GB2242967A - A shotgun - Google Patents

Abstract

A shotgun 2 comprising a barrel section 4, a forend 6, an action 28, and stock 8 is characterised by the combination of a self-opening mechanism 10 (such as used in Purdey shotguns) for opening the barrel section 4 with respect to the action 28, and a rounded shape 12 on the forend 6, the action 28 and on the adjacent part of the stock 8. Features pertaining to the side and the bottom of the rounded shape are specified. Part of the forend 6 may be flat and not curved to fit around the barrel section 4. The self-opening mechanism comprises a mainspring (42) acting via cam (44) and push rod (40) upon barrel lifter (38) to help the barrel section 4 move to its open position. <IMAGE>

Description

A SHOTGUN This invention relates to a shotgun.

Shotguns are well known and they generally comprise a barrel section, a forend, an action and a stock. The barrel section usually comprises one or two barrels. Probably the best known and respected of all shotguns are Purdey shotguns. The Purdey shotguns are manufactured by craftsmen and they have a self-opening mechanism for opening the barrel section with respect to the action and the stock.

Shotguns are also known having a rounded shape on the forend, the action and on the adjacent part of the stock. This rounded shape is aesthetically pleasing and it is highly regarded by many persons owning shotguns. A known shotgun having such a rounded shape is a Boss shotgun.

The shotguns having the rounded shape do not have a Purdeystyle self-opening mechanism, for example of the type employed in Purdey shotguns.

Purdey shotguns have been known for very many years. Also, shotguns with the rounded shape have been known for very many years. In spite of this, no one has produced a shotgun having the advantages of both of the known types of shotgun, i.e. the Purdey self-opening mechanism with the rounded shape. It is believed that the reason for this is that gun makers and gun experts have never thought of providing this combination and, even if they had thought of providing the combination, they would almost certainly have thought that the combination was not possible.

The present invention is based on therealisation that the thinking of gun makers and gun experts over many years has either not been directed towards the provision of a shotgun with a self-opening mechanism and a rounded shape, or has been dismissive of the idea since one could not just take a known self-opening mechanism from a Purdey shotgun and get it to operate on a shotgun with a rounded shape on the forend, the action and on the adjacent part of the stock.

Accordingly, this invention provides a shotgun comprising a barrel section, a forend, an actxn,and a stock; the shotgun being characterised by the combination of a selfopening mechanism for opening the barrel section with respect to the action, and a rounded shape on the forend, the action and on the adjacent part of the stock.

The shotgun of the present invention may be one in which the side of the rounded shape is such that it comprises at least one of the following: (a) a lockplate which is 50/1000 inch thicker than in a Purdey shotgun; (b) the lockplate is machined into the rounded shape such that it is 25/1000 inch deeper than in a Purdey shotgun; (c) the lockplate has a half lip which sits in a half recess; (d) the round shape is formed by filing and is such that there are no gutters or beading; (e) a breech part of the shotgun is filed round to suit the rounded lockplate butted to it; and (f) the lockplate is the same length as in a Purdey shotgun.

The shotgun may be one in which the bottom of the rounded shape is such that it comprises at least one of the following: (g) the bottom of the rounded shape is 50/1000 inch thicker than in a Purdey shotgun; and (h) a cross pin hole is 25/1000 inch smaller on the head of the cross pin, in order that when forming the rounded action by filing metal work, the head of the cross pin is not broken into.

Preferably, the forend is flat.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a shotgun; Figure 2 is an enlarged view of part of the shotgun as shown in Figure 1, in an open position in order to illustrate the self-opening mechanism of the shotgun; < Figure 3 is a view similar to that in Figure 2 but shows the shotgun in a closed condition; Figure 4 is a top view of part of the shotgun as shown in Figures 2 and 3; and Figure 5 is a bottom view of the shotgun as shown in Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a shotgun 2 comprising a barrel section 4, a forend 6, an action 28, a lock 24 and a stock 8. The shotgun 2 is such that the barrel section 4 has a pair of side by side barrels but the shotgun 4 could also have a single barrel or a pair of barrels mounted one on top of each other as may be desired.

The shotgun 2 has a self-opening mechanism 10 for opening the barrel section 4 with respect to the action 28, the lock 24 and the stock 8. The shotgun 2 also has a rounded shape 12 on the forend 6, the lock 24, the action 28, and on the adjacent part of the stock 8.

The shotgun 2 is also such that the stock 8 has a hand portion 16, a trigger guard 18 and a pair of triggers 20, one for each barrel in the barrel section 4. The shotgun 2 has metal work 22 which extends on both sides of the hand portion 16. As shown most clearly in Figure 2, the metal work 22 for each side comprises a lockplate 24 and lockwork 26.

The part 14 has a round action body portion 28 adjacent the end 30 of the barrel section 4.

