US2839832A - Dual sights for double-barrel shotgun - Google Patents

Description

June 24, 1958 H. WILLIAMS DUAL SIGHTS FOR DOUBLE-BARREL SHOTGUN Filed Sept. 14, 1955 IN V EN TOR. flaw e /9- h 277zams.

United States Patent DUAL SIGHTS FOR DOUBLE-BARREL SHOTGUN Harvey A. Williams, Davison, Mich.

Application September 14, 1955, Serial No. 534,274

2 Claims. (CI. 33-51) The present invention relates to dual sights for doublebarrel shotguns.

Double-barrel shotguns are not ordinarily provided with conventional sights but are normally aimed by sighting down a central rib positioned intermediate the two barrels. This method of sighting is satisfactory when using conventional shells loaded with shot, due 'to the scattering effect of the shot. However, slugs are used in shotguns for hunting larger game and require more accurate sighting of each barrel since there is no scattering effect and slugs have a greater range than shot. Moreover, the two barrels of a double-barrel shotgun converge toward each other so that neither is parallel to the central rib. To meet this difliculty, it has been proposed that each barrel of a double-barrel shotgun be fitted with a front and rear sight similar to the sights employed on rifle barrels; but this expedient is subject to the disadvantage that in shooting both barrels in rapid succession it is necessary to shift the eye a substantial distance from one of the rear sights to the other and then find the front sight after the shift is made.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide an improved and highly satisfactory dual sighting system for double-barrel shotguns in which a single rear sight is used with two front sights, one for each barrel.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of the barrels of a double-barrel shotgun equipped with applicants novel sights; v

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a view looking down on top of the barrels of a shotgun and showing the converging axes of the two barrels in an exaggerated manner.

The conventional shotgun shown fragmentarily in Figure 1 has a pair of barrels 1 and 2 fixed together and provided with a central rib 3 lying between and somewhat above the two barrels. As is customary, the axes of the barrels converge towards each other from their breeches towards their muzzles, this converging relationship being shown in an exaggerated manner in Figure 4 for purposes of illustration.

In accordance with the present invention, a conventional peep sight, indicated generally at 4, is mounted on the rib 3 near the breeches of the barrels. The particular form of sight illustrated comprises a supporting base 5 which is fastened by screws (not shown) to the rib 3 and which has on its upper surface a slot 6 in which is seated the base 7 of a peep sight having a circular central sighting opening 8. The base 7 of the peep sight is secured in position by means of one or more screws, and any suitable means such as a set screw lying beneath the base 7 may be employed to effect vertical adjustment of the peep sight.

Secured by a pair of screws to the central rib 3 adjacent the muzzles of the barrels is a front sight supporting base 9 having a transverse dovetail slot 10 in which are mounted a pair of front sight elements 11 and 12, each having a sighting button 13. The front sights 11 and 12 have separate base members 14 and 15 which fit the dovetail groove 10 and are independently secured therein by means of a single clamping plate 16 which is held in position in the base 9 by means of a screw 17. The rearward edge of the clamping plate 16 bears against the forward sloping edges of the base members 14 and 15 and holds them in fixed position within the groove 10. This arrangement permits an independent adjustment of the lateral position of each of the front sights 11 and 12 with reference to the axes of the barrels and a clamping of the front sights in adjusted position.

The left-hand front sight 11 is so positioned with reference to the center of the opening 8 in the peep sight 4 that a line between the front sight 11 and the center of the opening 8 is parallel to the axis of the right-hand barrel 2. Similarly, the right-hand front sight 12 is so positioned that a line through the center of the opening 8 and the front sight 12 is parallel to the axis of the left-hand barrel 1. Consequently, the rear peep sight is used for aiming both barrels, but the lefthand front sight is used for aiming the right-hand barrel and the right-hand front sight for aiming the left-hand barrel.

The above statement with respect to the parallel relationship between the lines of sight and the axes of the barrels is based on the assumption that the sights are not adjusted for any elevation. Actually, whether or not the sights are adjusted for elevation, the sighting line through the right-hand front sight 12 will remain parallel to a vertical plane through the axis of the lefthand barrel, and the left-hand sighting line through the front sight 11 will remain parallel to the vertical plane of the right-hand barrel when the gun is in normal shooting position.

In firing both barrels of the gun in succession, it is not necessary to shift the position. of the sighting eye with reference to the gun or the rear peep sight, and it has been found that no difficulty is encountered in shifting the gun to aim successively over first one of the front sights and then the other as the two barrels are fired. This shift in sighting over the front sights from one. to the other soon becomes habitual since it is customary to fire the two barrels in the same succession at all times. The use of the sight arrangement of the present invention has been found to increase accuracy to a significant degree when shooting slugs.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a double-barrel shotgun having a pair of substantially parallel laterally spaced barrels which converge forwardly toward each other, a rear sight positioned above and intermediate the barrels, and a pair of front sights positioned above and between the barrels and so spaced from each other that a line drawn through the rear sight and the left-hand front sight is parallel to a vertical plane containing the axis of the right-hand barrel when the gun is in shooting position and a line drawn through the same rear sight and the right-hand front sight is parallel to a vertical plane containing the axis of the left-hand barrel when the gun is in shooting position.

2. A dual front sight for use on a side-by-side doublebarrel shotgun having a single rear sight positioned 3 above and intermediate the barrels, said dual front sight including a mounting base adapted to be mounted on the gun above and between the barrels adjacent their muzzle ends, and a pair of sights carried by said mounting base and laterally spaced apart by an amount substantially equal to the amount that the barrels of a sideby-side double-barrel shotgun converge toward each other in a distance equal to the length of the barrels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Harris June 16, 1908 Hunt Aug. 16, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Oct. 15, 1925

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