IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE- ARMS AND ORDNANCE
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederic Prince, of No. 3, South Parade, Chelsea,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-
ARMS AND ORDNANCE."
Sealed the 17th August 1855, and dated the 21st February 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederic Prince at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st February 1855.
I, FREDERIC PRINCE, of No. 3, South Parade, Chelsea, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FIRE-ARMS AND ORDNANCE," to be as follows:-
These improvements consist in having the breech formed of a plain fixed
plug, or with a plug with a divided thread; the tube to receive the same
having a similar thread or screw to correspond, so that a slight turn of a lever
will free the same, or the barrel itself may be a fixture, and the plug itself
moveable by leverage. The former is applicable to fire-arms (breech-loaders
more particularly), the latter to ordnance. The last-named principle may,
however, also be applied to a breech-loader, as in the ordinary needle gun;
ignition, however, being produced by a cap.
For a breech-loader, for which the fixed plug is more particularly advan-

page_text: tageous, the same may be made either as a mere stopper (the cartridge being
placed in the breech end of the barrel), or large enough to receive the charge;
a washer of vulcanized india-rubber, or leather, or other elastic substance, to
be fitted to the base of the plug on which the barrel becomes imbedded when
pressed home by the handle or lever, thus rendering the gun more waterproof,
and preventing an escape of gas, or it may be used without any such washer,
the plug alone being all sufficient. The plain plug may be made with one or
inore cuts to receive round rings of vulcanized india-rubber, or the same may
be filled up with grease.
The handle or lever to the barrel of a breach-loader to work in a metal
frame inserted in the side of the stock, so that on being pressed out of its bed,
the barrel may be pushed forward the required distance. The fore end of the
barrel to be secured by a spring fixed near the muzzle of the gun, and only
partially to overlap the barrel, so that expansion may not be prevented, or one
or two ordinary rings may be used, the barrel being regulated to slide in the
Or the barrel may work in a metal bed fixed in the stock, projecting
knobs being fixed on the under part of the barrel.
For ordinary guns for loading at the muzzle only, the barrel must be
pressed home on the above described plug, and then be secured by the
ordinary loops and bolts, the slots for the loops being elongated to admit of
the barrel being moved sufficiently forward (on drawing the bolts) to clear the
fixed plug. In its application to cannons the plug may be made so as only
partially to be withdrawn on turning the lever or levers, a projecting scoop
remaining in the gun to receive the cartridge.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Frederic Prince in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st August 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERIC
PRINCE, of No. 3, South Parade, Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Frederic Prince, Her special licence that I, the said Frederic

page_text: Prince, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I.
the said Frederic Prince, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, usc, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS AND ORDNANCE," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Frederic Prince, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frederic Prince, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof (that is to say):—
The first part of my improvements consists in having a fixed plug (either
conical or cylindrical) attached to or formed of one piece with the breech or
break off, which is firmly secured to the stock of the fire-arm. The barrel is
so mounted as to be capable of sliding to and from the breech, and also of
partially turning around its own axis. The plug is provided with two or more
segments of a screw, and the barrel is also provided with a corresponding
number of segments of a female screw opposite to the spaces between the
segments upon the plug, so that (the cartridge having been introduced), as the
barrel is slidden forward on to the plug, the segments of the screw pass each
other, but upon giving the barrel a slight turn (by means of a lever attached
thereto for that purpose), the threads of the screw become securely inter-
locked, and by their action wedge the barrel firmly on to the plug. Or the
plug may be provided with two or more projecting pins and the breech end of
the barrel with corresponding bayonet slots, the said slots being inclined so as to
have the same action of wedging or forcing the barrel home on to the plug.
The plug may either be used as a stopper for closing the breech end of the
barrel after the cartridge has been inserted into the same, or the plug may be
made sufficiently large and recessed so as to receive the cartridge. The
handle or lever by which the barrel is moved works in a metal plate or frame
inserted into the stock of the piece, so that on being partially turned, and thus
released from the plug, the barrel may be pushed forward the required distance
for inserting the charge. The barrel is secured to the stock by means of
spring clips attached to the stock of the gun, and only partially overlapping

