IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN CARTRIDGES TO BE EMPLOYED THERE- WITH
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN CARTRIDGES TO BE EMPLOYED THERE-
WITH." A communication from abroad by Edwin A. Brydges, of Berlin, Prussia,
Civil Engineer.
Sealed the 1st February 1878, and dated the 3rd August 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd August 1877.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN CARTRIDGES
TO BE EMPLOYED THEREWITH." A communication from abroad by Edwin A.
Brydges, of Berlin, Prussia, Civil Engineer.
This Invention relates,-
First. To the conversion or improvements in the construction of that description
of breech-loading fire-arms known as the Mauser, the Chassepot, and other similar
breech-loading guns, whereby paper cartridges may be employed therewith in lieu
of the more expensive metallic cartridge at present employed.
And, Secondly. To improved construction of cartridges to be employed therewith,
and with other fire-arms and cannon.
In carrying out the first part of this Invention with reference to the Manser gun
(for example), the cavity at present provided in the breech receiver to permit the
escape of gas, should the head of the metallic cartridge crack, burst, or tear off, is
filled up by dovetailing and firmly soldering a piece of metal into the said breech
receiver, the present bevelled corners being first cut away to form dovetailed recesses
to receive the piece of metal, and a ring is also fixed to the end of the barrel to fill
Price d

page_text: up the space at present provided to receive the head of the metallic cartridge when
it is inserted in the barrel.
In some cases, when the ring is fitted to the end of the barrel as described, the
cavity in the breech may be retained as at present. A disc of steel or other suitable
metal is also soldered on to the front surface of the adjustable face in order to compen-
sate or partly compensate for the head of the metallic cartridge, and it is perforated
to serve as a guide for a needle attached to the winged bolt instead of the bolt pin
now employed; or a small cylinder may be fitted into the opening in the adjustable
face, and perforated so as to serve as a guide for the needle.
The end of the firing pin is cut off close to the wings of the bolt, and a needle is
fitted in place of the bolt pin either by screwing, by soldering, or otherwise. The
front and rear ends of the extractor are also cut off, leaving nothing but the foot
fastened rigidly to the adjustable face.
In order to adapt a Chassepot gun to the purposes of this Invention a small flat
adjustable face, or an adjustable face turned off to any desired size or form, and
carrying a needle, is employed.
The rear part of the bolt holding the friction wheel is cut off, and a moveable
thumb-piece, flap, or safety piece is fixed thereto. This safety flap is provided with
a projection or nose, which works in suitable grooves in the breech receiver.
When the gun is loaded it is simply necessary to turn this flap to one side, which
causes the nose or projection to enter a grove forming a perfect safety notch for
securing the gun from prematurely exploding the cartridge.
The improvements in cartridges, according to one modification thereof, consists in
constructing gas-tight paper cartridges, the cylindrical shell being composed by
preference of military cartridge paper, and the base or head of a number of discs,
say, for example, 6 paper, 1 india-rubber, and two linen or silk discs, so constructed
as to form a perfect gas check.
The exploding cap is placed directly above the head, and is formed of thin paste-
board filled with the ordinary friction fulminate.
The cylindrical part and head are fastened together (by means of Viennese paste
or other suitable material), and the cartridge is charged by preference with what is
known as "
Meyhoefer's" powder (powder manufactured on Meyhoefer's system),
and the powder then covered with a pasteboard disc.
A bullet having a rounded point, and its base enclosed in paper discs, after being
steeped in lubricating mixture is inserted in the cartridge case above the powder,
and the end of the case tied over the top of the bullet.,
In order to make the cartridges gas and water tight the paper of which they are
constructed may be rendered waterproof by first soaking it in hot paraffin, and
then painting it on both sides twice with a solution of shellac, and finally with a
solution of amber dissolved in cold ether; or the cartridges may be first made up as
for the gas-tight cartridge herein-before described, but using two thicknesses of
paper in lieu of one (one is under certain circumstances however sufficient), and
afterwards waterproofed by steeping in a suitable solution for that purpose.
These cartridges may be made to suit the largest breech-loading cannon, as well
as breech-loading fire-arms of all classes, whilst by employing Meyhoefer powder for
charging them the following advantages are obtained, vizt. :--
1. Increased flatness of the trajectory.
2. Greater accuracy and penetrating power.
3. Decreased report, recoil, and smoke.
4. The fouling of the barrel and mechanism is entirely obviated, and no residue
of the powder is left in the barrel, the combustion being absolutely perfect, whilst a
considerable less charge is required to produce similar result with the ordinary
powder.
