Improvements in Breech-loading Small-arms.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 16th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 24th Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breech-loading Small-arms.
WILLIAM WELLINGTON GREENER of Prize Gun Works, Saint Mary's Square
Birmingham in the County of Warwick do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My inventions consist of improvements in drop-down breechloading guns, &
1st applies specially to that class known as ejectors, & is an improvement upon my
Patent 2003 A.D. 1881. This improvement consists of the application of a
sliding rod or cocking lifter working longitudinally in the front lump for the
purpose of cocking the gun. This rod (preferably round but may be of any
suitable form) in addition to cocking the tumblers with its backward extremity also
carries the ejecting levers, which are pivoted in such a position in the said rod as
to be identical in action to the same pieces pivoted in lump, in my Patent 2003
A.D. 1881, but traversing with the rod & thereby withdrawn together with the
rod when the fore end is removed for the purpose of dismounting the barrels, thus
obviating the necessity of cocking the locks before putting the gun together; by
this arrangement the front lump may be made of the full size and shape, so as
to carry the bottom holding-down bolt, instead of being cut away for the cocking
swivel as in my Patent 2003 A.D. 1881.
2nd. This part of my invention relates to throwing the ejecting mechanism out of
gear so that the gun may be used as an ordinary hammerless gun, the fired cases
being drawn out sufficiently to admit of being removed in the ordinary way by
the hand. This I accomplish by affixing a screw nut to the sliding rod (or cocking
lifter) or a pin or other device in that part of the iron of forepart, which comes in
contact with said sliding rod, in such a manner as to lengthen the lifter so far
as to bring it in such a position on the tumblers as to prevent its passing over the
points of tumblers, thus they will be brought into full bent without coming into
contact with the ejecting levers, the lifter forming a check for the drop of the
barrels instead of making use of the ordinary check or drop in the hinge joint.
This part of my invention has relation to the locks of hammerless guns such as
the Anson & Deeley, my own Patent 930 A.D. 1880, or any description wherein
the locks are contained in the breech-action body & generally known as box locks.
It consists of an improvement in the position of the bents in the tumblers, which
have hitherto been so made as to be uncertain in the amount of pressure required
to release the scear from bent, by reason of the bents being placed too near the
pivot of tumblers, there being not sufficient space in the action body to admit of
the larger tumbler being used under the present system.
In my improved method the scear centre or pivot is placed higher & rather
farther back than in the old system, the bent following in the same direction and
on the largest radius possible to obtain, in the particular size of action required.
By this means I am able to make locks of this description with a half bent as in
guns with side locks; the half bent acting as an intercepting bolt in case the tumblers
should jar out of beut, and a much clearer pull is also to be obtained with a large
tumbler.
3rd. This part applies to the method of attaching the butt of stock to the breech
action, which I do in the manner generally used in Martini rifles viz. by means of a
long butt pin, by shortening the top strap or break off of the breech action & slightly
lengthening the outer sides of the back of the breech action body I am enabled to

page_text: form a socket to receive the head of the butt or stock, & so placing the holding
down bolt as to admit of space for the butt pin to engage in the back of the breech
action. The butt pin instead of being one diameter throughout has at intervals of
about inch rings turned upon it reducing its diameter 3inch more or less, for
the purpose of admitting the wood of the stock shrinking, & to prevent the stock
splitting.
Improvements in Breech-loading Small-arms.
I, WILLIAM WELLINGTON GREENER of Prize Gun Works, St. Mary's Square
Birmingham in the County of Warwick Gun Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention consists of improvements in drop-down breech-loading guns, and
applies especially to that class known as ejectors, and is an improvement upon my
Patent No. 2003 A.D. 1881.
The improvement consists of the application of a sliding rod working
longitudinally in the front lump; for the purpose of cocking the gun.
This rod (preferably round but may be made of any suitable form) in addition
to cocking the tumblers with its backward extremity, also carries the ejecting
levers, which are pivoted in such a position in the said rod as to be identical in
action to the same pieces pivoted in the lump, in my Patent No. 2003 A.D. 1881,
but, traversing with the rod, are thereby withdrawn with the rod when the fore end
is removed for the purpose of dismounting the barrels ; thus obviating the
necessity to cock the locks before putting the gun together; by this arrangement
the front lump may be made of the full size and shape, so as to carry the bottom
holding down bolt, instead of being cut away for the cocking swivel as in my
Patent 2003 A.D. 1881.
The second part of my invention has relation to the locks of hammerless guns,
such as the Anson & Deeley; my own No. 930 A.D. 1880; or other description
wherein the locks are contained in the action body; generally known as box
locks.
It consists of an improvement in the bents in the tumblers; which, have
hitherto been so made as to be uncertain in the amount of pressure required to
release the scear from bent, by reason of the bents being placed too near the pivots
of the tumblers, there being not sufficient space in the action body to admit of a
larger tumbler being used, under the present system.
In my improved method the scear centre, or pivot, is placed higher, & rather
farther back, than in the old system, the bent following in the same direction, & on
the largest radius possible in the particular size of action required.
By this means I am able to make locks of this discription with a half bent, as in
guns with side locks; the balf bent acting as an intercepting bolt in the event of
the tumblers jarring out of bent, & further a much clearer pull is obtained with
the large tumbler.
The third part of my invention relates to throwing the ejecting mechanism out
of gear, so that an ejector gun may be used as an ordinary hammerless, the fired
cases being drawn out sufficiently, to admit of being removed in the ordinary way
by the hand.
This I accomplish by affixing a screw-nut to the stem of the cocking lifter, or a
pin, or other device in that part of the iron of forepart, which comes into contact
with said stem & in such a manner as to lengthen the lifter, so far as to bring it in