page_text: the barrel, so that expansion may not be impeded, or one or two ordinary
bands may be used, the barrel being formed parallel or cylindrical at those
parts in order to slide in the same. Or (if preferred) the barrel may be
furnished with projecting knobs on the under side, which work in a metal
frame attached to the stock of the gun. In fire-arms having long barrels the
stock of the same may be provided with small friction rollers for the barrel to
slide upon, the barrel being then quite independent of the wood. For ordinary
fire-arms for loading at the muzzle only, the barrel must be pressed home on
the above-mentioned plug, and then be secured by the ordinary loops and
bolts, the slots (in the stock) for the loops being elongated to admit of the
barrel being moved sufficiently forward (on withdrawing the bolts) to clear
the fixed plug.
The second part of my Invention is a modification of the above, the barrel
being a fixture, and the plug moveable. The plug forms the fore part of a
piston which slides in the breech end of the barrel, which is elongated for that
purpose. The above piston, as likewise the previously described plug or false
breech, I prefer being made of gun metal, with rings or grooves cut in the
same for the reception of grease, if required. The piston is provided with a
strong pin or pins passing through it and working in bayonet slots in the
breech end of the barrel. The pin forms a lever, or has a lever attached to it,
and the slots are slightly inclined, as in the before described arrangement, so
that (having introduced the cartridge at the breech) upon pushing the piston
forward, and giving it a slight turn, the plug will be wedged home firmly, and
thus close the breech end of the barrel. A modification of this second arrange-
ment constitutes my improvements in ordnance. The back part of the plug is
formed with a quick threaded screw, and works in a similar female screw
formed in the elongated breech end of the piece. The breech has an opening
in the top or side which is behind the plug when the said plug is in its place,
and the screwed or back part of the plug has a corresponding opening, so that
having inserted a cartridge into the breech through the opening, a turn or two
of a hand wheel or winch screws the plug forward, pushing the cartridge
forward into its place; a block is then placed into the opening in the breech,
and the screwed back part of the plug, thus locking them together, and
holding the plug firm in its place; at the same time acting as a key to
prevent the screw from turning until the block or key is removed, which may
be done either by a toothed wheel, or by suitable leverage, the said key or
block turning upon a hinge or pivot.
In order to explain, however, more fully and in detail the method of carry-
ing my Invention into practical effect, I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of

page_text: real size, and has figures and letters of reference placed thereon corresponding
with those in the following explanation thereof, similar letters of reference
being placed upon corresponding parts in so far as such parts appear or can be
seen at each of the said Figures respectively.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the gun, as constructed according to
the first described part of my Invention, the barrel being unlocked and pushed
forward as it would appear when ready for inserting the cartridge; Figure 2
is a plan or top view of the gun in a similar position; and Figure 3 is a side
view of the same, with the barrel thrust home and locked ready to be discharged.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the breech open; Figure 5 is a similar
view closed; and Figure 6 is an end view of the barrel. a, a, is the stock;
and b, b, the barrel, which is capable of sliding the clips c, c, and also of
being slightly turned therein. c*represents one of my improved spring clips,
which it will be observed (see Figure 2) is open at the top, so as not to impede
the equal expansion of the barrel. d, d, is the hammer of the piece, which
during the operation of loading, should be kept at "half-cock." e, e, is a
conical plug firmly fixed to the stock a by means of screws above and below.
This plug has a pin f driven through it, and the breech end of tlie barrel
(which is formed conical to fit the plug) is provided with two slightly inclined
bayonet slots 9, 9, corresponding with the same. h, h, is a handle or lever
attached to the barrel, and working in a slot i, i, formed in a metal frame
attached to the stock. The gun being in the position shewn in Figures 1, 2,
and 4, the cartridge is inserted into the breech end of the barrel. The handle
or lever is then drawn towards the trigger guard, the cone e thrusting the
cartridge forward into the breech, and the pins f, f, passing into the straight
part of the slots ġ, g. The handle h is then thrust towards the left, and the
pins f entering the inclined part of the slots g will screw or wedge the conical
part of the breech tightly upon the conical plug, thus at one operation
closing the breech, locking the barrel, and bringing the nipple & immediately
under the hammer d, as shewn at Figure 3. The piece is then ready to be
primed and discharged. Figure 7 shows a side elevation of a carbine, shewing
the application of the second part of my Invention. Figure 8 is a plan or top
view of the same; and Figure 9 is a transverse section taken through the
elongated breech end of the barrel. a, a, is the stock; b, b, the barrel; c, c.
the clips; and d, the hammer, which in this arrangement should be "down"

page_text: during the operation of loading. e, e, is the plug, the back part of which forms
a piston, which slides in the elongated breech end of the barrel. Through the
back part of the plug is driven a strong pin f, f, which works in slots g, g;
the fore part of the upper slot being enlarged, so as to form an opening 1, 1,
for introducing the cartridge. The plug being withdrawn, as represented at
Figure 8, the cartridge is introduced into the breech through the opening 1, l.
The plug is then thrust forward by means of the handle h, and being turned
over towards the left, the inclined part of the slots acting against the pin
will force the plug up tight into its seat, and lock it in that position ready for
the piece to be discharged.
Having thus described the nature and object of my said Invention of
Improvements in Fire-arms and Ordnance, together with the best means I
am acquainted with for carrying the same into practical effect, I would remark
in conclusion that I claim as my Invention, the construction and arrangement
of breech-loading and other fire-arms and ordnance, as above described and
represented in the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederic Prince, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
FREDC PRINCE. (L.S.)
Witness,
BENJAMIN BROWNE,
Clerk to Prince & Co.,
Office for Patents, 4, Trafalgar Square.