IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN DESCRIPTIONS OF BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Marc Antoine François Mennons, of the British
and Foreign Patent Offices, 24, Rue du Mont Thabor, Paris, in the
Empire of France, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN
DESCRIPTIONS OF BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."-A communication from
Alem Rousseau, residing at St. Etienne (Loire) in France.
Sealed the 7th November 1862, and dated the 20th May 1862:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Marc Antoine François
Mennons at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 20th May 1862.
I, MARC ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the British and Foreign Patent
Offices, 24, Rue du Mont Thabor, Paris, in the Empire of France, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN
DESCRIPTIONS OF BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," (a communication) to. be as
follows:-
This Invention consists in an improved arrangement of the barrel fasten-
ings, and percussion mechanism of that class of breech-loading fire-arms in
which, as in the Lefancheux combination, the barrel articulated to the stock
settings is turned over on its pivot for the reception of the charge.
The accompanying Drawing represents in longitudinal section a portion of
a fowling piece comprising the present modifications.
A is the barrel adapted for the reception of an ordinary Lefancheux
cartridge, having its priming spindle faced downwards. This barrel is fitted

page_text: At a
to the metallic box or setting B, B¹, by the pivot C, and carries at its under
surface a small hook catch D, which in the turn-over motion ("mouvement
de bascule") presses on one extremity of the percussion spring E.
short distance from the breech is set a cramp F, serving as holdfast to the
head G of the key H, by which the barrel is locked or freed; E is the per-
cussion spring turning on the pivot I in a recess of the box B', and provided
at its hind extremity with a notch J, in-which catches, when the arm is closed,
the tooth K of the trigger spring L. The barrel setting is formed of iron, and
is divided into two parts B and B, connected by the pivot C. In the front
part B of this setting is formed the chamber of the catch M, and in the hind
part B is cut the percussion spring recess, as also an opening which permits
the up-and-down motion of the key. The head of the key is divided into two
branches, one G which serves to lock the barrel, and always remains in contact
with the cramp F; the other G below the cramp, and serving to free the
barrel in the turn-over motion. At the front extremity of the key is mounted
the slide piece N, maintained by the spring. O, and fitted with the tooth
catch M, which locks in the chamber formed in the fore setting B; L is the
trigger spring sliding to and fro above the guard plate P, and pressed by the
spiral Q. This spring is provided at its front extremity with a tooth K,
which, as above noted, catches in the movement of the barrel on the notch of
the percussion spring E. Towards the middle of its upper surface is formed
an edge R, on which presses the front extremity of the safety bar S. This bar
is fixed by the tenon T over the stalk of the trigger guard, and moves from
below upwards forming spring; S¹ is a metallic riband placed beneath, and
forming counterpart of the bar S. This riband is maintained at one
extremity by the tenon U, and at the other by a vertical stud communicating
through a slot in the guard stalk with the bar S on which it acts.
The combination, above described, applies equally to single and double
barrelled arms; the key head, cramp springs, and other working parts of the
mechanism being modified accordingly in construction and arrangement..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Marc Antoine François Mennons in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th November 1862.-
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARC
ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the British and Foreign Patent Offices, 24,
Rue du Mont Thabor, Paris, in the Empire of France, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, 'for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, Her special licence that
I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, my executors, administra-
tors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Marc Antoine François
Mennons, 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, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CERTAIN DESCRIPTIONS OF BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," (a communication from
Alem Rousseau, a person resident at St. Etienne (Loire) in France, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons,
my executor's or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, 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 Marc Antoine François Mennons,
do hereby declare the nature of the said.Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertainedl
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Figures of the
accompanying Drawing, and to the letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
This Invention consists in an improved arrangement of the barrel fastenings
and percussion mechanism of that class of breech-loading fire-arms, in which,
as in the Lefancheux combination, the barrel articulated to the stock settings
is turned over on its pivot for the reception of the charge.
The accompanying Drawing represents in longitudinal and cross sections,
(Figs. 1, 3,) a portion of a fowling piece comprising the present modifications.
A is the barrel, adapted for the reception of an ordinary Lefancheux cartridge,
having its priming spindle faced downwards. This barrel is fitted to the
metallic box or setting B, B', by the pivot C, and carries at its under surface
a small hook catch D, which in the turn-over motion, ("mouvement de
At a short
bascule," presses on one extremity of the percussion spring E.
distance from the breech, is set the cramp F, serving as holdfast to the head
G, of the key H, by which the barrel is locked or freed.
E is the percussion

page_text: spring, turning on the pivot I, in a recess of the box B', and provided at its
hind extremity with a notch J, in which catches, when the arm is closed, the
toothed K of the trigger spring L. The barrel setting is formed of iron, and
is divided into two parts B and B', connected by the pivot C. In the front
part B of this setting, is formed the chamber of the catch M, and in the hind
part B¹, is cut the percussion spring recess, as also an opening which permits
the up-and-down motion of the key. The head of the key is divided into two
branches, one G, which serves to lock the barrel, and always remains in
contact with the cramp F, the other G', below the cramp, and serving to free-
the barrel in the turn-over motion. At the front extremity of the key is
mounted the slide piece N, maintained by the spring O, and fitted with the
tooth catch M, which locks in the chamber O', formed in the fore setting B.
L is the trigger piece, turning on a pivot above the guard plate P, and pressed
by the spring Q. This trigger piece is provided at its front extremity with
a tooth K, which as above noted catches, in the movement of the barrel, on
the notch of the percussion spring E. The combination above described
applies equally to single and double barrelled arms, the key head, cramp,
springs, and other working parts of the mechanism, being modified accordingly
in construction and arrangement. To charge the arm arranged as above,
the slide bolt N is pressed inwards by the fore finger, so as to release the
tooth M from its catch in the chamber O', leaving the key H, and barrel A,
free to fall into the positions shewn in Figure 1. The cartridge being inserted,
the barrel and key are brought together by a grasp of the hand, in which
motion the percussion spring is set on cock, its free end being held by the
tooth K, of the trigger piece L. The arm is then ready for firing, as seen in
Figure 2. On pulling the trigger, the end J of the percussion spring is
released from the tooth K, and striking upwards, depresses the priming
spindle, and ignites the charge. When required to uncock the arm, the
barrel is unlocked, and the finger interposed between it and the key, so as
to carry the cartridge spindle beyond range of the percussion spring, which is
freed by drawing the trigger. The arm being thus uncocked is then closed up as
before. If preferred the same end may be attained by means of a spring
set in each side of the mountings, and terminated at the exterior by a stud
which, while indicating the position of the percussion springs, serves to cock or
uncock them as the case may be.
Having now described the nature of the said improvements, and the
manner of carrying them into effect, I would observe that I lay no exclusive
claim to under striking percussion mechanism, more or less enclosed within
the stock fittings, the same being already known, but what I do claim is,→

page_text: 1stly, the improved arrangement of barrel fastenings substantially as
herein set forth, and shewn in G, G', F, M, N, O, O¹, Fig. 1 of the annexed
Drawing.
2dly, the improved arrangement of percussion mechanism as above described
and shewn in Figs. 1, 3, consisting of a spring E, secured as in D, I, and so
combined with a trigger piece L as to be set on cock, by the simple turn-over
motion of the barrel.
In witness whereof, I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, have
hereto set my hand and seal this Twelfth day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
M. F. MENNONS. (L.S.)