7'/u• Whitmore Thimmertesm Goo, manufactured by the American ArIns Co., of Boston, Mass., is shown open and in partial section in Fig. 18. This arm contains, among other novel features, a triple wedge-bolt fastening and compensating devices, whereby any looseness in the mechanism due to wear can be corrected by simply adjusting a screw. The barrels can be attached to the stalk, whether the gun is cocked or not. The cocking-rod engages with the lever, which in turn engages with both hammers at the same time, so that the latter lock simultaneously. The lock is so constructed that it is impossible to intro duce a loaded shell into the gun before the latter is cocked. Another novel feature is the compensating screw in the sears which comes in contact with the hammer, forcing it into cock positively in case a sear-spring should break. The mainsprings being swiveled to the hammers, friction is reduced, conse quently the gun cocks with remarkable ease. A strong block of steel is forced over the trig gers by the double. bolt pushing a steel rod on opening the gun. By holding on to the hammers and closing the barrels, the hammers can be let down without snapping. The safety can be made automatic or independent by turning a small screw in the lock-plate in front of the trigger-guard.
The Baker Gun, made by the Baker Forging and Gun Co., of Batavia, N. V., is chiefly re markable for its simple construction and low price. The rebounding-lock has but four pieces, The mechanism is clearly shown in Fig. 19.
The Winchester Repeating Shot-Gun. manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms Co., of New Raven, Conn.. is illustrated in open position in Fig. 20, from which the system, which contains but 10 parts in all, will be readily understood. The breech-block and finger lever form one piece. and move together in opening and closing. The hammer, placed in the breech-block. is automatically cocked during the closing motion, but can also be cocked or set at half-cock by hand. The trigger and finger-lever are so adjusted that the trigger can not be pulled prematurely, and the gun can not be discharged until closed. The barrel can he examined and cleaned from the breech. The magazine and carrier hold five cartridges, which, with one in the chamber, make six at the command of the shooter.
This gun is made in both 10 and 12 gauges; the 12-gauge gun will handle shells 2f in. long, or less, and the 10-gauge will handle shells 2A in. long, or less.
To fill the magazine, throw down the lever and push four cartridges through the carrier into the magazine, placing the fifth in the carrier. The forward and backward motion of the finger-lever, which can be executed while the gun is at the shoulder, throws out the empty shell, raises a new cartridge from the magazine and puts it into the barrel. The gun is then
ready to be fired The standard length of barrel is 80 or 32 in.
171. REVOLVERS.—Colt's Double-Action Self-Cocking Revolver, made by the Colt Patent Fire-Arms Mfg Co., of Hartford; Conn., is represented in Figs. 21 and 22. Fig. 21 shows it closed, and Fig. 22 with the cylinder swung out, the ejector being represented in the act of throwing out the empty shells, after which it will he automatically returned to its place in the cylinder, which will then be ready for loading. The cylinder contains six chambers. In order to facilitate the loading of cartridges and to allow the simultaneous ejection of the emptied cartridge shells, the cylinder is so mounted upon a crane pivoted in frame below the cylinder-seat that, on drawing the cylinder-latch to the rear, the cylinder swings to the left and downward out of its seat in the frame: in this position all the chambers are presented for loading. while pressure against the end of the ejector-rod under the barrel ejects all the shells. When, after ejecting and loading, the cylinder is returned to its seat in the frame. the cylinder-latch automatically secures it there. By this construction it is pointed out that all the facilities for loading and ejecting are obtained without sacrificing the important feature of a solid frame, such as all modern Colt pistols show, there being no hinge or joint in the frame between the barrel and stock, the wearing of which might disturb the accuracy of the pistol. The hammer may be cocked by the thumb or by the trigger, and after firing it re bounds, and is positively locked in this safety position, so that it can not strike the primer of a cartridge until it is again cocked. The cylinder can not be swung out of the frame unless the hammer is in its safety position, and the act of swinging the cylinder out of the frame automatically locks the trigger and the hammer in this position. Thus premature discharges during manipulation are prevented, as also accidental discharges front blows, such as result from a fall. etc. The falling of the hammer from any position can not fire :1 shot unless the trigger is fully pulled back at the same time, as only then the hammer can fall beyond the safety position. The hand or pawl which rotates the cylinder has two working points to en gage the cylinder-ratchet, and, by an ingenious construction, this pawl also serves as cylinder bolt, and positively prevents any further rotation after one of the chambers i» the cylinder coincides with the bore of the barrel. The cylinder-latch prevents its backward rotation.