IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Vincent Fosbery, at present residing at Weston-
super-Mare, Somerset, Lieutenant-Colonel of Her Majesty's Bengal Staff Corps,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 27th October 1877, and dated the 30th April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Vincent Fosbery at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th April 1877.
GEORGE VINCENT FOSBERY, at present residing at Weston-super-Mare, Somerset,
Lieutenant-Colonel of Her Majesty's Bengal Staff Corps. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-
ARMS.
"
My Invention has for its object more particularly the production of a simple and
effective arrangement of the lock and certain other parts of military or sporting
rifles and guns constructed on the breech-loading central pin fire system, and this
object is attained in the manner herein-after described.
In carrying out my Invention I provide an elongated block, for the double purpose
of closing the breech end of the barrel and of carrying the firing pin. This block
is furnished at the end furthest from the breech with a joint or fulcrum, on which it
bas a vertical movement. The bottom of the rear end of the block is formed into a
knuckle which, when the block is depressed, forces the hammer back to half or full
cock, in which position it is secured by the trigger in the usual manner.
In order to depress the block, for the purpose of inserting a cartridge, I employ a
cranked lever under the block, having its centre towards the front end of the block,
the short end of the lever engaging with the block by means of a pin passing
through a slot of an angular or other suitable shape formed lengthwise in the block,
the long end of the lever passing backwards and under the trigger. For the purpose
of drawing back the pin after firing, and retaining it in the block, I provide a sliding
plate or "pin carrier," which works in a long longitudinal slot cut through the
under side of the block, and opening into the pin hole. This sliding plate has a lug
or projecting finger which passes upwards into a slot formed in the head of the pin,
the slot being arranged to allow a certain amount of free longitudinal movement on
the lug of the plate. The plate is also provided with two slots of an angular or
D...AJ

page_text: other suitable shape, through one of which the pin of the lever passes, whilst
a similar pin secured to the block passes through the other. The object of
these slots is to obtain a "rest" or waiting movement combined with a locking
motion.
The extractor is actuated by the combined movement of the lever and block, and
is so constructed that a projection or loose intermediate piece connected with the
lever near its centre of motion will impart to it an extremely powerful motion,
sufficient to withdraw the cartridge for a short distance; as soon as this motion is
completed the front of the block moving with considerable velocity is caused to
strike a short arm or projection placed above the loose intermediate piece before
mentioned, with the effect of communicating to the loosened cartridge speed
sufficient to complete its extraction from the chamber and throw it clear out of
the gun.
.
I construct the stock of sheet steel or other suitable metal, either wrought or
cast, so as to arrive at the maximum of strength with the minimum of weight, and
I cover the same, either partially or wholly, with any suitable non-conducting sub-
stance or material.
All or portions of the metallic stock may support the movable parts, or form
portions of the above described or any other lock action, thereby insuring a more
complete and stronger connection between all portions of the weapon than by the
usual arrangement.
I also form the rifling of the barrel preferably by means of curved grooves
forming intersecting arcs of circles or similar shapes, having down the centre of
each groove a "land" of any desired section, in such a manner that the points or
inner surface of the lands, with those formed by the intersection of the arcs or
similar curves shall be equidistant from the centre (of the bore). Any suitable
barrel may be fitted to the above-described lock or action, and the stock may be
wholly of metal, or of metal and wood combined, or of wood alone, as may be
desired.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Vincent Fosbery in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th
October 1877.
GEORGE VINCENT FOSBERY, at present residing at Weston-super-Mare, Somerset,
Lieutenant-Colonel of Her Majesty's Bengal Staff Corps. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-
ARMS."
"
My Invention has for its object more particularly the production of a simple and
effective arrangement of the lock and other parts of breech-loading fire-arms, for
either military or sporting purposes, and this object is attained in the manner
herein-after specified.
The said Invention relates chiefly to improvements in that class of fire-arms
which have a block for closing the breech end of the barrel and carrying the firing
pin, and which, at its end furthest from the breech, is fitted and supported upon a
pivot or fulcrum pin, whereon it has a vertical movement to open and close the
breech.
In the accompanying Drawings,
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of part of a rifle provided with mechanism
according to my Invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of a breech block and parts connected there-
with, and Figure 3 shews other parts of the breech mechanism detached, and
illustrating various modifications of my Invention.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of part of a rifle embodying other modifications
of my Invention.

page_text: Figures 5 and 6 are longitudinal and transverse sections drawn to an enlarged
scale, and illustrating my improved method of rifling the barrels of fire-arms.
