Cook's Improved Locks for Guns

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Cook's Improved Locks for Guns, &c.                       

To JAMES COOK, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun Maker, for his Invention of certain Improvements in the method of Making and Constructing Locks for Guns, Pistols, and other Fire-arms.

[Sealed 20th May, 1824.]

THE object of this invention is the construction of gun and pistol locks upon a more simple principle than those heretofore made; instead of the usual main-spring formed as a lever, the patentee proposes that the hammer shall be projected forward in a right line, by means of a helical or worm spring, by which contrivance, all the operative parts of the gun lock are contained in a cylinder within the head of a walking stick. The inven- tion appears to be particularly suited to such guns and pistols as are to be discharged upon the percussion prin- ciple; but the helical spring may be adapted to a flint lock.

Plate XIV. fig. 6, is a section of the improved gun lock, inserted in a walking stick; a, is the barrel of the gun, at the end of which is the breach, b, formed upon what is called the patent breach principle; c, is the nipple or touch-hole, to receive the copper cap or other deto- nating contrivance; d, is the end of the plunger or hammer, projected forward by the discharge of the helical spring, e, coiled round the rod of the plunger. This rod slides through a square aperture in the cylindri- cal piece, f, and at the end of the rod is the bridle, g, with a cross or button at its extremity. The button is passed into a transverse slot or hole, in the plate of the buck horn handle, h, which handle rises up on the hinge joint, i.

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The gun is to be loaded in the usual way, but instead of a ramrod, a brass plug, carried in the pocket of the sportsman, is to be made use of, for the purpose of forcing the paper or wadding upon the charge. For priming the gun, the stick unscrews at the joint, b, when the copper cap or other detonating contrivance is put upon the nipple or touch-hole, and the parts screwed together again. In cocking, the end of the hooked handle is to be raised upon its joint, which by means of the button passed through the slot, draws the sliding plunger and spring back, and they are held in that position by the sear k, which falls into a notch in the plunger rod. When the gun has been thus cocked, the handle is pressed down again to its former position, and it may be carried as an ordinary walking stick. To discharge the gun, it is to be brought up to the shoulder as usual, and aim taken along the side of the barrel, the trigger being then pulled by the finger, the sear liberates the sliding rod, and the helical spring carries it forward with great force, causing the plunger or hammer to strike against the end of the touch-hole or nipple, and by the blow to explode the detonating composition, which sets fire to the gun- powder within.

The lock, with all the mechanism for discharging the gun, being placed within the diameter of the barrel, its appearance is simply that of an ordinary cane, with a buck horn head, and a plug ferrule in the bottom or muzzle. In the heaviest rain no water can insinuate itself to the priming, and the copper cap or other detonating contrivance being unclosed, its particles cannot fly about when discharged; and the simplicity of the contrivance renders it extremely improbable that the lock should at any time get out of order while using.

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To accommodate those sportsmen, who are attached to the old mode of pressing the butt of the piece against the shoulder, the inventor has contrived that the head may be detached from the barrel, and a butt carried in the pocket of the sportsman, screwed on when required. The patentee states, that the barrels of these guns are made of the best twisted stub iron, are equal in quality to those commonly charged twenty guineas, and will kill as far off as any guns that are made; they are safer to shoot with than any other description of guns, as only one-half the powder is required to charge with, from the circumstance that ignition takes place in the centre of the patent breach, and all the powder is discharged at once, Beside these advantages, it possesses one which may be thought of some importance, viz: gentlemen and farmers in walking over their grounds, need only take in their hand what may appear to be a walking stick, and still be prepared for any game that may cross their way, without the formidable appearance of carrying a gun.

 [ Inrolled, November, 1824.]

Fig.6   ---Cooks Imp. Gun lock.