CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-ARMS, AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR CHARGING THE SAME
Year: 1847

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
STEPHEN TAYLOR, of. Ludgate Hill, in the City of London, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria,
by Her Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain,
bearing date at Westminster, the Tenth day of December, in the
Eleventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Steplica Taylor, Her especial licence,
full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Stephen
Taylor, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and such others as
T, the said Stephen Taylor, my executors, administrators, 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 mentioned, should and law-
fully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and
the Town of Berwick upon Tweed, and in all Her Majesty's Colonies
and Plantations abroad, and in the Islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alder-
ney, Sark, and Mau, an Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-ARMS, AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR CHARGING THE SAME,"

page_text: being a communication from a foreigner residing abroad; in which
said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, obliging me, the said Stephen
Taylor, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particu-
larly to describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be
inrolled in Her 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 Stephen Taylor, do hereby declare that the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following descrip-
tion thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
This Invention, as communicated to me 'by my foreign correspondent,
is thus described with reference to the Drawings forming part of this
my Specification..
-The first part-of-the- Invention relates to the-ball and cartridge for
fire-arms, and consists in making the ball hollow and open at the rear
end to receive the. charge, which is closed in by a cap provided with
touch or match hole, through which the contained charge is to be
ignited....
: I
The second part of the Invention relates to improvements in "re-
peating "fire-arms, in which the improved balls and cartridges, or any
other construction of balls and cartridges combined, are to be used; and
the said improvements consist,First, in the employment of a sliding
charger, which slides in the tube magazine to force down the cartridges,
and operated by'a sliding ratchet rod connected with the bar of a sliding
trigger; the teeth of the said ratchet rod as it is drawn back taking
hold of a jointed catch on the charger to draw it down, and with it the
charges in the magazine and on the back motion
pass by the catch, the
charger "during this back motion of the ratchet rod being retained by
another catch, which takes into the teeth of a permanent fatchet lying
by the side of the sliding ratchet. Secondly, in making the charger in
..:

page_text: $
two parts, one sliding within the other,said the two comecteil together
by a spring. Fle, catch, which is acted upon by the-sliding: ratchet...
being jointed to the inner part, and passing through a slot made through
the outer.part. By this means any difficulty arising front irregularities
in the motion of the sliding ratchet or in the lengths of the balls will be
avoided; for as the.cliarger is drawn down the spring which connects the
two parts will be contracted; and the tension of the spring will continue..
to make pressure: on the series of charges to insure the transfer. at the
proper time. Thirdly, in employing a carrier in the breech of the gun,
in combination with the magazine that contains the charges, the said
carrier being adapted to receive a charge at each operation, to transfer
it at the proper time. to the breech of the barrel And also in com
bining therewith a sliding breech pin, which forces the charge from the,
carrier into the breech of the barrel, and there retains it for the dis-,
charge; the said sliding breech pin being combined with a jointed-stock
or abutting lever, which, so soon as the sliding breech pin is forced up.
to its place in the barrel, is carried up behind the said breech. pin, to,
constitute an abutment to resist the force of the discharge, and prevent
the breech pin from being forced. back. Fourthly, in combining with,
the magazine and the carrier that elevates or transfers the charge from,
the magazine 'to the breech of the barrel a jointed stop, which by the
motion of the carrier is thrown across the rear aperture of the magazine,
to prevent the delivery of the charges, during the time that the carrier
is elevated:.
In the accompanying Drawing the same letters of reference indicate
the same parts in all the Figures...
'Fig. 1, is an elevation; and Fig 2, an end-view of the improved com-
bined ball and cartridge a; the forward end of which is elongated to
facilitate its passage through the air; and the rear end. is cylindrical
and hollow, as shewn. at b, in Fig: 4, to receive the charge of powder,
which is confined therein by.a cap c, a hole being made in the centre,
thereof, through which the charge is to be ignited. To facilitate the
discharge, gun cotton or other .combustible: or explosive matter may
extend from the powder in the ball through the said hole; as shewn
at d, (Fig 2,) the better to insure the communication of fire from the

