IMPROVEMENTS IN ARTILLERY, GUNS, PISTOLS, AND OTHER DESCRIPTION OF FIRE-ARMS, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED THERE- WITH
Year: 1845

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME
GREETING, I, the said CHARLES JAMES SMITH, of Whittall Street,
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Fourteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-five, in the eighth year of Her reign,
did give and grant unto me, the said Charles James Smith, my exors,
adiñors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Charles James Smith, my exors, adñiors, and
assigns, and such others as I, the said Charles James Smith, my exors,
adñiors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term of years
therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend within that part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire-
land, &c. my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ARTILLERY, GUNS, PISTOLS,
AND OTHER DESCRIPTION OF FIRE-ARMS, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED THERE-
WITH," in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso that I,
the said Charles Jaines Smith, shall particularly describe and ascertain

page_text: the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
to be enrolled 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, reference being thereunto had, will
more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the
said Charles James Smith, do hereby declare the "nature of my Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following instrument
in writing, reference being had to the letters and figures marked thereon,
and to the Drawings thereunto annexed.
.
My first Invention, as applicable to artillery, gnus, pistols, and other
fire-arms, consists of a cylindrical-magazine and of a globular reservoir
for continuous and self-priming, the reservoir being previously filled
with detonating balls, and the magazine being fixed upon the breech
or end of the barrel of the gun or fire-arm, &c., and moved by a lever
attached to the cock or striker and the magazine.
These improvements are fully illustrated
panying Drawings marked 1, 2, 3, and 4.
distinguished by a letter or a figure, and
refer to the same parts throughout all the Drawings, or such of them
upon which those parts are shewn.
and shewn upon the accom-
Each of the several parts is
the same letters and figures
On Drawing 1, Figure D represents an elevation of that part of
a gun to which my Invention relates, the remaining parts not therein
shewn being of an ordinary character, and are therefore omitted. E,
is a plan of the same, shewing the cock at half bent. The figures
embraced under the letter F, shew views of my newly invented maga-
zine and reservoir. N° 1, is the cock or striker; 2, the lock plate;
3, the barrel; 4, the reservoir, holding the detonating balls, and fixed
in the magazine. No. 5, is a circular magazine to which the reservoir
No. 4, is fixed, and moves upon a part of the breech or end of the barrel.
6, is a lever which connects the cock and magazine. 7, is a steel plug
in the cock; 8, a pin which fastens the magazine to the breech No. 13;
10, the trigger; 13, the breech; 14, the break off. 17, is the hole in

page_text: the magazine through which the cock passes to explode the ball. . 5c,
is an inside view of the magazine. 5c 1, is a top view of the same.
5 c 2, is a sectional view of the same, shewing the position of the
detonating balls when in the reservoir fixed in the magazine.
22, is a small hole made in the magazine to allow one detonating
ball to explode at one time, and should be immediately over the
touch-hole when the cock is at full bent. 23, represents the balls in
the reservoir. 24, is a sectional view of the reservoir, shewing the
manner in which it is to be filled with balls. 25, is an elevation of
the breech upon which the magazine moves, shewing also the touch-
holo which comminunicates with the charge.
The manner of using my Invention is as follows:-The detonating
balls (agreeable to the size of the hole 22 in the magazine) being placed
in the reservoir N° 4, the cock then being raised draws with it the
magazine No. 5, by means of the lever 6, which connects the two till
the hole 22 in the magazine comes immediately over the touch-hole.
The reservoir will then allow one ball to pass through the hole 22, into
the touch-hole. The trigger being pulled, the cock is forced down by
the main spring with the plug 7, through the hole 17, into the touch-
hole, and explodes the ball left there by the reservoir, which commu-
nicates with the charge the reservoir being at the same time forced
away, and so may the action be repeated.
My second Invention, as applicable to guns, pistols, and fire-arms,
consists of a magazine which contains and regularly supplies detonating
shells balls, caps, or patent detonating boxes, and patent detonat-
ing rings for discharging the same, and may be attached either to
the lock, barrel, or stock of the fire-arm. On Drawing 1, A is an
elevation of that part of the gun or other similar fire-arm to which my
Invention is applicable. B, is a plan of the same. C, and G, are
various detached parts. Figure 1, is the cock or striker. 2, is the
lock plate; 3, the barrel; 4, the magazine for the balls, caps and boxes,
rings, &c. 5, is a circular piece of metal which moves upon a portion
of the breach or end of the barrel. 6, is a lever which connects N° 5,
with the cock. 7, is a steel plug fixed in the cock; 8, a pin which
holds a piece of metal 5, to the breach. 9, is a pin which works in

