IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING FIREARMS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hector Auguste Dufrené, of No. 10, Rue de la Fidélité,
Paris, in the Republic of France, and 4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Civil
Engineer and Patent Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH
LOADING FIREARMS." A communication from Monsieur Jean Sugan-Jame, of
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hector Auguste Dufrèné at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th July 1881.
.
HECTOR AUGUSTE DUFRENÉ, of No. 10, Rue de la Fidélité, Paris, in the
Republic of France, and 4, South Street, Finsbury, Loudon, Civil Engineer and
Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING FIRE-ARMS." [A commu-
nication from Monsieur Jean Sugan-Jame, of Lugas, in the Department of Tarn
and Garonne, in the Republic of France.]
This Invention relates to improvements in the breech mechanism of that class of
fire arms constructed on the "Gras" system. My improved breech mechanism
consists of three pieces only, videlicet-First, of a cylinder for receiving the spiral
spring; it is formed with a swell guiding the moveable breech during the working,
pressing the spiral spring, and giving a fixed position to the apparatus during
firing. A fixed extractor allows of the empty cartridge case being withdrawn after
firing; secondly, of a spiral spring; and thirdly, a closing piece which serves as
the needle or striker, and carries the cocking and safety bents.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Hector Auguste Dufrené in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th January 1882.
HECTOR AUGUSTE DUFRENÉ, of 10, Rue de la Fidélité, Paris, in the Republic of
France, and 4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Civil Engineer and Patent
Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECHLOADING FIRE-ARMS." A communication from
Monsieur Jean Sugan-Jame, of Lugas, in the Department of Tarn and Garonne,
in the Republic of France.
This Invention relates to improvements in the breech mechanism of that class of
fire arms constructed on the "Gras" system. My improved breech mechanism
consists of three pieces only, videlicet:-Firstly, of a cylinder for receiving the
spiral spring; it is formed with a swell guiding the moveable breech during the
working, pressing the spiral spring, and giving a fixed position to the apparatus
during firing; a fixed extractor allows of the empty cartridge case being with-
drawn after tiring; secondly, of a spiral spring; and thirdly, a closing piece which
serves as the needle or striker, and carries the cocking and safety bents.
But to make the Invention communicated to me better understood, I will proceed
to describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figures 1
and 1 are views of the cylinder and extractor; Figure 2 is an elevation of Figure 1;
Figures 3, 3, 3b, 3b, 3c, represent the needle or striker, the truncated cone, the
blade, and the safety bent; Figure 4 is the spring; Figures 5 and 5ª shew the
passage for the needle or striker; the extractor, the groove, the needle or striker,
the helical slot of the cylinder, and the hollows or notches; Figures 6, 62, and (b
shew the needle or striker, the blade, the depression, and the notch.
The cylinder may be adapted to arms constructed on the "Gras" principle, and
works in the breech-box; it is provided in front with a cavity in the shape of a
truncated cone similar to that of the moveable head, and serving to receive the
cartridge bottom. A fixed extractor B is placed on this part of the cylinder; a
channel formed in the centre receives the coil spring in its back part, and the
needle or striker in its forward part. A slot or groove R is formed in the bottom
of the cylinder with a recess on one side, the development of this recess is about a
quarter of the circumference, plus one twelfth of an inch; its length is about one
inch and a quarter; then it is closed, but there remains a depression of about one
eighth of an inch in depth and two inches and three quarters in length. The
edges of this depression are the extension of those of the exterior part of the recess;
the back part of the recess serves as a stop against the breech stop screw. A swell
or projection A serves as a shoulder to the operating lever, and guides the moveable
breech in its box.
The coil spring is about two inches and three quarters in length when it is
compressed, and about three inches and a half when it is not compressed; its
strength should be of from twenty two to twenty eight pounds.
The closing piece consists of the needle or striker A, Figure 3, terminated in
front by a truncated conc B about two inches and three quarters in length, and of
such a diameter as will allow it to slide freely in the interior of the channel. The
needle or striker is connected to a blade C for about one inch and one eighth of its
length, reckoning from about seven eighths of an inch from its point. This blade is
about four inches in length, and of the shape of the groove k of the cylinder; it
also is provided with a groove about two inches and five eighths long, cominencing
from its forward edge, and serving to receive the ejecting screw and two bents, the
safety bent D and the cocking bent E.
To put the improved breech mechanism in action, the spring is put in its place,
then the needle or striker; the blade slides in the groove of the cylinder, and when
it reaches the recess it should be turned therein about one eighth of an inch; then
the groove of this blade being diametrically opposite to the swell or projection

page_text: allows the breech to enter its box in which the ejecting screw is placed; to effect
this it will be necessary to remove the stop screw and replace it after the breech
s in place.
"
"
In this arrangement it is necessary to draw back the hand lever in order to cock
the arm, the blade only moving back with the whole of the mechanism. To
obviate this a helical notch E (Figure 5A) is provided on the cylinder, and by
taking hold of the swell or projection, as in arms constructed on the Gras'
principle, the blade of the closing piece, the extremity of which is formed into a
corresponding helical incline F, slides progressively on the groove of the cylinder
and allows time for the tumbler head to engage in the safety bent. To afford still
greater security to the arm when it is at safety cock, a helical groove is provided
having a notch G; the end of the blade by engaging in this notch prevents
accidental firing, even should the tumbler head become disengaged from its bent.
This helical groove, whether continuous or interrupted by the notch G, gives facility
by simply raising the hand lever, of cocking the arm, it being impossible for the
blade to turn by reason of the ejecting screw placed in the groove.
The stop screw of the moveable breech may be dispensed with.
For this purpose the blade should be developed, as shewn at C, Figure 6, which
prevents it getting out of the breech box. To allow of operating, the cylinder
should have a depression O at the point of development above described of the
blade. The recess of the breech box is enlarged so that the ejecting screw shall
not be covered.
The blade is placed in the breech box and at the extreme back of the same, the
cylinder with its spring is then introduced; it is slid in the box enclosing the blade
in its slot or groove; then when it has once passed the development of the blade, it
is turned about one eighth of an inch until the swell or projection can slide in this
box. It should be observed that the swell or projection is supposed to be still
outside the box when the cylinder passes the development of the blade, without
which it would be necessary to draw back the swell or projection, or to modify the
back edges of the breech box. The recess in which the point of the blade is
received would allow by raising it again of firmly closing the mechanism.
This arrangement may have a helical notch E, Figure 6, and it would be the
same for the blade in Figure 6.
A recess H, Figure 5, in the arm serving to receive the point of the blade gives
still greater strength to the mechanism in recoiling, particularly when the ejecting
screw is out of its slot or groove and allows the blade to turn. This recess, not
shewn in the Drawing, should be applied to Figure 6.
Having now described the Invention communicated to me, and the best means
with which I am acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be
understood that what is claimed and intended to be protected by the herein in
part recited Letters Patent is,―
The improvements in breech loading fire arms, substantially as hereinbefore
described and represented in the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Hector Auguste Dufrené, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty third day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
H. A. DUFRENE. (L.S.)