IMPROVEMENTS IN REPEATING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REPEATING FIRE-ARMS." A communication from abroad by Paul Mauser, of
Oberndorf, Wurtemberg, in the Empire of Germany, Gunmaker.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th March 1878.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REPEATING FIRE-ARMS." A communication from
abroad by Paul Mauser, of Oberndorf, Wurtemberg, in the Empire of Germany,
Gunmaker.
This Invention relates to that class of revolvers or repeating fire-arms in which
the rotation of the chambers is effected by the act of drawing back the hammer or
cocking the gun, and it consists of the following improvements in the details, and
in the general arrangements and combinations of the parts of revolvers of this
description whereby their construction is simplified, and increased safety in their
operation, is obtained.
1st. A revolving cylinder is employed having inclined and parallel grooves cut
or formed in its circumference, in which works a pin or pawl for actuating the
cylinder, the arrangement being such that the cylinder is caused to rotate when the
said pin or pawl is engaged in the inclined grooves and is maintained stationary.
when it is engaged in the parallel grooves. The pin or pawl is arranged in con-
nection with the hammer imechanism as herein-after described.
2nd. The extractor is provided with cam-shaped surfaces and notches at the rear
end, with which engages the pin of a safety slide so as to prevent the hinder part
of the extractor from rotating, and cause the fore part to ride over the cam when

page_text: the cylinder is caused to rotate in one direction and project the shells out of the
chambers.
3rd. The box or case of the revolver is.fitted with a safety slide (herein-before
referred to) performing 3 functions, vizt. :—
a. Holding together the two parts of which the case of the revolver is con-
structed, the said two constituent parts of the case being hinged together. The case
is opened for the discharge of the cartridge case by moving the slide, whereby it is
released from a nose catch.
b. Preventing the cocking of the hammer when the two parts of the case are not
completely closed together, the slide intercepting in this condition of the parts a
sliding bolt which actuates the hammer.
c. Preventing the rear part of the extractor from rotating as before mentioned.
4th. The sliding bolt is moved by the hammer in one direction when the gun is
cocked, and returns under the action of a spiral spring actuating the hammer when
the trigger is released. The bolt is provided with a socket having a hook for a
purpose herein-after explained, and also with notches for the engagement of the
trigger, and is further fitted with a spring pawl which engages in the grooves of
the cylinder as before mentioned for the purpose of actuating the same.
5th. The hammer is bifurcated, the two branches of the fork embracing the
sliding bolt.
6th. The trigger-guard plate is provided with two hooks and a projection by
which it is fastened to the case, the parts of the lock being held together by one
of the hooks engaging with a catch formed on a socket in which the sliding bolt is
fitted.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th
August 1878.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REPEATING FIRE-ARMS." A communication from
abroad by Paul Manser, of Oberndorf, Wurtemberg, in the Empire of Germany, Gun-
maker.
The said Invention relates to a revolver or repeating pistol of entirely new con-
struction, differing materially from the systems hitherto adopted. The rotation of
the chambers in this revolver is effected by the act of cocking or drawing back the
hammer, as in what are known as the new American revolvers. The hammer is
cocked by the thumb before each shot. This has the effect of reducing the speed of
firing to a certain extent, which however is compensated for by the much greater
security of the charge.
The following are the principal advantages of the new revolver.
The pawl or piece for actuating the rotating cylinder containing the chambers
does not engage with the rear surface of the said cylinder as in the case of
American revolvers, but with the circumference of the same. The arm of the
working lever is thereby considerably lengthened, and the cocking of the hammer
facilitated. Greater safety is obtained by this arrangement, as well as the advantage
of preventing the gas resulting from the combustion of the powder from penetrating
into the box or case of the lock as the mechanism for actuating the cylinder is
removed from the rear of the cylinder to the circumference, and the recoil plate
contains no perforations communicating with the interior of the lock.
This revolver is also characterised by the great simplicity of its mechanism; it is
constructed entirely with 33 pieces only, whilst the American revolvers some-
times contain 56. It consequently admits of being taken to pieces with great
facility.
For the purpose of cleaning the revolver a single screw only requires to be
unscrewed; the whole of the parts may be then taken out by hand and cleaned and
lubricated.
