IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH- LOADING FIRE-ARMS.
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur James Lane, of Surbiton, in the County of
Surrey, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-
LOADING FIRE-ARMS.".
Sealed the 9th January 1855, and dated the 13th July 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur James Lane at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th July 1854.
I, ARTHUR JAMES LANE, of Surbiton, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in in breech-loading fire-
arms, and has for its object the rendering of the same more efficient than
heretofore; and the principal features of novelty of this Invention are, a
peculiar arrangement of mechanism for bringing the barrel of the gun out of
a straight line with the breech thereof, for the purpose of loading the gun at
such part, and for afterwards bringing the barrel in a line with the breech,
and securely holding it in that position during the discharge of the contents of
the gun. The nature of this Invention will, however, be better understood by
the following description of the means by which this Invention is to be and
may be carried into practical effect.

page_text: Instead of connecting the barrels of breech-loading fire-arms to the
breech thereof by screwing or other of the modes heretofore practised for
effecting the same, I proceed as follows:-I first connect or hinge the
breech of the gun to the iron work of the stock thereof, technically termed
the break-off, which receives the barrel by means of a screw pivot or piu,
upon which the breech noves freely. I then proceed to connect the barrel
of the gun to the break-off by attaching to or forming upon the breech end
of the barrel and at each side thereof, a bar of metal, through which a hole is
made for connecting the same to the break-off by means of screws or other
convenient means;
and I would here remark that an important feature in this
Invention consists in arranging the before-mentioned centres or fulcra upon
which the breech and barrel move, and by which such parts are brought
together and separated from each other, so that such said centres of motion
are not in the same plane; that is to say, I place the centre of motion of the
breech in a line with the bore of the breech, and I place the centre of motion
of the barrel as much above and behind the centre of motion of the breech as
is necessary for bringing the conical recess which is formed in the breech end
of the barrel into close contact with a corresponding conical projection formed
upon the before-mentioned hinged breech-piece, to effect which it is necessary
that the before-mentioned moveable, parts have a compound movement im-
parted thereto; which is accomplished by mounting such parts upon centres
or pivots, arranged and disposed as above stated. And I cause the aforesaid
hinged breech-piece to be brought into proper position for loading by pressure
from a flat spring, one end whereof is securely fixed to the iron work of the
fore end of the stock of the gun, and the other end presses against the breech-
piece. And I securely connect and hold the barrel and breech-piece together
during the discharging of the gun by means of a thumb-piece or locking lever
placed immediately under the iron work of the stock, and connected thereto
by a screw, which is the fulcrum upon which such said lever moves or turns;
the shorter end of this lever takes into a notch in a piece of metal fixed into
the under side of the barrel of the gun; said notched piece passing through a
slot or opening in the iron work of the stock, so that upon exerting pressure
upon the barrel the gun may be readily and quickly placed in position for dis-
charging; and a reverse movement of the aforesaid locking lever will enable
the barrel of the gun to be readily and quickly separated from the breech for
loading the same. And this mode of constructing breech-loading fire-arms
tenders them particularly applicable to cavalry regiments.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Arthur James Lane in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th January 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ARTHUR
JAMES LANE, of Surbiton, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Arthur James Lane, Her special licence, that I, the said Arthur James
Lane, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Arthur James Lane, 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
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Arthur James Lane, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 Arthur James Lane, 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):-
And in
My Invention relates to certain improvements in breech-loading fire-arms,
and is designed for the purpose of rendering the same more efficient than.
heretofore; and the principal features of novelty of my said Invention are a
peculiar arrangement of mechanism for bringing the barrel of the gun out of
a straight line with the breech thereof when loading, and securely holding it
in that position during the discharge of the contents of the gun.
order to point out in what respects the construction of breech-loading fire-.
arms, according to my said Invention, differs from that of other breech-loading.
fire-arms as heretofore constructed, I now proceed to describe generally the
principle of construction of my said Invention as follows, that is to say :-
Instead of connecting the barrels of breech-loading fire-arms to the breech
thereof by screwing or other of the modes heretofore practised for effecting