This Invention also relates to metallic cartridges, and consists in providing the
metallic shell with an internal lining of parchment, paper, or other suitable material
coated or not at its upper outer end with a coating of wax to prevent injurious

page_text: atmospheric action on the Meyhoefer's powder with which it is charged. This paper
or other lining possesses the advantage of preventing galvanic action, which must
occur in metallic cartridge cases without such lining or other provision.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd
February 1878.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN CARTRIDGES
TO BE EMPLOYED THEREWITH." A communication from abroad by Edwin A.
Brydges, of Berlin, Prussia, Civil Engineer.
The said Invention relates,-
"7
First. To improvements in the construction of those descriptions of breech-loading
small arms known as "the Mauser gun," the "Chassepot gun," and other similar.
breech-loading arms, whereby they are rendered adapted for the use therewith of
paper cartridges in substitution for the expensive metallic cartridges at present
employed.
And, Secondly. To improved constructions of cartridges to be used with the said
guns and with other small arms and ordnance.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the
several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawings represents a longitudinal section of a Mauser gun of
the ordinary construction.
Figure 2 is a plan of a portion of the receiver or shoe for the breech bolt; and
Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure 2, shewing one of the improvements applied in
carrying out the said Invention.
Figures 4 and 5 shew the adjustable face detached.
Figures 6 and 7 are views of the striker converted according to the said Inven-
tion; and Figures 8 and 9 are details, to be herein-after referred to.
Figure 10 represents a side clevation of the sliding bolt and hammer of a Chassepot
gun constructed according to the said Invention.
Figure 11 represents a plan of a portion of the shoe adapted for the said bolt;
and Figures 12, 13, 14, and 15 are details, to be herein-after referred to.
Figure 16 represents a longitudinal section (drawn to an enlarged scale) of a
cartridge constructed according to the said Invention.
The Mauser gun consists of a bolt A, Figure 1, fitted so as to be capable of sliding
in a shoe B, attached to the barrel C. In the interior of the bolt A works the
striker D, consisting of a rod a surrounded by a spring b, and carrying a pin c,
which acts upon the cap with which the metallic cartridge is provided, so as to
explode the same, and thereby ignite the charge. The breech is opened for the
introduction of the charge by drawing back by means of a handle the bolt A,
whereby the hammer E is also drawn back until the projection at d engages with
the sear e, and after the charge is inserted the bolt is returned to its normal position,

page_text: leaving the hammer engaged with the sear, and at the same time compressing the
spring b, the discharge being effected by acting upon the trigger F in the usual
manner. The exploded cartridge case is withdrawn by means of an extractor e¹,
carried by the adjustable face G, which is fitted to the bolt A, so as to partake of
its longitudinal to-and-fro motions, whilst admitting of the bolt turning on its axis
independently of the said face. In this Mauser gun, as ordinarily constructed, a cut
or cavity is provided in the shoe B to admit of the escape of gas in the event of
the head of the metallic cartridge being ruptured or torn off.
In carrying out the first part of the said Invention, as applied to a gun of this
construction, the cut or cavity f at present provided in the shoe B, as before
mentioned, is filled up by cutting off the bevilled corners at g, so as to form dove-
tailed recesses, and inserting therein a segmental ring h (shewn in detail in Figure 8)
of corresponding form, which is secured by soldering or otherwise. The space i,
ordinarily provided at the end of the barrel for the reception of the head of the
metallic cartridge when the charge is inserted, is also filled up by means of a ring k
(see Figure 9).
In some cases the segmental ring h may be dispensed with, the ring k alone being
employed.
The adjustable face G and the extractor e¹ used in Mauser guns of the ordinary
construction are also modified in the following manner, videlicet :-The front end 1
and the rear end 2 of the extractor are cut off, leaving only the foot rigidly
fastened to the adjustable face G, to the fore part of which face is soldered or other-
wise secured a disc 1 of steel or other suitable metal, in order to compensate in part
for the head of the metallic cartridge, that is to say, fill up a portion of the space i
usually occupied by the said head.
