IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS, BULLETS, CARTRIDGES, BAYONETS, AND ORDNANCE
Year: 1849

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
LOUIS ALFRED DE CHATAUVILLARD, of Rue Saint Lazarc, in the
Republic of France, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria,
by Her Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster,
the Fifteenth day of May, One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine,
in the twelfth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Louis Alfred De Chatauvillard,
my exors, adñiors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole
privilege and authority, that I, the said Louis Alfred De Chatauvillard,
my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Louis
Alfred De Chatauvillard, my exors, adñiors, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed, the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS,
BULLETS, CARTRIDGES, BAYONETS, AND ORDNANCE," communicated to nie

page_text: from abroad; in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, that
I, the said Louis Alfred De Chatauvillard, shall cause a particular
description of the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be perforined, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within six calendar months' next and immediately after the
date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the
said Louis Alfred De Chatauvillard, do hereby declare that the nature
of the said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be
performed, are fully described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto an-
nexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say:
The modifications applied to fire-arms, which may be denominated
"moveable breech" or "jointed," consist,-Firstly, that the chamber is
hermetically closed by means of a breech forming a plug, which joints
after the manner of a piston, and which in closing introduces therein
in a proper manner the cartridge, which it suffices to fit in the sort of
small socket between the opening of the barrel and the plug of the
said breech when the latter is open. The mechanism of the moveable
breech is enclosed in one portion of the barrel, and does not give rise
to any projection. The closing of this breech is performed so herme-
tically and with such solidity that it may be compared to the screwed
breech of ordinary fire-armis. Secondly, this breech is moved by means
of a lever, the mechanism of which is of a new description, and is
caught firmly at its extreme end by a spring with hinges, offering as
regards safety every guarantee. Thirdly, it may be uncocked without
disturbing the priming, nor risking to set fire to it, by means of a minor
mechanism, which consists in a sort of small. buttress fixed with hinges
to the back of the cock.Ne 18 and 19, and which invariably acts
without any necessity of attending to it in uncocking, which in no

page_text: degree prevents its free action when let off in firing. Fourthly, the
cock, being of a simple construction, forming only one straight piece,
has very great action, and consequently has more power for performing.
by a sharp friction the firing of the priming in the cartridge. In short,
the system and the mechanism of this new fire-arm present many
advantages, both for the construction of the pieces, which from their
simplicity are easy of execution, and by its new moveable breech,
which, besides preventing any escape of gas, offers safety and solidity,
agam
CONCERNING THE PRIMING.
There are two sorts of primings. No 27, consists in a sort of socket
with a cue, in which there is a little fulminating powder for the
priming. This system has great advantages for precision in firing,
occasioned by the socket, which gives a good aim to the projectile; but
the manufacture of it is rather complicated. No 25, consists simply of
a wooden square of two "lignes" in thickness, the angles of which are
of the diameter of the interior of the cartridge. In the centre of-this
square is a small opening, in which is placed the small quantity of
fulminating powder which serves for the priming. This latter priming
is very easy of execution.
No, gun complete; N° 2, barrel; No 3, breech complete; N° 4,
ditto, bottom plan; N 5, ditto, top plan; N° 6, upper surface of lever;
No 7, side view of lever; N° 8, sort of buttress worked by the lever,
and which serves to force the breach into its jointure; No 9, top and
bottom plans of the preceding portion; No 10, side view of needle
bearer; No 11, bottom plan of the same, with its mortise, which
receives the end of a screw which stops it and prevents it from coming
out beyond the proper distance; No 12, slides or flat part of steel,
which serves to hold the breech in the groove of the barrel, which flat
part is fixed in the said breech by two screws, the holes of which are
marked N 4 and 5; N° 13, spring for fixing the lever in its fastening,
and which is detached by the motion applied to the ring in raising it;
Nos 14, 14, scutchion and body of the plate, side and top plans; № 15,
protection guard; No 16, 16, trigger; N° 17, 17, cock; N 18, 18..

