IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIREARMS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Soper, of Reading, in the County of Berks, Gun
Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING
FIREARMS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Soper at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st August 1877.
WILLIAM SOPER, of Reading, in the County of Berks, Gun Manufacturer. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIREARMS."
This Invention is designed to further improve the particular class of breech
loading firearms described in the Specification of my former Letters Patent dated
November 30, A.D. 1868, No. 3637, and consists in various details of construction
and arrangement of the parts of the breech and lock mechanism as hereinafter
specified.
In the arms described in the said former Specification, a guard or protector was
employed to prevent the entrance of sand or other matter into the lock through the
opening formed in the breech shoe for the striking arm or end of the cock or
hammer. But according to my present Invention, dispense with this guard or
protector; and as a more efficient means for accomplishing the same object, I form
the end of the lock box to fit the under side of the arm of the cock, and I form the
tail of the breech-shoe to fit around the other three sides of the said cock; that is
to say, this tail is formed with a recess or groove deep enough to receive the upper
part of the cock, and to form the three protecting sides. The said shoe is also
formed with a recess to receive the end of the breech block when the same is closed,
and in which the said block is secured; and I now provide the said breech-block
with a safety or locking lever, which is arranged to shoot into a hole or socket in
the last-named recess. This bolt works through the said breech block, and is
operated by a connecting rod similar to that described in my said former Specifi-
cation. This connecting rod has at its upper end a stud, which engages with the
breech-block and projections for opening and closing the same. The said stud

page_text: projects into a diagonal slot in the said bolt. The part of the said connecting rod
which acts on the breech block to close the same is so arranged in combination with
the shoulder of the breech-block on which it acts and with the aforesaid stud and
projection, that in closing the breech the rod will not force out the said bolt until
the breech block is properly closed; but when the block is closed, the said projection
on the connecting rod will drop into a recess suitably formed for its reception in the
breech block, and the said stud of the connecting rod working in the diagonal slot
of the bolt, will force the said bolt into its hole or socket in the recess of the breech-
shoe. On the other hand, in the act of opening the breech the aforesaid parts
operate relatively in such a manner that the lock bolt is withdrawn from its socket
before the breech block begins to move up out of its recess.
A small pin or screw is passed through the rear side of the breech block. The
point of this screw projects into a longitudinal groove in the said locking bolt, and
prevents its turning, while permitting it to slide freely endwise in the breech block
when operated by the said connecting rod, although the hole in the breech-block
through which the said bolt works is circular. The said bolt is also formed with a
cavity cut across the rear surface, one side of which is bevelled to an angle of about
45°; it also has a longitudinal aperture or slot through which the firing pin or
striker passes and works freely without obstructing the action of the said bolt. But
this cavity will not be in a position to allow the said striker to be driven forward
through the breech-block unless the latter is properly closed, and the bolt has entered
its socket. The part of the said striker that passes through the slot of the bolt has
a flat shape to prevent its turning, although it will allow the said bolt to work
freely past it; it is also provided with a flange or shoulder properly shaped to fit
and work against the bevelled side of the cavity in the said bolt. This part of the
bolt, as above specified, being formed with a bevelled or inclined surface suitably
arranged to act on the said flange or shoulder forces the said striker back as the
bolt is drawn out of its socket to release the breech-block, and does not require the
aid of a spiral spring, as described in my previous Patent.
I form on the rear side of the breech-block a projection for the reception of the
nipple through which the firing pin works. This shoulder permits the use of a
stronger screw than has heretofore been used on the nipple, and allows the shoulder
on the firing pin to be made of suitable strength.
The rear of the said lock-box is constructed with a recess or cavity wherein the
sear or trigger spring may be firmly fixed in its proper position without the aid of
a screw. I now form the trigger-guard solidly upon or in one piece with the
bottom plate of the lock-box, whereby am enabled to dispense with the screws
heretofore employed for securing the trigger-guard.
I give the fire-arm a neater appearance, and render the same more convenient
for handling by reducing the depth of the front part of the lock; and I form
through the side of the lock a hole through which the side screw or pin may be
passed under the mainspring to hold the same compressed.
To keep the aforesaid connecting rod in place while being actuated by the said
tumbler, I form on the lock-plate in front of the said connecting rod a small lug or
projection, between which and the tumbler the lower end of the said connecting
rod works.
According to my present Invention, I form the said cock or hammer with a comb
or projection on the upper part of its striking arm to enable the person using the
rifle to operate or adjust the cock freely without interfering with the parts of the
breech mechanism.
I also improve the said cock by strengthening its claw or projection which acts
upon the extracting lever to bring it back to its place after the cartridge-case has
been extracted.
I also improve the construction of the side lever, described in the said former
Specification, by formning the same with a round pin or axle to pass through the
tumbler, the said pin having formed on it a wing lug or projection which fits a slot
extending from the hole in the tumbler on one side of the same. The use of this