The stock a and barrel b may be constructed in the ordinary manner, or as
herein-after described; c is the breech block pivotted at c¹; d is the trigger; d' is
the hammer; e is the mainspring. The other parts are herein-after described.
To effect the depression of the block c, for the purpose of inserting the cartridges,
I employ a cranked lever f under the block c, which lever is pivotted at f¹ nearly
under the front end of the said block; the short end f* of this lever is preferably
forked, and engages with the block c by a pin g passing through the lever and a
slot in the block c. This slot is preferably formed in the block in the angular
position shewn in Figure 1 or in Figure 2. The long end f³ of the lever f extends
backward under the trigger, as shown.
For the purpose of drawing back the firing pin or striker h and retaining it in
the block I prefer to employ the devices shewn in Figure 2, that is to say, I provide
a sliding plate or pin carrier i which works in a longitudinal slot cut through the
under side of the block c, and opening into the central cavity or perforation in
which the said pin works. This sliding plate i has at its rear end a finger or lug i
which projects into a slot formed in the head of the pin h, the said slot being of
such length as to allow a certain amount of free longitudinal movement or "lost
motion" to the lug i before the latter strikes the end of the slot. When the lever f
is dropped down the plate i has at its forward end a notch or aperture for the
reception of the pin g of the levor f, whereby the said pin carrier or plate is
operated to move forward the said carrier to leave the firing pin free to be driven
forward by the hammer, and also to retract the said carrier and the firing pin h.
This contrivance obviates the necessity of a spring for retracting the firing pin, but
if preferred a spring may be used as shewn in Figures 1 and 4.
The action of the extractor j is obtained by the joint action of the lever f
and block c, as follows:-A loose intermediate piece k is arranged in connection
with a part f" on the lever f near its fulcrum or centre of motion f¹, so formed that
the said part f* acts as a cam or excentric on the said piece, and in the act of
depressing the lever imparts to the extractor first an extremely powerful action
sufficient to withdraw the cartridge, however tightly it may be held in its
chamber, for a short distance, and then the front of the block c, moving downward
with considerable velocity, strikes a short arm or projection, on the extractor, and
standing above the loose intermediate piece k, with the effect of communicating to
the loosened or partially withdrawn cartridge a rapid motion or jerk sufficient to
complete its extraction from the chamber, and throw it clear out of and away from
the gun. This action may if desired be aided by a small flat spring attached
to the lower part of the block, as shewn at m, or to the arm j¹ of the extractor
itself.
In Figure 3 I have shewn a modification of my Invention, wherein the bottom of
the rear end of the block c is formed into a knuckle c, which, when the said block
is depressed, forces the hammer d¹ back to half or full cock, in which position it is
secured by the trigger d in the usual manner.
In one modification of my said improvements, the main spring e is attached to a
plate e¹ placed at the under side of the breech between the two side plates of the
same, as shewn in Figure 4. This plate is united to the barrel b by means of a
block e² of steel or other suitable metal which is perforated to allow the cleaning rod
to pass through it and secured by a cross piece to the usual projection on the under
side of the said barrel. A screw e is passed up through the said piece or plate e¹
into this perforated block e. The said piece or plate e' is secured to the breech
shoe by an independent screw e passing through the side plates of the latter, and
through lugs projecting up from the said piece within the side plates. The pin or
axle of the hammer, tumbler, and lever, and the pin of the extractor, also pass
through the lugs on this piece, as shewn.
In the arm shewn in Figure 4, the main spring e is a flat bar of steel, which
is secured by a screw e upon the plate or piece e¹, near the end of the same,

page_text: adjacent to the barrel b, and it lies within the lugs or sides of the said piece,
its free end having a toe e passing over the said independent screw, and bearing
upon the tumbler o. By this arrangement the fore end of the said piece or
plate is very securely held in its position; moreover the axle d² of the hammer,
tumbler, and lever, is rendered comparatively free from friction.
The trigger d is fitted within the breech shoe at the rear of the same and behind
the hammer and tumbler, and works on a pin d* passed through the side of the
breech shoo; it has a short upward projection d³ which is acted upon by the sear
spring p and the sear d' projects forward into the proper position to engage with
the full and half-cock notches 1, 2, of the tumbler. The scar spring p is a flat piece
of steel placed vertically in a recess in the breech shoe behind the trigger. A small
lever is fixed on the hammer axle outside of the breech shoe. This device allows
the gun to be very readily set to either full or half cock.
In the arm shewn in Figure 4, the firing pin h projects longitudinally through
the breech block c; it is fitted to slide endwise through a small tube or cylnder h
fixed within the said breech block, which is perforated to allow the end of the firing
pin to pass through it. The said tube or cylinder h¹ encloses a spiral spring, which
retracts or forces back the firing pin h, when the hammer is raised from the same.
