IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION REVOLVING OR REPEATING FIRE-ARME
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francois Alexandre Le Mat, of New Orleans, in the
State of Louisiana, in the United States of America, Colonel Aide-de-
Camp, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
REVOLVING OR REPEATING FIRE-ARME."
Sealed the 4th January 1860, and dated the 8th July 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francois Alexandre Le
Mat at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 8th July 1859.
I, FRANCOIS ALEXANDRE LE MAT, of New Orleans, in the State of Louisiana.
in the United States of America, Colonel Aide-de-Camp, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
REVOLVING OR REPEATING FIRE-ARKS," to be as follows:-
My Invention of improvements in the construction of revolving or repeating
fire-arms consists in a novel construction or arrangement of parts whereby a
repeating fire-arm, such as pistol or rifle revolvers, may be rendered more
convenient and effective weapons than heretofore, without adding to the
weight or to the complication of the parts.
My Invention relates to that description of repeating fire-arm in which a
moveable breech piece pierced for several charges is made to rotate on its
spindle, in order to bring every charge in succession under the hammer, and
opposite to a common barrel through which every such charge is made to pass.

page_text: My Invention consists principally in mounting such rotating breech on a
hollow central spindle or barrel, which will form an additional barrel for the
arm, and which additional barrel I prefer to charge with a cartridge containing
a number of small bullets instead of a single bullet. This central barrel or hol-
low spindle may be charged either at the muzzle or the breech, and the move-
able breech is made to rotate thereon in any well-known or other convenient
manner. Every barrel of the rotating breech must of course be provided with
a nipple and touch-hole, and the central barrel must be also so provided. The
same trigger and hammer is used for rotating the moveable breech, and for
discharging the primers of the same, and also the primer of the central barrel
or hollow spindle. As, however, the nipples of the rotating breech-piece and
of the central barrel or spindle are not in the same circuit, the head of the
hammer is made moveable, and is jointed so that by the finger or thumb of
the hand which holds the pistol, the moveable part of the hammer head may
be moved up or down in order to bring the hammer into a position suitable
for discharging the primers of the rotating breech or of the central barrel, as
may be required. This moveable head of the hammer is also connected by a
spring or small lever placed inside the hammer with the mechanism of the
lock, whereby the moveable breech is rotated, and is so arranged that when
the moveable head is pushed back so as to act on the nipple of the central
barrel, the small spring or lever in connection with the hammer will throw
the rotating mechanism out of gear with the moveable breech. which will con-
sequently remain stationary until the head of the hammer is returned to its
original or normal state.
Another improvement in the hammer consists in forming two small pro-
jecting wings at the side of the head of the hammer for the purpose of fitting
against a projecting part of the rotating breech, and locking the same, thereby
preventing the latter from rotating when the hammer is let down on to such
projecting part. The rammer for pushing the charge into the barrel is
worked by a jointed lever, and in order to ensure its proper action and accu-
rate working, the rammer is made to work on a fixed guide piece attached
to a convenient part of the metal frame of the arm. Part of the lever of the
hammer is made removeable, so that it may be used for the purpose of
loading the central barrel. This removeable part of the lever is also fitted in
such a manner as to admit of a screw being fixed thereon for withdrawing a
charge when required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Francois Alexandre Le Mat in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 7th January 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCOIS
ALEXANDRE LE MAT. of New Orleans, in the State of Louisiana, in the United
States of America. Colonel Aide-de-Camp. send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria. by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of July, 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 me,
the said Francois Alexandre Le Mat. Her special license that I, the said
Francois Alexandre Le Mat, my executors. administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Francois Alexandre Le Mat, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 Inven-
tion for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF REVOLVING OR REPEATING FIRE-
ARMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Francois Alexandre
Le Mat, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Francois Alexandre Le Mat, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention of Improvements in the Construction of Revolving or Re-
peating Fire-arms," consists in a novel construction or arrangement of parts
whereby a repeating fire-arm, such as a pistol or rifle revolver, may be rendered
a more convenient and effective weapon than heretofore, without adding to the
weight or to the complication of the parts.
My Invention relates to that description of repeating fire-arm in which a
moveable breech piece pierced for several charges is made to rotate on a central
spindle, in order to bring every charge in succession under the hammer and
opposite to a common barrel through which every such charge is made to pass.

