IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE- ARMS, AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR THE SAME
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International
Patent Office," Southampton Buildings, London, Consulting En-
gineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-
ARMS, AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR THE SAME."-A communication from
abroad by Charles Edward Sneider, of Baltimore, Maryland, United
States of America.
Sealed the 24th February 1871, and dated the 24th December 1870..
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 24th December 1870, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," Southampton
Buildings, London, Consulting Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR THE SAME," and have

page_text: petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made
solemn Declaration, that it has been communicated to me from abroad
by Charles Edward Sneider, of Baltimore, Maryland, United States of
America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing forming
a part of this Specification.
This Invention relates, first, to a breech-loading fire-arm which has
the barrel or barrels pivotted near the breech so as to swing up the rear
of the said barrel or barrels to receive the cartridge, and then swing back
into the proper position for firing.
And this part of the said Invention consists mainly in the mode of
hinging the barrel or barrels; in firmly and securely locking them down
in position for firing; and for cjecting the empty cartridge cases, or
what is left of them in the act of recharging the fire-arm, or raising the
rear of the barrel or barrels for so doing.
The said Invention further relates to the construction of shot cart-
ridges, which as heretofore made have been loaded into and fired from
a chamber in the rear of the barrel; the making of such a chamber,
which involves the making of a shoulder so weakens the barrel of the
arm at the point where it has to endure the greatest strain as to cause it
to rupture, crack, and burst.
This second part of my Invention consists in a shot cartridge the
shell or case of which is partially cut through, creased, punched, or so
weakened at a point in the line of its length as to part at such weakened
point or part when fired. The part of the case or shell forward of the said
weakened line goes out with the charge of shot, by which construction
I can use and fire the said cartridges from a non-chambered gun, and
thus preserve the strength of the barrel where it is most required.
It further consists in cutting a flap in the rear disc or head of the
cartridge case, and bending it inward to form a support for the firing
pin, which avoids the necessity of an extra chamber or disc or bottom
for securing the cap and pin as heretofore.

page_text: It further consists in making an opening through the shot wad, over
which a thin wad may be placed to prevent the shot and powder from
getting together, the said wads leaving the gun with the shot and the
portion of the case that contains the shot, the effect of which con-
struction is, that the shot will not "ball" or be thrown in an almost
solid mass like a leaden ball, but will scatter sufficiently for sporting
purposes, and be thrown with immense force and to a great distance.

page_text: in the upper and under surfaces of the neck of the stock, and attached
thereto by screws in the usual manner.
the
For the purpose of using centre-fire cartridges, needles e, e, extend
through the breech block, and are struck and forced forward against the
cartridge by an adjustable block or head E affixed to the shank of the
hammers by a pivot, and having a friction spring under or behind them
partially countersunk in the said shank to hold them in place. By
turning this head up or down on its pivot, as seen in red and black
lines in Figure 5, it can be made to strike the needle and explode
cartridge, or to strike the bulge of the breech block above the needle
and protect the cartridge from explosion. The same device may be used
as a guard when pin-fire cartridges are employed, allowing the hammer
to descend upon the pin when the pivoted block is in one position and
preventing it when in another. By this simple expedient therefore the
cartridges may be perfectly protected and the gun rendered safe from
the danger of accidental discharge.
From the side view in Figure 5 and the section in Figure 1 it will
be seen that there is a longitudinal depression or cavity in the upper
surface of the breech piece along the part D, which is bridged by a
solid piece c near its centre. Two stout blocks F, F", attached to the
stock plate between the barrels sink into this cavity, one F¹ before the
bridge, and the other F behind it. The block F is provided with a hook
or shoulder at its rear lower corner, which when the breech of the barrels
is thrown up as in Figure 5 comes up against the projecting head of a
bolt attached to the breech piece and prevents the breech from being
opened to any further extent; the object of this device is to take up a
great part of the strain and shock of arresting the motion of the barrels,
and to that degree to save the pivot d¹ from strain and danger of breaking
or starting. The bolt G is provided with an eccentric head, one side of
which a projects out so far as to extend over the shoulder of the block F
when the bolt is turned in the proper direction, the other side being
squared off or cut away as seen at a', Figure 2, so that when that side of
the bolt is turned forward it does not come in contact with the said
shoulder, and the breech can be opened to any desired extent. g is a
handle under the stock by which the bolts G may be turned to intercept
or allow the opening of the breech. The barrels are pivoted to the
breech piece and thereby to the stock in a peculiar manner. The fixed
pivot passes across a vertical gain in the forward end of the

