IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-ARMS, AND IN THE MEANS PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Gedge, of 4, Wellington Street, Strand,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-ARMS, AND IN THE MEANS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Gedge at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th March 1853.
I, JOHN GEDGE, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-ARMS, AND IN THE MEANS
OF LOADING THE SAME," being a communication, to be as follows:-
As I file tracings with the Provisional Specification, I do not deem it
necessary to do more than give a succinct but clear description thereof.
Figure 1, is a partial elevation of a breach loading gun, constructed
according to the first head of the Invention; and Figure 2, is a sectiou
through the line A, B, of Figure 1. Figure 3, is a section of an im-
proved shot cartridge, forming the second head of the invention; and
Figure 4, is a section of a ball cartridge, containing the same improve-
ment. Figure 5, shews a leather sole for the same; and Figure 6,

page_text: The loading slide and
part of which slide is
shews the forward end of the slot cartridge. The like marks of refer-
ence designate the same parts. A, is the stock; B, is the barrel of the
fire-arm; E, is a metal chamber containing the working parts, and also
connecting the barrel with the stock A is a centre pin, carrying the
radius bar a; the lower and rear part b, of which both forms the trigger
guard, and serves as a lever to move the radius bar a. A pin, 2, on the
lever b, enters a hole in the strap of the chamber E; and a how or
loop, S, receives a finger to move the lever b.
breech pin C, lies in the chamber E, the front
formed round, as at e, to enter the rear end of the barrel B, and form
a shoulder. 4, is a projection on the side of the breech pin c, which
has a touch-hole opening to the centre of the barrel from a nipple 5.
The forward end of the breech pin c, is formed as a semi-circle, corre-
sponding with the bore of the gun in front of the dotted line 7, and
behind that line as a square, taking and sliding in a groove in the
chamber E. Figure 2, shows the semi-circular form and the position
of the barrel in dotted lines. At 6, the rear of the slide C, is formed
as a pair of jaws, with a pin 8, through them; and on the fore end of
the radius bar a, a tenon 10, has a slot 9, through it, which takes the
pin 8, to connect the radius bar a, with the slide c. The upper part
of the radius bar a, and slot 9, is formed nearly as an are of a circle
struck from the centre of the pin; and a recess, corresponding in form
to the head of the radius bar, is made in the rear of the breech pin c;
the slot 9, and tenon 10, are curved around the lower edge of the end
of the radius bar a, and extended on the side towards the centre pin 1.
At d, is the trigger, fitted to communicate by a lever 11, to the seer of
a common lock, with the usual springs, tumbler, and percussion ham-
mer, the parts of which are inside the moveable cover plate f. as seen
in Figure 2. At 12, is a pin to hold the barrel B, in place; and 13,
is the ramrod thimble. The formation of these parts is as follows:-
The guard b, being turned into the position shewn by dotted lines,
the radius bar a, is also brought towards the back of the piece, as
shewn by dotted lines, drawing with it the slide c, by the pin 8, which,
as the radius bar a, swings on its centre, comes into the position in the
slot 9, shewn by the dotted lines in Figure 1. This withdrawal of the

page_text: breech pin leaves a space between that and the barrel B, forming a
receptacle into which a proper cartridge is to be entered; and on again
returning the guard lever b, to the position shewn in Figure 1, the
radius bar a, is forced forward, carrying with it the breech pin c, and
pushing the cartridge into the barrel of the gun. It will be seen that
when the radius bar a, has pushed the breech pin c, as far as possible,
its end, being the arc of a circle, allows of the parts being further
moved to bring the radius bar a, and guard, into the positions shewn in
Figure 1, with the pin 2, in the strap. In these motions the square
behind 7, sliding in the square groove in the chamber E, maintains the
rectilinear motion of the breech pin. The cartridge being fixed by
a cap on the nipple 5, the explosion is in the line of the breech
pin C, and the recoil is taken through the radius bar a, and pin 1, on
the chamber E; and this radius bar a, standing nearly at an angle of
45° with the line of the explosion (see full lines in Figure 1), the
effect of the recoil is as much to force the radius bar downwards and
forward, as to force it upward and backward; so that by thus balancing
the forces of the recoil the ultimate shock is thrown on the parts of the
metal chamber E, above the breech pin, and on the parts that carry
the centre 1, making it nearly impossible for the breech pin to be blown
back by the force of the explosion without description of the parts.
The cartridge which is used with this gun, as before noted, is shewn in
Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6; but this cartridge may be used with any other
gun
that loads at the breech, as also any other proper cartridge may be
used with this gun, although the cartridge here shown is preferable, and
specially intended for use with the arm herein shown; and it is dis-
tinctly to be understood that neither the cartridge nor the arrangement
for working the breech pin are to be limited in their size, as they may
be applied to all kinds of fire-arms. In Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6, g, repre-
sents a leather sole with a hole through its centre in the line of the
touch-hole, in the breech pin, to allow of the passage forward of the
flash from the denoting cap this hole is to be made with a punch, or
burned with a wire, so as to leave the same entirely free; and the size
of the leather sole is to be such as will fit tightly into the chamber of
the arm with which the cartridge is to be used. Attached to this sole

