IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING SMALL-ARMS
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Woodward at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th February 1883.
THOMAS WOODWARD of N° 10 Steelhouse Lane Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Gun maker "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING SMALL-ARMS."
The first part of my invention consists of improvements in the lock mechanism
of Self cocking Breech loading Small Arms which are carried out in the following
manner.
The fixed stud or abutment against which the stand side of the main-spring in
the case of V springs (or end in the case of spiral springs) bears is removed. The
spring would then expand beyond the position it normally occupies when at bearer
and in order to prevent this I fix a clip on through or around the main spring
which allows it to have free play in the ordinary manner but not beyond.
It will now be found that the tumbler or hammer of the lock can be turned or
pushed back to full cock on opening the gun with the greatest case (by any means
found desirable according to the style of gun to which this invention is applied)
carrying with it the main spring On closing the gun a lever or other suitably
formed piece is moved carrying with it or moving a stud or abutment which comes
against the normal stand side or end of the main spring thereby compressing it.
The gun can then be fired in the usual manner by pulling the trigger. Internal or
external hammers can be used with this part of my invention and the lock
mechanism may be fixed in any part of the gun found most desirable. This
invention will be found very useful as the main spring being held in a clip no
special tools will be required for removing them thereby doing away with the
greatest difficulty found by amateurs in taking to pieces their gun locks for
cleaning purposes. This part of my invention can be applied to double or single
barreled guns.
The second part of my invention consists of improvements in the lock mechanism
of Breech loading hammerless guns and is carried out as follows I use as long and
and heavy a hammer as the construction of the gun will permit. The said hammer
being pushed back to full cock by any means found desirable I do not use a main
spring but substitute the following arrangement for driving the hammer forward
with sufficient force and speed to discharge the gun by means of a cap and striker
9.17

page_text: in the usual manner. The hammer when pushed back to its fullest extent is held
in that position by a spring click or catch. The trigger of the gun when pulled in
the usual manner acts upon the hammer near its centre either directly or by means
When sufficient
of an intervening lever in such a manner as to turn it round.
pressure has been exerted upon the trigger the spring click or catch gives way
allowing the hammer to move forward very rapidly owing to the sudden impetus
to receives, thereby discharging the gun. This part of my invention can be applied
to every description of small-arms with one or more barrels.
The third part of my invention consists of an improved safety mechanism for
the locks of breech loading small arms of all kinds to prevent the accidental
discharge of the gun owing to the sear jarring out of the bent or not holding the
hammer properly when raised to full cock. To carry out this idea I use a spring
in the interior of the gun which may be fixed to the action lock or trigger plate of
the gun in such a manner as found desirable. This spring is fixed at one end the
other end being free to move and having a stud thereon which is so arranged when
in its normal position as to catch or intercept the hammer in the event of it
slipping or jarring off the bent otherwise than by pulling the trigger in the usual
manner. This spring has also an arm attached to it which comes on to the trigger.
On pulling the trigger this arm moves the spring and therewith the stud allowing
the hammer to fall in the usual manner, under any other circumstances it will be
caught by the spring stud thus preventing an accidental discharge. This invention
can be applied to double or single guns one spring being fitted to each lock.
The fourth part of my invention consists of an improved bolting or locking
mechanism for Breech loading small arms with drop down barrels and is carried
out in the following manner I drill a vertical hole through the false breech of the
gun and also through the extension of the rib. The hole through the false breech
is then tapped with a quick threaded female screw and a male screw fitted therein
having an arm on its lower end and its upper end passing through the extension of
the rib. This screw is turned round by the action of the ordinary snap action bolt
. on its lower arm On being turned round it runs downwards out of the extension
rib owing to the quick thread thereon thereby releasing the barrels and allowing
The vertical hole instead of being tapped may
them to fall in the usual manner.
be left smooth and a rod fitted therein having an arm on its lower end and a disc
shaped piece on its
end.
upper
This disc fits into a T shaped slot in the extension of the rib thereby holding the
barrels in position.
On the action bolt being drawn in the usual manner it turns round the disc
which is cut away that when turned to its fullest extent it allows the extension of
the rib to move out of its slot thereby forcing the barrels and allowing them to fall
in the usual manner. Or the upper disc before mentioned may be turned round by
a projecting arm on the top lever of the gun instead of by the arm on the lower
end of the vertical rod before mentioned which can thus be dispensed with.