page_text: piece D. The block F is provided with a semicircular notch in its
forward side, which fits around the rear side of the pivot, and serves as
the bearing upon which the barrels swing. A brace or block H lies
directly in front of the piece D, being held up against the barrels by a
lug and pin. The rear end of the piece H is enlarged and fits closely
against the front end of the piece D, the former being concave and the
latter convex, as seen along the curved joint i, Figure 5, so that in
connection with the curved bearing on the block F¹ it forms a socket
in which the pivot d¹ works when the breech is being opened or closed.
By taking the pin out of the lug h, removing the piece H, and turning.
the bolt G to the position shewn in Figure 2, the barrels can be detached
from the stock. If only the bolt is turned the pivot is so held between
the block F and rear end of block H, and the barrels are so prevented
by the edge from swinging on the pivot that they cannot be detached,
and if the block H be removed, the bolt not being turned the bolt and
the pivot will hold the block F and prevent the barrels from being
detached. It is therefore necessary that all the conditions should be
performed. The barrels being thus pivotted to the breech piece the
front side of the rear block F when the breech is closed fits so closely
against the rear edge of the bridge c that the barrels are thereby firmly
held in place and prevented from springing or starting in the slightest
degree when the gun is fired. The barrels are locked down by means of
a bolt I, which extends vertically through the stock, or more properly.
through the breech block, and is provided with a lever J for convenience
in turning it to unlock the barrels, and a screw j to tighten it in place.
The upper head of the bolt I or the forward end of the lever J which
will answer the same purpose, and which is seen at J', Figure 1, forms
a lock similar to that made by the head of the bolt G, which fits over a
teat or projection 6 on the rear end of the barrels when turned in a
certain position, and thereby holds the barrels down, but when turned in
another position its projecting edge retires from above the pin b and
leaves the barrels free to swing on their pivot. The lower part of the
bolt I has another projection K, Figure 1, which locks over the shoulderƒ
of the block F when the bolt is properly turned, and thereby assists
the head J¹ to hold the barrels down. The same turn of the bolt locks
the barrels at their upper and lower edges simultaneously. If one lock
gets out of order from any cause it does not follow that the other is
injured, and therefore no interruption of the working of the apparatus
is likely to ensue.

page_text: means:-
It is only necessary to apply the hand to the lever J in opening the
breech; in closing it the locks work automatically by the following
- A pin m extends back from the bolt I through an opening in
the wall of the block D' forming a lever for turning the bolt. Against
this pin a spring L presses, tending to spring the bolt back as soon as the
breech is opened. This is prevented however by a spring trigger or stop M
which when the bolt I is turned so as to unlock the barrels springs up
against a shoulder near its lower end, holding it in that position. This
keeps the latches out of action and allows the projection 6 to seat itself
again without impediment when the breech is closed. When the breech
of the barrels is brought smartly down to its place the lower end of the
block F throws the spring M down, releasing the bolt I and spring L,
then turns the bolt I, setting flange K over the shoulder f, and the
flange J¹ over the projection b, and firmly locking the breech. It will
be observed by referring to Figure 2 that the head J' is so formed that
when locked a shoulder n comes against the projecting corner o of the
breech block, arresting the motion of the bolt in that direction, while
the wider part of the head entirely covers the joint beneath it, perfectly
excluding water from the joint, and thereby preventing the parts from
rusting and getting out of order.
In connection with the apparatus herein above described, I employ
a cartridge retractor and devices for attaching it and its supporting
plate to the barrels and for operating it, which are a great improvement
upon anything of the kind heretofore brought into use, and which I
will now proceed to describe. N is a strong plate cast in a single piece
with the blocks F, F, and lying close against the under side of the barrels,
its rear extremity being flush with the butt of the barrels. This is
attached to the barrels by means of the blocks F, F, which pass up
through mortises in the tin joint or barrel connection, and are upset
or provided with countersunk heads z, z, at their upper end.
This con-
trivance avoids the necessity of brazing to the barrels the plate N or
the catch blocks that project down into the breech piece. Heretofore it
has been the custom to attach such parts by brazing, but the brazing
requires so great a heat as to melt the tin that holds the barrels together;
they would therefore often become separated or a portion of their con-
necting material be melted away and lost, putting the maker to great
trouble and expense in repairing the damage, this annoying and trouble-
some difficulty is completely obviated by the above-described device

