IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH- LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James MacKenzie, of Saint Martin's-le-Grand, in the
County of Middlesex, and Stephen Thomas Wentworth, of the same
Place, Gas Engineers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-
LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 17th February 1860, and dated the 31st August 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James MacKenzie and
Stephen Thomas Wentworth at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 31st August 1859.
We, JAMES MACKENZIE, of Saint Martin's-le-Grand, in the County of
Middlesex, and STEPHEN THOMAS WENTWORTH, of the same Place, Gas Engi-
neers, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:—
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of fire-
arms which are loaded at the breech. For this purpose we construct a gun
or other fire-arm with a breech chamber, which moves freely on axes or
trunnions carried by the two sides of a slotted frame, which, in the case of a
gun or pistol, may form part of the lock plate of the same. The slotted
frame which carries the breech chamber is formed at its fore end into a tube
or socket, in which the barrel of the gun or other fire-arm slides freely a short
distance. The two ends of the breech chamber and of the barrel which come
together are formed conically, and are ground together to fit accurately into,

page_text: each other; and in order to bring the back end of the barrel and the front end
of the breech chamber into close contact to form a tight joint whilst the piece
is discharged, we form a screw on the socket attached to the frame, upon
which a tubular collar is screwed, one end of such collar being formed with an
internal ring or projection, which is retained between fixed collars or pro-
jections on the barrel of the fire-arm, so that when the collar is turned in one
or other direction, the end of the barrel is drawn up to the end of the breech
chamber or separated from it (or in place of connecting the barrel with the
tubular collar, as previously described, we prefer to form right and left handed
screws, one upon the barrel and the other upon the tubular socket, the screw
collar having corresponding right and left handed screws formed therein, so
that by a partial rotation of the tubular collar the barrel is brought up to or
separated from the end of the breech). A groove is cut on the under side and
near the back end of the barrel, into which the end of a screw in the tubular
socket enters, to prevent the rotation of the barrel, and to cause it to move end-
ways when acted upon by the tubular collar. When the barrel is withdrawn
from the breech chamber the chamber is free to rise into a vertical position to
receive the charge, and we prefer to place the nipple at the end of the breech
chamber to be struck by the hammer in the direct line of fire, or at an angle
below the breech chamber, so that when the breech chamber is in a vertical
position to receive the charge the nipple will be projected through the slot in
the frame into a convenient position below to receive the cap, but this may be
varied, and the nipple placed on the upper surface or at the side of the breech
chamber, in which case an ordinary lock and hammer may be employed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed 2
by the said James Mackenzie and Stephen Thomas Wentworth in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th February 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
MACKENZIE, of St. Martin's-le-Grand, in the County of Middlesex, and
STEPHEN THOMAS WENTWORTH, of the same Place, Gas Engineers, send s
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, a
the said James Mackenzie and Stephen Thomas Wentworth, Her special-

page_text: licence that we, the said James Mackenzie and Stephen Thomas Wentworth,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said
James Mackenzie and Stephen Thomas Wentworth, our executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that we, the said James Mackenzie and
Stephen Thomas Wentworth, our executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under our or their hands and seals, or under the hand and
seal of one of us or them, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said James Mackenzie and Stephen
Thomas Wentworth, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that
is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of fire-
arms which are loaded at the breech. For this purpose we construct a gun
or other fire-arm with a breech chamber, which moves freely on axes or
trunnions carried by the two sides of a slotted frame, which, in the case of a
gun or pistol, may form part of the lock plate of the same. The slotted frame
which carries the breech chamber is formed at its fore end into a tube or
socket, in which the barrel of the gun or other fire-arm slides freely a short
distance. The ends of the breech chamber and the end of the barrel which
come together are formed conically, and are ground together to fit accurately
into each other; and in order to bring the back end of the barrel and the
front end of the breech chamber into close contact to form a tight joint whilst
the piece is discharged, we form a screw on the socket attached to the frame,
upon which a tubular collar is screwed, one end of such collar being formed
with an internal ring or projection, which is retained between fixed collars or
projections on the barrel of the fire-arm, so that when the collar is turned in
one or other direction, the end of the barrel is drawn up to the end of the
breech chamber or separated from it (or in place of connecting the barrel
with the tubular collar, as previously described, we prefer to form right and

