the barrel by being brazed thereto or integrally formed thereon.
My improved sight for this purpose is shown in Figures 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26
and differs from the detachable sight herein before, described only in the con-
struction of the pivot of the folding sight, and in the form of the base R10, which
is that of a simple oblong block brazed or otherwise rigidly fixed to the gun
barrel, and having the central lengthwise groove m", forming the flanges n",
which are proportionally thicker than the flanges all of the detachable sight, and
practically devoid of elasticity, as the use of the sight in holding the socket of a
bayonet requires greater strength in those parts than in the form shown in
Figures 12 to 20. In the groove m is received the abutment F" having the
tongue and projection secured by a suitable screw or rivet s11 passing through
the parts as explained with reference to the detachable sight. The groove also
receives the ivory sight K and the folding metal sight fitted snugly between
the flanges n as described with reference to the detachable sight.. But the absence
of elasticity in the flanges n requires the use of a different pivot from that
employed in the Figures 12 to 20 and comprising a conically pointed screw, "
which is screwed through one. flange, with its end received in a suitable socket u"
in the folding sight and its point bearing on the bottom of the socket, as shown
in Figure 23. thus pressing the folding sight against, the opposite flange and
imposing the friction, necessary to hold the sight in any position. The rear side of
11

page_text: the base is made concave as shown, to permit the folding sight to be readily raised
with the thumb nail, while at the same time not projecting beyond the rear corners
of the base. The operation of this sight is precisely like that of the detachable
sight as hereinbefore set forth.
In the construction of this improved front sight, the purpose of the tongue fll is.
to afford ample bearing of the abutment on the base, and thus steady it in position,
since, if it were lacking, as the abutment is cut under to form the notch gll it wouli
have very little bearing on the base at the bottom, and would tend to rock slightly
from the vertical position under strain, unless an additional rivet be employed to
secure it. Also, the upwardly projecting part 2 on the tongue helps to hold the
folding sight in place. Figure 26 shows a modification in which the said tongue
and projection are dispensed with, an additional rivet being used to hold the abut-
ment in place.
Figures 27 to 30 inclusive show a modification of the rear sight, in the sight
bar instead of being pivoted to the breech 11 is fitted and adapted to slide in
a vertical groove or way B milled in the side thereof. The forward edge of sail
groove is beveled under, dovetailed, or otherwise formed to project over and holl
the forward edge of the sight bar in place, and the rear edge of the sight bar is
held by a suitable clamping plate Clapped over upon and clamped tightly
against it by the means hereinbefore described for clamping the pivoted sight in
place comprising the stud E screwed into the breech having a middle cylindrical
portion el fitting and passing through a hole el in the clamping plate Ci with the
clamping nut upon its outer end and the clamping handle fill by means of
which the nut may be screwed down on the stud to force the clamping plate tightly
against the sight bar and thus hold it stationary at any required elevation. In
operation when the clamping nut is released, the sight bar is free to be raised or
lowered in its groove B and it is suitably graduated by the lines d along its
forward edge which in connection with a spring pointer or indicator 9 fastened to
the breech and having its pointed end placed in the path of the said graduation,
serve to denote the height at which the sight is set or elevated for any required
range. The clamping nut is provided with a series of notches adapted to receive
the point of a suitable set screw screwed through the eye of the clamping
handle, whereby the handle may be set in any position with reference to the
breech. A flange is formed on the nut to prevent endwise movement of the
handle on the nut, and the space between said flange and the inner end of the nut
should be somewhat less than the length of the eye of the clamping handle,
which will insure a frictional bearing against the clamping plate of larger
diameter than the face of the nut. A pin C in the clamping plate projecting
slightly therefrom affords a rigid stop for limiting the swing of the lever.
set screw passing through a projection 100 on the upper part of the sight bar
and adapted to bear on the upper flat surface of the firearm, as shown in Figure 27
serves to adjust the sight at point blank, the indicator g being correspondingly
adjustable vertically on the breech, preferably by slightly elongating the hole
through which the holding screw 100 passes.
