Improvements in and relating to Targets for Rifle Practice.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Aug., 1887
Complete Left, 10th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 27th Jan., 1888
Improvements in and relating to Targets for Rifle Practice.
I, THOMAS BINNIE RALSTON, Rathillet, Bothwell, in the County of Lanark, Major
in the Second Lanark Rifle Volunteers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows
:-
This invention relates to targets of the class described in the Specification of Letters
Patent granted to me and dated 4th of November, 1885, No. 13,331 and it has for
its object improvements in the means for carrying and operating the target whereby
the necessity for excavating a space for its reception when brought in rear of the
marker's mantelet is obviated, the target being thus better adapted for use on flat
ground or when projecting mounds or butts of considerable height are not available
and where it is consequently inadvisible that the target should be erected above the
ground level.
In carrying out the invention I secure the target, which is by preference made of
canvas, upon a framing carried by or formed upon a bar centred on a rock shaft or
pivot extending horizontally rearwards from the side of the marker's mantelet and
at right angles to the plane of the target front, the bar or frame being adapted to be
swung in a vertical plane from the firing position in which the bar rests horizontally
at or near the ground level to a position in which bar is vertical and the target is at
the rear of the mantelet and protected by it. The swinging bar which supports the
target is held in either position by a catch which may be disengaged by the foot of
the marker and upon the disengagement of the catch the swinging bar is started in
its swinging movement by means of a counterpoise connected to it, or to the rock shaft
the completion of the movement being effected by means of a hand lever connected to
the bar or shaft and operated by the marker.
The values of the shots aimed at the target are indicated by means of semaphores
which are caused to project through a slit in the side of the marker's cabin and which
may bear inscriptions or be of different colours, dimensions or shapes or may be

page_text: dropped to different positions to indicate the several values. The semaphores are by
preference carried vertically or at a slight inclination to the vertical upon a rod or
bar passing through an eye in the lower end of each, the semaphores being maintained
in that position by weights attached to cords or wires passing round pulleys and
connected to them, and being caused to drop by the marker raising the counterpoisc
slightly and permitting the semaphore upon passing from the vertical position to
overcome the counterpoise and drop to its full extent.
Dated this Twentieth day of August 1887
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Targets for Rifle Practice.
I, THOMAS BINNIE RALSTON, Rathillet, Bothwell, in the County of Lanark, Major
in the Second Lanark Rifle Volunteers, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 targets of the class described in the Specification filed
under Letters Patent dated the 4th day of November 1885, No. 13331, and it has for
its object improvements in the means for carrying and operating the target whereby
the necessity for excavating a space for its reception when brought down behind or in
rear of the marker's mantelet for patching purposes or for painting out shot marks
is or may be obviated when desired. The arrangement under the present Invention is
thus, whilst equally applicable where a trench or excavation can be had, better adapted
than formerly for use on flat ground or where protecting mounds or butts of con-
siderable height are not available.
On the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of the target in its
raised or highest position. Figure 2 is an elevation with the target lowered. Figure 3
is an elevation looking from the end marked X figure 1, and figure 4 is a plan of the
apparatus.
In carrying the Invention into practice I secure the target or surface A, which is
to be shot at, and which is preferably made of stretched canvas, upon a rectangular
or other frame B, which is in its turn bolted or otherwise secured to a frame C,
centred upon a shaft D, extending horizontally rearwards at right angles to the plane
of the target. The shaft D, is supported upon vertical standards E, which at their
lower ends are bolted, clamped or otherwise secured to a base F, struts or braces G
being employed in addition to the said connections when necessary to give extra
stiffness or rigidity. The lower arm or part of the frame C, has an adjustable back
balance weight H pinned to it and it is also furnished with a catch a figure 3 with
which a hook or latch 6 formed on the forward end of a lever c engages to maintain
the target A in its raised position. The lever c is centred upon one of the vertical
standards E, and instead of being a hand lever as shown it may have a treddle at its
end nearest the marker or be otherwise so arranged that it can be operated by his
foot when it is desired to release the target A.
When the target has been struck and it is desired to patch it or to obliterate the
value of the shot the lever c is so operated as to release the hook or latch b, from the catch a
which being done the target overcoming the counterpoise H swings downwards in the
direction of the arrow figure 1, through a quadrant until another catch d on the
frame C comes opposite and is caught by the hook of the lever c, the target being
then behind the marker's mantelet and in the position shown by figure 2 when it may
be patched or have the value of the shot otherwise obliterated. This being done the lever c
is again operated to release its hook or latch from the catch & when the counterpoise

page_text: weight H swings the target partially upwards the raising of it to its vertical or firing
position being completed by the marker taking hold of the frame C or other con-
venient part.
The value of the shots aimed at the target may be indicated by the semaphore
arrangements described in the Specification filed under my before mentioned patent
No. 13331 A.D. 1885, but although I do not claim it as forming any part of my
present Invention I prefer to employ the indicating arrangement shewn on the
accompanying drawings as being at the same time simpler and more convenient for
this class of target.
The said arrangement consists of a frame I mounted upon a shaft J, which is laid
parallel to the shaft D and supported by the standards E, the shaft D and J being
geared together at one end by spur wheels f. The frame I, has an adjustable counter-
poise weight K, and it also carries on a rod or spindle g, two smaller frames I., M,
the normal position of which it is at right angles to the frames I and C, that is to say
parallel to the shafts D, J. The frames L, M, which are filled is so as to present
solid flat surfaces have their opposite sides painted different colours and the colours
of the frame L, are different from those of the frame M, the four colours indicating
the four several values of a shot on the target.
Each frame L, M, has connected to it two springs h, i, the action of which is to
maintain the frames in their normal positions. When the target A has been struck
one of the frames L, M is turned against the action of its springs until it lies parallel
with the frames I and presents in the direction of the marksman its side having the
colour indicative of of the value of the shot in which position the said frame L or M,
is held by any suitable catch. This operation is performed previous to swinging
down the target as before set forth so that immediately the target is swung down the
frame I, rises to the position shewn by figure 2 and indicates the value of the shot to
the marksman.
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
A target for rifle practice consisting of a frame B, carried by a frame C so mounted
on a shaft as to be capable of swinging through a quadrant across the line of fire and
of being maintained in a raised or lowered position substantially as described with
reference to the drawings annexed.
Dated this Ninth day of December 1887.