page_text: left handed screws, one upon the barrel and the other upon the tubular socket,
the screw collar having corresponding right and left handed screws formed
therein, so that by a partial rotation of the tubular collar the barrel is brought
up to or separated from the end of the breech). A groove is cut on the
under side and near the back end of the barrel, into which the end of a screw
in the tubular socket enters, to prevent the rotation of the barrel and to cause
it to move endways when acted upon by the tubular collar. When the
barrel is withdrawn from the breech chamber the chamber is free to rise into
a vertical or inclined position to receive the charge; and we prefer to place
the nipple at the end of the breech chamber, to be struck by the hammer in
the direct line of fire or at an angle below. the breech chamber, so that when
the breech chamber is in a vertical or inclined position to receive the charge,
the nipple will be projected through the slot in the frame into a convenient
position to receive the cap; but this may be varied, and the nipple placed on
the upper surface or at the side of the breech chamber, in which case an
ordinary lock and hammer may be employed.
And in order that our Invention may be most fully understood and readily
practised, we will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shews part of a longitudinal section, and Figure 2 part of a side
view of a breech-loading gun or rifle constructed according to our Invention.
a is the breech piece or chamber, which is capable of moving freely on axes or
trunnions a¹, carried by the two sides of the slotted frame b, which in this
arrangement forms part of the tubular lock frame, firmly fixed to the stock of
the gun by screws, as shown. The moveable breech piece is pressed upwards
when released from the end of the barrel by a spring a², and may be held in an
inclined or vertical position whilst the charge is introduced (which in this
arrangement of breech loader may either consist of a made up cartridge, or of
the ordinary ammunition employed when charging by the muzzle); and when
the breech picce a is in a position to receive the charge, the nipple projects
through a slot on the under side of the frame in a convenient position to receive
the percussion cap, which will not be liable to explosion by accident from the
hammer of the lock until the breech piece is again placed in a line with the
barrel ready to be discharged. c is the barrel of the gun or other fire-arm,
which is capable of sliding freely to and fro a short distance in the socket b',
which forms part of the frame b, so that the back end of the barrel c and the
front end of the breech piece a may be connected and disconnected from time
to time as desired, the two ends which come together being formed conically

page_text: so as to fit accurately, and thus form a perfectly tight joint when the parts are
drawn towards each other by the tubular screw collar d, one end of which is
formed with an internal ring (or projections) d', which is retained between the
fixed collars c, c', on the barrel c. A screw thread is cut on the end of the
socket b¹, on to which the tubular collar d screws in order to draw the barrel c
up to the breech piece a, when the piece is charged, and the barrel is
prevented from turning by the screw pin b², which enters a slot c³ in the end
of the barrel c. e is the hammer of the lock, which is a straight rod actuated
by a spiral spring contained in a tube, as shewn; and we have shown a lock
of this description as being very suitable for being employed in combination
with our improvements in breech-loading guns, but to which arrangement of
lock separately we make no claim, as the same is well known, neither do we
confine ourselves to the use of any particular form of lock, as the nipple may
be placed on any convenient part of the breech piece, and suited to locks of
the ordinary description. We would here remark, that by employing a
straight hammer of this description, the gun or rifle may readily be converted
into "a needle gun," by simply removing the nipple from the end of the
breech piece, and substituting the one shown at Figure 3, and screwing
the needle or point, Figure 4, on to the end of the hammer, the end of
which is screwed for the purpose; the arrangement would then be suitable
for exploding the cartridge by means of the needle or point passing through into
the breech chamber. Figure 5 shows the parts, Figures 3 and 4, as applied.
Figure 6 shews a plan, Figure 7 a side view, Figure 8 a transverse section
through 1, 1, of Figure 7, and Figure 9 a longitudinal section of another
arrangement of breech-loading gun or rifle constructed according to our
Invention, and which is the one we prefer to employ. The corresponding parts
are marked with similar letters of reference to those previously described in
respect to Figures 1 and 2. In this arrangement right and left handed screws
are cut, one on the barrel at c* and the other on the tubular socket at 6*, and
the tubular socket d is formed with corresponding right and left handed
internal screws, so that by a partial rotation of the tubular collar d, a quick
to-or-fro movement of the barrel takes place, in order to connect or disconnect
it with the moveable breech piece a. Figure 10 shows a longitudinal section,
Figure 11 a plan in section, and Figures 12, 13, and 14 transverse sections
of another arrangement of the parts of a breech-loading gun or rifle con-
structed according to our Invention, in which arrangement the tubular collar d
(which is formed with an internal right and left handed screw) is placed
behind the moveable breech piece a, one part of the screw collar taking into a
screw thread formed on the tubular lock chamber e', and the other part into a

