IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRAL-FIRE BREECH-LOADING GUNS AND PISTOLS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Wellington Greener, of 61 and 62,
Loveday Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun
Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRAL-FIRE
BREECH-LOADING GUNS AND PISTOLS."
Sealed the 5th September 1868, and dated the 7th March 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Wellington
Greener at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 7th March 1868.
I, WILLIAM WELLINGTON GREENER, of 61 and 62, Loveday Street,
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRAL-
FIRE BREECH-LOADING GUNS AND PISTOLS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to improved strikers or pistons for central-fire
breech-loaders, either military or sporting, instead of making them with
a spring and nipples as is usual. I make a strong piston which works
in the break off with a nearly direct action; to keep the piston in the
proper position I make a slot or groove in the side of the said piston,
I put a screw or pin through the side of break off which engages

page_text: in a groove in the side of the piston which keeps it from turning
round, but allows the said piston a backward and forward motion only.
I work the pistons with the hammers of the gun in the following
manner: I leave a peg on the pistons which projects over the breast of
the hammer. I make a hook on the breast of the hammer, the said hook
catches the said projection on the piston and withdraws the said piston,
the hammer is raised nearly to half-cock before catching the said pro-
jection, then brings it up to full-cock leaving a space of about half an
inch between the top of the piston and the nose or striking part of the
hammer, when the trigger is pulled the hammer falls with considerable
force upon the piston and effectually explodes the cartridges.
My Invention relates also to central-fire breech-loading pistols with
under and over barrels. I make a hinge joint on the left side of the
pistol body close to the break off. I attach the barrels to this joint by
moving the barrels to the left, the chambers are exposed for loading;
the barrels are secured for firing by a staple which projects beyond
the breech ends of the barrels about three-quarters of an inch, the
said staple fits into a slot in the break off; a screw or spring bolt is
fixed into the break off, and made to engage in the said staple, the
said bolt being worked by a leaver or handle. I place the needles
or strikers in the break off one over the other, and strike them by
the tumblers of the locks or otherwise; the cartridges are extracted
by opening the barrels; this plan is also applicable for pistols and
carbines with barrels side by side, or under and over as before described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 2
filed by the said William Wellington Greener in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 5th September 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
WELLINGTON GREENER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Gunmaker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give

page_text: and grant unto me, the said William Wellington Greener, Her special
licence that I, the said William Wellington Greener, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Wellington Greener, 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 for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRAL-FIRE BREECH-LOADING GUNS AND
PISTOLS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Wellington Greener, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Wellington Greener, 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 :-
I make a striker or exploding piston with a head or shoulder having a
projecting peg or arm at right angles, the said striker or exploding
piston is kept in position in the false breech of the gun by a screw
entering a groove or slot on the side of the striker or exploding piston,
which allows the striker or piston to move backwards and forwards
only. I then make a hammer with a hook on the breast thereof which
engages the said projecting peg or arm on the striker or exploding
piston, so that at half-cock the striker or exploding piston is withdrawn
or brought back clear of the cartridge, yet is left so far from the hammer
when at full-cock as to allow of a good free blow being given to it.
Having described the nature of my Invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I will proceed to describe it with reference
to the accompanying Drawing.
Figure A represents the striker or exploding piston with the projecting
arm or peg having a groove in the side; Figure B represents the screw
pin which holds the striker in position in the false breech; Figure C
represents the hammer with the hook on the breast; Figure D shews

page_text: the gun at full-cock with the hammer and striker in proper position
for firing.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Wellington Greener, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
eight.
WILLIAM WELLINGTON GREENER. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
above-named William Wellington
Greener, in the presence of
H. A. HOLDEN,
Sol., Birm.