Historical Document · 1859
LeMat's 1859 US patent for the movable hammer head that selects between the cylinder and the shot barrel, with wings that lock the cylinder — the selector on every surviving LeMat, which is not in the 1856 patent.
A. Le MAT. Hammer for Fire-Arms, Patented June 7, 1859 No. 24,312. I ISI. II UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. A. LE MAT, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA. ADJUSTABLE HAMMER FOR REVOLVING FIREARMIS. Specification of Letters Patent No. 24,312, dated June 7, 1859. | or axle F, upon which the motion of the To all whom it may concern: movable head takes place, uniting it at the Be it known that I, ALEX. LEMAT, of New same to the hammer A. A spring D, Orleans, State of Louisiana, have invented a whichtime is fastened by a screw J, serves for 40 new and Improved Hammer for Revolving retaining the movable head in either of the Firearms; and I do hereby declare that the required by the operator. An ordi following is a full and exact description positions revolving cylinder is represented in Fig. thereof, reference being had to the accom 4,nary the manner in which it is re panying drawings and to the letters of ref t G, showing by the small wings C, C Figs. 2 erence marked thereon. 10 The nature of my invention consists in and 3. 5, Hexhibits the position of the mov providing, 1st, a movable head for the pur ableFig.head firing the central barrel of my pose hereinafter specified; and, 2d, two lat grape shotforrevolver, I, Fig. 5, being a lever E. wings to hold the revolving cylinder in connected with the main spring of the lock. 50 aCe K, Fig. 6, is a view of the hammer, seen C To enable others skilled in the art to make 5 above. and use my invention, I will proceed to de from I do not claim the hammer having a scribe its construction and operation. hinged head merely, such as is shown in the When the said hammer is adapted to my patent of F. Beerstecher, of Sept. 25th 1855, 55 grape shot revolver, it is constructed as rep but: 20 resented in Figure 1, A. A movable head B, Fig. 2, is required to fire of either the What I claim as my invention, and desire secure by Letters Patent, is central barrel or the revolving chambers, at to Providing hammer with a hinged head the will of the operator; B' representing SO arranged the that it shall present the same 60 lateral projections to afford a “point d'ap 25 pui’ to the thumb in lowering or lifting up face in different directions for the purpose discharging in Succession different barrels the movable head. When adapted to other of a grape shot pistol, and a revolving fire revolving arms the head of the hammer is or arm-as may be desired;-and providing simple and immovable. In either case the same with Small lateral wings for locking 65 said head of the hammer is provided, side the 30 wise, with small wings C and C, Figs. 2 and the revolving chambers in position, in the manner and for the purposes herein set forth. 3, for the purpose of holding the revolving cylinder fast, and thus preventing it from any displacement. Fig. 3 represents the movable head magni 35 fied in the same proportions as Fig. 2. E exhibits a perforation to admit a pivot A. LE MAT. Attest: JoHN S. HoLLINGSHEAD, C. GIRARD.