page_text: .
may
be
priming. It will be obvious that the forward end of the ball
shaped in any desired manner, although the form represented in the
Drawings is preferred.
Fig. 3, is a side view of the improved gun; Fig. 8, a top; and Fig. 4,
a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 5, is a side view of the
breech with the lock plate removed. Fig. 6, is a like view of the lock
removed to shew the internal parts. The other detached views will be.
hereafter referred to, when the parts they particularly exhibit are being
described.
Below the gun barrel c, (which is made in the usual manner,) and
parallel therewith, is another barrel f, which is denominated the maga-
zine; the bore thereof is somewhat larger than the bore of the barrel,
that the cartridges may slide therein with facility. The forward end g,
of this magazine is made separate, and turns on a journal pin 'h, that it
may be turned out of the line of the magazine for the insertion of the
cartridges and the charge, to be presently described. The rear end of
this hingel piece is provided with a latch i, to secure it in place when
in a line with the main part of the magazine. The part g, being opened,
the required number of cartridges are placed in the main part of the
magazine, and the charger j, is inserted in the part y. The magazine
is then closed, and the but of the gun slightly depressed to permit the
charger to descend by gravity until its rear end rests on the cartridges.
So long as the charger is in the part g, the lateli i, will not close,.
because it is made with a projection which rests on the charger, but so
soon as the charger runs back into the niain part of the spring of the
latch, forces the catch clown, and keeps the magazine' closed.
The peculiar construction of the charger will be seen on referring to
the longitudinal section, Fig. 4, of the gun; and to the supplemental
Figure 4, A, which is a sectional plan of the same.
The outer part of the charger j, is a metal tube, provided with a
feather, (see also the cross section, Fig. 7, which is taken in a line
A, a, of Fig. 3.)
.
This feather slides in a groove in the magazine to insure the
proper position of the charger during its passage along the magazine.
The rear end of the charger, that is, the 'end that bears against the

page_text: cartridges, is provided with a jointed piece 7, which has a projection m,
that formis a catch on the upper surface that engages the teeth of a
stationary ratchet n, by which the charger is prevented from moving
back towards the muzzle of the gun, so long as the gun is held with
the magazine below the barrel; but when reversed, the weight of the
jointed piece 1, will liberate the catch, and perimit the charger to
run out.
.
Within the tube j, of the charger is a follower o, which slides therein
freely, and is made with a shoulder p, at each end, and the cylindrical
part between the shoulders slides in a collar q, attached to the outer
tube j; and between this collar and the forward shoulder there is a
helical spring, the tension of which always tends to keep the follower
towards the forward end, and therefore to force the outer tubej, towards
the rear end of the magazine, and therefore to make the pressure on the
cartridges. The rear end of the follower is provided with a jointed
catch s, similar to the one on the outer tube, the catch part of' which
passes through a slot in the outer tube j, that it may engage the teeth
of a sliding ratchet bar t, that slides in a groove by the side of the
stationary ratchet n, before described.
It will be obvious from the foregoing that when the sliding ratchet
bar is drawn back by means of the catchs, the follower will be drawn.
back with it, and by the intervention of the helical spring the outer tube
also, which will thus force all the cartridges towards the rear end of the
magazine; and that when the cartridges can no longer move back the
sliding ratchet bar may complete its back motion with the follower by
reason of the interposed spring which is thus contracted, and retaining
its force to act on the cartridges so soon as the position of the other
parts of the apparatus will permit; and it will also be obvious that
whatever back motion is given to the outer tube of the charger will be
retained by reason of the jointed catchi m, engaging the teeth of the
permanent ratchet. For the purpose of giving the required motions to
the sliding ratchet bar t, it is jointed at its rear end to a sliding trigger
bar u, which is adapted to slide in the breech of the gun, and provided
with a finger hook or ring, by which it is operated. At the back of
the magazine there is a carrier v; that is, a piece of metal in the form

