US 24312
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
A. LE MAT, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.
ADJUSTABLE HAMMER FOR REVOVING FIRE-ARMS.
Specification of Letters Patent No. 24,312, dated June 7, 1859.
To all whom it may concern:
Be it known that I, Alex. Le Mat, of New Orleans, State of Louisiana, have invented a new and Improved Hammer for Revolving Firearms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.
The nature of my invention consists in providing, 1st, a movable head for the purpose hereinafter specified; and, 2d, two lateral wings to hold the revolving cylinder in place.
C To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.
When the said hammer is adapted to my grape shot revolver, it is constructed as represented in Figure 1, A. A movable head B, Fig. 2, is required to fire of either the central barrel or the revolving chambers, at the will of the operator; B’ representing lateral projections to afford a “point d’appui” to the thumb in lowering or lifting up the movable head. When adapted to other revolving arms the head of the hammer is simple and immovable. In either case the said head of the hammer is provided, sidewise, with small wings C and C’, Figs. 2 and 3, for the purpose of holding the revolving cylinder fast, and thus preventing it from any displacement.
Fig. 3 represents the movable head magnified in the same proportions as Fig. 2.
E exhibits a perforation to admit a pivot or axle F, upon which the motion of the movable head takes place, uniting it at the same time to the hammer A. A spring D, which is fastened by a screw J, serves for retaining the movable head in either of the positions required by the operator. An ordinary revolving cylinder is represented in Fig. 4, G, showing the manner in which it is retained by the small wings C, C’ Figs. 2 and 3.
Fig. 5, H exhibits the position of the movable head for firing the central barrel of my grape shot revolver, I, Fig. 5, being a lever connected with the main spring of the lock.
K, Fig. 6, is a view of the hammer, seen from above.
I do not claim the hammer having a hinged head merely, such as is shown in the patent of F. Beerstecher, of Sept. 25th 1855, but:
What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is—
Providing the hammer with a hinged head so arranged that it shall present the same face in different directions for the purpose of discharging in Succession different barrels or a grape shot pistol, and a revolving fire arm— as may be desired;— and providing the same with Small lateral wings for locking the revolving chambers in position, in the manner and for the purposes herein set forth.
A. LE MAT.
Attest:
John S. Hollingshead,
C. Girard.