page_text: is a paper or other cylinder h, of a size to pass freely into the barrel,
and forming a chamber for containing the powder i, which is kept from
running out of the hole in the sole g. by a piece of fine tissue paper, or
similar substance, that will not obstruct the detonation from the cap
reaching the powder. Figures 3, and 6, show a shot cartridge, with
the powder i, separated from the shot k, by a wad or division, and both
secured in the cylinder h, by a plug or wad e, inserted in the end
thereof. Figure 4. shows a ball cartridge, in which the bullet f, is to
be of a size to fit properly into the bore of the gun with which it is
to be used, and is attached to the cylinder h, by being made smaller to
enter within the cylinder, with a rebate, as at 14.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said John Gedge, in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 25th May 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME.
JOHN GEDGE, of 4, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of Middle-
sex, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the sixteenth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said John Gedge, Her special licence, that 1, the
said John Gedge, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said John Gedge, my executors, administrators, 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 communicated to me by a certain
foreigner, for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-ARMS, AND
IN THE MEANS OF LOADING THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Gedge, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature

page_text: 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 I, the said John Gedge, 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):
The nature of this Invention, as communicated to me by a certain
foreigner, will be understood by the following description and reference
to the illustrative drawing hereunto annexed, and consists in improve-
ments on a fire-arın or fire-arms already patented. The diagrams in
the drawings are-Figure 1, a partial elevation of a breech loading
gun, with the radius bar shut. Figure 2, another partial elevation,
with the radius bar open. Figure 3, shews in section one side of the
gun lock, with the works exposed to view. Figure 4, the other, or
outside of the lock, where the lock is affixed. Figure 5, shews a plate
for covering the works of the lock before placing the said lock into the
gun stock, the use whereof is to prevent the works of the lock from be-
coming foul by closing them securely in, and so forming a sort of
chamber into which the gaseous air formed by the explosion of the
materials forming the gun charge cannot enter the advantage of so
closing in the works is obvious, as not only will the repeated discharges
of the fire-arm cause no clouding or staining of the lock works, but,
should the gun bc put away uncleaned, the lock works will not suffer
froin the fire-damp. Figure 6, shews Figure 3, with the plate Figure 5,
affixed. Figure 7, the slide or plunger C, in two views: this slide or
plunger is the same as heretofore used in this description of fire-arm,
except that an improvement has been made by cutting one, two, or
more grooves a, a, thereon, as shewn, the use of such grooves being to
allow the ready escape of the gaseous air occasioned by the explosion.
It will only be further necessary to observe that the plate, Figure 7,
must be screwed on to the lock, Figure 3; it will then appear as at
Figure 6; and it is to be affixed to or inserted in the gun stock in the
usual manner.

page_text: The other portions of the communication made to me by a certain
foreigner aforesaid having, I now find, been previously used in this
country, it will not be needful further herein to allude to them. And
I confine ny claim to the improvements herein mentioned in the
construction of fire-arms, and in the means of loading the same, to
those herein described. And 1 claim,-
Firstly, the plate shown in the diagram, Figure 5, of the annexed
drawing, separate, and as fixed in or on at Figure 6.
Secondly, the improved slide or plunger, having cut therein or thercon
one, two, or more grooves, for the more readily allowing the escape of
the gascous or foul air caused by the combustion or explosion of the
cartridge in firing fire-arms.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Gedge, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of May, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-three.
JOHN GEDGE. (L.S.)
Witness, WM W. MARSTON,
St. Martin-le-Grand.