IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING AND OTHER RIFLES AND SMALL ARMS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Field of Birmingham in the County of Warwick
Gun Maker for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING
AND OTHER RIFLES AND SMALL ARMS"
16
23
ROOK
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Field at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th May 1883.
WILLIAM FIELD of Birmingham in the County of Warwick, Gun Maker.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING «
"
ROOK AND OTHER RIFLES AND SMALL
ARMS."
My invention has reference to breech loading rifles and small arms of the kind
called drop down rifles and guns, that is, rifles and guns in which the barrel of the
rifle or gun, is made to turn upon a horizontal pin, so as to raise and expose the
open end or breech of a rifle or gun, in order that the cartridge may be introduced
therein, or its shell ejected therefrom by a spring or other extractor. And my
said invention consists first, of the construction and arrangements hereinafter
described of the parts for cocking the gun on the opening of the breech end, and
also discharging the hammer, when cocked. And secondly of the arrangements
and combination of the parts of the safety apparatus for preventing both the
accidental discharge of the rifle or gun; and also cocking the said rifle or gun
without opening the barrel, should the striker of the hammer miss fire on
discharging the cartridge.
I will describe my invention as applied to a drop down "rook" rifle.
My invention consists in constructing and arranging the parts of the rifle in the
following manner.
Under the tang or strap of the rifle, and nearly in a line with the face of the
break off, a hammer or tumbler is jointed and works upon a pin or axis attached
to knuckles on the trigger plate.
In front of and below the breast of the hammer or tumbler a curved arm (herein
after called the cocking arm) is situated, that is to say; the curved cocking arın is
formed on the body of the hammer itself, and bending downwards in front of the
joint or centre upon which the combined hammer and cocking arm turns.
D. Al

page_text: The free end of the top limb of the main spring is connected by a link in the
usual way, to the back of the said hammer. The terminal end of the lower or
stand side limb of the spring rests, or seats itself upon a lip formed on the back of
the body of the trigger. And in front of the said trigger body, a long sear like
Dose takes into the bent in the hammer. The trigger therefore acts both as a
sear, and trigger combined; while the main spring described, plays the part both
of the sear, trigger and hammer springs
The front face of the lump, on the underside of the barrel, has a foot or toe at
its bottom or lower part; for the purpose of acting upon the curved cocking arm
at the bottom of the breast of the hammer, in order to cock the said hammer
when the barrel is opened.
The safety apparatus consists of a short lever, working on the side of the body
of the gun; its axis lying across and in front of the breast of the hammer, the said
axis being excentric, so that when its lever is in the same plane as the break off;
the excentric of the axis is out of position with respect to the breast of the
hammer; but when turned at right angles, the cam or swell part of the said axis,
comes in front of the breast of the hammer (when cocked) and prevents the said
hammer from being discharged. And also when the hammer is in its discharged
position, on turning the lever of the said safety parallel to the barrel, the swell or
short arm presses forcibly against the breast as before described of the haminer,
and in its motion raises the said hammer into bent, without reopening the barrel
of the rifle
The usual cocking of the rifle is effected by the foot on the face of the lump of
the barrel acting, directly upon the hammer or tumbler described, without the aid
or intervention of separate lever or rod.
The action of the parts of the rifle is as follows. Assuming the rifle to be in its
discharged position. On turning aside the lever on the tang, the barrel is allowed
to open and cock the gun by the weight of the falling barrel, the cocking being
effected by the foot or toe on the face of the lump raising the hammer, compressing
the main spring and cocking the gun, by putting the hammer into bent with the
sear like nose of the trigger.
The foot or toe on the face of the lump having freed itself of the end of the
hammer arm; can now descend into its normal position without interfering with
the cocked hanımer, in consequence of the hammer lying beyond the path of the
foot or toe of the lump, on shutting down the barrel.
