A North &
Couch Trap Gun
On June 28th, 1859,
John Couch and Henry North obtained a patent for an invention they described as
a "Game Shooter". Similar in operation to the Reuthe, but without the barbed
springs, the gun is designed to be attached to tree trunk or some other secure
anchor, baited and left so that the intended target will shoot itself.
The bait was attached
close in front of the muzzle by a short cord threaded through the eye of a
trigger rod (see below). The gun was suspended by a cord or chain running from
the anchor point to the eye on the back-strap. The gun was pointed and fired
when the unfortunate animal took the bait and thereby pulled the trigger rod
protruding at the muzzle.
The cylinder has six
barrels, approx. 30 calibre, bored spreading slightly apart at the muzzle. There
is only one nipple. Fire from the exploded cap passes through the nipple and
around an annular channel so all six barrels are discharged practically
simultaneously.
The gun may also be
fired by pulling the conventional trigger. Consequently the North and Couch gun
could also be used as a handgun for self-defence or attack. The pistol
shown here is the commoner of the two made; the other being smaller with a
conventional hammer.
Dr Hugo