page_text: screw thread cut on the tubular end of the case or frame b, to which the
barrel c is firmly screwed at 61, the tubular part 6 of the frame b being sup-
ported by and sliding to and fro on the lock tube e', when the collar dis
turned to connect and disconnect the barrel c with the moveable breech
piece a, which in this arrangement is carried by a frame a', firmly screwed on
to the end of the lock tube, and one end of this frame serves as a guide to the
end of the barrel c, which arrangement of parts will be readily understood on
examining the Drawing.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and the best means we
are acquainted with for carrying the same into practice, we would have it
understood that we do not confine ourselves to the exact details herein
described; but what we claim is,-
. First, the combination and arrangement of the parts of breech loading fire-
arms as described in respect of Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings, by which a
perfectly tight joint is obtained between the moveable breech and the barrel
during the discharge.
Secondly, we claim the application of combined right and left handed
screws to breech-loading fire-arms for the purpose of readily connecting and
disconnecting the breech piece and the barrel, and for securely holding those
parts together to form a perfect joint at the time the discharge takes place, as
described in respect to Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 18, and 14.
In witness whereof, we, the said James Mackenzie and Stephen Thomas
Wentworth, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-fifth
day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sixty.
JAMES MACKENZIE.
(L.S.)
STEPHEN THOMAS WENTWORTH. (L.s.)
Witness to the signatures of the above-
named J. Mackenzie and Stephen
Thomas Wentworth,
GEO. H. BIRKBECK,
14, Southampton Buildings.

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James MacKenzie, of Saint Martin's-le-Grand, in the
County of Middlesex, and Stephen Thomas Wentworth, of the same
Place, Gas Engineers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-
LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 17th February 1860, and dated the 31st August 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James MacKenzie and
Stephen Thomas Wentworth at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 31st August 1859.
We, JAMES MACKENZIE, of Saint Martin's-le-Grand, in the County of
Middlesex, and STEPHEN THOMAS WENTWORTH, of the same Place, Gas Engi-
neers, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of fire-
arms which are loaded at the breech. For this purpose we construct a gun
or other fire-arm with a breech chamber, which moves freely on axes or
trunnions carried by the two sides of a slotted frame, which, in the case of a
gun or pistol, may form part of the lock plate of the same. The slotted
frame which carries the breech chamber is formed at its fore end into a tube
or socket, in which the barrel of the gun or other fire-arm slides freely a short
distance. The two ends of the breech chamber and of the barrel which come
together are formed conically, and are ground together to fit accurately into,

page_text: each other; and in order to bring the back end of the barrel and the front end
of the breech chamber into close contact to form a tight joint whilst the piece
is discharged, we form a screw on the socket attached to the frame, upon
which a tubular collar is screwed, one end of such collar being formed with an
internal ring or projection, which is retained between fixed collars or pro-
jections on the barrel of the fire-arm, so that when the collar is turned in one
or other direction, the end of the barrel is drawn up to the end of the breech
chamber or separated from it (or in place of connecting the barrel with the
tubular collar, as previously described, we prefer to form right and left handed
screws, one upon the barrel and the other upon the tubular socket, the screw
collar having corresponding right and left handed screws formed therein, so
that by a partial rotation of the tubular collar the barrel is brought up to or
separated from the end of the breech). A groove is cut on the under side and
near the back end of the barrel, into which the end of a screw in the tubular
socket enters, to prevent the rotation of the barrel, and to cause it to move end-
ways when acted upon by the tubular collar. When the barrel is withdrawn
from the breech chamber the chamber is free to rise into a vertical position to
receive the charge, and we prefer to place the nipple at the end of the breech
chamber to be struck by the hammer in the direct line of fire, or at an angle
below the breech chamber, so that when the breech chamber is in a vertical
position to receive the charge the nipple will be projected through the slot in
the frame into a convenient position below to receive the cap, but this may be
varied, and the nipple placed on the upper surface or at the side of the breech
chamber, in which case an ordinary lock and hammer may be employed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Mackenzie and Stephen Thomas Wentworth in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th February 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
MACKENZIE, of St. Martin's-le-Grand, in the County of Middlesex, and
STEPHEN THOMAS WENTWORTII, of the same Place, Gas Engineers, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters.
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said James Mackenzie and Stephen Thomas Wentworth, Her special.

