PEEP-SIGHT FOR FIREARMS - United States Patent 600,104

PEeP-SIGHT FOR FIREARMS

United States Patent 600104

Filing date: March 27, 1897

Issue date: March 1, 1898

Inventor: ALFRED WEED

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Alfred Weed, a citizen of the United States, residing at Anderson, in the county of Madison and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Peep-Sights for Rifles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in peep-sights for firearms; and it consists, substantially, in such features of construction, arrangement, and combinations of parts as will hereinafter be more particularly described.

Devices of this character usually comprise a sight carried by an arm which is capable of being turned into proper position above the barrel of the gun or firearm, and which sight is also capable of adjustment both vertically and laterally for the purposes for which the device is required. Many forms of devices have been heretofore devised with various objects in view tending to the perfection of such devices, but in a number of cases the devices have been so constructed and arranged as to result in an obstruction to the perfect operation either of the breech-block or some other working part of the firearm, and for which reason alone they are objectionable. In some instances in order to avoid being in the way of the breech-block it has been found necessary to place the sight a considerable distance back of the block, and this has been found to be very dangerous, since in the recoil of the gun or arm the eye of the person using the arm was likely to be injured. Furthermore, in many former instances the devices have embodied the use of springs and locking devices, all of which added to the construction as well as to the expense of manufacture thereof.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the objections above mentioned and to provide a peep-sight for firearms which is capable of being adjusted to the greatest accuracy, and one also that embodies but few parts, which when placed or disposed in proper position upon the gun will be found to present no obstruction to any of the working parts, substantially as will hereinafter more fully appear. These and other objects are accomplished by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein--

Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of an ordinary rifle having my improvements embodied in connection therewith, the said view indicating the sight-arm as being turned down out of the way. Fig. 2 is a perspective view representing the sight-arm as being turned over into position for use and also indicating the slide which carries said arm as being slightly raised or elevated in its supporting-guide. Fig. 3 is a side view with the sight-arm turned down against the side of its slide. Fig. 4 is a central vertical sectional view of the peep-sight to more clearly indicate the construction and arrangement of parts. Fig. 5 is a view of a modification indicating the slide for the sight-arm as moving in guides formed on the side of the firearm or rifle.

My invention is capable of a great many different embodiments in use, and while I have herein represented certain preferred forms thereof it will be understood that I am not limited thereto in detail, but that I am at liberty to make such immaterial changes therein as may be required or demanded by the exigencies of particular cases. While being adapted to different types of firearms or rifles, my invention is intended more particularly for use in such types as the "Winchester" and the "Marlin" rifles.

As herein represented and as essential to the proper working of the peep-sight, some means are required by which to adjust the vertical position of the sight as well also as to enable the part or arm carrying the sight to be turned into proper position for use, and also to enable said arm to be turned down against the side of the rifle so as to not be in the way. Many forms of devices could be resorted to for effecting the said adjustment, but I either employ a guide that is detachable from the side of the rifle or arm or else form the guide in the side of the arm itself. Thus, as shown in the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a flat plate formed with side flanges 2 2 on its outer face, which flanges between them constitute a channel or groove 3, and in the bottom of the groove or channel is formed an opening 4, that is countersunk and through which is passed or inserted a screw 5 for securing the plate to the side of the rifle or firearm; also, in the bottom of the groove or channel is an opening 6, preferably slightly elongated, as shown, and secured to the side flanges 2 2 are strips 3a 3a preferably of spring-steel, which are a little wider than the flanges, so as to project slightly beyond the inner edges of the latter. As thus constructed the plate constitutes a support and guide for a slide 7, which snugly fits the channel or groove 3 and which when raised or lowered is held in place by the pressure of the edges of the strips 3a 3a thereon. Said slide is also provided with an opening 8, which is slightly elongated, and when the slide is lowered in its guide or support the said elongated opening 8 alines or coincides with the opening 6 in the said plate 1. These openings when thus brought into alinement serve to receive the sight substantially as is shown in Figs. 1 and 3, so that there is no liability to breakage or injury thereof when the peep-sight is not in use. The arm 10, which carries the sight 11, could be united or connected with the slide 7 in any suitable way, so as to be capable of being turned down out of the way and to be turned over into position for use; but I have found an ordinary hinge connection to be simple and effective and I have therefore employed such form herein. Thus the upper end of the said slide 7 is formed with the perforated lugs or offsets 12, which receive between them a similar perforated lug 13, formed on the inner end of the sight-arm 10, and passing through these perforated lugs, so as to movably join the sight-arm to the upper end of the slide, is a screw 14, which may be tightened to produce the desired amount of friction necessary to maintain the said sight-arm against accidental movement after adjustment. The sight 11, as shown, consists of a small ring having a central sight-opening therethrough mounted on a block or plate 16, which is secured to the end of the sight-arm by means of a screw 17 entering the under side of the latter at or near the end thereof. Said screw passes through an elongated opening 18 in the sight-arm and into the block or plate 16, and in this way the sight is capable of adjustment on the said arm. Of course other means could be provided for thus adjustably securing the sight to the sight-arm, but the means shown are those preferred in practice, for the reason that they are exceedingly simple and inexpensive.