A
At the upper end, the sight bar is perforated to receive a horizontal screw
threaded stud K which carries the sight at its inner end, and is adapted to be
adjusted by a thumb nut m upon its outer end, and a spiral spring nis
arranged between the sight bar and sight and adapted to actuate the stud Ki
in the direction opposite to that in which the nut is adapted to force it. This
mechanism while serving to adjust the sight laterally to bring it to the central
position, is also adapted to be used as a wind gauge adjustment. A set screw
screwed through the edge of the sight bar with its point entering a suitable
groove t in the stud K prevents the latter from turning in its bearings.
I prefer to make the rear edges of the groove B and sight bar, substantially
parallel with the front edges thereof; that is, of rhomboidal form in cross section,
whereby as the sight bar is clamped down into the groove it will be forced
forward by the bevel of the rear edges of the sight bar and groove and its opposite

page_text: edge wedged under the dovetailed overhanging forward side of the groove, thus
securely fastening it in place. A elot of this shape may also be more easily milled,
one cut with a conical cutter being sufficient to shape both sides of the groove.
The graduated lines d may be cut sufficiently deep to form shallow notches, and
a flange or lip may be provided on the indicator gas shown in Figure 31 to enter
or snap into said notches, and thus indicate by sound the height, or number of
notches to which the sight bar. has been raised, thus enabling the operator to adjust
the sight without removing the fire-arm from the shoulder. The last notch, d100
may be made deeper than the others, serving as a stop to prevent the sight bar
from being raised too far or removed from its groove. The thumb nut m also
forms a convenient handle or knob for raising or lowering the sight bar.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. A vertically oscillating sight pivotally mounted at the side of the fire-arm
having a depending slotted spur and provided with a laterally projecting sight
base overhanging the breech and carrying a sight, a threaded stud mounted at the
side of the fire-arm projecting through the slotted spur of the sight lever, a
clamping nut mounted on the projecting part of said stud, a clamping handle
rotatively adjustable on said nut, an indicator mounted on a part fixed to the fire-
arm and the sight lever being suitably graduated with reference to the indicator, in
combination with a front sight or bead at the muzzle of the fire-arm, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
a
2. In combination with a vertically adjustable rear sight, a front sight adapted
to be secured to the gun barrel, and provided with a pair of vertical lengthwise
flanges, an abutment secured between said flanges at the front end of the sight,
folding sight pivoted between the flanges at the rear end thereof, and an ivory
sight secured intermediate of the abutment and folding sight, the latter being
adapted to a folding movement in the lengthwise plane of the barrel to conceal or
to expose the ivory sight, as and for the purpose specified.
3. In sights for fire-arms the combination of a fixed part having a groove of
rhomboidal cross section, an adjustable part fitting the said slot, and a clamping
screw or means adapted to bear or thrust upon the adjustable part on the edge
opposite that which is dovetailed into the base, to clamp the said adjustable part
firmly in the groove, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. A sight comprising in combination a sight bar mounted and adapted to
vertical adjustment at the side of the breech, a sight carried thereon and over-
hanging the axis of the gun barrel, a stud inserted in the breech, a clamping nut
mounted on said stud and adapted to clamp the sight bar stationary at any
required elevation, and an indicator for indicating the elevation of the sight,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
5. A sight comprising in combination a sight bar guided and adapted to slide
in a vertical groove at the side of the breech, a sight thereon and a clamping
screw for securing the sight bar stationary at any required elevation, said groove
and sight bar being rhomboidal in cross section with the clamping mechanism
adapted to act upon that edge of the sight bar which overlaps or lies upon the
beveled side of the groove, whereby the opposite edge of the bar will be wedged
into the corresponding V shaped part of the groove by the clamping action,
substantially as specified.
Dated th: od 1
T
2008
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.