US 628356
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
EDWARD SABINE REN WICK, OF MILLBURN, NEW JERSEY.
FINGER GUARD FOR REVOLVERS.
SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,356, dated July 4, 1899. Application filed Novemberl2, 1897, Serial No. 658,233.
To all whom it may concern:
l3e it known that I, Edward Sabine Renwick, of Millburn, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have made an invention of certain new and useful Improvements in Revolving Firearms; and I declare that the following, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description and specification of the same.
When shooting with a single-barreled pistol, such as a duelling pistol or a deringer, it is customary for those who are experienced to place the extended index-finger at the side of the barrel, because in this position that finger points naturally at the object and directs the aim, so that accurate aiming is readily attained. Such an extended condition of the index-finger with a revolver would be dangerous, because-it would then lie at the side of the chambered cylinder and would overlap the seam between that cylinder and the inner end of the barrel and would be subjected to the flame and clippings of lead that are ejected laterally at that seam. Hence when shooting with a repeating-pistol it is customary with the generality of persons, so far as my observation has informed me, to apply the index-finger to the trigger and to grasp the handle with the other three fingers and the thumb. In this practice if the hand be held in its natural position the barrel of the pistol points upward and would overshoot the object. Hence it is customary to bend the hand downward at the wrist in order to shoot accurately with a revolver, and much practice is required to determine the proper extent of the bend. On the other hand, if the extended index-finger could be safely applied to the side of the chambered cylinder accurate aim with a revolver would be quickly and easily acquired.
My invention applies specially to pistols constructed with revolving chambered cylinders for the charges; and its object is to enable the index-finger to direct the aim without risk of injury from gas or lead escaping at the seam between the forward end of the cylinder and the rear end of the barrel.
To this end my invention consists of a finger-guard and of certain combinations of the principal members of a revolving-cylinder firearm with a finger-guard, as recited in the claims at the close of this specification.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I have represented in the accompanying drawings and will proceed to describe the best modes which I have thus far devised for embodying my invention, it being understood that the same may be modified as circumstances or the views of the different constructors render expedient.
In said drawings, Figure 1 represents a sideview of a repeating-pistol, embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a top view of the same. Fig. 3 represents a cross-section of the same at the line x x of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a side view of a repeating-pistol embodying a modification of my invention.
The lock-frame A of the repeating-pistol represented in said drawings, the chambered revolving cylinder B, and the barrel C may be constructed and combined with each other in any one of the styles in common use, and therefore do not need a detailed description.
In order that my invention may be embodied in the repeating-firearm represented in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, a finger-guard D is arranged at the right-hand side of the cylinder B. This finger-guard may be flat transversely or curved; but it is preferably constructed of curved or gutter form, with a shank a at one end, by which it can be secured to the pistol with its convex side adjacent to the revolving cylinder B, as shown in Fig. 2. The forward end of the finger-guard overlaps the seam e between the forward end of the cylinder B and the rear end of the barrel C, so that when the index-finger of the user is extended along the finger-guard that finger is effectually protected from flame or lead clippings that may be ejected laterally at the seam. The finger-guard so located constitutes a guide for the index-finger when the revolver is fired. The finger-guard thus described may be made as a separate article of manufacture, adapted to being secured by screws or other means to repeating-pistols already in use. The gutter or curved form represented in the drawings is preferred, because in such case when it is secured with its concave side outward the form of the guard tends to hold the index-finger parallel with the barrel of the pistol and facilitates aiming it at the object.
In place of securing the finger-guard to the frame of the pistol it may be secured to the rear end of the barrel, as represented at Fig. 4. Whether, however, the finger-guard bear ranged as in Fig. 1 or as in Fig. 4 the frame A, the revolving cylinder B of the pistol, and barrel Care all combined together for operation, and the finger-guard D is combined for operation with each and all of those three members.
I claim as my invention—
1. A finger-guard for revolving firearms adapted to extend longitudinally of the same from the breech end to receive and protect the finger of the right hand of the operator, substantially as described.
2. The combination of the frame of a revolving firearm with a finger-guard arranged to project from it at the right side of the location for the cylinder, substantially as before set forth.
3. The combination with the frame of the firearm, the revolving chambered cylinder, the barrel, and the finger-guard arranged to project at the right-hand side of said cylinder and to overlap the seam between said cylinder, and barrel all substantially as be fore set forth.
4. A revolver frame or stock having a guide for the index-finger of the right hand extending in the same general direction as the barrel, substantially as described.
In witness whereof I hereto set my name this 3d day of November, A. D. 1897.
EDWARD SABINE RENWICIK.
Witnesses:
Jas. E. Warner,
Edward Walther.