In rifles originally constructed with the so-called "Martini-Henry" action, and
which are converted by being provided with my improved mechanism, the said
tube may be secured in the block c at its rear end by the hollow screw plug h²,
altered to permit the action of the hammer upon the rear end of the said firing pin.
In the case of new arms constructed according to these improvements, the tube
or cylinder containing the firing pin and spring may be secured in place by an
ordinary set screw.
The trigger guard r may be formed in one piece with the lever f, or may be
secured to the aforesaid lever f at its rear end by a screw r¹, its front end having a
pin or stud which projects up into the said lever near the joint or pivot of
the latter, as shewn in Figure 4. This mode of securing the trigger guard renders
it very strong, and affords protection to the trigger at all times in the use of
the arm.
I sometimes construct the stock of sheet steel, phosphor bronze, or other suitable
metal, either wrought or cast, to obtain the maximum of strength with the minimum
of weight, and I cover the same either partially or wholly with any suitable non-
conducting substance or material. The metallic stock may be constructed to support
the movable parts, or form portions of the above-described or any other lock or action,
thereby ensuring a more complete and stronger connection between all portions of
the
gun than would be otherwise practicable.
My improved method of forming the rifle grooves or rifling of fire-arm barrels, is
illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. This rifling consists of curved grooves 8 forming
arcs of circles or similar curves intersecting each other as at 8¹; and down the centre
of each groove I form a "land"t of any desired section, in such a manner that the
points or inner surface of the lands, with those formed by the intersection of the
arcs or similar curves, shall be equidistant from the centre (of the bore).
The lands t may or may not be extended to the cartridge chamber. But I prefer
that the part of the barrel immediately adjacent to the said chamber should consist
merely of curved surfaces, the lands commencing at a convenient distance from the
said chamber as shewn in Figure 5. This method of forming the interior of the
barrel tends greatly to prevent the fouling and to increase initial velocity. I may
however use any suitable barrel in combination with the above-described lock or
action, and the stock may be wholly of metal, or of metal and wood combined, or of
wood alone, as may be desired.
Among the advantages obtained by the use of my Invention, the following are
very important, that is to say, the small number of parts of the arm; their strength
and simplicity of construction; the directness of the mechanism; the facility of their
manipulation; the comparative lightness of the mainspring required; and the
convenience obtained by the arrangement of the trigger as above described,

page_text: Having thus fully described my said Invention and the manner of performing the
same, wish it understood that I claim,-
First. The lever arranged below the breech block, and pivotted at a point about
midway between the fulcrum and the free end of the said block, and engaging with
the same by means of a pin working in a slot formed in the said block, as above set
forth and for the purpose specified.
Second. The coinbination of parts comprising the firing pin and sliding pin carrier,
constructed and connected with each other, and working in a cavity in the said
block, and in combination with the same and the lever, as above set forth and for
the purpose specified.
Third. Providing the rear end of the block with a knuckle, which, when the block
is depressed, forces the hammer back to either half or full cock as above set forth.
Fourth. The combination with the extractor and the loose intermediate piece of
the cam or excentric on the lever near its fulcrum or centre of motion, with or
without the small spring, as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Fifth. A gun stock constructed of sheet steel or other suitable metal, and adapted
to support the parts of the mechanism, as above set forth.
Sixth. The peculiar formation of the rifling or rifle grooves and projections in
the barrel of a fire-arm, as above set forth.
Seventh. In combination with the lever, haminer, and trigger, arranged and
operating as above described, the mainspring consisting of a single flat piece of
metal attached to a plate or piece at the under side of the breech, and united
to the barrel by means of a perforated block, as above set forth.
Eighth. The modification of the said Invention, comprising the trigger, the sear,
the sear spring, and tumbler, and the axle of the hammer, arranged and operating
in combination with the aforesaid pivotted block and lever, as shewn in Figure 4
of the Drawings, and as above set forth.
Ninth. In combination with the aforesaid breech block, the modification of the
firing pin and its accessories, consisting of the devices shewn in Figure 4 of the
Drawings, and operating as above set forth.
Tenth. A fire-arm provided with mechanism, consisting of the parts shown in
Figure 1, or with such parts modified as shewn by the other Figures of the
Drawing, constructed, combined, and operating as above set forth and for the
purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Vincent Fosbery, have hereunto set
my hand and scal, this Thirtieth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
H. H. LAKE.
GEORGE V. FOSBERY. (L.S.)
Lieut.-Col.