page_text: of a segment of a cylinder, adapted to receive and sustain the cartridges
one by one as they are forced back by the charger. This carrier, which
slides freely up and down between ways w,in the breech plate, and is
shewn in its elevated position at Figure 8, being a cross: section taken
in the line B, b. Fig. 3;.is moved up and down by a lever y, that turns
on the axis of a pinion, to be presently described... The form of this
pinion is represented in the separate Figure 9. The trigger bar. is pro-
viled with rack teeth a',.on its upper surface, which engage the cogs of
the pinion, and give to it the required reciprocating movements: After
a cartridge has been deposited or: forced into the carrier, the trigger bar
is forced forward, which causes 'thic pinion to rotate in the direction of
the airow, Fig.5, and in its rotation a' cog b', (see Fig. 9,) which in its
longitudinal direction is larger than the others, strikes a pine, on.an
arm of the lever y,, which causes the carrier to raise the cartridge.in.a
line with the bore of, the barrel.; and to insure this, the upward motion
of the. lever Y, is assisted by a spring.d'.
1
When the parts are in this position, the trigger bar. is drawn back,
whichi rotates. the pinion-in the direction the reverse of the arrow; and
communicates motion to a sliding brücch pin d', above provided. with
cogs for this purpose, and 'as this brecch pin is thus pushed forward it
forces the cartridge from the carrier, into the barrel, and 'so soon as it
has entered the barrel the carrier is at liberty to descend to, receive
another cartridge, its downward motion being effected liya pine', sce
Figs. 10, on the sliding brccel pin which strikes and acts on a cam-
formed plane f.of.the lover, and as soon as it is entirely depressed
this cam-formed part of the lever y; runs in a plane parallel with
the line of motion of the breech pin, that the pin e', which depresses
the lever, may run thereon during the remaining portion of its motion,
to hold down the carrier. It is necessary, or rather important,
as the breech..pin begins to move forwaril, that, the carrier should be
securely hold in.. its elevated position, to insure the entrance of the
cartridge, into the barrel; but so, soon as t the cartridge has been, partly
inserted in the barrel,, then the carrier, should be at liberty to descend
by the: incans before described. This holding up of the carrier is effected
by a pinig; on the lever. y, which, as it is elevated, enters a grove h³, (see

page_text: the dotted lines Fig. 4,) in the side of the breech pin, and as this grove
then runs in the line of motion, the pin remains therein so long as the
carrier is to be held up, that is, until the pin has reached the end of the
horizontal portion of the grove; but when it takes a right angled turn,
the pin of the lever drops out of the groove, allows the lever to fall, and
with it the carrier v. So soon as the breech pin reaches the end of its
forward movement, a projection i, on the rear end of the trigger 'bar,
(see the dotted lines of Fig: 4, and also the detached view:Fig. 4, B,)
Strikes an-arm, of a lever k, that turns on a fulcrum pin l, and forces
the forward end of this lever up to the back of the heel of the breech
pin, whereby a stop or abutment is given to the breech pin, to resist the
force of the explosion and prevent its recoil. To give this lever or abut-
inent the required strength to resist the recoil, in addition; to the support
which it receives from the fulcrum pin, its rear end is round and fitted
to a socket' in the breech piece of the lock. As the abutting lever k',
can only be elevated after the breech pin has been forceil to its place in
the barrel, and the trigger bar which operates the abutting lever also
gives motion, by means of the pinion, to the breech pin, it becomes
necessary to arrest the pinion while the trigger bar continues its motion;
this is affected by making the rack on the trigger bar so short that at
the required time it shall cease to operate the pinion; but as the pinioni
and-breech pin must be held in-this position while the abutting lever is
carried ip, this is effected by making a longitudinal fillet m', on the
trigger, bar, which runs in a groove in one cogne, of the pinion, so that
during the remaining motion of the trigger bar this fillet, slides in
contact with the tips of the two cogs of the pinion on cach side of the
grooved cog n¹.
1.
On the return motion of the trigger bar, preparatory to the repetition
of the operations above described, the abutting lever must first be
depressed, which is effected by a 'projection on the rear end of the
trigger bar that runs on a fillet projecting from the back face of the
abutting lever (see Fig. 4, and Fig: 4, B). -
..
Towards the end of the back motion of the trigger bar, by which the
cartridge is inserted in the barrel, the hanimer o', of the lock is liberated
by a projection p on the trigger bar, which: strikes the cam of the

