IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING CYLINDER PISTOLS
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Baron Thornton de Mouncie at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th October 1876.
Baron THORNTON DE MOUNCIE, of Paris, France, now of Queen Victoria Street,
in the City of London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING CYLINDER PISTOLS."
My Invention relates to revolving pistols of that class in which a revolving
chambered cylinder is arranged at the rear of the barrel, and consists in various
improvements as herein-after specified, whereby the efficiency and convenience of
these arms are materially increased.
One very important feature of my present Invention is the construction and
arrangement of the extractor for removing the empty or exploded cartridge shells
or cases from the said cylinder; and by the provision of which extractor I am
enabled to dispense with the ramrod ordinarily employed for this purpose.
I also obviate the necessity for a lever or other appendage which would embarass
the person using the arm or leave him exposed when attacked.
I also dispense with other parts of these arms heretofore used, and thereby
simplify their construction. Moreover the parts of the mechanism are so formed
and arranged that no gas can have access to them to render them dirty or obstruct
their working. There will no longer be any necessity to have recourse to an
armourer to dismount or mount or put together the parts of the pistol; it will only
be necessary in taking the arm to pieces to use a screwdriver to remove one screw.
The rest of the mechanism can be taken apart by hand. The extreme simplicity of
the mechanism renders unnecessary any implement but a screwdriver for the
above purpose.
The cylinder is formed in the usual manner with the required number of
chambers for the cartridges, and is fitted to revolve upon a hollow pin or axis
which is securely fastened in the front part of the frame; this part of the frame is
hinged to the main part of the breech frame. The cylinder, pin, or axis is secured
by a small catch which has an arm, whereby it may be readily adjusted to secure or
release the said pin.
The aforesaid extractor is a star-shaped piece which is fitted within a central
recess at the rear of the cylinder, and which has a shank or stem fitted to slide
through the hollow axis of the cylinder. The said shank or stem is provided with

page_text: a spiral spring which tends always to keep the said star-shaped piece in close contact
with the surface of the cylinder within the said recess.
The forward end of the said shank engages with a cam or projection formed or
fixed on the main part of the frame near the hinge or joint. When the barrel and
cylinder are in the proper position for firing the said extractor or the star-shaped
piece fits in the end of the cylinder in such a manner that the cartridges may be placed
therein with their rims or flanges against the said extractor, but when the barrel
and cylinder are turned down in the said joint or hinge, the said cam acting in the
end of the extractor, shank, or stem, forces the same back, and thereby expels the
cartridge shells from the cylinder.
The part which extends from the barrel to the rear of the cylinder and above the
latter is provided with a notch formed and arranged to drop upon and engage with
a lock or catch fitted in a recess in the top of the breech or back plate immediately
over the top of the cock or hammer; this cock has connected with it a small spring
lever or thumb piece. When the barrel is properly adjusted for firing the said
cock holds the same securely and prevents any possibility of the accidental displace-
ment of the barrel in the use of the arm; but when it is desired to extract the
empty or exploded cartridge shells, a slight pressure on the said thumb piece will
release the said notch from the cock, and then by a jerk or sharp movement of the
arm the barrel is depressed or turned down on its hinge, and the said shells are
pushed out of its cylinder.
The said extractor is provided with two small guide rods fitted to slide in the
cylinder, or with other suitable means to prevent its displacement.
The cock or hammer and trigger are or may be of the usual construction; I prefer
to use a mainspring consisting of only one flat tongue or bar of steel secured at
one end in the butt of the pistol, and connected at its other end with the hammer.
And I employ a similar but smaller spring for the trigger. These springs are kept
in place by a small metal key or bar placed inside the stock.
If desired I may employ a mainspring of the ordinary form; the arm is cocked
and fired by pulling the trigger, and the usual device is provided for rotating the
said cylinder on its axis.
The improvements above described are more especially applicable to pistols whose
barrels turn down upon a hinge, and which are provided with a star-shaped extracter
at the rear of the cylinder, and with the above described peculiar mechanism of the
lock. In these pistols the action of the breech closing mechanism brings the cock
to the safety notch, and the bursting of the cartridges is prevented by a plug or
stopper. The turning of the cylinder is effected through the medium of a con-
necting rod or mechanical hand acting upon notches in the rear circular portion of
the cylinder.
In applying my improvements to pistols which are provided with a ramrod for
extracting the cartridge, the cock is set to the safety notch as above described
without any additional parts; and the lateral opening of the counterplate of the
lock is effected by means of a spring with a head or stop, another spring being
provided to throw back the said counterplate; the ramrod is suitably arranged in
combination with the cylinder for extracting the cartridges.