Patent: Ernst Paul

Canada 47595
Specification

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ernst Paul, a citizen of the Kingdom of Prussia, and a resident of Wiesbaden, in the Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Revolvers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved firearm which will also comprise a knife and serve as a thrust weapon; and the improvement consists generally in forming the butt-end of the pistol in two sections, one of which serves as a sheath for a knife, which may be at once thrown into position ready for use, and also to provide novel means for operating the blade by the single pressure of a button.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the preferred form, construction, and arrangement of parts comprising my invention:-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a revolver with the butt-sheath in longitudinal section.
Fig. 2, an end elevation thereof, looking to the front in the direction of the revolver sights with the butt-sheath in transverse longitudinal section.
Fig. 3, a side elevation of the knife-blade detached.
Fig. 4, a back edge view thereof.
Fig. 5, a transverse longitudinal section of the butt-sheath with the knife enclosed and secured therein.
Fig. 6, a similar view of the same with the knife projecting half its length from the sheath.
Fig. 7, a similar view of the sheath with the knife un sheathed to the full length of the blade and secured in such position.
Fig. 8, a plan or top view of the blade with the slot and enlargements at the ends thereof shown by dotted lines.

The drawings represent my invention applied to what is generally known as a “Colt’s Navy Revolver,” with the butt A or the butt sheath h forming part of the same, as hereinafter described, shown in section to receive a knife-blade a, the upper half or handle end b, of which is made flat and thin, with a division shoulder or thickness c between said knife-blade a, and the handle end b. A hole d, drilled through the shoulder thickness c, and a similar hole e at the upper end of the handle end b, are connected by a long narrow slot extending nearly the full length of the handle end b of the blade, and short stubs g upon one side of the blade project from the top edge of the thickness c upon either side of the slot f, and thus form the blade complete ready to be placed within the sheath h, and secured therein in the following described manner.

A small outwardly-projecting socket h’ and an inwardly-projecting stub i upon one side and a perforation h^2 upon the other side of the sheath in axial line with said socket h’ complete the sheath h ready to receive the above-described knife-blade and its operating connections. Two spiral springs k are arranged, one upon each side of the slot f in the knife-blade, to press or exert their tension between the stub i upon the inner side of the sheath h and the stubs g projecting from the top edge of the thickness c, thus to serve in firmly and truly pressing the blade out from the sheath with a quick forcible movement when it is released from the spanner l, which holds it therein. The spanner l is a short steel pin made to snugly fit the perforation h^2 in the sheath h, also to snugly fit the slot f of the blade, and having an enlarged hub l’ upon its inner end, which snugly fits the drilled holes d and e at the ends of the slot f of the blade, when they are respectively brought opposite the socket h’ in the side of the sheath h. The socket h’ holds a small spiral spring m’ which presses against the outer end of the enlarged hub l’ of the pin l and tends to press the said pin l outwardly to project beyond the outer face of the sheath h when not otherwise acted upon, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7 of the drawings, and which is accomplished only when the knife is held within the sheath be beans of a hub l’ engaging with the enlarged socket d in the middle of the blade, as shown in figure b, and when the said hub l’ engages with the enlarged socket d in the middle of the blade, as shown in figure b, and when the said hub l’ engages with the enlarged socket e at the end of the blade, and in the respective ends of slot f, as shown in figure 7, on which last named position the blade is securely held to project its full length out of the sheath, and can only be pushed back again into the sheath by pressing upon the pin l, until the enlargement l’ is pushed out of the socket e, and the blade being pressed against some unyielding substance permits the small end l of the pin to be moved in the slot f, as shin in figure 6, its full length, until the spring m again forces the large end l’ of the min l into the middle socket d in the blade, and securely holds the blade within the sheath against the pressure of the spring k above described. The spying m is of sufficient strength to prevent the accidental movement of the pin l when in the last named position, by pressing with sufficient force upon the projecting end of the pin 1, as is figure 5, the blade will be releases and the spring k will quickly force the blade out into the position shown in figure 7, and securely held be the pressure of spring m upon l, to force the enlargement l’ into the socket e, when they shall come opposite each other and hold the blade securely ready for use.

The knife becomes a powerful defensive weapon when the pistol is reversed, and the hand grasps the butt-end in such position that the knife will project forwardly from the clenched hand with the barrel of the pistol resting against and supported by the back of the forearm. Although my invention is shown as applied to a pistol, it may be similarly applied to the butt or handle of any small firearm; but it would be less convenient and also dangerous in its application to small arms to be handled by placing the butt to the shoulder without the employment of some safety attachment, readily suggested by one skilled in the art, as a screw-thread and nut upon the outer end of the pin l, to prevent the accidental discharge of the knife-blade from the butt-sheath while the latter is being held against the shoulder.

The exterior contour of the sheath h conforms to the shape of the half butt-piece p placed upon the opposite side, and both halves are made to conform to the shape of the steel frame-piece n, within which the elliptical spring o, of ordinary form, is placed for operating the lock mechanism in the usual way. The sheath half of the butt may thus at any time be removed and a butt-piece of any preferred material substituted therefor, or my attachment may be readily made to any revolving pistol by removing one of the side butt-pieces and substituting my sheath butt-piece of corresponding shape.

The knife becomes a powerful defensive weapon when the pistol is reverse, and the hand grasps the bitt end in such a position, that the knife will project forwardly from the clenched hand with the barrel of the pistol resting against and supported by the back of the fire-arm. Although my invention is shown applies to a pistol, it may be similarly applied to the butt or handle of any small fire arm, but it would be less convenient and also dangerous in its application to small arms, to be handled by placing the butt to the shoulder without the employment of some safety attachment readily suggested by one skilled in the art, as a screw thread and nut upon the outer end of the pin l to prevent the accidental discharge of the knife blade form the butt sheath while the latter is being held against the shoulder.

The exterior contour of the sheath h conforms to the shape of the half butt piece p placed upon the opposite side, and both halves are made to conform to the shape of the steel frame piece n within, which the elliptical spring o of ordinary form is placed for operating the lock mechanism in the usual way.

The sheath half of the butt may thus at any time be removed, and the but piece of any preferred material substituted therefor, or any attachment may e readily made to any revolving pistol by removing one of the side butt pieces and substituting my sheath but piece of corresponding shape.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent-

1. A combined thrust arm and had fire-arm, comprising a butt-sheath, and a knife blade adapted to be held therein, substantially as described.

2. A combined arm, comprising a fire-arm, a butt adapted to receive a knife blade, and a spring held within the butt to act upon the blade, substantially as described.

3. A fire-arm, comprising a removable butt sheath conforming to a section of said butt piece, and a knife held within said sheath, substantially as described.

4. A sheath knife, adapted to fit the butt of a fire-arm comprising a casing h, a blade a b, having perforations d e, slot f and stub g, a spring k and a spanner pin l, substantially as described.

5. A sheath knife, adapted to fir the butt of a fire-arm comprising a casing h, having a socket h; and stub i, a blade a b having a slot d e f, and stub g, a spring k, a spanner pin and a spring m to fit the socket h’, and act upon the spanner, substantially as described.