page_text: My Invention consists principally in mounting such rotating breech on a
hollow central spindle or barrel which will form an additional barrel for the
arm, and which additional barrel I prefer to charge with a cartridge contain-
ing a number of small bullets instead of a single bullet. This central barrel or
hollow spindle may be charged either at the muzzle or the breech, and the
moveable breech is made to rotate in any of the well-known ways or other con-
venient manner. Every barrel of the rotating breech must of course be
provided with a nipple and touch hole, and the central barrel must be also so
provided. The same trigger and hammer is used for rotating the moveable
breech and for discharging the primers of the same, and also the primer of the
central barrel or hollow spindle. As, however, the nipples of the rotating breech
piece and of the central barrel or spindle are not in the same circuit, the head of
the hammer is made moveable, and is jointed so that by- the finger or thumb of
the hand which holds the pistol, the moveable part of the hammer head may
be moved up or down in order to bring the hammer into a position suitable for
discharging the primers of the rotating breech or of the central barrel, as may be
required. This moveable head of the hammer is also connected by a spring or
small lever placed inside the hammer with the mechanism of the lock whereby
the moveable breech is rotated, and is so arranged that when the moveable
head is pushed back so as to act on the nipple of the central barrel, the small
spring or lever in connection with the hammer will throw the rotating mechanism
out of gear with the moveable breech, which will consequently remain stationary
until the head of the hammer is returned to its original or normal state.
Another improvement in the hammer consists in forming two small project-
ing wings at the side of the head of the hammer for the purpose of fitting
against a projecting part of the rotating breech and locking the same, thereby
preventing the latter from rotating when the hammer is let down on to such
projecting part. The rammer for pushing the charge into the barrel is
worked by a jointed lever, and in order to insure its proper action and accurate
working the rammer is made to work on a fixed guide piece attached to a
convenient part of the metal frame of the arm. Part of the lever of the
rammer is made removeable, so that it may be used for the purpose of loading
the central barrel. This removable part of the lever is also fitted in such a
manner as to admit of a screw being fixed thereon for withdrawing a charge
when required.
In the accompanying Drawing I have shewn various views of a pistol
constructed according to my improvements, some of the parts being shewn
detached in order that their construction and operation may be more clearly
seen and understood.

page_text: Fig. is an outside view of my improved revolver, taken on that side where
the ramrod and its plunger are situate. Figures 2 and 3 are detached views
of the central barrel and the parts connected therewith. This central barrel
is intended to receive a cartridge or charge containing grape or case shot.
Fig. 4 is a detached view of the barrel which is common to all the chambers.
Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the piece, to which are adapted the ramrod and
ramming plunger represented at Figures 6 and 6°. Figures 7 and 8 are side
and end views of the rotating breech adopted in this improved construction of
revolver. Figures 9 shew several views of the key whereby the chamber
barrel is attached or secured to the central barrel. Figures 12 and 13 repre-
sent in section and end view the arrangement of breech chambers to be
applied to breech-loading fire-arms, and Figures 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 shew
various constructions of bullets and cartridges which may be employed with
my improved revolver. Fig. 19 represents the screw which is to be adapted
to the end of the ramrod for cleaning the barrels, and Fig. 20 represents the
mode of fixing the ramrod when it is desired to place it under the central
barrel.
My improved revolver consists of a rotating breech a, having nine chambers b.
The rotating breech a has a central hole or opening a. Fig. 8, through which
passes the fixed central barrel c. which is of larger diameter or calibre than
the surrounding chambers of the moveable breech; this breech is simply slipped
on to the central barrel c, the backward extremity of which has ribs, projections,
or rings d, like screw threads formed upon it, as shewn in Fig. 3, for the
reception of some lubricating material to facilitate the movement of the
rotating breech. Above this central barrel c, thus furnished with its breech
chambers, is a second barrel e, which is intended to communicate in succession
with the nine chambers of the rotating breech. This latter barrel is connected
with the barrel e by sliding the central barrel laterally into the ring f. and
turning it a quarter of a revolution in order to cause the catch g, Fig. 4, at its
hinder part to take into the notch h, Fig. 3, in the breech piece or under
frame of the central barrel c. In order to unite the parts more firmly together,
the central barrel is provided with a notch i. Fig. 3, and the second or
upper barrel is provided with a slot ", through which passes a key k shewn
at Fig. 9; this key is kept in position by means of a spring k¹, which forms
part of it, and also by a small headed screw at the side of the main or breech
barrel. At the side of this barrel are the ramming plunger and ramrod 1,
Fig. 1, of the central barrel c. These parts are connected in the following
manner: The barrel e (see Fig. 1) is provided on the side next the ramrod
with a shoulder piece tapped with a female screw by which the ramrod holder n

