IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO BREECH- BLOCKS AND CARTRIDGE-EXTRACTORS FOR BREECH LOADING GUNS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, HENRY WILLIAM HOLLAND of the firm of Holland and Holland of 98 New
Bond Street in the County of Middlesex, Gun Manufacturers do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO BREECH-
BLOCKS AND CARTRIDGE-EXTRACTORS FOR BREECH LOADING GUNS" to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to screw-breech-blocks provided with cartridge-extracting
devices and is designed to facilitate the operation of extraction and to prevent
accidents or inconveniences such as might arise from injury to the rim or flange
of a cartridge by the extractors ordinarily heretofore used.
As usually constructed, the breech-block has had the extractor claws or hooks
so arranged thereon that in turning the block on its axis the extractor hooks move
with it; consequently the rim of the cartridge shell with which the said hooks are
engaged is subject to abrasion and torsion and is liable to be torn, fractured, or
weakened so that the extractor-hooks will fail to withdraw it from the barrel when
the breech-block is unscrewed.
Now my invention is designed to obviate this difficulty and to ensure, by very
simple means, the efficient action of the extractors.
For this purpose I construct the breech piece or block as follows, that is to say
I combine with the screw-threaded or cylindrical portion of the breech block a
loose head which carries the extractors and which, though connected with the
screwed portion of the breech-block, does not rotate with the same in the screwing
up or unscrewing of the said breech-block.
In carrying my invention into practice I form on a cylindrical block or piece of
iron or other suitable metal a screw to fit a corresponding female thread in the
breech-chamber. In cases where rapid action of the gun is an object I form the
screw threads in segments on the block so that a partial rotation thereof will
tighten the block or disengage the same from the barrel. Near the front or inner
end of the cylindrical screwed portion of the block I form a recess or channel to
receive a collar on the loose bead, which collar is so fitted in the said recess as to
unite the two parts securely end wise, while allowing the one part to turn freely

page_text: without turning the other part. Through one side of the block an aperture com-
municating with this recess or channel is formed to facilitate the connection and
disconnection of the said loose head with the screw-threaded or rear portion of
the block.
The extractor claws or hooks are formed or fixed in diametrically opposite
positions on the loose head and project forward therefrom in the proper position to
enter the barrel when the breech-block is pushed home. Guide-grooves are
formed in the breech-block and end of the barrel to permit the said extractors
to move freely endwise and prevent their rotation while entering or leaving the
barrel.
The firing pin or striker is of the ordinary construction; it extends through a
central aperture in the two parts of the breech-block. At the rear end of the said
block there is a cavity in which is screwed the small bush or guide through which
the rear end of the firing pin projects.
The firing pin, while in place, prevents the detachment or removal of the loose
head from the screw-threaded or rear part of the block, but when the firing pin is
drawn out of the latter the said loose head can be removed through the aforesaid
lateral aperture.
The rear end of the block may be provided with a shackle or ring or other means
for facilitating its manipulation.

page_text: I, HENRY WILLIAM HOLLAND, of the firm of Holland and Holland, 98 New
Bond Street, in the County of Middlesex, Gun Manufacturers do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO BREECH-
"and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
BLOCKS AND CARTRIDGE-EXTRACTORS FOR BREECH-LOADING GUNS
My invention relates to screw breech-blocks provided with cartridge-extracting
devices and is designed to facilitate the operation of extraction and to prevent
accidents or inconveniences such as might arise from injury to the rim or flange of
a cartridge by the extractors ordinarily heretofore used.
In breech-blocks of this class as usually heretofore constructed, the extractor
claws or hooks are so arranged thereon that, in turning the block on its axis, the
extractor hooks participate in the movement of the block; consequently the rim
of the cartridge-shell, with which the said hooks are engaged, is subject to abrasion
and torsion and is liable to be torn, fractured or weakened, so that, when the
breech-block is unscrewed and the extractor hooks thereby drawn backward, they
will fail to withdraw the cartridge-shell from the barrel.
Now my invention is designed to obviate this difficulty and to ensure, by very
simple means, the efficient action of the extractors.
For this purpose I construct the breech piece or block as follows, that is to
say: I combine, with the screw-threaded or cylindrical portion of the breech-
block, a loose head, which carries the extractors, and which, though connected with
the screwed portion of the breech-block, does not rotate with the same in the
screwing up or unscrewing of the said breech-block.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a side view, and
Figure 2 a rear end view of the said breech-block.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal central section of the same.
Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 1.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the drawing.
a is one part of the breech-block consisting of a cylindrical piece of iron or other
suitable metal formed with a screw-thread which must fit a corresponding female
thread in the breech-chamber of the gun; b is the other part or head of the
breech-block. Near the front or inner end of the cylindrical portion a of the
block, I form a recess or channel to receive a collar b' on the loose head b, which
collar is so fitted in the said recess as to unite the two parts a, b securely, and
prevent the end wise or longitudinal movement of either of them without the other,
while allowing the one part to turn freely without turning the other part.
Through one side of the part a I form an aperture c communicating with this
recess or channel, to facilitate the connection and disconnection of the head b and
the part a of the block,

page_text: The extractor claws or hooks d are formed or fixed, in diametrically opposite
positions, on the head band project forward therefrom in the proper position to
enter the barrel of the gun, when the breech-block is pushed home. Guide-grooves
are formed in the breech-chamber and end of the barrel to permit the extractors d
to move freely endwise while preventing their rotation in entering or leaving the
barrel.
At the
The firing pin or striker e is of the ordinary kind; it extends through a central
aperture in the two parts a, b of the breech-block, as shewn in Figure 3.
rear end of the said block there is a cavity in which is screwed the small bush f
serving as a guide through which the rear end e¹ of the firing pin projects and
slides.
The collar e² on the firing pin acts as a stop to limit the backward movement of
the firing pin, and also serves as an abutment for the rear end of the spring g.
The bush can be readily unscrewed to permit the firing pin to be removed, if
required.
The firing pin e, while in place, prevents the detachment or removal of the
head 6 from the part a of the block; but, when the firing pin is taken out of the
latter, the head 6 can be removed through the aforesaid lateral aperture c.
The rear end of the breech-block may be provided with a shackle or ring h or
other device for facilitating its manipulation in working the gun.
In cases where rapid action of the gun is an object, I form the screw-threads in
segments on the block, so that only a partial rotation thereof is required to tighten
the block or to disengage the same from the screw-threads of the breech-chamber.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. A breech-block consisting of two parts, one of which is provided with a
screw-thread for securing the block in the breech of the gun, and the other of
which carries the extractor or extractors, substantially as set forth, the two parts
being so united that one cannot move endwise or longitudinally without the other,
but the one part can be turned on its axis without turning the other part, for the
purpose specified.
Second. The combination of my improved breech-block with the breech of a gun
provided with grooves which permit the extractors to move freely endwise but
prevent their turning around the axis of the breech-block, substantially as, and for
the purpose, specified.
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