The part 14 oftheaction 28 supports a crosspin 32 about which the barrel section 4 is pivotable between the open position shown in Figure 2 and the closed position shown in Figure 3. The crosspin 32 is formed in a knuckle portion 34 forming the end of the part 14 of the action 28.

The shotgun 2 is opened by means of the self-opening mechanism 10. The self-opening mechanism 10 comprises a lever 36 which is mounted on top of the part 14 as shown. Pivoting of the lever 36 in a horizontal direction as shown causes opening of the barrel section 4 to the position shown in Figure 2. The self-opening mechanism 10 comprises a barrel lifter 38, a pushrod 40, a mainspring 42, and a cam 44. When the lever 36 is pivoted to its open position, the barrel section 4 tends to fall open under the action of gravity. As this happens, the mainspring 42 acts on the cam 44 to pivot the cam 44 in a clockwise direction as shown in Figure 2. This clockwise pivoting of the cam 44 causes the push rod 40 to be moved to the left as shown in Figure 2 and to cause the barrel lifter 38 to pivot in an anti-clockwise direction.The barrel lifter 38 thus acts on the barrel section 4 to help it to move to its open position as shown in Figure 2. The barrel section 4 can be moved from its opened position to its closed position as shown in Figure 3 by flicking the barrel section 4 upwardly or by manually moving the barrel section 4 upwardly to its closed position.

Figure 4 illustrates how the lever 36 pivots about a pivot pin 46. Figure 4 also illustrates how the barrel section 4 of the shotgun can be removed from the action 28 and the stock 8. Thus the part 14 of the action 28 is provided with a front slot 48 and a back slot 50 for receiving appropriately shaped members (not shown) on the underside of the end 30 of the barrel section 4.

Figure 5 illustrates the back of the part 14, and also illustrates the trigger plate 54.

The rounded portions of the forend 6 and the parts 14, 24 are shown with curved lines in Figures 1, 3 and 5. The curved part of the forend 6 is shown with cross hatched lines in Figure 2. The shape in plan of the forend 6 should also be noted from Figure 5. The shotgun 2 is such that the side of the rounded shape 12 has been produced by having the following features:: (a) the lockplate 24 is 50/1000 inch thicker than in a Purdey shotgun; (b) the lockplate 24 is machined into the rounded shape 25/1000 inch deeper than in a Purdey shotgun; (c) the lockplate 24 has a half lip which sits in a half recess, whereas a Purdey shotgun has a complete lip; (d) the round shape is formed by filing and is such that there are no gutters or beading; (e) the breech 52 of the shotgun 2 is filed round to suit the rounded lockplate butted to it; (f) the lockplate 24 is the same length as in a Purdey shotgun; (g) the bottom of the rounded shape as shown in Figure 5 is such that it is 50/1000 inch thicker than in a Purdey shotgun; (h) a crosspin hole taking the crosspin 32 is 25/1000 inch smaller than the head of the crosspin 32, so that when the round action is formed by filing, the head of the crosspin is not broken into; ; (i) a part of the forend 6 is kept flat and is not curved to fit around the barrel section 4, this being to make it easier to form the required round shape with tapered bars of the barrel section 4; and (j) no drop points are carved on the wood of the hand portion 16 of the stock 8 next to the lockplate 24, since the round body shape is an extension of the shape of the hand portion of the stock.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected.

As used herein, the measurement 50/1000 inch equates to 0.127mm, and the measurement 25/1000 inch equates to 0.0635mm.

Claims (5)

1. A shotgun comprising a barrel section, a forend, an action and a stock; the shatgun being characterised by the combination of a self-opening mechanism for opening the barrel section with respect to the action, and a rounded shape on the forend, the action and on the adjacent part of the stock.

2. A shotgun according to claim 1 in which the side of the rounded shape is such that it comprises at least one of the following: (a) a lockplate which is 50/1000 inch thicker than in a Purdey shotgun; (b) the lockplate is machined into the rounded shape such that it is 25/1000 inch deeper than in a Purdey shotgun; (c) the lockplate has a half lip which sits in a half recess; (d) the round shape is formed by filing and is such that there are no gutters or beading; (e) a breech part of the shotgun is filed round to suit the rounded lockplate butted to it; and (f) the lockplate is the same length as in a Purdey shotgun.

3. A shotgun according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the bottom of the rounded shape is such that it comprises at least one of the following: (g) the bottom of the rounded shape is 50/1000 inch thicker than in a Purdey shotgun; and (h) a cross pin hole is 25/1000 inch smaller on the head of the cross pin, in order that when forming the round section by filing metal work, the head of the cross pin is not broken into.

4. A shotgun according to any one of the preceding claims in which the forend is flat.

5. A shotgun substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.