page_text: sort of buttress with hinges, which holds the cock in safety when down;
No 19, spring for forcing the re-entrance of the buttress belonging to
the cock; No 20, 20, side and bottom plans of the tumbler; Nº 21, 21,
tumbler spring, side and bottom plans; Nos 22, 22, main spring; N° 23,
jointing screw; No 24, prolongation of barrel, in one piece with the
fastenings of buttress, which moves on a hinge and works with the
lever and the breech while performing the movement backwards and
forwards; N° 25, priming; Nº 26, cartridge, ready for use; N° 27,
The additions and improvements made to fire-armis on Montigny's
system, denominated "moveable breech" and "friction," and to the
primings applicable to such arms, consist, that he has succeeded in
rendering the mechanism of these arms extremely simple without
diminishing any of the advantages derived therefrom. These different
improvements, in considerably diminishing the complication and the
repairs of the arm, offer in addition the advantage of holding the
cartridge in the chamber in such a manner as it cannot deviate from
the plug of the breech, and that of withdrawing it from the said
chamber for unloading the arm without the help of a ramrod, which is
thus rendered useless. The plate described above, Nos 11, 14, and 15,
is a new Invention, and comprizes three principal parts, which are,
firstly, a body of a plate which forms the scutcheon; secondly, a main
spring; thirdly, a cock, which forms the hammer, the trigger, and
safety rest, by the different positions in which it may be placed; and,
fourthly, of a screw. The number of parts of this gun is much less
than that of which an ordinary percussion or flint gun is composed,
and the simple form of these parts renders then less liable to repairs.
The additions made to the primings applicable to these arms will be
explained hereafter, No 21. The advantages which they furnish are,
that the fulminating powder is unalterable; damp cannot penetrate
therein; and it is necessary to have a sharply applied friction with a
needle or a great degree of heat to cause it to fire. The fire of this
priming communicates itself to the powder in the cartridge in a direct

page_text: manner, which increases the range of the arm without interfering
with the shot in fowling pieces.
The pistol denominated, "de tir et de sal ou réunis" (for shooting in
or out of doors), on Montigny's system, with Fusuot's balls, No 22, is of
a mechanism which, although composed of a system of a lever similar
to the preceding one, and which acts in the same manner, is reduced to
the greatest simplicity. The breech, instead of executing its movement
backwards and forwards between the two lateral sides of a sort of
channel formed at the back of the chamber, as is done in the afore-
mentioned systems, slides on the thick part of the two side bars, which
are of one and the same piece with the barrel, and which have a
projecting support at their extremity which sustains the pressure of the
charge. This support offers the same guarantee of security as those of
the aforesaid arins, which allows of this system being applicable to fire-
arms of all dimensions. The plate of this pistol is constructed on the
same principle as that described above; the hody of the plate is formed
of the lower part of the stock, the spring acts by means of a "chinnette "
or small lever. This arrangement allows of the act of cocking being
rendered as delicate to the touch as the double trigger.
A single ball, containing its charge and priming, serves to load this
new arm; it will he described at Nos 40 and 41.
This system is equally applicable to rifles and to all arms for firing
manner, which increases the range of the arm without interfering
with the shot in fowling piecos.
The pistol denominated, "de tir et de sal ou réunis" (for shooting in
or out of doors), on Montigny's system, with Fusuot's balls, No 22, is of
a mechanism which, although composed of a system of a lever similar
to the preceding one, and which acts in the same manner, is reduced to
the greatest simplicity. The breech, instead of executing its movement
backwards and forwards between the two lateral sides of a sort of
channel formed at the back of the chamber, as is done in the afore-
mentioned systems, slides on the thick part of the two side bars, which
are of one and the same piece with the barrel, and which have a
projecting support at their extremity which sustains the pressure of the
charge. This support offers the same guarantee of security as those of
the aforesaid arins, which allows of this system being applicable to fire-
arms of all dimensions. The plate of this pistol is constructed on the
same principle as that described above; the hody of the plate is formed
of the lower part of the stock, the spring acts by means of a "chinnette
or small lever. This arrangement allows of the act of cocking being
rendered as delicate to the touch as the double trigger.
"
A single ball, containing its charge and priming, serves to load this
new arm; it will he described at Nos 40 and 41.
This system is equally applicable to rifles and to all arms for firing
with bail.
DENOMINATIONS OF THE PARTS.
Figure 1, gun complete, with bayonet. A, B, C, are the joining
screws which fasten the barrel and plate to the wood; D, is the
chamber; C, the breech, the brass plug belonging to which enters the
chamber as far as F; G, is the needle out of its receptacle, after
having pierced the priming; H, is the cock in the position which it
occupies after having struck the needle; 1, is the same cock put upon
full cock in opening the breech; the end of the slide J, is bent for that
HEROSO
The cock is checked at Kat the end of the spring M. The