page_text: .
is fastened by means of a screw o. This ramrod holder n has a hole through
it equal in diameter to or a little larger than that of the ramrod, so that this
latter may enter it easily, but in order that the ramrod may be firmly held
therein, the extremity p of the ramrod holder is, slotted, and of a smaller
diameter than that of the head of the ramrod, so as to act as a spring against
the head, and hold the ramrod firmly. The barrel e is provided with a ring q
open at its circumference, the arms of which act as springs in order to force
the ramrod against a small stop r. which prevents it from falling when the
barrel of the pistol is lowered. The ramrod holder n is provided at about the
middle of its length with a bracket piece 8, which takes into the head of the
rammer, and holds this latter by means of a screw t, which plays in a slot u.
The ramming plunger is also provided with a dovetail slot into which takes the
dovetail v, fixed to the barrel e. The method of loading, which may be easily
understood, is as follows: On lowering the right-hand end of the ramrod, the
ramrod holder, on being lowered with it, will cause the ramming plunger / to
slide upon the catch of the barrel e, and to come opposite one of the nine
chambers, which may be thus loaded with facility. With respect to the central
barrel, it is charged by means of the ramrod p in the holder n. If desired,
the ramming piston I may be arranged as shewn in the Drawing, and the
ramrod of the central barrel held in a jointed ring, as seen at Fig. 20. All
the parts having been put 'together, are fixed to the stock r, Fig. 1, which is
provided at its end with a hole or ring, so as to be capable of being
suspended from a belt or strap, and serving as a defensive weapon, if necessary.
The mechanism for actuating the hammer does not differ materially from that
ordinarily employed, but an important part of my Invention is the combination
of parts constituting the moveable head of the hammer, which allows by simply
lowering or raising it of acting at pleasure, either upon the chambers of the
rotating breech or on the central barrel.
Figure represents the hammer in its elevated position ready to act on the
primers of the rotating breech; Figures 10 and 11 represent front and side
views of the hammer with its head depressed, and ready to operate on the
primer of the central barrel c. The head of the hammer is composed of a
circular piece flattened at its front part, and provided with two studs a', by
which it may be readily raised or lowered by the thumb or finger; it is also
provided with jaws b', which take on to projections c', formed between the
nipples of the chambers on the breech piece. The object of this arrangement
is to keep the breech piece in position to prevent its rotation during the
discharge of the chambers, and to prevent the cap when firing from being
struck off laterally. When the cock or hammer is required to act upon the

page_text: central barrel, its head is made to assume the position represented at Figures
10 and 11, in order to act upon the nipple d' of the central barrel (see Fig. 2).
While the hammer is in this position, the breech is incapable of turning, as
the hammer, which must pass three notches in order to be cocked for the
discharge of the chambers, does not complete its course by reason of its move-
able head coming in contact with the nipple of the central barrel. In order
that the head of the hammer may be always maintained in a suitable position,
the hammer is provided inside with a spring e', shewn by dots in Fig. 1. This
spring bears against the circular part of its head with sufficient force to prevent
its play in any direction. In order to keep the breech piece firmly in position
when any one of its nipples is presented to the hammer, the detent is provided
with a projection which takes at its lower part into one of the notches f¹ of
the breech piece. When the pistol is required to load at the breech, the
breech piece must be modified in construction. and the nipples are done away
with. The cartridges are introduced into the central barrel by drawing back
the hinged piece g¹ (see Fig. 12), and into the chambers of the breech piece
by drawing back the hinged piece h'. For breech-loading arms, the chambers
are provided with rifle grooves meeting those of the barrel e, as shewn in the
sectional view, Fig. 13, the diameter of the chamber being also diminished
towards the mouth, so as to cause the bullet to be forced on the explosion of
the cartridge. It is evident that grooved chambers may also be employed for
arms which are loaded by the ramrod.
Figures 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 represent various kinds of cartridges which
I propose to employ for breech-loading fire-arms. In Fig. 17 the bullet is
conical, and furnished with projections upon its circumference; it is
hollowed, as seen in section, and enveloped at its hinder end in a paper
casing 1', in which the charge of powder is placed. In Fig. 16 the bullet is
also conical, but the paper casing, instead of being fastened round the bullet,
is inserted into an annular groove m' made at its hinder part. For this
purpose the bullet is cast level at its hinder part, and the annular groove m' is
afterwards formed by means of a suitable instrument; the cylindrical paper
case is then inserted in the groove, and by means of a suitably formed die and
strong pressure, the rear end of the bullet is made to assume a concave form,
thus securing the paper casing in its groove. In Fig. 18 the bullet is formed
with a neck n', in which the extremity of the cartridge casing is secured.
In all these arrangements I provide with a slight layer of fulminating
powder all the bottom of the cartridge and principally the edges, so that the
hammer striking any part of the edges shall effect the explosion of the
cartridge. For the central barrel the cartridges are much larger; they are

page_text: shewn in Figures 14 and 15, and are composed of a casing of metal or other
suitable material, inside which are placed a number of small bullets o', and
fulminating powder in sufficient quantity to secure the explosion of the
cartridge.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the best means with
which am acquainted of carrying the same into effect, I desire it to be
understood that I do not mean or intend to confine myself to the precise
details herein shewn and described, as they may be modified to suit various
exigencies, without departing from the nature and object of my Invention;
but what I consider to be new and wish to claim as the Invention secured to
me under the above in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
Firstly, an arrangement of revolver or repeating fire-arm, the revolving
breech of which is provided with any convenient number of chambers, and is
mounted on a central barrel of suitable diameter for carrying a large charge
of grape shot or small bullets.
Secondly, I claim the mode above described of connecting the parts together,
and particularly the connection and combination of the central barrel with the
rotating breech chambers.
Thirdly, the use of a hammer having a moveable head, by means of which
it may be made to act at pleasure either upon the nipples of the breech
chambers or upon the central barrel.
Fourthly, the arrangement above described for preventing the rotation of
the breech while the piece is being fired, and the nicks upon the breech for
preventing its being turned when the hammer is cocked.
Fifthly, the arrangement of ramming piston, having in its centre the ramrod
for the central barrel, as above shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francois Alexandre Le Mat, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-third day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
F. A. LE MAT. (L.S.)