page_text: such a position on the tumblers as to prevent its passing over the points of
tumblers; thus they will be brought into full bent without coming into contact
with the ejecting levers, the lifter forming a check for the drop of the barrels
instead of making use of the ordinary check, or drop, in the hinge joint.
The fourth part of my invention applies to the method of attaching the butt, or
stock to the breech-action which I do in a manner as generally used in Martini
rifles, viz. by a long butt pin.
By shortening the top strap of break-off of the breech-action & slightly
lengthening the outer sides of the breech action, I am able to form a socket to
receive the head of the butt or stock, & so placing the holding down bolts as
to admit of space for the butt pin to engage in the back of the breech-action
body.
The butt pin may be of less diameter at intervals for the purpose of admitting
the wood of the stock shrinking, and to prevent the stock splitting.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood & more easily carried into
practice I have appended hereunto two single sized sheets of drawings upon which
I have illustrated my improvements.
Fig. 1 is a section through the lock of gun, shewing the mechanism in position
after firing.
The sliding rod A which carries the ejector levers B the other
end of which operate the extractors C is shewn in position after the gun has been
fired; the end of the tumbler D bearing upon the top point of the sliding rod A,
from which it passes sharply when the gun is opened, & falling upon the ejector
levers B effects the ejecting of the fired cartridge, as shewn in Fig. 2, which
represents the gun open.
Figs. A A2 are views in detail of the sliding rod.
Fig. 3. is a section shewing the device for throwing out of gear the ejecting
mechanism. The screw nut E coming into contact with the sliding rod A &
pushing it backward so prevents the end of the tumbler D passing over the top
point of sliding rod A on to the ejector levers B, thus converting the gun into a
non-ejector.
Figs. 4 & 5 shew another device for accomplishing the same object. The pin F
passing through the fore-end strap & having its lower end halved for the purpose
of stopping the cam & thus shortening the drop of gun, this may also be
accomplished by a sliding piece or other similar device.
""
Fig. 6 is a section shewing method of attaching the stock to the breech-action.
The butt pin P passing through the "hand of stock Q & screwing into a
boss R in back of breech action, the stock fitting into a socket formed by the back
of breech action.
Fig. 7. & 8. specimens of different styles of butt pins showing rings & flat
screw, which allow for expansion of wood of stock.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that
I do not limit myself to the precise details herein described or illustrated, as the
same may be varied without departing from the nature of my invention, but I
declare that what I claim is :-
I. The pivoting of the ejector levers in the sliding rod working longitudinally in
the front lump for the purpose of cocking the gun.
II. The front lump being of full size & shape to carry the bottom holding down
bolt.
III. Placing the scear centre higher & farther back than in the old system of
box-lock hammerless guns the bent following in the same direction & on the
largest radius possible & making locks of this description with half-bents which
act as intercepting bolts in the event of the tumblers jarring out of bent.
IV. Methods of throwing out of gear the ejecting mechanism.
V. Adaptation of the Martini system of butt pin to double barrel guns
& rifles both hammerless & hammer the pin being of smaller diameter at intervals,

page_text: and the forming of the back of the breech action into a socket to receive the
head of butt or stock & also the screwing of the butt pin into the back of
.breech action as herein set forth & shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Deted this 14th day of Februarv 1894.
W. W. GREENER.