page_text: .
under which passes a slide P, which holds the point X of the bayonet
at U; Q, is the fastening of the lever; it is performed by pressing the
ring of the latter to raise the lever; it is sufficient to pass the finger
under the trigger R.
Figures 2 and 3, breech top and bottom plans. S, is a rasp of brass
fixed to the extremity of the breech by the screw plug B; it introduces
the cartridge into the chamber in closing the latter, and withdraws it in
opening. D, is a groove in which acts the needle bearer 9 and 10.
Figure 4, side view of lever. Q, the hook; B, buttress, jointed to
the lever by a screw D, it turns on the hinge of the channel of the
barrel round the screw T, Figure 1. The lever and breech are joined
together by a peg F. I, is a small hook, which withdraws the needle
in opening the chamber.
Figure 5, lever with buttress, top plan. Figures 6, 7, 8, slide, top,
bottom, and side plans. It is fastened to the groove, to secure it in the
bottom of the channel by a screw A, Figures 2, 8, 6, 7, and 8. Figures
9, and 10, needle bearer, top plan and side plan. A, the head on which
the cock strikes. Figure 11, side view of cock.
B, the hammer; C,
the trigger; D, the rest; E, the hole in which it turns.
Figures 12 and 13, spring, which is fixed in the body of the plate
at II, 14, and 15, by its extremity G. Z, is a castor, which renders
the action of the cock quite easy; it rests at the stop D of the
cock when the latter is at full; and from the moment that, by the
pressure of the finger upon the trigger C, it has freed the stop, it rolls
over the curve F, imparting the force and movement of the spring to
the cock..
Figures 14, and 15, body of the plate, side and top plans; K, the
centre of rotation of the cock round a screw. Figure 16, protection
guard, which is fixed to the plate by means of the hook G, and of the
screw B, Figure 1. Figure 17, extremity of the barrel armed with
the bayonet, which turns on the screw A. B, is a hinge soldered to
the barrel; G, a small lodge which supports the end of the spring D,
fixed in the bayonet by the peg E; this spring causes the bayonet
to turn forwards, when the slide P, Figure 1, allows the escape of its
extremity X. When the said bayonet reaches the place marked in

page_text: red, the same spring D checks it at the rest F, which becomes free on
.pressing the small lever G.
Figure 18, form of the bayonet. Figure 19, side view of slide.
Figure 20, spring of bayonet. Figure 21, priming, which is placed at
one of the extremities of the cartridge. a, capsule of metal, which
contains the fulminating powder, covered with a greasy substance; b.
a small ceillet made of zinc, in which is placed the capsule to be
held between two paste boards c, and d.
Figure 22, pistol for shooting in or out of doors, complete. The red
sketch shows the position of the parts when the breech is open. A, is
the barrel; B, B', B", one of the side bars, which are of the same
body as the barrel, which unite at the points W; G, the breech which
slides on the upper edges of the two side bars. This breech has a
strong flat beam J, J, which performs the same movement as the
breech between the two side bars B. The part J, of this beam is held
by the lower part of the barrel, and the other J', by the hinge of the
buttress at Z. The supporter marked D, corresponds with that of the
lever E, E, E; this lever opens and shuts the breech and the chamber
by means of the buttress Y. I, I, I, are the screws for jointing the lever
and the breech of the buttress, and the lever of the buttress, and the
shoulder D. The lever being closed, the breech is against the orifice of
the chamber, opposite which a thimble X is screwed in the head of the
breech to receive the ball; the edges of the thimble enter sufficiently
far into the chamber to prevent any escape by the joint A¹ F, is
the cock, which, turning on the screw N, strikes the needle bearer at
Z. H, the spring. The straight line G, N, L, coustitutes the rest of
the cock; it suffices to break that line at the point N, by pressing the
finger on the trigger, in order that the spring may produce its effect.
R, is a small screw which serves to regulate the rest of the cock; S,
the aim. The two sides of the stock are formed by two plates K, fixed
on the body of the two side bars by a screw O, and a nut M, which
presses a round button L. P. is the protection guard attached to the
pistol by a hook at W, and by a peg Q.
Figures 23 and 24, breech. B, chin, which sets the cock; Ġ, the
guide of the needle bearer; X, the thimble in which the ball is
placed.