A further peculiarity consists in the novel construction of the extractor as herein-
after described.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now pro-
ceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the
several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing represents a longitudinal section
through the centre of the revolver, showing the whole of the internal mechanism;
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a transverse section taken along the line A, B, Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the cylinder shewing more particularly the grooves
cut in its circumference in which the pawl or piece works which causes the rotation
of the said cylinder.
Figure 5 is a transverse section taken along the line C, D, Figure 1, the view
being taken from the front.
Figure 6 is a transverse section of the stock shewing the attachment of the
wood.
Figure 7 is a view of the revolver seen from behind.
Figure 8 is a detail shewing the hammer, and the spring, and sliding bolt by
which it is actuated.
Figure 9 is a plan of the trigger guard plate.
Figure 10 represents details of the safety slide herein-after referred to.
Figure 11 shows three detail views of the extractor.

page_text: Figure 12 is a view of the fore end of the revolving cylinder; Figure 13 is a
view of the rear end of the same.
Figure 14 represents a sectional elevation of a key or instrument for releasing
the trigger guard plate when it is required to take the arm to pieces.
The principal parts are marked in the Drawing with capital letters, and the
smaller parts of which the principal parts are composed are marked with the corres-
ponding small letters, with the addition, where required, of numbers.
•
J, J, is the body, frame or case of the revolver. It consists of two parts, J, J,
which are connected together by a hinge i, and open at ; K is the barrel; L, the
revolving cylinder; M, the trigger guard plate; N, the sliding bolt acting on the
hammer; O, the hammer; P, the safety slide.
The body or case J, J', is of iron or steel, with flat sides, and hollowed out
internally to provide room for the lock. The front part is somewhat thickened
and provided with an internal screw for the reception of the barrel. Behind the
revolving cylinder the body is expanded in the form of a circular recoil plate i³ ;
the rear part is completely hollowed out, and only consists of a thin band is (Figures 1
and 6), which is imbedded in the wooden stock ; a single screw 1º is sufficient to
secure the wooden stock to the metal band . The body or case J¹ is cut away at
the upper part over the revolving cylinder in such a manner as to admit as little
dirt as possible. Any gas which may be present is thus enabled to escape readily.
The back sight is formed upon the hinge.
A recess is provided in the back of the body for the reception of the hammer,
which fits closely therein, and is formed with two curves o¹, o², which fit as closely
as possible against the sides of the recess, and being struck from a common centre
o, serve to exclude dirt at this part. The hollow of the body is closed underneath
by the trigger guard plate M. Underneath the revolving cylinder a narrow opening
or slit only is formed in the body or case for the passage of the pin for effecting the
rotary motion of the cylinder, in which opening or slit the said pin travels to and
fro. The cylinder itself serves to close this opening and prevent any dirt from
entering at this point.
At the front part where the end of the sliding bolt for actuating the hammer is
passed through the body or case, the opening is closed by the bolt itself, and a
collar or socket n, which surrounds it.
"
The trigger m entirely fills the aperature in the trigger guard plate, through which
it communicates with the inner part of the lock, its detent m², with the part of the
sliding bolt N, in which the half cock and full cock notches no and n² respectively
are formed, closes the front part of the aperture, the rear part m' of the same is
closed by the trigger spring m³.
In order to adinit of the extraction of the exploded cartridge cases the body or
case of the arm is so constructed and arranged as to be readily opened by pushing
up the safety slide P in the direction of the arrow, whereby the nose i7 is liberated
from the catch p. The position of the hinge with relation to this catch is such, as
shewn in Figure 1, that this mode of fastening is perfectly secure.
The barrel K, which may be constructed in any usual or suitable manner, is
screwed into J¹.
The revolving cylinder L is of peculiar construction. It contains, or may con-
tain, six chambers as usual, and turns upon a centre pin or axis, one end of which
is supported in a bearing is, formed in the body J', and the other end, which is of
conical shape, fits exactly into a hole bored for its reception in the centre of the
recoil plates. The rear part of the centre pin is of conical shape to facilitate its
passing in and out of its bearing in the recoil plate on opening or closing
the case.
The front end of the centre pin is provided with a small annular groove l², which
engages with a projection formed on a spring, this spring being located as (shewn
in the section, Figure 5,) in a groove formed under the barrel, and having its rear
end bent up at right angles and held between a shoulder on the barrel and the
case J

page_text: A steel bush, consisting of two parts 16, 17, termed the extractor, is passed over the
centre pin . The said bush is shown separately in Figure 11. The conical end 1ª
fits into a conical hole bored in the case; the space between the case and the
cylinder is occupied by a small filling piece or washer 7. In the said conical part
there are formed six notches marked respectively 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, the object of
which is herein-after explained.