page_text: round pin instead of the square pin hitherto used permits a considerable reduction
in the cost of manufacture of these parts; and I still further reduce the cost of
manufacture by making the projection of the tumbler with which the short arm of
the said cock engages circular, so that the same may be shaped with an ordinary
cutter.
I form the breech-block pin, that is to say, the pin in which the said block turns,
with a split spring end, so that only a plain round hole is needed in the breech-shoe
for the reception and holding in place of this pin instead of the screwed hole hereto-
fore used. The breech block may therefore be more readily taken out and replaced
than heretofore.
I construct the extractor slide of these fire-arms with two claws which take hold
of different parts of the rim or flange of the cartridges, and thereby ensure a more
reliable extraction of the cartridges, especially those provided with a metal disc like
the so called "Boxer" cartridges.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Soper in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th February
1878.
WILLIAM SOPER, of Reading, in the County of Berks, Gun Manufacturer. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
This Invention is designed to further improve the particular style of breech-
loading fire-arms described in the Specification of my former Letters Patent, dated
November 30, A.D. 1868, No. 3637, and consists in various details of construction
and arrangement of parts of the breech and lock mechanism as herein-after
specified.
The said Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in which―
Figure 1 is a side view of part of a rifle embodying my improvements.
Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 1, with parts in a different
position, the breech block being open.
Figure 3 is a side view, partly in longitudinal section on the line y, y, Figure 2;
and Figure 4 is a longitudinal section on the line 2, 2, Figure 2, looking in the
opposite direction, shewing the breech block closed.
Figure 5 is a rear side elevation of the breech-block of the said rifle.
Figure 6 is a front side elevation of the said block and its lifting lever.
Figure 7 is a plan of the locking bolt; Figure 8 is a view of one side, and Figure 9
a view of the other side of the same.
Figure 10 is a front end view, and Figure 11 a rear end view of the said bolt.
Figures 12 and 13 are two views of the firing pin.
Figure 14 shows in longitudinal section a device for securing the cleaning rod in
the stock of the fire-arm.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
In the fire-arms described in the said former Specification, a guard or protector
has heretofore been employed to prevent the entrance of sand or other matter into
the lock through the opening formed in the breech shoe for the striking arm or end
of the cock or hammer. But according to my present Invention, I dispense with

page_text: this guard or protector, and as a more efficient means for accomplishing the same
object I form the end a¹ of the lock box a to fit the under side of the arm b¹ of the
cock b, and I form the tail c¹ of the breech shoe c to fit around the other three sides
of the said cock; that is to say, this tail c¹ is formed with a recess or groove c²,
deep enough to receive the upper part of the cock, and to form the three protecting
sides. The said shoe c is also formed with a recess to receive the end of the
breech block d when the same is closed, and in which the said block is secured;
and I now provide the said breech-block with a safety or locking bolt e, which is
arranged to shoot into a hole or socket f in the recess c³. This bolt e works through
the said breech-block, and is operated by a connecting rod g. This connecting rod g
has at its upper end a stud g¹, which engages with the breech block d; it also has
a projection g² for opening, and a projection g³ for closing the said block. The said
stud g¹ projects into a diagonal slot in the said bolt e. The part of the con-
necting rod g, which acts on the breech block to close the same, is so arranged in
combination with the shoulder i of the breech block on which it acts, and with the
nforesaid stud g' and projection 92, that in closing the breech the rod g will not
force out the said bolt until the breech block d is properly closed, but when the
block d is closed, as shewn in Figure 4, the projection on the connecting rod g
will drop into a recess j, suitably formed for its reception in the breech block d;
and the said stud g¹ of the connecting rod working in the diagonal slot h of the 2
bolt will force the said bolt into its hole or socket f in the recess c³ of the breech-
shoe. On the other hand, in the act of opening the breech the aforesaid parts
operate relatively in such a manner that the lock-bolt e is withdrawn from its
socket before the breech-block d begins to move up out of its recess.
A small pin or screw k is passed through the rear side of the breech-block. The
point of this screw projects into a longitudinal groove / in the said locking bolt e, and
prevents its turning, while permitting it to slide freely endwise in the breech-block d,
when operated by the connecting rod g, although the hole in the breech-block d,
through which the said bolt works, is circular. The said bolt is also formed with
a cavity m cut across the rear surface, one side of which is bevelled to an angle of 3
about 45°; it also has a longitudinal aperture or slot n, through which the firing
pin or striker o passes, and works freely without obstructing the action of the said
bolt. But this cavity will not be in a position to allow the striker o to be driven
forward through the breech-block d, unless the latter is properly closed, as in
Figure 4, and the bolt e has entered its socket f. The part o¹ of the said striker 3
that passes through the slot of the bolt e has a flat shape, to prevent the turning of
the striker in the slot, while allowing the said bolt to work freely without
obstruction by the striker; it is also provided with a flange or shoulder o², properly
shaped, to fit and work against the bevelled side of the cavity in the said bolt. The
part p of the bolt being formed with a bevelled or inclined surface, suitably arranged
to act on the said flange or shoulder, forces the striker o back as the bolt e is drawn
out of its socket f, to release the breech-block d, and does not require the aid of a
spiral spring.
I form on the rear side of the breech-block d a shoulder or projection r, for
the reception of the nipple 7, through which the firing pin o works. This 4
shoulder permits the use of a stronger screw than has heretofore been used on the
nipple, and allows the shoulder 02 on the firing pin o to be made of adequate
strength.
The rear of the said lock-box a is constructed with a recess or cavity a³, wherein
the sear or trigger spring 8 may be firmly fixed in its proper position without the 5
aid of a screw.
I now form the trigger guard t solidly upon or in one piece with
the bottom plate a of the lock box, whereby I am enabled to dispense with the
screws heretofore employed for securing the said trigger-guard.
I give the fire-arm a neater appearance, and render the same more convenient for
handling by reducing the depth of the front part of the lock; and I form through t
the side of the lock a hole t, through which a side screw or pin may be passed under
the mainspring u to hold the same compressed.