page_text: a slot in the magazine, and is attached to a piston inside the
magazine, which is pressed against the boxes, caps, &c. by means
of a spiral spring. 10, is the trigger; 11, cap of the maga-
zine; 12, an opening through which the magazine is filled with boxes
caps, &c.; 13, the breach; 14, break off; 15, holes for attaching the
magazine to the gun, &c. 4ª is a plan of the magazine; 4ª² a section
of the one, shewing the action of the spiral spring 14, with the piston.
16, are boxes shewn in section with the magazine. 43 is a front view
of the magazine No. 4, shewing the holes through which the boxes,
shells, &c. pass. 17, is the hole through which the plug No. 7, passes
in order to strike and explode the boxes, shells, &c. when lodged over
the touch-hole. 18, is the part attached to the lever 6, and which
connects it with the cock; 20, the stock, only part of which is shewn.
The mode of action of this part of my Invention is as follows:-The
boxes, shells, rings, or caps, &c., are placed in the magazine through
the opening 12, until the magazine is filled; the cock being raised
draws down the piece of metal No. 5, till the hole 17, is brought opposite
to the passage 16, and the caps in the magazine where it receives one
of the boxes, caps, &c. forced in by the piston 9, acted upon by the
spring 14. By pulling the trigger the cock is released, which falling
down forces up the piece of metal 5, with the box or cap, &c. in
the hole 17, immediately over the touch-hole, where it is exploded by
the striker of the cock; and thus the action may be continued. G, re-
presents a tubular primer, to be used for the purpose of supplying the
magazine with boxes, caps, &c. at the end, instead of through the
opening marked 12, and also for feeding the metal conductor 5, with
the same. No. 1, represents two pieces of tube sliding, one (No. 4)
within the other (No. 5), the ends being closed. No. 5, is made to fit
spring No 2. No. 3,
into the magazine, and is fastened therein by the
is a slot in the tube No. 5, to allow a pin (No. 6,) fastened to the tube
No. 4, freely to work therein, and which prevents the tubes being dis-
connected by the spring 7. No. 1, is a plan of the same; 1", section
of ditto, shewing the spiral spring therein; and 1°, is another section
of the same.
My Invention also includes improvements in pistols or guns having

page_text: four, five, six, or any other number of barrels. These improvements
consist of, first, a magazine so constructed in the body as to contain a
supply of patent detonating boxes for one or more discharges of all the
barrels. Secondly, the ratchet of the barrel being placed inside the
body of the pistol, and connected with the barrel by a revolving axis.
Thirdly, two bolts, which act alternately and stop the barrel in its
proper place. Fourthly, in order to replenish the magazine with
patent detonating boxes or rings a key is placed between the barrel
and the body of the pistol, which key is held by the striker. These
improvements are fully exhibited in the accompanying Drawings,
Nos. 3, and 4, to the Figures on which the following description refers.
The following describes each part and its details:-A, the body;
1, the magazine; 2, the priming hole; 8, the bridle; 4, main spring
stud; 5, back sight; 6, neck for support of axle; 7, trigger pin.
B, the barrel; 1, countersunk hollows for the nipples; 2, metal lift,
to form divisions between the nipples; 3, countersunk for neck 6, of
the body A; 4, key hole to fit over key formed on the axle C, No. 3;
5, front sights; 6, hole for axle; 7, countersink for axle pin C,
No. 4. C, the axle; 1, key to fit in ratchet wheel I, No. 4; 2, collar
turning on shoulder formed on the neck 6, on the body A; 3, key
to fit in hole 4, in barrel B; 4, axle pin to fasten the barrels B, on the
axle C. D, main spring. E, trigger spring and pin. F, slide spring
and pin. G, magazine cover and pins; 1, hole for the striker to pass
through; 2, stud to stop the lever; 3, central hole, to pass over the
neck 6, of the spring box H. H, box for spring; 1, driver to the
patent boxes, with pin for ditto; 2, roller to ditto; 3, helical spring
fastened at one end to the stud 4, on the body A, and at the other end
in a notch in the spring box No. 4; 5, small stud to fasten the lever
or key J; 6, neck of spring box to fit upon the neck 6, of the body A.
I, wheel with ratchet formed on the face of it; 1, pin to fasten the
ratchet wheel to the axle; 2, the ratchets; 3, stops for the bolt; 4, key
hole to fasten on axis. J, the lever or key to be fastened on the box
H, by the notch 1, which fits upon the stud II, N° 5; 2, hole for the
striker to fasten the key during priming; the lever is formed with a
ring 8, which is slightly raised, in order to free it from the barrel.