page_text: licence that we, the said James Mackenzie and Stephen Thomas Wentworth,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, tho said
James Mackenzie and Stephen Thomas Wentworth, our exccutors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
6 time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that we, the said James Mackenzie and
Stephen Thomas Wentworth, our executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under our or their hands and seals, or under the hand and
seal of one of us or them, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said James Mackenzie and Stephen
Thomas Wentworth, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that
is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of fire-
arms which are loaded at the breech. For this purpose we construct a gun
or other fire-arm with a breech chamber, which moves freely on axes or
trunnions carried by the two sides of a slotted frame, which, in the case of a
gun or pistol, may form part of the lock plate of the same. The slotted frame
which carries the breech chamber is formed at its fore end into a tube or
socket, in which the barrel of the gun or other fire-arm slides freely a short
distance. The ends of the breech chamber and the end of the barrel which
come together are formed conically, and are ground together to fit accurately
into each other; and in order to bring the back end of the barrel and the
front end of the breech chamber into close contact to form a tight joint whilst
the piece is discharged, we form a screw on the socket attached to the frame,
upon which a tubular collar is screwed, one end of such collar being formed
with an internal ring or projection, which is retained between fixed collars or
projections on the barrel of the fire-arm, so that when the collar is turned in
one or other direction, the end of the barrel is drawn up to the end of the
breech chamber or separated from it (or in place of connecting the barrel
with the tubular collar, as previously described, we prefer to form right and

page_text: left banded screws, one upon the barrel and the other upon the tubular socket
the screw collar having corresponding right and left handed screws formed
therein, so that by a partial rotation of the tubular collar the barrel is brought
up to or separated from the end of the breech). A groove is cut on the
under side and near the back end of the barrel, into which the end of a screw
in the tubular socket enters, to prevent the rotation of the barrel and to cause
it to move endways when acted upon by the tubular collar. When the
barrel is withdrawn from the breech chamber the chamber is free to rise into
a vertical or inclined position to receive the charge; and we prefer to place
the nipple at the end of the breech chamber, to be struck by the hammer in
the direct line of fire or at an angle below the breech chamber, so that when
the breech chamber is in a vertical or inclined position to receive the charge,
the nipple will be projected through the slot in the frame into a convenient
position to receive the cap; but this may be varied, and the nipple placed on
the upper surface or at the side of the breech chamber, in which case an
ordinary lock and hammer may bo employed.
And in order that our Invention may be most fully understood and readily
practised, we will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shews part of a longitudinal section, and Figure 2 part of a side
view of a breech-loading gun or rifle constructed according to our Invention.
a is the breech piece or chamber, which is capable of moving freely on axes or
trunnions a, carried by the two sides of the slotted frame b, which in this
arrangement forms part of the tubular lock frame, firmly fixed to the stock of
the gun by screws, as shown. The moveable breech piece is pressed upwards
when released from the end of the barrel by a spring a², and may be held in an
inclined or vertical position whilst the charge is introduced (which in this
arrangement of breech loader may either consist of a made up cartridge, or of
the ordinary ammunition employed when charging by the muzzle); and when
the breech piece a is in a position to receive the charge, the nipple projects
through a slot on the under side of the frame in a convenient position to receive
the percussion cap, which will not be liable to explosion by accident from the
hammer of the lock until the breech piece is again placed in a line with the
barrel ready to be discharged. c is the barrel of the gun or other fire-arm,
which is capable of sliding freely to and fro a short distance in the socket b',
which forms part of the frame b, so that the back end of the barrel c and the
front end of the breech piece a may be connected and disconnected from time
to time as desired, the two ends which come together being formed conically.