The two ends of the two tubular pieces and ♬ which are in contact and
constitute the extractor form spiral cams which prevent the rotation of the part 17
in one direction when the is stationary, whilst the rotation of the said part
7'in the other direction can only take place by riding over the cams. The part
is provided with a flange, which is sunk in a corresponding recess formed in the end
of the revolving cylinder, so that its outer surface is flush with the rear end
of the said cylinder. The flange is sufficiently broad to extend as far as the
cartridge chambers, and is there cut away in six places corresponding with the six
chambers, so as to fit under the flanges of the cartridges.
In order to remove the cartridge shells from the chambers by means of this
extractor the case is opened by pushing up the safety slide P in the direction of the
arrow, whereby the nose is liberated from the catch p; at the same time however
the flattened end of the pin p¹ engages with one of the notches 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
The fore part of the extractor is provided with a projection, which works in a
groove formed in the revolving cylinder. When the pin p' is caused to enter one
of the notches by pressure on the sliding piece B, the cylinder L is only capable of
rotating in one direction, videlicet, in that direction in which the can on the part
17 is able to ride over the cain on the part 1. The perpendicular ends of the cams
prevent its rotation in the opposite direction. As the cylinder rotates the part 17
is pushed out by the action of the cams, and expels the shells of the cartridges, so
that they all drop from the chambers simultaneously into the hand.
The circumference of the revolving cylinder L is provided with grooves 1,1,
which pass round it in a ziz-zag direction; the grooves are parallel with the
generating line of the cylinder; the inclined grooves each connect one end of
one of the parallel grooves with the opposite end of the next corresponding
parallel groove. The bottoms of the parallel grooves are inclined, and rise from the
rear end towards the connection with the inclined groove (Figure 4). The pawl or
pin for actuating the revolving cylinder works in this groove, and is pushed down
it by the aid of cocking the haminer.
The pawl consists of a small tongue n³, which is centred on a pin n³, and moves
in a recess formed in the sliding bolt, which actuates the hammer A. Spring 10
forces the tongue or pawl upwards in the recess, its end n" bears against the sliding
bolt.
When the hammer ☐ is cocked its bifurcated end o' pushes the sliding bolt N
forwards. The projection n¹² on the pawl ns, which is forced forwards with the
bolt, engages in one of the inclined grooves l, and as it moves forwards in a line
parallel with the axis of the cylinder it causes the latter to describe a fraction of a
revolution. On reaching the end of the inclined groove the projection n¹ enters
the deep end of one of the parallel grooves l, and at the saine moment the detent
m² of the trigger m engages in the pull cock notch n' under the sliding bolt N. On
pulling the trigger the detent m³ releases the bolt N, which slips back, carrying
with it the pawl 28, and the projection n slides back along one of the parallel
grooves without moving the cylinder. During this motion the projection n¹2
passes from the deep end of the parallel groove along the inclined bottom of the
groove to the shallow end, where it suddenly drops into the deep end of the next
inclined groove at the angle x, x, (Figures 2 and 4).
On cocking the hammer again the preceding operations are repeated, so that the
revolving cylinder is again turned round one-sixth of a revolution, and another
chamber brought into position for firing. On cocking the hammer the spring n³ is
compressed. The said spring bears against the socket or guide n' (Figures 1 and 8),

page_text: at one end, and against a shoulder n formed on the bolt N at the other end. The
hammer fits into the recesses n, n, formed in the sides of the bolt N.
The sliding bolt N moves in a straight line in the direction of its length, being
guided at the front end by the socket n', and behind by the cylindrical guide n³,
Figure 3.
The half cock notch n is of such a shape that the detent of the trigger is firmly
retained in it; when the bolt is drawn back the full cock notch n is cut at a more
obtuse angle, so that a comparatively slight pressure of the finger on the trigger
suffices to release the bolt which is impelled forwards by the action of the spring.
The same movement throws the hammer forward bringing its nose suddenly into
contact with the cap and explodes the cartridge.
