H. M. SPRAGUE.

FOLDING PISTOL.
APPLICATION FILED 121113.16, 1912.

1,059,405;

' Patented 11111.22, 1913.

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UNlTFl) STATE@ PATENT FFTQE.

HORACE M. SPRAGUE, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO THE SIMPLEX .ARMS
MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF DENVER, COLORADO, A CORPORATION OF COLO
RADO.
FOLDING PISTOL.
Specification of Letters Patent.

1,059,405.

Application filed February 16, 1912.

T0 all whom t may concern .'

Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

Serial No. 677,990.

with a circular recess 6, of a diameter corre 55

Be it known that I, HORACE M. SPRAGUE, sponding to that of the barrel.

Depending apertured ears 7 are formed
residing in the city and county of Denver upon the top end of the frame on opposite
a citizen of the United States of America, ,

and State of Colorado, have invented a new sides of the recess 6, and between these ears

and useful Folding Pistol, of which the fol are pivotally secured hinge plates 8, upon a
pin 9, which passes through the ears and
lowing is a specification.
This invention relates to improvements in plates. These plates form integral exten

sions of a band 10, which encircles the breech

The object of the invention is to provide a of the barrel 1, and is rigidly secured there
pistol in which the barrel is hinged to the to. The barrel is thus hinged to the handle
handle and is adapted to be folded down by the pin 9, and when the barrel is in posi

60

folding pistols.

65

against the handle so as to provide a compact tion for action its rear or breech end enters
recess 6 in the end of the top part of the

weapon that may be conveniently carried in

the vest pocket.
A further object of the invention is to
provide a pistol of this characterl in which
the hammer is concealed within the handle

handle. The plates 8 project slightly into

the opening 5 of the handle when the barrel

70

is in operative position, and they are of the

same length as the opening. Vhen the bar

and is cocked by the folding of the barrel, rel is folded down upon the handle, the
an improved form of trigger being employed plates enter the handle and their lower ends

which operates the hammer-holding dog.

These objects are accomplished by the de
vice illustrated in the accompanying draw

engage and cock the hammer, as will pres 75

ently be shown.
The breech end of the barrel is provided

with a notch 11, which is engaged by a

Figure 1 is a top view of the improved spring actuated dog 12, which is pivotally

ings, in which,
25

30

folding pistol, portions of the barrel and mounted in a groove in the top of the handle.

handle being in section to show the cartridge The dog is pivoted midway of its length
extractor. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. upon a pin 13, and a spring 14, preferably
Fig. 3 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional a spiral spring, is seated in a recess 15 in
view of the same, portions of the barrel and the handle beneath the rear end- of the dog,
handle being in elevation. Fig. 4 is a side land exerts an upward pressure upon the

85

same, which holds its front end in engage

ment
with the notch in the barrel when the
moved, showing the barrel folded down

view, the near side of the handle being re

35

40

upon the handle, and the hammer cocked. barrel is in active position. By pressing
Fig. 5 is a front view of the handle, the upon the rear end of the dog, the barrel is
barrel and parts carried thereby being re released, and may be folded down against
moved. Fig. 6 is a rear end view of the bar the handle, as shown by Fig. 4.
An extractor 16, similar in shape to the
rel and parts carried thereby, the handle be
ing omitted. Fig. 7 is a front view of the dog 12, is pivotally mounted in a slot in one
hammer in the position shown in Fig. 4. side of the top of the handle by a pin 17,
Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view of the a coil spring 18 being under pressure be
handle on the line 8_8 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 9 neath its rear end. The front end of the
is a transverse sectional view of the barrel
showing a modification in the manner of at

45

50

taching the trigger supporting plates.

The numeral 1 designates the barrel of the
pistol, and 2 the handle to which it is hinged.
This handle comprises a substantially rectan
gular metal frame 3, to which are secured
side plates 4 of any suitable material. The
upper portion of the front side of the frame

95

extractor terminates in a tooth which enters

a recess 19 in the end of the barrel so as

to lie behind the rim of a cartridge, as will

be understood, and when the barrel is fold

ed, this tooth engages the said rim of the

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cartridge and withdraws the cartridge shell

from the barrel.