page_text: producing as firm and durable a connection between the plate and the
barrels as can be produced by brazing them together, and at greatly
reduced expense and trouble. The plate N thus constructed and attached
to the barrels is provided with two longitudinal grooves ", ², one r
extending the whole length of the plate, and the other extending only
a part of its length, both grooves lying adjacent to the blocks F, F", on
opposite sides thereof. A sliding cartridge retractor R works back and
forth on the under side of the plate N, being guided by these grooves.
It is in shape simply a bifurcated plate, having one long and one short
arm (the long arm lying in the groove r, and the short one in the
groove) and having at its rear end a bent up lip R', one corner of
which engages under the rim of one cartridge, and the other under the
rim of the other. When the retractor is in place the cartridges cannot
be inserted without catching and holding it behind their rims, so that
when it is pushed backward it forces them back with it. In connection
with the retractor thus formed is a spring catch t lying partially counter-
sunk in the upper side of the plate D just above and behind the pivot d¹.
This spring catch is carefully adjusted at such a depth in its bed, and
at such a position with relation to the pivot d and the retractor R that
when the breech is open the retractor can be slid into place without
coming in contact with the catch, and that in any position of the barrels
if the retractor is pushed slightly back it avoids the catch, but that
when the retractor is in place and the barrels down the barb or hook
of the catch hooks over the end of the retractor. If then the breech
be opened the movement of the barrels on their pivot carries the plate N
and the retractor that is connected with it slightly away from the catch,
and causes the latter to slide the retractor backward a short distance,
the former then being carried so far away from the latter that they
become separated and do not further operate on each other. This
movement slightly retracts the cartridge, all the parts assuming the
position shewn in Figure 5. On closing the breech again the rear end.
of the retractor strikes against the wall of the breech block, and the
retractor is forced forward into place, its front end passing over the
spring catch T. The whole arrangement works with admirable precision
and effectiveness. The retractor can be entirely withdrawn by hand;
when the breech is open.
The locking mechanism in the Figures from 8 to 16 inclusive differs
and 7 in that it makes
stroncav

page_text: lock or union between the barrels and the gun frame, and secondly that
it is more readily forged or made out of solid metal and more readily
applied to the gun. In this modification b¹ is a circular projection on
the under portion of the head J' of the locking pin I, and when this pin
is turned to lock the barrels to the frame, this ledge or projection "
takes into or under a recess c made in the frame, and keeps the said pin
from rising out of the frame. The under portion of the locking pin
or locking mechanism (which carries the projecting latch or bolt K and
the pin m for bearing against or taking the pressure of the spring L
to throw the locking mechanism into action after the barrels have been
or are in the act of coming to their seats) is made separate from the
upper portion, and has in its upper surface a square socket T, into which
a square shank S made on the under portion of the stem or shaft I fits
snugly, so that the turning of the upper portion by means of the lever J
also turns the lower portion through this key and key seat arrangement.
Dividing this locking device into two parts or sections as above described
admits of the two parts being made of solid metal (except perhaps
the pin m), and being forged out of solid metal they are not so liable to
become loose or parted by firing the arm or using the devices. It
would of course be possible to make the whole locking pin as shown
in Figure 7 of solid metal, but it could not be then introduced into the
frame without so much cutting away as to impair the strength of the
frame. But as shown in Figure 10 the upper half of the locking
mechanism is let in from the top of the frame, and the under half is
let in from below and keyed or otherwise secured so as to freely turn,
but not drop out, and when the square portion S of the upper half finds
its seat in the correspondingly shaped seat or socket T of the under half
the two parts turn together by the action of the lever J as readily as
they would if made out of one piece of metal.
The shot cartridges are made as follows:-The cylinder or case a¹¹ is a
made of pasteboard by preference, though it may be made of any other
material in whole or in part used for that purpose; this cylinder is united
to a metallic head 6" to form the case. A flap c¹ is cut or punched in
the metal head 6", and then bent inward and punched (or punched
before it is bent) with a hole for the firing pin du to pass through and 3
be supported in, the said firing pin rests in a cap e¹ in the cartridge case.
The opening in the head of the cartridge made by cutting the flap and
bending it inwards is afterwards closed by a paper or other diaphragm,