page_text: so as to fit accurately, and thus form a perfectly tight joint when the parts aro
drawn towards each other by the tubular screw collar d, one end of which is
formed with an internal ring (or projections) d', which is retained between tho
fixed collars c', c', on the barrel c. A screw thread is cut on the end of the
socket 6', on to which the tubular collar d screws in order to draw the barrel o
up to the breech piece a, when the piece is charged, and the barrel is
prevented from turning by the screw pin 6, which enters a slot c³ in the end
of the barrel c. e is the hammer of the lock, which is a straight rod actuated
by a spiral spring contained in a tube, as shewn; and we have shown a lock
of this description as being very suitable for being employed in combination
with our improvements in breech-loading guns, but to which arrangement of
lock separately we make no claim, as the same is well known, neither do we
confine ourselves to the use of any particular form of lock, as the nipple may
be placed on any convenient part of the breech piece, and suited to locks of
the ordinary description.
We would here remark, that by employing a
straight bammer of this description, the gun or rifle may readily be converted
into "a needle gun," by simply removing the nipple from the end of the
breech piece, and substituting the one shown at Figure 3, and screwing
the needle or point, Figure 4, on to the end of the hammer, the end of
which is screwed for the purpose; the arrangement would then be suitable
for exploding the cartridge by means of the needle or point passing through into
the breech chamber. Figure 5 shows the parts, Figures 3 and 4, as applied.
Figure 6 shews a plan, Figure 7 a side view, Figure 8 a transverse section
through 1, 1, of Figure 7, and Figure 9 a longitudinal section of another'
arrangement of breech-loading gun or rifle constructed according to our
Invention, and which is the one we prefer to employ. The corresponding parts
are marked with similar letters of reference to those previously described in
respect to Figures 1 and 2. In this arrangement right and left handed screws
are cut, one on the barrel at c* and the other on the tubular socket at 6*, and
the tubular socket d is formed with corresponding right and left handed
internal screws, so that by a partial rotation of the tubular collar d, a quick
to-or-fro movement of the barrel takes place, in order to connect or disconnect
t with the moveable breech piece a. Figure 10 shows a longitudinal section,
Figure 11 a plan in section, and Figures 12, 18, and 14 transverse sections
of another arrangement of the parts of a breech-loading gun or rifle con-
tructed according to our Invention, in which arrangement the tubular collar d
which is formed with an internal right and left handed screw) is placed
behind the moveable breech piece a, one part of the screw collar taking into a
crew thread formed on the tubular lock chamber e', and the other part into a

page_text: screw thread cut on the tubular end of the case or frame b, to which the
barrel c is firmly screwed at 6', the tubular part 6 of the frame 6 being sup-
ported by and sliding to and fro on the lock tube e', when the collar dis
turned to connect and disconnect the barrel c with the moveable breech
piece a, which in this arrangement is carried by a frame a', firmly screwed on
to the end of the lock tube, and one end of this frame serves as a guide to the
end of the barrel c, which arrangement of parts will be readily understood on
examining the Drawing.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and the best means we
are acquainted with for carrying the same into practice, we would bave it
understood that we do not confine ourselves to the exact details herein
described; but what we claim is,―
First, the combination and arrangement of the parts of breech loading fire-
arms as described in respect of Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings, by which a
perfectly tight joint is obtained between the moveable breech and the barrel
.during the discharge.
Secondly, we claim the application of combined right and left handed
screws to breech-loading fire-arms for the purpose of readily connecting and
disconnecting the breech piece and the barrel, and for securely holding those
parts together to form a perfect joint at the time the discharge takes place, as
described in respect to Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14.
In witness whereof, we, the said James Mackenzie and Stephen Thomas
Wentworth, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-fifth
day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sixty.
JAMES MACKENZIE.
STEPHEN THOMAS WENTWORTH. (L.S.)
Witness to the signatures of the above-
named J. Mackenzie and Stephen
Thomas Wentworth,
GEO. H. BIRKBECK,
14, Southampton Buildings.