page_text: Dan charge.
receive its charge and priming.
b. place for putting the priming.
gen.
a, place for putting the charge;
DESCRIPTION OF PLAN N° 3.
Figure 1, plate complete. A, A, A, body of plate attached to the
fire-arm by screws I, 1; B, the cock; C, a spring, which acts on the
cock by means of the "chainette" (or small lever acting on the main
spring) D; E, the lever which works, as well as the cocks, round the
screw T, and which has two shoulders Z, which push the cocks into a
mortice X, formed for that purpose in the body of the cock F, the
tumbler turning on G; K, K, triggers which communicates the pros-
sure of the finger to the tumblers by the end I, of the latter; P, pro-
tection guard. Figure 2, side view of cock. J, J, rests; O, the head
which strikes the needle; Q. pivot of the "chainette;" X, mortice,
where the shoulders Z, Z, of the following lever act freely. Figure 3,
lever, which serves to cock by means of the shoulders Z, Z; G, the
hole into which fits the screw T; U, chin which supports the spring.
Figure 4, spring to hold the lever against the front part of the protec-
tion guard. Figure 5, main spring held fast by the pin M. Figure 6,
side view of tumbler. Figure 7, tumbler spring (side view). Figure 8,
trigger. Figure 9, top plan of the plate complete.
ANOTHER PLATE, WHICH HAS THE SAME ADVANTAGES AS THE ABOVE.
Figure 10, side view of plate, all mounted. C, main springs in one
• piece, and fastened to the body of the plate by the screw B; this
arrangement renders the use of an instrument for winding..up the

page_text: spring unnecessary; E, lever which serves to cock K, backwards, by
the notion given to it at the point Y; G, tumbler; H, tumbler
springs; I, triggers; J, small trigger spring. Figure 11, side view
of cock. Figures 12, and 18, lever, which serves to cock (side and
back view). Figure 14, side view of main springs. Figure 15, a
spring for the purpose of holding the lever against the protection
guard. Figure 16, top plan of plate complete.
A PLATE OF THE GREATEST SIMPLICITY, APPLICABLE TO SPORTING FIRE-
ARMS, AND TO THOSE INTENDED FOR THE ARMY, ON MONTIGNY'S
SYSTEM.
Figure 1, plate complete. Figure 2, body of the plate (top plan).
Figure 3, side view of the same. Figure 4, double safety protection
guard. Figure 5, cock. Figure 6, part which serves as a tumbler
and as a trigger. Figure 7, main spring. Figure 8, ring for shoulder
belt. Figures 9 and 10, tumbler springs.
A NEW BAYONET, APPLICABLE TO EVERY DESCRIPTION OF FIRE-ARMS.
Figure 9, bayonet complete (side view). Figure 10, bayonet com-
plete (bottom plan). Figure 11, bayonet. Figure 12, spring for
bayonet. By pressing on the point A, with the thumb, the bayonet is
unfixed; it may may be turned back parallel with the wood where it is
held by the band.
In witness whercof, I, the said Louis Alfred De Chatauvillard,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of.
October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and forty-nine.
LAT. (L.S.) DE CHATAUVILLARD.
Taken and acknowledged by Louis Alfred de
Chatauvillard (party hereto), at Brussels, in
the Kingdom of Belgium, this 13th day of
October 1849, before me,

page_text: Her Britannic Majesty's Consul for the Port of Antwerp & its
Dependencies hereby certifies that the signature to this document is
that of Louis Alfred De Chatauvillard. Given at Antwerp, this 14 day
of October 18.10.
William Henry Ritchie, of Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Gentleman, maketh oath and saith, that he has been informed,
and verily believes, that Thoinas Wathen Waller is Her Britannic
Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium;
and this deponent further saith, that he has been informed, and verily
believes, that the signature "T. W. Waller," set, subscribed, or written
in the margin of the Specification hereunto annexed, marked A, and
dated the Thirteenth day of October last past, and purporting to be
executed by Louis Alfred De Chatauvillard, of Rue Saint Lazare, in
the Republic of France, Gentleman, whereby it is stated that the said
Specification was acknowledged by him, the said Louis Alfred De
Chatauvillard, before the said Thomas Wathen Waller, on the said
Thirteenth day of October, at Brussels aforesaid, is of the proper hand-
writing of the said T. W. Waller.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that, on the oath of William Heury
Ritchie, the Specification aforesaid was enrolled, word for word, as
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped ac-
cording to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Twelfth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.