page_text: locking piece q', as shown in red at Fig. 5, and liberates the tumbler 1',
that the tension of the main spring s¹, may force down the hammer
into the position shewn at Fig. 6, and discharge the piece. Just at the
back of the magazine there is what may be termed a jointed stop,
which is simply a lever a, (shown best in the cross section Fig. 8,) the
lower arm of which is curved, and the upper arm straight, so that when
the carrier is elevated it bears against the straight arm which throws
the curved part across the bore of the magazine, and prevents the
cartridge from being forced back, and as the carrier descends the curved
arm is struck by the under surface of the carrier, which is recessed to
receive it, and thus dépressed to permit a cartridge to pass into the
carrier. The priming must, however, have been effected before the dis-
charge of the piece, and this is done in the following manner :-In the
top of the breech there is a reservoir t', (see the sectional view Fig. 5)
which contains as many pills of percussion powder as the magazine
contains cartridges. This reservoir is provided with an appropriate
turning cover, and in the bottom there is a large hole which permits
the pills or grains to drop freely into a hole in a rotating or vibrating
plate, let into a recess in the mer face of the top plate of the
breech (sec the Figs. 10, which show a reversed view of this part of the
breech and top of the breech pin); and this rotating plate has an
arm v', which, as the breech pin is moved back, is struck by a pin w',
on the breech pin (see Fig. 4, B), and rotated so far round as to bring
the hole in the rotating plate to coincide with the touch hole or pan a',
in the upper surface of the breech pin, that a pill may drop therein, and
when the hole in the plate w', coincides with the touch hole, it is under
the bottom of the reservoir, to prevent more than one pill from passing
into the touch hole. As the breech pin is moved forward, preparatory
to a discharge, the touchole leaves the rotating plate, and is carried
until it coincides with a hole y¹, in the upper breech plate through
which the hammer strikes, and during this forward movement of the
breech pin another pin a¹, strikes the arm of the plate, to rotate it far
enough to receive another pill from the reservoir preparatory to another
operation. The hole in the rotating plate should be of the required
size to receive one pill at a time, and no more. The upper surface of

page_text: the breech pin should be as perfectly level as possible, and well fitted to
the under surface of the breech plate, to prevent the communication of
fire from the touchiole to the reservoir.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention; anil the manner
in which the same is to be carried into effect, I wish it to be under-
stood that I claim, under the above in part recited Letters Patent,-
First, making balls for fire arius hollow at the rear, and to receive
the charge of powder, and provided with a cap to retain it therein; and
pierced for the passage of the fire from the priming substantially™ as,.
herein described; and this I claim irrespective of the form of the
forward part of the ball and of the cap for confining the charge
therein.
Second, a claim, in combination with a magazine, for containing the
cartridges, and which communicates with the barrel; the employment
of a sliding charger operated substantially as herein described, for the
purpose of forcing the cartridges as they are required towards the rear
end of the magazine, as described.
Third, I claim making the charger in two parts connected by a
spring, and working substantially as therein described, whereby any
difficulty arising from irregular working or yielding of the parts will be
avoided, and by which also the transfer of the cartridges to the carrier
is insured.
Fourth, I claim the employment of the carrier for receiving the
cartridges from the magazine, and elevating them to the barrel, substan-
tially as herein described, when this is combined with the magazine
and barrel, as described.
Fifth, I claim, in combination with the carrier, as described, the
sliding breech pin for forcing the cartridge from the carrier into the
barrel; substantially as described, and in combination therewith the stop
or abutting lever which prevents the recoil of the breech pin, substan-
tially as described.
Sixth, I claim combining the carrier, the breech pin, and the
abutting or stop lever with the sliding trigger bar, substantially as
herein described, whereby all the movements of all these parts are
effected by the motions of the trigger bar, as described.

page_text: Seventh, I claim the longitudinal fillet on the trigger::bar'.in com
bination with the pinion, having one cog grooved for the passage of the
said fillet, substantially as described, by means of which the pinion is
made to retain the sliding breech pin.in place; while the 'trigger: bar
completes' its motion to discharge the piece, and to elevate: the stop or
abutting lever, as-described:
And, finally; I claim: the stop which prevents the passage: of the
cartridges from the magazine, when this: is combined with: the carrier.
and magazinė, substantially, as described. "..
In witness I, the said Stephen Taylor, have hereunto set my hand
and seal; this' Tenth day of June, One thousand eight hundred
and forty-eight.
(LS) STEPHEN TAYLOR.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Tenth day of June,
in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid Stephen Taylor came before
our Lady the Queen, in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the 'Specifi-
cation 'aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained, in form
above written. And also the Specification-aforesaid was stampéd
according to the tenor of the Statute in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the same Tenth day of June, in the year above
.written..