Between the plates 8 is pivoted by a pin

20, the upper member 21 of the trigger,

3 is cut away to form an opening 5, into the which is in the form of a narrow U-shaped

interior of the handle, and the forward por~ plate, which extends a slight distance be
tion of the top end of the handle is formed p

90

yond the forward edges of the plates 8, to

105

1,059,405

be engaged by the forelinger in discharging jects thro-ugh a conical aperture in the lower
the weapon. In the lower end of the plate side of the barrel, which opens into its bore.
2l is pivotally secured by a pin 22, the for This pointed end of this pin is adapted to
ward end of a trip arm 23, which forms the engage a cartridge placed in the barrel and
other member of the trigger. This arm lies hold the same against accidental displace 70
between the lower ends of the plates 8, which ment. The conical wall of the aperture in
ends have a downward inclination to the which the pin 37 lies permits the pin to ex
lower end of the opening 5 of the handle, tend only a slight distance into the bore of
and its rear portion is formed with a longi the barrel and the pin is moved downward

tudinal slot 24, through which passes a pin by the insertion of a cartridge, but pressed
25, which also extends through the plates 8. against the cartridge by the spring 36, with
When the trigger 20 is rocked upon its pivot sufficient force to prevent the cartridge from
or pressed in between the arms 8, the upper
end of the trip arm 23 is moved inward with
15

it, and the lower end of the arm is pushed

downward, being delined in its movement

by the pin 25, which passes through the slot
24, as will be understood.
The lower end of the trip arm is arranged

to engage a hammer locking dog 2G, which

is pivotally mounted in a recess in a lug

dropping out.
In Fig. 9 is illustrated a slight modifica
tion in the manner of securing the hinge 80
plates to the barrel of the pistol. In this
arrangement, a U-shaped hinge plate is em~
ployed, the side members 33 of which are of
the same shape as the plates 8 in Figs. 2, 3,
and 4, and the closed end of this plate is
dove-tailed into a corresponding transverse

27, at the extremity of the front side of the groove in the pistol barrel.
_
handle frame 3. This dog is T-shaped and
In operation, the barrel is folded down
is actuated by a spring 23, in a recess 29 be~
25

30

against the handle, and as it moves toward

neath its tail end. The lateral projections the handle- the lower ends of the plates S
:26A which constitute the head end of this engage the hammer, which is thereby swung
dog, are adapted to engage shoulders 30, back to active position, and is locked in this

upon the bifurcated lower end of a hammer

position by the dog 26. A cartridge is then

3l, which is pivoted to the lug 27 by a screw

32, which passes through the bifurcated end
of hammer, and through the lug and also
through the side plates 4L of the handle.
The under sides o-f the projections 26A of

inserted in the breech of the barrel, and is

retained therein by the pin 37. In this com~ 95
pact form the pistol may be carried in the
vest pocket, and when required for use the
barrel is turned up to active position and is

the dog are inclined and when the hammer held in this position by the dog l2; then by

35

is in the position shown in Fig. 3, they rest pressing or pulling the trigger, the lower
upon the top of the bifurcated end of the end of the trip arm 23 is thrown into en
hammer which straddles the lug 27, but gagement with the tail of the hammer lock
when the hammer is cocked by the engage ing dog 26, which is thereby moved to rc
ment therewith of the lower ends of the lease the hammer, which is thrown forward

100

'40 plates 3, as the barrel is folded, the dog is by the spring 35.

rocked by its spring, and its projecting

members are thrown into engagement with

the shoulders 30 and the hammer is locked
`in position for action. The upper end of
45 the hammer is formed with a narrow pro

50

The hammer is actuated by a curved ex

pansion spring 35, the upper end of which

rests in a notch in the lower end of the

hammer, and at the rear of its pivot, while

the lower end of the said spring rests in a
groove in the lower end of the handle.

