The lver Johnson semi-hammerless automatic ejector single gun is new in principle, having neither top nor side action. It is easy to load and fire and is absolutely safe in any position, without the use of bungling safety devices. It can be opened, closed and fired without changing the position of the hands. This is accomplished by the barrel catch. which is made with a loop or ring, as will be seen in Figure 2, and which is easily operated. This catch locks the hammer, and the hammer, in turn, locks the barrel catch ; therefore, the gun, when at full cock, can not be opened until the trigger is released and the catch operated. If the hammer should be at full cock and the barrel open, the latter could not be closed. This prevents accidents; for should the barrel fly open when the gun is discharged, an accident would happen. Again, if the hammer should be at full cock and the barrel open, a shell might be inserted, the g-un closed and the trigger touched, also causing accident. This can not happen, however, as the hammer must be down before the gun can be closed. The only way to discharge the gun is to pull the trigger. The hammer can not be made to strike the shell by any other means. The barrel catch is so constructed that it will take up all wear automatically and the gun will remain tight. It is not necessary to remove the front stock to take the gun apart, as a neat and ingenious device, consisting of a flush head locking bolt, which is easily operated, holds the barrel in place; removed, the gun is apart.
The automatic shell ejector is positive and quick in action, and automati cally throws the shell from the gun after firing. The hammer and trigger are operated by the same spring, the hammer getting the full force of the spring and rebounding only after the trigger is released. In many guns the spring has to be heavy and stiff to overcome the rebound, and the action is hard in conse quence. Other features are the single-locking bolt ; rebounding lock; center hammer; and fewness of parts. The 12 gauge has a 3o or 32 inch barrel and weighs 6%, pounds. The 16 g-auge has a 3o inch barrel and weighs 6%4 pounds.
The new trigger action gun, Fig,ure 3, is a very recent production. It is neither top snap, side snap, nor ring action, the gun being controlled by a single trigg-er which becomes effective whenever the gun is closed and the hammer down; or, in other words, when the hammer is cocked, the trigg,er is effective only with relation to the firing, mechanism, and when the hammer is down it is only effective with relation to thc action of the gun.
This gun, like the others, is very simple and has few parts; the main spring operates the hammer and rebounding lock ; the barrel catch automatically takes up wear, and by reason of the action described is absolutely safe.