The trigger guard plate M is connected to the under part of the case in the
following manner-A hook m' embraces the angle 1º, and a hook m³ at the forward
end engages in a look n' formed on the socket or guide of the sliding bolt, and
which is retained in position by the spring n³. A projection me on the plate bears 1
against a bridge or projection on the case. This simple method of fastening the
trigger guard plate thus enables all screws to be dispensed with, and admits of its
being unfastened by means of an instrument in the form of a hollow key (Figure 14)
which is pressed in until the hook m³ is liberated. The trigger guard plate will
then drop out, and the socket or guide will be pushed out by the spring. The s
screw o of the hammer may then be unscrewed and the hammer taken out. The
sliding bolt N may be then removed by pressing the projection n¹ on the pawl into
the recess, and drawing the bolt back until its front end can be passed behind
and under the bridge 0, and thus enable it to be withdrawn with facility.
The trigger m is maintained in the notches by means of a trigger spring m³, which
is fitted into a dovetailed recess in the trigger guard plate.
?'
The safety slide P performs three functions; in the first place it serves to connect
together the two parts of the case J, J, at their point of contact i¹ as the spring
which is wound round the pin p¹ presses the catch behind or under the projection i;
secondly, it serves as a protection against the accidental discharge of a shot in case:
the two parts of the case or body are prevented from coming together at i¹ by reason
of a grain of sand for example, or other small foreign body becoming interposed
between the two parts. Thus when the two parts are not properly closed the
sliding bolt actuating the hammer is unable to pass through the opening p³, but
comes into contact with the sliding piece P, and in this manner the discharge is
prevented.
When the opening between the parts at ¹ is small and the resistance insignificant
the rounded end of the sliding bolt penetrates into the hole p², and brings the parts
together, whoreby it is enabled to pass freely through the opening.
In order to take the revolver to pieces for the purpose of lubricating the parts it 4
is necessary to proceed in the following manner: The barrel being held in the left
hand the safety slide P is pressed back in the direction of the arrow, and the case
opened by turning the parts on the lingo pin i. The spring k is then depressed and
the spring compressed at the same time by turning the revolving cylinder, and
the centre pin of the same will then be pushed out by the action of the spring. The 4
revolving cylinder is then taken out, and the two parts 16 and 17 of the cartridge
extractor removed. The centre pin o of the hammer is then taken out with a screw-
driver, whereupon the haminer itself may be removed. The socket guide of the
bolt for actuating the hammer is now to be pressed back by means of the instrument
forming a species of hollow key (Figure 14) by placing the spring point of the
instrument in the centre of the sliding bolt. This releases the trigger guard plate
which drops out as well as the socket which is forced out by the spring n³; the
spring n itself may be taken out. The projecting piece 12 on the pawl is then
depressed into the recess i¹, and allows the sliding bolt N to be drawn back and
taken out at the under part of the case. All the parts can now be cleaned and oiled
conveniently, and then put together again in the same order.

page_text: Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said Invention
and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I would
observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,
First. The revolving cylinder having inclined and parallel grooves cut or formed
in its circumference in which works a pin or pawl for actuating the cylinder, the
parts being so arranged that the cylinder is caused to rotate when the said pin or
pawl is engaged in the inclined grooves, and is maintained stationary when it is
engaged in the parallel grooves, substantially as herein-before described and illustrated
by the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The extractor with its cam shaped surfaces and with its notches at the
rear end with which engages the pin of the safety slide, so as to prevent the rear
part of the extractor fiom rotating, and cause the fore part to ride over the cam
surfaces when the cylinder is turned in one direction and project the cartridge cases
from the chambers, substantially as herein-before described.
Third. The safety slide performing three functions, videlicit, holding together the
two parts of which the case or body of the fire-arm is constructed, preventing the
cocking of the hammer when the two parts of the case or body are not completely
closed together, and preventing the rotation of the rear part of the extractor, all
substantially as herein-before described.
Fourth. The sliding bolt N in combination with the hammer and the helical
spring, the socket with its book, and the pawl or pin, all substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. The trigger guard plate M in combination with its two hooks m and m
and projection me by which it is fastened to the case or body, the parts of the lock
being held together by one of the hooks engaging with a catch formed on the socket
in which the sliding bolt is fitted, substantially as herein-before described and
illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
Sixth. The general construction, arrangement, and combination of parts forming
a repeating fire-arm, substantially as herein-before described and illustrated by the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of August, Ono
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)