US135624A

US135624A - Improvement in combined gun-stocks and spades

Info

Publication number: US135624A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1873-02-11
Anticipated expiration: 1890-02-11

Description

BLAKE.

Cdmhined Gun-Stock and Spade.

No.135,624, PatentedFeb.H,1873.

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AM PHOTU-LITHOEHAPH/C co. 1v. 1((oseomvsls PROCESS.)

I VILLIAM E. BLAKE, ()F NEW YORK, N. Y.

lMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED GUN-STOCKS AND SPADES Specification forming'part of Letters Patent No. 135,624. dated February 11, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM EDWARD BLAKE, of New York city, State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Gun- Stocks, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to construct and provide a gun with the stock so constructed that the butt of the same can be used as a shovel or spade, when so required; also to give the small or wrist of the stock between the said butt and the barrel such a bend or twist that it will be easier to fire and take aim with than the present-used straight wrist, and will serve the purpose of a spade or shovel better thana straight wrist.

At present the soldiers, especially the sap pers, miners, and engineers, are provided with an extra shovel or spade, carried in a separate sling or belt when on duty in throwing up embankments, fortifications, rifle-pits, 850. Such an extra tool is a great detriment to the marching and to the movements in general of the soldiers. Experience has shown that soldiers in engagement throw away all implements and extra weighty articles which are not absolutely necessary for their safety and comfort. The last article a soldier would part with is his gun, because on this he depends for defense and life. Hence, I have made the present invention, which converts the gun into a spade or shovel without burdening the soldier or carrier with an extra weight, or in any way impairing the efficiency of the gun.

Figure I is a side view of a gun embodying my invention. Fig. II is a plan view of the same with the cover removed. Fig. III is a sectional side view (enlarged size) of the the shoulder-rest with the end piece attached. Fig. IV is an end view of the same with the end-piece removed. Fig. V is a front view of the end-piece.

A is the shoulder and head rest; B, the neck, attached to the barrel-rest D in any convenient manner.

As will be seen in Fig. IV, the shoulder and head rest are made out of a hollow piece of metal, or partly wood, partly metal-I prefer cast-stee1--which has the form of a shovel or spade. p

To the end of this rest is fitted a movable piece, E, which at any moment can be attached or detached by aid of the spring 9 and the notches b I), made in the inside near the end of the rest A. When this piece is placed on the shoulder-rest it is just as convenient for firing as any other gun. When removed the spade or shovel is ready for use. A screwdriver, c, is attached to this end-piece E, runnin g in the groove (1, which can be pushed out by aid of the knob 0 through an opening, f. The spring 9 fastened to the end-piece E by aid of the screws h h, serves, by aid of the catch 1', guide j, and notches b b in the shoulderrest A, to hold it in its place. In Fig. II the bend and twist to the neck B, which connects the barrel-rest D to the shoulder and head rest A, is represented. This bend serves a double purpose First, to give facility for aimingand firing the gun 5 secondly, it makes a better and more serviceable spade or shovel, and more convenient and easy to handle than a straight neck. In order to protect the shoulder and head-rest A as Well as the end-piece E, and make the handling of the metal of which the rest A is constructed, more convenient to the soldier or carrier of the gun, and also to form a receptacle for ammunition or other articles the soldier or gun-carrier needs, a cover, H, is slipped over the said rest and end-piece, and fastened by the neck B in any convenient manner.

Having thus fully described my invention, I desire to claiml.v A shovel or spade formed of the head and shoulder rest A of a gun-stock, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

2. A twist or bend given to the neck B of a gun-stock, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

WILLIAM EDWARD BLAKE.

Witnesses:

FRANKLIN BARRI'II, J.