The pin c of the striker D ordinarily employed is cut off at 4 (see Figures 6 and
7), and a needle c' is substituted for the pin c, the said needle being attached either
by soldering or otherwise. This needle is guided in its motion by being caused to
pass either through the disc attached to the adjustable face G, the same being
perforated for that purpose, or through a small perforated cylinder fitted into the
opening provided in the adjustable face for the ordinary firing pin.
In order to adapt a Chassepot gun to the purposes of the said Invention the arm
is modified in the manner next herein-after described, reference being had to
Figures 10 to 15 of the Drawings:-The needle c¹ is guided by an adjustable face
G, which may be of a flat shape, or (as is illustrated in detail in Figure 12) circular
or of any other convenient form, the said face being fitted to the sliding bolt A so
as to partake of its to-and-fro motion, whilst allowing the bolt to turn independently
as is well understood. With this adjustable face there is combined a safety apparatus
for preventing an accidental discharge of the gun, the said apparatus consisting of a ring
m (see Figure 13), which is secured by a button m¹ and pin (Figure 14) to the end of
the hammer E (the latter having been shortened and reduced for its reception, and
the ordinary friction roller removed), and is provided at one side with a nose or
projection n capable of engaging in a longitudinal groove o and a transverse seg-
mental groove o' formed in the shoe B, and at its opposite side with a thumb-piece p
for the facility of its manipulation.
The ring m is provided with two notches q, q', with which engages alternately
the extremity 5 of a spring (shewn detached in Figure 15), secured at its opposite
end 6 to the hammer E, the ring m being so fitted to the hammer as to be capable
of turning around the same to the extent of the distance between the notches q, q¹,
in order to allow the extremity 5 of the spring to engage with the two
alternately.
When the ring is in the position shewn in Figure 10, with the notch q engaging
with the said spring extremity 5, the safety apparatus will be locked so as to
prevent the premature discharge of the gun. This locking is accomplished by the
nose n being brought into the transverse segmental groove o¹, the hammer E being
securely retained when the parts are in this condition. By turning however the
ring m, so as to cause its notch q¹ to engage with the said spring extremity 5, the

page_text: nose n will be brought into the longitudinal groove o; so as to admit of the traverse
of the hammer when released by the trigger in the usual manner.
The second part of the said Invention, which relates to improvements in cartridges,
is carried out in the following manner :-
According to one modification, which is illustrated by Figure 16, gas-tight paper
cartridges are constructed of a cylindrical shell H, formed of military cartridge
paper, and a base or head I composed of discs bent up so as to form cups, which are
arranged the one inside the other, thus constituting an efficient gas check.
It is preferred to employ say, nine discs in the construction of the head or base,
videlicet, an india-rubber disc 8, six paper discs t, and two linen or silk discs u, the
india-rubber disc being attached to its contiguous paper disc. The exploding cap v
is placed directly above the head, and is formed of thin pasteboard filled with the
ordinary friction fulminate.
The shell H and head I are fastened together (by means of Viennese paste or
other suitable material), the cartridge is filled with powder, and the powder is then
covered with a pasteboard disc w.
A bullet K enclosed at its base in, say, three paper discs x is now inserted in the
cartridge case above the powder, and the end of the case tied over the top of the
bullet. The bullet and paper discs are steeped in a lubricating mixture. These
cartridges are, as already stated above, absolutely gas-tight.
In order to make the cartridges water-tight as well as gas-tight, the paper of
which they are constructed may be rendered waterproof in the following manner :-
The paper is first soaked in hot paraffin, then painted on both sides twice with a
solution of shellac, and finally with a solution of amber dissolved in cold ether.
The edges of the paper for the cylindrical part of the case are fastened together by
means of Viennese paste and amber varnish, or by means of other glutinous
materials.
In lieu of the preceding arrangement the cartridges may be made up as for the
gas-tight cartridge herein-before described, but using two thicknesses of paper in
lieu of one (one is under certain circumstances however sufficient), and afterwards
waterproofed by steeping it in a suitable solution for that purpose.
After the entire cartridge is completed when made in the manner of water-
proofing first described, the base and top are provided with a coating of amber
varnish.
Cartridges made and constructed in the manner herein-before described possess
the following advantages:-As they are made of specifically light materials they
weigh considerably less than the ordinary cartridge, they are easier to handle and to
transport; in consequence of their lightness the soldier can carry 50 per cent. more
than at present without additional weight.