page_text: To keep the aforesaid connecting rod in place while being actuated by the
tumbler v, I form on the lock plate in front of the said connecting rod g a small
lug or projection a7, between which and the tumbler v the lower end of the said
connecting rod g works.
According to my present Invention, I form the said cock or hammer 6 with a
comb or projection 6* on the upper part of its striking arm b¹, to enable the
person using the rifle to operate or adjust the cock freely without interfering with
the parts of the breech mechanism.
I also improve the said cock by strengthening its claw or projection 6³, which
acts upon the extracting lever w to bring it back to its place after the cartridge has
been extracted.
I also improve the construction of the side lever v', used in the said fire-arms, by
forming the same with a round pin or axle v² to pass through the tumbler v, the
said pin having formed on it a wing lug or projection, which fits a slot vs,
extending from the hole in the tumbler on one side of the same. The use of this
round pin instead of the square pin hitherto used permits a considerable reduction
in the cost of manufacture of these parts; and I still further reduce the cost of
manufacture by making the projection of the tumbler with which the short
arm 6* of the said cock engages circular, so that the same may be shaped with an
ordinary cutter.
I form the breech block pin do, that is to say, the pin on which the said block
turns, with a split spring end at d, so that only a plain round hole is needed in the
breech shoe for the reception and holding in place of this pin instead of the screwed
hole heretofore used, the breech block may therefore be more readily taken out and
replaced than heretofore.
I construct the extractor slide w* of these fire-arms with two claws w¹, which
take hold of different parts of the rim or flange of the cartridges, and thereby ensure
a more reliable extraction of the cartridge-cases, especially those provided with a
metal disc like the so called "Boxer" cartridges.
I also provide improved means for securing the metal cleaning rod in the stock
of the rifle, as shewn in Figure 14, by forming a projection 2 on the upper sling
swivel 1, which will act as an excentric, so that when the said swivel is in its
proper position with the sling attached, the rod which is formed with a corres-
ponding groove or recess to receive the said projection of the swivel cannot be
withdrawn; but when the said swivel is forced upards the excentric formation of
the said swivel will at once allow the said rod to be removed.
Having thus fully described my said Invention and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. The improvements comprised in the peculiar construction of the lock-box,
and the fitting of the end of the same to the under side of the arm of the cock or
hammer, and of the tail of the breech-shoe around the three sides of the said cock,
whereby the guard or protector is dispensed with, as above set forth.
Second. The combination of devices comprising the breech-block and its locking
bolt, and the hole or socket for the reception of the latter when the breech is closed,
as above set forth.
Third. The improvement consisting in the combination of devices, comprising the
locking bolt and connecting rod and other parts, and whereby I obtain the above
described results; that is to say, in closing the breech the block must be properly
closed before the said bolt can be forced forward to lock it; but when the
block is properly closed the bolt will immediately lock it; and in opening the
breech the said bolt will be withdrawn from its socket before the breech-block
begins to rise, as above set forth.
Fourth. The combination of devices comprising the striker or firing pin passing
through the breech-block, and the peculiar construction of the bolt with provision
for the passing of the said striker through it, and the means for preventing the
turning of the said bolt, while allowing the striker to work freely through it,
and whereby the said striker is so controlled and operated that it will not be

page_text: driven forward until the breech-block is properly closed and locked, and whereby
the striker is forced back as the said bolt is drawn out of its socket, as above
set forth.
Fifth. The nipple fitted in a projection on the rear side of the breech-block in
combination with the shoulder on the said striker or firing pin, as above set forth
and for the purposes specified.
Sixth. The improvements comprised in or effected by the forming of the trigger
guard solidly or in one piece with the bottom plate of the lock-box, as above set
forth and for the purpose specified.
Seventh. The improvement in the cock or hammer, consisting in forming
the same with a comb or projection, as above set forth and for the purposes
specified.
Eighth. The improvements comprised in the novel construction of the side-lever
and tumbler, and the combination of the same with the cock, in the manner above
described and for the purposes specified.
Ninth. The improved construction of the extractor-slide, as above set forth and
for the purpose specified.
Tenth. A breech-loading fire-arm which embodies the improvements consisting
in the novel parts or devices constructed and combined, as shewn in the accom-
panying Drawing, and operating as above set forth for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Soper, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
UDIT TTIM CANAD
WTT
ILLIAM SOPER (LAD).)