CERTAIN IMPROVE- MENTS IN FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Calisher, of Rue Richelieu, 99, Paris, in the
Empire of France, Merchant, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 25th September 1866, and dated the 25th July 1866.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Henry Calisher at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declara-
tion, on the 25th July 1866, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent
Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, BE IT KNOWN
that I, HENRY CALISHER, of Rue Richelieu, 99, Paris, in the Empire of
France, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS," and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention consists in improvements in breech-loading guns, the said
improvements chiefly consisting in the manner of placing the percussion cap
on the nipple, in the manner of loading at the breech, and in the lock.
Firstly, by means of my improved feeder the caps contained in a tube
placed along the gun are caused to fall into a recess made in the cap carrier,
whence they are placed on the nipple by means of the cap carrier and a small

page_text: lever. A spring cover closes the extremity of the tube containing the caps
and permits of renewing the supply when they are all used.
Secondly, the means I employ for loading at the breech are as follows:-
The barrel is provided with a slot in which slide a rod and a cover provided
with a knob by means of which the mechanisın can be drawn back so as
to uncover the slot in which the charge is introduced, and by pushing back
the rod the cover closes the slot, the bottom of the cartridge is made of
india-rubber which insures an air tight closing. A key is adapted to the slot
and prevents the cocking of the hammer if it is not in the proper position
to close the mechanism, a ferrule placed at the end of the slot and forming
a part of it receives the shock through the medium of the key.
Thirdly, the lock can be constructed in two different ways, either with a
link or with a grip. I have reduced to 5 the number of parts composing
the mechanism thus rendering its construction more simple than usual.
To make my Invention better understood I will now describe it by reference
to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side view of the principal
part of the gun shewing the parts I have just described at rest; Figure 2
is a view of the said gun shewing the play of the parts; Figure 3 is a side
view of the said gun which differs from Figure 1 inasmuch as all the parts
are shewn as at work, the cap tube being shewn in section, Fig. 5 shews the
cap carrier placed at D, Figure 1, and provided with a recess E for receiving
the cap, Figure 6, the plate which screws on the gun and under which the cap
carrier slides, Figure 7, shews the small rocking lever. The arrangement of
these parts which enter one in the other is shewn at Figure 4; Figure 8 shews
the tube for containing the caps separate from the gun, and Figures 1 and 3
shew it at B provided with its cover A; Figure 9 shews the rocking hinge
key, by means of which the moveable part or breech is held fast, it is placed
at F, Figures 1 and 2; Figure 10 shews the cover which is shewn at H,
Figures 2 and 3; Figure 11 shews the slide rod seen at I, Figures 1, 2,
and 3, for closing the slot K, Figure 2.
There are two different forms of the improved lock, videlicet,-
Firstly, the link lock represented detached from the gun at Figure 13.
Figure 12 shews the spring which moves the hammer; Figure 14 shews
the lock plate; Figure 15 shews the tumbler seen at L, Figure 13.
Secondly, the grip lock shewn detached from the gun at Figure 16.
Figure 17 shews the lock plate M; Figure 18 shews the spring, and Figure 19
the tumbler seen at N, Figure 16; Figure 20 is a view of the cartridge
furnished with an india-rubber bottom. P. When the caps are placed for
firing the rod I, Figure 11, and the cover are drawn back so as to uncover

page_text: the slot K, the cartridge is placed therein, and the rod which holds the
charge is pushed back, the key F is then turned down; then the cap is put
on by means of the feeder herein-before described; the hammer is cocked, and
all that remains to be done is to pull the trigger. The india-rubber bottom
remains behind after the discharge, and serves by being forced forward by the
next discharge to clean the barrel.
Having now described my said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the
precise details of construction herein laid down, as the same may be varied;
but what I claim is,―
Firstly, the feeder consisting of the tube for containing the caps and the
various parts herein-before described and shewn at Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 of
the annexed Drawing.
Secondly, the arrangement or construction of breech composed of the
parts herein-before described and shewn at Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11 of the
accompanying Drawing.
Thirdly, the arrangement of locks composed of the parts herein-before
described and represented in Figures 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 of
the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Calisher, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
W. A. GILBEE.
HENRY CALISHER. (L.S.)