These cartridges being one-third shorter than the metallic cartridge they are in
no way liable to be bent or deformed.
The manufacture of these cartridges is an easier operation than that of manu-
facturing metallic cartridges, and especially when these cartridges are made by
machinery.
An enlargement of the chamber of the gun can never take place.
Another great advantage is to be found in the paper discs around the base of
the bullet, which entering the barrel with the bullet serve as guides to the bullet,
and prevent the injurious friction of soft and hard metal and the leading of the barrel.
The continual wear and tear in the chamber caused by the insertion and extraction
of the metallic cartridge case is entirely obviated.
Extractors are no longer necessary, mis-fires cannot occur with these paper
cartridges, as the ignition of the powder takes place at the base of the cartridge
instead of the needle having to penetrate the powder as heretofore.
The action of the needle is direct, and as the same has only to penetrate the base,
which consists, as above mentioned, of the paper and linen or silk discs, this
cartridge is better suited for war purposes than any other existing paper cartridge..

page_text: These cartridges may be made adapted for the largest breech-loading cannon as
well as breech-loading small-arms of all classes.
It is preferred to employ what is known as Meyhoefer's powder, and when the
same is used in these cartridges the following advantages are obtained, videlicet :-
1. Increased flatness of the trajectory greater accuracy.
2. Greater accuracy and penetrating power.
3. Decreased report, recoil, and smoke.
4. The fouling of the barrel and mechanism is entirely obviated, and no residue
of the powder is left in the barrel, the combustion being absolutely perfect.
Morever a considerably smaller charge of the Meyhoefer powder than of ordinary
powder is required to produce similar results.
The said Invention also relates to metallic cartridges, and consists in providing
the metallic shell with an internal lining of parchment, paper, or other suitable
material, coated or not at its upper outer end with wax to prevent injurious
atmospheric action on the Meyhoefer's powder with which it is charged.
This paper or other lining possesses the advantage of preventing galvanic action,
which would occur in metallic cartridge cases without such lining or other
provision.
The improved metallic cartridge possesses the following advantages:
:-
1. As already mentioned all galvanic action is prevented in the interior of the
shell.
2. The oxydising and corroding of the inner metallic surfaces of the shell is entirely
prevented.
It has been found that when the metallic shells now in use have been stored in
loaded condition for any length of time the inner walls are eaten away, so that in
firing the upper part of the shell, and especially that part surrounding the bullet
from the curve upwards, is driven into the grooves of the rifling, thus totally
disabling the gun.
The prevention of galvanic action is of special importance when large quantities
of ammunition are stored in the same magazine.
The improved cartridge permits the use of non-compressed powder; the com-
pression of the powder not only injures the powder itself, but assists the corrosion
of the shell.
It is not necessary to varnish the inside of the shell, which is very liable to cause
mis-fires, as the small vent holes become filled up with varnish, and when the cap is
not very strong or the varnish thin a mis-fire necessarily ensues.
If the shells are provided with what are known as Berdan primers, and the head
of the cartridge varnished with amber varnish, the shells are rendered perfectly
water-tight, and can lie several days in water without injury.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that I do not confine myself to the precise form or size
of cartridge, or of the parts of the same, or to the number of discs employed, as
herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, or to the
precise mode of waterproofing the paper, as it is obvious that without departing
from the nature of the said Invention any size or form of shell can be made, any
number of discs can be used, and various kinds of waterproofing be employed,
neither do I confine myself to any particular class of paper or other material for
lining the inside of metallic shells, neither do I confine myself to the exact form of
the parts herein-before described and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing
appertaining to the conversion of breech-loading fire-arms, but what I consider to
be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The conversion of breech-loading fire-arms at present used for firing with
mettallic cartridge cases so as to adapt them for employing paper cartridges, substan-
tially as herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.

page_text: Secondly. A paper cartridge constructed from military cartridge paper or other
suitable material, in combination with paper, linen, silk, india-rubber, or other
suitable discs, forming a rigid base and perfect gas check, substantially as herein-
before described, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly. A water-tight and gas-tight cartridge case, constructed substantially as
herein-before described.
Fourthly. A metallic cartridge lined with paper or other suitable materials, for
the purpose of preventing galvanic action on the powder, substantially as herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this First day of February, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)