To discharge the rifle the trigger is pulled, removing the sear like trigger nose
from the bent in the hammer, liberating the said hammer, which falls in virtue of
the elasticity of the spring, and discharging the gun or rifle. The cocking arm of
the hammer again falling in front of, or upon the top of the foot on the face of the
lump described.
The combined safety and cocking arrangement is also used for raising the
hammer, to throw the cocking lever into its raised position for the purpose of
connecting the barrel, to the body of the rifle. The trigger acts both as a trigger
and sear combined. The main spring acting as the main-haminer, trigger and sear
springs combined, while the safety both cocks (when desirable) and holds the
hammer at safety, the bammer being raised to its cocked position without the aid
of a separate lever and the hammer but into bent by the weight of the falling
barrel.
There is thus produced a rifle both simple in its construction and efficient in its
action and the number of working parts reduced to a minimum.
My improvements are equally applicable to double, as well as to single barrel
rifles and small arms.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Field in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th November
1883.
WILLIAM FIELD of Birmingham in the County of Warwick-Gun Maker.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING 'ROOK' AND OTHER RIFLES AND SMALL
ARMS
"
my Invention has reference to breech loading rifles, and small arms, of the kind
called drop down rifles and guns; that is, rifles and guns, in which the barrel of
the rifle or gun is made to turn upon a horizontal pin; so as to raise and expose
its open breech end; in order that the cartridge may be introduced therein or
ejected therefrom, by an extractor as hereinafter described; and my said invention
consists first, of the construction and arrangements hereinafter described of the
parts for cocking the gun on the opening of the breech end and also discharging
the hammer when cocked. And secondly of the arrangement and combination of
the parts of the safety apparatus, for preventing both the accidental discharge of
the rifle or gun, and also cocking the said rifle or gun without opening the barrel,
should the striker of the hammer miss fire on discharging the cartridge; and
Thirdly, the extracting mechanism.
I will describe my invention as applied to a drop down rook rifle.
My invention consists in constructing and arranging the parts of the rifle in the
following manner.
Under the tang or strap of the rifle, and nearly in a line with the face of the
break off, a hammer or tumbler is jointed and works upon a piu or axis attached
to knuckles on the trigger plate. In front of, and below the breast of the haminer
or tumbler, a cocking arm is situated, that is to say; the curved cocking arm is
formed on the body of the hammer itself; and curving downwards in front of the
joint or centre upon which the combined hammer and cocking arm turns.
The free end of the top limb of the main spring is or may be connected by a link
in the usual way to the back of the hammer The terminal end of the lower or
stand side limb of the spring, rests or seats itself upon a lip, formed on the back of
the body of the trigger, and in front of the said trigger body, a long sear like
nose takes into the bent in the hammer. The trigger therefore acts both as a sear
and trigger combined; while the main spring described, plays the part both of the
sear, trigger and hammer springs.
The front face of the lump on the underside of the barrel has a foot or toe at its
bottom or lower part, for the purpose of acting upon the curved cocking arm at the
bottom of the breast of the hammer, in order to cock the said hammer on the
opening of the barrel.
The safety apparatus consists of a short lever working on the side of the body
of the gun, its axis lying across, and in front of the breast of the hammer; the said
axis being excentric, so that when its lever is in the same plane as the break off,
the excentric of the axis is out of position, with respect to the breast of the
hammer. But when turned at right angles, the cam or swelled part of the said
axis, comes in front of the breast of the hammer when cocked, and prevents the
said hammer from being discharged.
Also when the hammer is in its discharged position, on turning the lever of the
said safety parallel to the barrel, the swell or short arm presses forcibly against its
breast; aud in its motion, raises the said hammer into bent, without reopening
the barrel, although the usual cocking of the rifle is effected by the foot on the

page_text: face of the lump of the barrel, acting directly upon the hammer or tumbler
described.
The action of the parts is as follows;-the rifle being in its discharged position.