The trigger 2l, is normally held out be

yond the forward edges of the hinge plates

60

65

Patent, is:
1. In a folding pistol, the combination
with a handle; a barrel hinged thereto and

jection 33, which strikes the cartridge rim adapted to fold against the handle; a
when the hammer is released, as will be un spring-actuated hammer in the handle,
derstood. The upper end of the handle is adapted to be cocked by folding of the
formed with a groove 34, in which the pro barrel; and a dog for locking the hammer;
j ection 33 lies, and through which it travels of a two-part trigger carried by the barrel,

when the hammer is cocked.

55

Haiv'ingfdescribed my invention, what I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters
ll()

115

the lower member of which engages and

trips the dog to release the hammer when

the upper member is pressed upon.
2. In a folding' pistol, the combination
with a handle; a spring-actuated hammer 120

therein; a dog for locking said hammer;

and a barrel hinged to the handle so as to

fold against the same; of parallel members

extending from said barrel which are adapt~

8, by a spring 36, having a coil through ed to ente'r the handle, and cock the ham~ 125
which the pivot pin 2O passes. The lower mer when the barrel is folded; and a spring
end of this spring bears against the trigger actuated trigger comprising a linger oper
and presses it outward, while the upper end ated member pivoted at its upper end be
thereof bears against the bottom of a pin tween said parallel members; and a trip
37, having a conical pointed end which pro~ arm pivoted to the lower end of the finger 130

1,059,405

operated member and adapted to engage its lower end with the upper end of theA
and trip the hammer when the said finger trip arm, the lower end of said trip arm
being adapted to engage the said dog, a
operated member is swung on its pivot.
3. In a folding pist-ol, the combination pin being passed through the parallel plates
with a handle and a barrel hinged thereto and through the slotI in said trip arm for 45
to fold against said handle; of a spring governing the movement of its lower end.

operated pivoted hammer in the handle;

10

two-part trigger comprising a spring-oper

15

20

80

5. In a folding pistol, a handle; a spring

depending parallel members on the barrel aet-uated hammer in the handle; a dog for
adapted to engage and cock the hammer locking said hammer; a barrel pivoted to
when t-he barrel is folded; a spring-actu the handle; a depending member on the
ated dog for locking the hammer; and a barrel, adapted to engage and cock the ham

50

mer when the barrel is folded down against

ated finger member p-ivoted at its upper the handle; and a two-part trigger, the
end between the said depending members; parts of which are pivotally connected, the
and a trip arm pivoted to the lower end upper end of the upper member being piv
of the finger member, provided with a longi otally attached to the depending member,
tudinal slot, the lower end of said arm be while the lower portion of the lower mem~
ing adapted to engage the hammer dog, ber is slotted; a pin passing through said
a pin being extended through the parallel slot and through the depending member to

55

members and through the said slot to gov limit the slotted member to a downward 60
ern the movement of the lower end of said movement, when the upper member is
rocked, whereby the lower end of the said
trip arm.
t. In a folding pistol, a handle having an slotted member is caused to engage and
apertured lug; a hammer having a _bifur trip the hammer releasing dog.
G. In a folding pistol, the combination 65
cated lower end, which straddles said lug,
with
a handle, and a barrel hinged thereto,
and a pin passing through said lug and
having
a recess in the extremity of its
bifurcated end, the parts of said bifurcated
end being formed with abutment shoulders; breech end, of a spring-actuated extractor

a spring-actuated dog pivotally supported in the side of the handle, the cartridge
in said lug in position to engage the shoul~ engaging end of which lies in the said re
ders and lock the dog; a barrel hinged to cess in the breech, when the barrel is in
the handle and adapted to fold against the active position, so as to engage the rim of
same; depending parallel plates on said a cartridge, and extract the same from the
barrel which engage and cock the hammer barrel, when the barrel is folded down.
In testimony whereof I affix my signa
when the barrel is folded; a two-part trig
ger for tripping the hammer dog, Compris
ing a slotted trip arm between the depend

ing plates; a spring-actuated finger arm

pivoted at its upper end between the said

parallel plates, and pivotally connected at

t-ure in presence of two witnesses.

HORACE M. SPRAGUE.
Vfitnesses:

G. SARGENT ELLIOTT,
ELIZABETH SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing thev Commissioner of Patents,
Washington, ID. C.

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