page_text: suitably varnished or waterproofed to keep out moisture. By taking a
support for the firing pin d out of a portion of the head of the
cartridge I avoid the use of a pasteboard bottom or a separate chamber
for the firing pin as heretofore made.
The cartridge case so made is punched, creased, partially or entirely
cut through or made in two parts and united at or about the line f¹, so
that when fired or discharged that portion of the case forward of said
line shall part from or leave the after portion and go out with the
shot, the after portion remaining in the gun, and being drawn out or
ejected in any of the usual ways of ejecting empty cartridge cases.
Weakening the case at the line f¹ allows the cylinder or shell to easily
sever or part at that line. The rear of the bore of the gun need not be
chambered for this construction of cartridge, but is so made as to allow
the cartridge to freely slide into the bore, and may be slightly, and very
slightly tapered for that purpose. There is no regular chamber made
in the barrels for this cartridge, and there being no chamber there is no
shoulder as heretofore used for the front of the cartridge to abut against,
which (however small it may be) weakens the barrels at that point,
and causes them to crack, swell, or fracture at that so weakened point.
When the cap and firing pin are arranged in the case the charge of
powder g' is first put in, then a wad h¹, on that the charge of shot ",
then a disc or wad j¹, on which latter the end of the case is bent over.
or crimped down to hold the charge to the case.
In Figure 18 the crease, puncture, or weakened line f¹ of the cartridge
case or shell is in front of the shot wad h¹, whilst in Figure 19 this
weakened point or line is behind the shot wad h¹.
66
In the first-mentioned modification the tendency of the shot is to
concentrate or make "close shooting" as it is termed, while in the
latter modification the tendency is to prevent the too close shooting or
balling" of the shot as it is termed. Simply shifting this weakened
line or fracture point behind the shot wad does not of itself however
prevent this "balling”
" of the shot, that is, going in a mass as dense
as a ball of lead, or nearly so, for in this plan the shot wad h² must have
an opening m¹³ through it, which opening when the case is filled or
charged should have a thin wad or disc n¹ placed over it, otherwise the
shot would pass through the said opening or the powder and shot get
all mixed inside of the shell or case. This punched wad h¹ goes out with

page_text: tr
"
the shot and prevents what the other plan rather produces, videlicet,
close shooting or "balling," and the charge goes with great force
and effect.
Instead of making the cartridge case in one piece and piercing or
weakening it at a certain point, so that in firing the cartridge the front
part of it shall go out with the shot and the rear part remain in the
bore, the same object may be effected as shown by Figures 19, 19,
19, 19ª, by making the cartridge case in two pieces or parts a, b, and
putting a thin metal, paper, or cloth cylinder, belt, band, or sleeve »
around them to hold them together so as to withstand handling and
transportation, but at the same time allow them to part when the
cartridge is fired, the front part 6 will go out with the shot and the rear
portion or powder portion will remain in the bore, and be afterwards
ejected. Or the two parts a, b, may be glued or cemented together and
accomplish the same purpose.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. In combination with a hinged barrel or barrels, and the gun
frame, a locking bolt I constructed and arranged to operate substantially
as described and represented.
I also claim in combination with the locking bolt or mechanism as
above described the springs M, L, and pin m together with the pro-
jection F, these parts being so constructed as to hold the tongues of the
locking bolt out of the way of the barrel when the latter is raised, until
as it is brought down the said projection strikes the spring M and
releases the said bolt, and allows the other spring L to turn the bolt
and throw it into locking position substantially as described.
I also claim the pivot d³, block F¹, and bolt G having the eccentric
lead a and operating substantially as and for the purpose herein
described.
I also claim the combination of the cartridge retractor with the spring
catch, and the hinge or pivot when constructed to operate substantially
as described.
I also claim making the case or cylinder of a shot cartridge of two
cylinders slightly united or of a single piece partially severed or so a
weakened that at the firing the cylinder shall separate at the said

page_text: weakened line and all of it forward of said line go out with the shot and
the remainder be left in the bore, and so obviate a chambered bore to
the gun as herein described.
I also claim in combination with a weakened cartridge case which
severs at such weakened point when fired, a punched shot wad h¹ with
a thin wad n covering the said punched hole to prevent the charge
of powder and shot from getting intermixed, the whole being to maintain
the great force of the shot charge without allowing it to "ball,” substan-
tially as described.
I also claim in combination with a shot cartridge the flap c¹ cut and
made from the head of the cartridge case as a support for the firing pin
substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Witness,
W. J. Lowe.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)