On turning aside the lever on the tang, the barrel is allowed to open, and cock
the gun by the weight of the falling barrel; the cocking being effected by the foot
or toe, on the face of the lump, raising the hammer by the lever on its breast,
compressing the main spring, and cocking the gun, by putting the hammer into
bent with the sear like nose of the trigger.
On again closing the barrel, the foot or toe on the face of the lump, retires from
the lever on the breast of the hammer, and thereby resuming its normal position,
the rifle being again ready for firing.
To discharge the rifle, the trigger is pulled, removing the sear like trigger nose,
from the bent in the hammer, liberating the said hammer which falls in virtue of
the elasticity of the spring, and discharging the gun or rifle; the hammer cocking
arm falling upon the top of the lump described.
The combined safety and cocking arrangement is also used for raising the
hammer, to throw the lever into its raised position for the purpose of connecting
the barrel to the body of the rifle. There is thus produced, a rifle; both simple in
its construction, and efficient in its action, and the number of working parts
reduced to a minimum.
The trigger acts both as a trigger and sear combined, while the main spring acts
as the hammer, trigger and sear spring
The safety arrangement both cocks, and holds the hammer at safety; the hammer
being raised to its cocked position, without the aid of a separate lever, and the
hammer put into bent, by the weight of the falling barrel.
My improvements are equally applicable to double as well as to single barrel
rifles and small arms.
Having explained the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to describe with
reference to the accompanying Drawings, the manner in which the same is to be
performed.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, represents a longitudinal vertical section
of a breech loading rifle, with its hammer discharged, and constructed according to
my invention Figure 2 represents the same section of the rifle, as figure 1, with the
breech end of the barrel raised from the face of the break off; the hammer cocked
and put into bent by the upward movement of the foot of the lump of the barrel,
raising or acting upon the arm on the front of the hammer. Figure 3 shows the
breech end of the barrel of the rifle closed; and the hammer cocked, ready to be
discharged. Figure 4 shows the hammer in the act of being cocked or raised into
bent by the safety; other than by the falling or turning of the barrel upon its
joint. Figure 5 shows the barrel detached from the body of the rifle; exhibiting
in elevation, the front cocking lump and its foot for actuating the hammer cocking
arm or lever. Figure 6 is an end elevation of the same. Figure 7 represents the
method of operating the extracting or cartridge ejecting lever, the barrel being
nearly open; while the extractor lever is in the act of ejecting the spent cartridge
case from the breech chamber. Figure 8 shows the underside of the barrel, and
figure 9 a plan of the body of the rifle. The other figures 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14
represent parts of the rifle separately. The same letters of reference indicate the
same parts in the several figures of the drawings.
A is the barrel of the rifle. As is a foot on the bottom of the lump A2 of the
said barrel for operating the hammer. B is the hammer, on the front part of which,
is a prolonged arm B2; the free end of which said arm rests upon the foot A³ of
the lump A. C is the trigger with its sear like nose C, taking into the bent B³
of the hammer B. D is the main spring which acts both for the purpose of dis-
charging the gun when cocked, and also fulfils the function of sear and trigger
spring. The upper limb constitutes the discharging hammer spring; while the
stand side D' brings back the trigger on releasing, and operates the sear nose C³ for
putting it into bent. E is the spent cartridge case, and E³ is the lever for ejecting

page_text: the same from the breech chamber; its long arın actuates the extractor E³, operating
upon the end of its rod E. The short or tail end E³ of the lever E is actuated by
its end coming in contact with the over hanging solid cut away part of the body G
of the rifle, and marked G2. The extractor lever is centred on the lump A. The
coiled spring E' completely extracts the cartridge shell, after the extractor lever
has completed its range of motion. F is the lever for unlocking the barrel from
the break of, and H is the lever of the combined safety and auxiliary cocking
device H'.