page_text: K, the 'trigger; 1, pin to raise the lever; 2, notch to fit upon the
"sear nose." L, the swivel to connect the main spring with the tumbler.
M, the tumbler; 1, the axle hole; 2, hole for the pin which con-
nects the striker with the tumbler; 8, hole for the pin 4, which con-
nects the swivel and sear with the tumbler; 5, hole for the sear spring
pin; 6, countersink for the sear and the swivel. N, the sear spring
and pin.
O, slide bolt and pin, the nose of which 1, acts on the stop
No. 8, on the ratchet wheel I; 2, hole for the pin to fasten to the
trigger. P, the striker in two parts, connected by a hinge joint; 1, the
tongue; 2, the jaw; 3, hole for 4, the hinge pin; 5, the nose of the
striker; 6, hole for the pin 7, which connects the striker and the
tumbler; 8, countersink for the tumbler; 9, stop bolt to fit the stops
8, on the ratchet wheel I. Q, the sear; 1, hole for pin to connet the
sear with the swivel and tumbler; 2, countersink for the swivel; 8, sear
nose acting on 2, in trigger K. R, the slide lever; 1, the nose, slightly
bent on one side to meet the face of the ratchet wheel I; 2, countersink
for the spring F, to work in; 3, slot to work upon the pin 1, fixed in
the side of the body 'T'; 4, slot for the pin 1, in the trigger K, to work
in. S, the nipple or cone. T, the side of the body; 1, the lever pin;
2, the hole for the lever pin; 3, top strap pin and hole. U, the top
strap "set down" to keep the stock small. V, steel nipple box let into
the end of the stock.
The mode of using my improved pistol, the parts of which I have
just described, is as follows:-The lever J, is brought round and held
by the striker P; the boxes or rings are dropt into the aperture Y, in
the body A, until it is filled; the lever J, is released by a slight with-
drawing of the trigger K, and the pistol is then ready primed.
My said inprovements also embrace another method of refilling the
magazine, viz., without the lever J, in order to allow the barrels to be
placed close to the body. This method is exhibited by Figure 2,
Drawing No. 2; and the same letters thereon shewn which are shewn
on Drawings Nos. 3, and 4, refer to similar parts, and therefore need
not be described. W, is a stop pin or screw; ✗, a spring to ditto:
B, is a section of the end of the barrel. No. 1, are the nipple holes;
2, is the hole through which the pin or screw W, passes. On the

page_text: plate G, are exhibited a groove No. 9, with a stop No. 8, therei
No 10, is a hole to allow the stud of the axis to pass through. No. 7
are pin holes to fasten the plate G, to the body. No. 6, is the hole for
the striker P, to pass. H, is the box containing the spring. No. 3, is
the lever which forces the detonating boxes, rings, &c. into their places.
No 5, au opening for the pin or screw W, to turn the box for the
purpose of filling the magazine. H, is a flat view of the same. ✗, is
the spring already described; 2, is the hole to fasten it to the body.
The pin W is reduced, forming shoulders for the spring X to act
against. The mode of using this improvement is as follows:-The pin
or screw W is forced into the aperture 5, in the box H; the barrel is
then turned round; the boxes are supplied through the hole 2, in the
body A, until it is filled, the pin W removed, and the pistol is ready
for action.
My Invention also includes improvements in double barrelled central
fire pistols, whereby the striker which explodes the cap is removed by
the action of the barrels in revolving to prevent disturbing the caps on
the nipples. On Drawing No. 2, Figure 8, represents my improved
double central fire pistol; A, the body; B, the barrels; C, the lever;
D, the mainspring; F, top strap with sight; I, small spring to hold
the lever C; K, the trigger; M, the tumbler; P, the striker, with
joint; Q, the sear. A, front view of the body; 1, hole for the lever C;
2, the hole for the striker P; 3, hole for the axis of the barrel; 4, pro-
jection to protect the axis. B, end view of the barrels; 1, the axis;
2, holes cut in the shape of the letter V, to fit the end of the lever C;
G, the nipples; C, side view of the lever; C 1, end view of ditto; C 2,
bottom view of ditto. No. 8, in C 2, is the point of the lever fitting B 2.
No. 1, is the lever spring; 4, hole in ditto; P, the striker; No. 1, pro-
ection for the lever to work agaiust; 2, pin hole for the tumbler;
, the joint. In using this pistol the caps are placed on the nipples in
he usual way by turning the barrels B; the lever C, is forced against
he projection No. 1, of the striker P, which removes the striker off the
ap until the barrel is turned into its proper position for firing the other.
arrel, thereby preventing the cap being disturbed on the nipple.
:

page_text: My improvements in apparatus to be used with fire-arms are appli-
cable to powder flasks for the purpose of loading a series of barrels,
such as 4, 6, 8, or any other number, at one and the same time, with
the least possible trouble and the greatest certainty. This is accom-
plished by introducing a division in the neck of the flask, and by
turning the flask this division cuts off the communication between the
powder contained and the holes through which it passes, allowing only
one charge for each barrel to pass out at one time. My improved
flask is represented on Drawing No. 2, Figure 1; A, the flask; D, the
division in the neck; C, the tubes through which the powder passes;
B, the bottom of the flask; No. 8, is a slot in B, to fit the pin 9, in the
flask A, and retain the bottom in its place; 6, is a spring working in
the division D, to return it to its proper place after loading; 7, is a
slot cut in the division D, to regulate the distance through which it
moves; 2, holes to contain and convey the charges of powder; H, a
division in the flask, dividing the powder in G, from the balls in F;
10, is a pin for connecting the top of the flask C, with the plate E, at
the bottom of the division; D 1, is a square projection passing through
the division, and upon which the top C, is fastened; No. 3, is a pro-
jecting ring, which works in a groove cut on the face of the division D,
and thus keeps the powder from interfering with the spring.
My Invention also embraces several waterproof and fireproof deto-
nating boxes and rings, which are exhibited on Drawing No. 1. The
solid blank 2, into the box 4, as also the solid blank 5, into the box 7,
which should exactly fit the inside of the box 4; the box 7, is then
filled with detonating powder, and placed within the box 4, with the
open end foremost; the two are then forced together in a press, and
the outside edge or lip of the box 4, is lapped over the box 7, thereby
making it fireproof and watertight. Figure 2 b, represents a similar
box, with this difference, that the solid blank 3, is made to fit the
open end of the box 6, which is filled with detonating powder, and then
drawn over by a press, which turns the edge of the box over the blank,
and thus forms a fireproof and watertight box. 3 c, shews a detonating
ring cut out of solid metal; the metal being pierced is covered with a

page_text: thin coat of soft metal on one side, and then filled with powder, and
afterwards covered on the other side, making it fireproof and water-
tight. No. 1, a pierced solid blank; 2, ditto, filled with powder;
3, side view of the ring finished; 4, flat ditto. 4d, represents a hollow
ring. No 1, is a solid blank; N° 4, ditto, formed into a ring;
3, ditto, filled with powder; 2, section of ditto; 5, elevated view
of ditto, the powder being either covered or not. The several Figures
shewn at H, on Drawing No. 1, represent the several parts of each of
my invented boxes and rings, and in the several stages of their
manufacture. .
Having thus described my several Inventions and inprovements,
I will now proceed to state my several claims :-
Firstly, the magazine or reservoir attached to the cock by a lever,
and having a motion in the arc of a circle, for the purpose of supplying
detonating balls and removing them for the continuous discharge of
.fire-arms.
Secondly, the magazine and apparatus therewith connected whereby
the caps, boxes, shells, &c. are conducted from the magazine to the
touch-hole, as shewn in Drawing No. 1, for the purpose of continuous
firing.
Thirdly, I claim the supplying of detonating boxes or rings for
discharging pistols or guns having a series of barrels, by means of a
magazine constructed in the body of the pistol or gun, whereby it is
continuously and self primed, and also for the construction of the pistol
or gun, by which the ratchet wheel and lever are placed within the
body of the pistol or gun, and also a joint in the striker.
Fourthly, I claim the manner of removing the striker of a double
central fire pistol, for the purpose of allowing the barrel to turn without
disturbing the caps.
Fifthly, I claim the construction of a powder flask for charging
pistols or guns having a series of barrels, whereby the barrels are
simultaneously charged by one motion of the flask, and the powder is
kept away from the spring by which it acts.
Sixthly and lastly, I claim the several methods of making detonating