page_text: means.
the same, I proceed as follows:-I first connect or hinge the breech-piece of
the gun to the iron work of the stock thereof (technically termed the break-
off) which receives the breech, by means of a screw pivot or pin, upon which
the breech moves freely. I then proceed to connect the barrel of the gun to
the aforesaid break-off, by attaching to or forming upon the breech end of the
barrel and at each side thereof a bar of metal, through which a hole is made
for connecting the same to the said break-off by screws or other convenient
And an important feature in my said Invention consists in arranging
the before-mentioned centres or fulcra upon which the breech and barrel
move, and by which such said parts are brought together and separated from
each other in such a manner that the fulcra or centres of motion are not in
the same plane; which I effect in the following manner, that is to say, I place
the centre of motion of the breech-picce in a line with the centre of the bore
of such said breech-piece, and I place the centre of motion of the aforesaid
barrel as much above and behind the centre of motion of the breech-piece as
is necessary for imparting a slight excentric movement to the barrel, and thus
to bring the breech end of the barrel into close and forced contact with the
end of the before-mentioned hinged breech-picce; which I effect by imparting
to the aforesaid breech-piece and barrel the compound movement above stated.
But in order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect, reference being had to the illustrative Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the numerical figures and letters of reference marked
thereon respectively as follows:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a breech-loading fire-arm constructed
according to my said Invention, and as the said fire-arm would appear when
ready for use; Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof; Figure 3, a longitudinal
and vertical section, taken in the direction of the line A, B, at Figure 2,
shewing the relative positions of the parts during loading, and the mode of
uncovering the breech-piece for the introduction of the cartridge thereinto.
Figures 4 to 8 inclusive exhibit several views of separate parts detached from
the gun, in order to shew the construction of such said parts more clearly. At
each of the foregoing Figures I employ similar letters of reference to denote
corresponding parts, in so far as such parts appear or can be seen at each of
the said Figures respectively. At Figures 1, 2, 3, A, A, is the stock of the gun;
B, the "break-off," which is securely affixed thereto; C, the breech-piece,
hinged to the break-off B, by a pin or screw a, as at Figure 3, (see also Figure 6

page_text: detached); E is the barrel of the gun, which should be bored somewhat
smaller than the bore of the breech-piece to ensure close contact of the pro-
jectile as it passes from said breech-piece into and through the bore of the
barrel; and I connect the said barrel to the break-off B by a forked or jaw-
piece G, (shewn also at Figure 4,) and a pin or screw b, which forms a hinge,
by which to turn back the aforesaid barrel into the position exhibited at
Figure 3, at which said Figure it will be seen that the barrel B has a screw
or thread c formed around the breech end thereof for securely connecting the
barrel to the forked piece Ġ, same having a screwed hole formed therein for
that purpose.
Into this hole the collar d, (sce detached Figure 7) is dropped, "
and kept in its place by screwing the barrel down on to it. This collar forms
a close joint with the end of the breech-piece c, and may be readily renewed
when worn. H is the hammer; I, the trigger; and K, the nipple, which parts,
as also the lock and sights of the gun, being of the ordinary kind and well
known, do not require to be described here. I would however remark, that as
regards the nipple of the gun, if desirable, it may be forned with a cutting
edge h, (as exhibited at Figure 3,) for obviating the necessity of biting off the
end of the cartridge, by making an incision therein as the cartridge is placed in
the breech-piece of the gun in the act of loading the same; and I cause the
aforesaid hinged breech-piece C to be brought into proper position for loading
by pressure from a flat spring L, one end whereof is securely fixed to the iron
work B of the gun, and the opposite end of such said spring is furnished with
an anti-friction roller, which presses against the said hinged breech-piece at e,
as exhibited at Figure 3; and I securely connect and hold the barrel E, and
breech-piece C together during the discharge of the gun by means of a thumb-
piece or locking lever M, placed immediately under the fore end B' of the gun,
as exhibited at Figures 1, 3, and 8, and I connect the said lever M to the part
B' by a screw bolt f, (see also Figures 1, 3, and 8,) or other suitable means;
and I employ such connecting point as the fulcrum for the said lever to turn or
move upon for fixing or bolting the barrel to the part B', and for unfixing the
same, which may be effected in the following manner:-The shorter end of
the lever M takes into a notch formed in a piece of metal N, securely fixed
to the under side of the barrel E; the piece N passing through a slot or opening
n, formed in the iron work B¹ of the stock, as shewn at Figures 3 and 5.
Thus it will be seen, that in order to fix or lock the barrel E to the piece B',
it is only necessary to exert sufficient pressure upon the said barrel to over-
come the resistance offered by the spring L, and then push the lever M into
a line with the barrel E, (as shewn in Figure 1,) and by a reverse movement
of the said lever (as shewn in Figure 3,) the barrel may be unfixed, and the

page_text: breech-piece C be brought into position for loading by raising the barrel as
before stated; and I employ a strap 0, which is securely fixed to the forked
piece G, for the purpose of pressing the breech-piece C into proper position
upon bringing down the barrel after the charge has been placed therein.
There is a vent hole g formed in the iron work B¹ of the fire-arm, as shewn
at Figure 3, to provide for any escape of gas which may take place at the
points of contact of the barrel and breech-piece.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention of Im-
provements in Breech-loading Fire-arms, together with the best means I am
acquainted with for carrying the same into practical effect, I would remark,
in conclusion, that what I claim as my Invention is,―
Firstly, the mode set forth of connecting the breech-piece C to the "break-
off"B of the fire-arm.
Secondly, the mode set forth of connecting the barrel E to the "break-off"
B, and of arranging the fulcra or centres of motion of the said breech-piece
and barrel for ensuring the close contact of such parts.
Thirdly, the unconnected collar, as a means of renewing the joint in case of
wear.
Fourthly and lastly, the use and application of the lever M, and notched
piece N, for the purpose of fixing the barrel E to and unfixing the said barrel
from the piece B', as represented by the Drawing, and above more particularly
described in the manner herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur James Lane, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Witness,
ALEX PRINCE,
Patent Agent,
4, Trafalgar Square,
London.
AK. J. LANE. (L.S.)