When the gun has been discharged, the parts occupy the respective positions
represented in figure 1, and in order to again cock the hammer, and eject the spent
cartridge shell from the breech chamber of the barrel, the lever F on the tang of
the break off, on being turned aside, the bolt connected therewith is withdrawn
from the prolonged rib on the barrel; which being now unlocked from the break
off, falls by its own weight; and in the descending motion of the foot A³, of the
lump A, raises the arm B³ of the haminer B, and thereby turning or pressing back
the said hammer upon its joint or centre, and so putting the hammer into bent,
with the sear nose C of the trigger C; also compressing the inain spring D D'
into a state of tension, cocking the rifle, and ejecting the spent cartridge shell E,
by the extractor E³; which is actuated by the long arm of the extractor lever E²
acting on the end of the rod E; the short arm E being actuated by coming in
contact with the overhanging cut away part of the body G: The extractor lever
turns upon a pin or axis E, centred on the lump A³, and moves therewith on its
ascending and descending motion; as best seen in figures 2 and 7, which shows the
cartridge shell in the act of being extracted with the barrel open. The expansion
of the spring E° fully completes the ejection of the shell, after the lever has
completed its range of motion.
On reintroducing a fresh cartridge in the breech chamber figure 2, and closing
the barrel, the foot A³ of the lump, retires from the arm B² of the hammer, leaving
the parts in the positions, ready for firing, as represented at figure 3.
The rifle is discharged, by pulling the trigger C; the heel C³ is acted upon by
the standside D of the spring D; the sear nose C is taken from out of the bent in
the hammer, liberating the said hammer, which falls by the force of the spring D,
acting upon the shoulder B, and thereby discharging the rifle. The parts again
taking the respective positions represented at figure 1.
When the rifle is cocked as shown in figure 3, in order to put the rifle into safety,
the lever H is turned at right angles into a line with the barrel. The solid or cam
like part H coming in front of the breast of the hammer and prevents its
accidental discharge.
In figure 4, the safety is shown in the act of raising the hammer into bent, by
the movement of the lever H; instead of raising or cocking the said hammer, by
the opening of the barrel, as before described. The solid or excentric part H
pressing upon the swell B³ of the breast of the hammer, raises it into bent, by the
movement of the lever H, in the direction indicated by the arrow. The mode of
cocking last described, is usually practiced only when the rifle has missed fire, so
that all risk of accident from the detonation of the cartridge while the barrel is
being opened, is thus obviated.
The lever also places the cocking arm into such a position, that the barrel can be
readily attached to the body when required. The two positions of the lever being
determined by a spring acting upon the respective flats H³ of the axis
Figure 5 shows the ends of the barrel and hammer operating lump in elevation.
Figure 6 is an end view of the same. Figure 8 is an underside of figure 5.
Figure 9 is a plan of the body. Figure 10 is the extractor lever. Figure 11 tho
hammer. Figure 12 the spring. Figure 13 the trigger and sear combined, and
figure 14 is the combined safety and auxiliary cocking lever and axis.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I claim as my Invention.
First. The general arrangement and combination of the parts of rifles and

page_text: firearms; for actuating the cocking mechanism, by constructing, operating and
working in the way as described and illustrated in the several figures of the
drawings.
Secondly. Cocking the hammer by the safety axis or excentric H², through the
movement of the lever H; the axis or excentric acting upon the breast of the
hammer, that is to say; throwing back the said hammer into bent, compressing
the main spring, and cocking the rifle or firearm, as described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings
Thirdly. Actuating extractors of Breech loading rifles and firearms; as herein
before described and illustrated, that is to say; operating the extractor by a jointed
lever, carried by the lump of the barrel; the lever is turned on its centre, and the
extractor operated by the short arm coming in contact with a fixed part of the
body of the fire-arm, on the raising of the barrel.
In witness, whereof, I, the said William Field, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this twenty fourth day of November, in the year of Our Lord, one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
Witness
HENRY SKERRETT
Patent Agent
6 Livery Street
Birmingham.
WILLIAM. FIELD (L.S.)