As thus constructed and arranged, it will be seen that when not in use the sight-arm is turned down against the side of the slide 7 in such manner that the sight 11 enters the openings 6 and 8, heretofore mentioned, and in virtue of the construction and arrangement described it will be apparent that the peep-sight does not project from the side of the rifle to any appreciable extent. Whenever it is desired to bring the sight into position, the sight-arm is turned upward and over in the manner shown in Fig. 2, and the slide 7 is raised or elevated in its guide or support to the proper height required.

The device of my invention is readily attached to the side of a rifle or similar firearm and does not require that the rifle or arm be altered in construction, except when the slide is supported to be guided in a groove or channel formed in the side of the rifle or arm itself--such, for instance, as is shown in Fig. 5. In said figure a dovetailed form of groove is preferably employed or shown; but it is obvious that the said slide could be supported in various ways according to requirements and preferences.

It will be seen that my improved peep-sight is an exceedingly simple device embodying a vertically-movable slide and a sight-arm movably joined to said slide and capable of being turned against the side of the arm or slide, as well as being carried into such position as to bring the sight aperture or opening into alinement with the axis of the barrel of the rifle. I thus dispense with special locking devices for holding the sight-arm in position, and I also dispense with springs and catches heretofore employed with many forms of similar devices.

Without limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement of details shown, what I claim is--

1. A peep-sight for firearms, comprising a vertically-adjustable slide, a sight-arm movably joined to said slide and adapted to be turned outward and downward against and parallel with the side of the slide, and a sight carried by said sight-arm, substantially as described.

2. A peep-sight for firearms, comprising a vertically-adjustable slide having an opening, a sight-arm in movable connection with said slide and carrying a sight adapted to be turned down into said opening in the slide when the sight is not in use, substantially as described.

3. A peep-sight for firearms, comprising a vertically-adjustable slide having an elongated opening, and a sight-arm movably connected to said slide and provided with a plate adjustable on the said sight-arm, and carrying the sight, substantially as described.

4. A peep-sight for firearms, comprising the combination of the guide-plate and the slide movable therein, spring-strips secured to said guide-plate and adapted to hold the slide in position after adjustment, and a sight-arm hinged to the slide, substantially as described.

5. A peep-sight for firearms, comprising the grooved guide-plate having an elongated opening, the slide adjustable in said plate and having a similar opening, and an arm hinged to the slide and provided with a plate having a sight, the said arm being adapted to be turned downward alongside the slide in such manner that the sight is received in the openings of the slide and guide-plate, substantially as described.

6. The combination with the gun, of a slide movable vertically at the side thereof, an arm pivoted to the slide to be turned at a right angle and also parallel thereto, and an adjustable sight on said arm, substantially as described.