IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS, AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR THE SAME
Year: 1865

page_text: In the Matter of Letters Patent granted to WILLIAM TRANTER, of
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gunmaker, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS, AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR
THE SAME," bearing date the Twentieth day of July One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-five Number 1889/65.
DISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION proposed to be
entered by the Birmingham Small Arms and Metal Company,
Limited, Assignees of the said Letters Patent, pursuant to the
Statutes in that casc made and provided.
WHEREAS Her Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters Patent,
under the Great Seal of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date the
Twentieth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her reign, did give
and grant unto the said William Tranter, his executors, administrators,
and assigns, the sole privilege of making, using, exercising, and
vending the said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS AND IN
CARTRIDGES FOR THE SAME," within the United Kingdom of Great Britain

page_text: and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, for and during the
term of fourteen years thence next ensuing.
and
And whereas in pursuance of a proviso in the said Letters Patent
contained, the said William Tranter did, within six calendar months next
after the date of the said Letters Patent, cause a Specification in writing,
under his handseal, purporting to describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, to be duly filed in the Great Seal Patent Office:
And whereas by two indentures, the one of which said indentures dated
the Second day of April One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three,
and then made between the said William Tranter of the first part, John
Abraham, of Birmingham, of the second part, and the said Birmingham
Small Arms and Metal Company, Limited, of the third part, and the
other of the said indentures dated the Twelfth day of June One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-three, and then made between the said William
Tranter of the one part, and the said Birmingham Small Arms and Metal
Company, Limited, of the other part, (both of which said indentures have
been duly registered in the Great Scal Patent Office,) the said Letters
Patent and the Invention therein comprised were assigned and trans-
ferred to the said Company, their successors and assigns, and the same
are now fully and solcly vested in the said Company:
And whereas since the filing of the said Specification and the date
of the said assignments the said Birmingham Small Arms and Metal
Company, Limited, have been advised and have ascertained that the
first part of the said Invention as described and claimed in the said
Specification may be objected to on the ground that such part so
described and claimed in the said Specification was not new at the
date of the said Letters Patent, and further that the second part of
the said Invention as described and claimed in the said Specification is
not so useful or beneficial to the public as the same was considered to
be at the time of the application for the said Letters Patent or filing
the said Specification, and in consequence thereof and to avoid any
questions concerning the said parts being hereafter raised, we, the
said Birmingham Small Arms and Metal Company, Limited, do hereby
disclaim and alter parts of the said Specification and claiming clauses
in manner following; (that is to say,)-
We disclaim and omit all the words from and inclusive of the words
"in adapting and applying" in line 19 of page 3 of the Queen's

page_text: Printers' copy, down to and inclusive of the words "third place" in
line 4 of page 4, and in line 8 of the same page 4 we strike out the
word "last" and insert in licu thereof the word "second;" and we
disclaim and omit all the portion of the said Specification from and
inclusive of the words "Figures 1 to 5" in line 19 of the said page 4,
the whole of page 5, and down to and inclusive of the words "to the
gun ." in line 5 of page 6, and in line 7 of the same page 6 we strike
out the word "third" and insert in lieu thereof the word "first," and
in the same page 6 we disclaim and omit the first and second claiming
clauses from and inclusive of the word "First" on line 33, down to and
inclusive of the words "as described " in line 38 of the same page 6,
and in line 39 of the same page 6 we disclaim and omit the word
"Thirdly" and insert in lieu thercof the word "First," and in line 3 of
page 7 we disclaim and omit the word "lastly" and insert in licu
thereof the word "secondly."
And the said Specification when so disclaimed, altered. and amended
SPECIF ATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
"Patent filed by the said William Tranter in the Great Seal
"Patent Office on the 20th January 1866.
"TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
"TRANTER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gunmaker,
"send greeting.
"WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
"Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the Twenty-
ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
"and grant unto me, the said William Tranter, Her special license, that
I, the said William Tranter, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
"such others as I, the said William Tranter, 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 FIRE-ARMS AND IN
"CARTRIDGES FOR THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that

page_text: "
"
I, the said William Tranter, my executors 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 per-
"formed, 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 William Tranter, do hereby
"declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
"tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to
"the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures
"marked thereon (that is to say):
My Invention of "improvements in fire-arms and in cartridges for
"the same consists, in the first place, in forming cartridges with a
piece of metal at the base strong enough to resist the blow from the
striker, and formed to receive a cap placed on the end when required
"to be fired, or the fulminating powder may be enclosed in the centre.
"And my Invention relates, in the second place, to breech-loading
"revolvers, and consists in forming the chambers with a breech picce
"for closing the ends of the chambers, which picce revolves on the
"centre rod. The chambers are fixed or locked on this breech picce
"when required to be loaded or unloaded. The chambers will be fixed
"to the breech piece by means of a slide or hinge joint and a screw at
" the front.
"Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, I will proceed
"to describe more particularly in what manner the same is to be per-
"formed by reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which are
"represented the parts of fire-arms and cartridges above referred to.
"
"DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS."
Fig. 7 is an end view, and Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of a
"cartridge constructed as referred to under the first head of my In-
"vention with a piece of metal a at the base strong enough to resist
"the blow from the striker. The central portion of the piece à is
"formed to receive a percussion cap, as shewn. The mode of fixing
"the shell b to the base may be varied from that shewn in the Drawing
"The picce a is formed with a flange on its extreme base to prevent

page_text: "its being driven into the barrel. A hole for firing may be formed
"either through the central portion of the piece, or one or more holes
on each side of it.
Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of a revolving chamber c with its
"end closed by a breech picce d, which revolves on the centre rod, not
"shewn in the Drawing. The chamber c requires to be hollowed out
"at its rear end to afford space for the insertion of the socket part of
"the breech piece d. The breech picce d is formed with a socket e,
"which revolves on the centre rod, and is caused to revolve with the
"chamber by the stud pin f fixed in the breech piece taking into a
"corresponding hole formed in the chamber. A screw is inserted in
"the front of the breech picce for the purpose of fixing the chamber
"as required in the frame of the pistol, such screw having a hole in
"the centre for the centre rod to pass through.
"Fig. 10 is a side view, and Fig. 11 a front view of the breech piece.
"The ratchet g causes the breech piece and chamber to revolve, and
"the notches h, h, are for the purpose of stopping the chamber during its
"revolution in the required position for firing. The chambers are fired
by means of sliding pegs i, i, inserted opposite the firing point of
" each cartridge.
"Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in
"what manner the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what
"I claim as of my Invention is,―
"First. The construction of cartridges with a piece of metal at the
"base strong enough to resist the blow from the striker, as represented
"and described.
"And, secondly. The combination of the breech piece with the
"revolving chamber in the manner and for the purpose described.
"In witness whereof, I, the said William Tranter, have hereunto
"set my hand and seal, the Twenticth day of January, in the
" year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six."
"WILLIAM TRANTER. (L.S.)"
The Seal of the Birmingham
Small Arms and Metal Com-
pany, Limited, was hereto
in the nuasence of
L.S.

page_text: To the Commissioners of Patents for Inventions.
I hereby grant my fiat, giving leave to the above-named " Birmingham
Small Arms & Metal Company, Limited, to file in the Great Seal Patent
Office, with the Specification to which the same relates, the above-written
Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration, upon condition that the
Applicants, the Birmingham Small Arms & Metal Company, Limited,"
undertake, and they have undertaken, that no legal proceedings be taken
by the aforesaid Company against their opponents Mr. Westley Richards,
of Birmingham, & the National Arms and Ammunition Company, of
the same place, in respect of the manufacture, use, or sale of cartridges
for any alleged infringement of the Patent in question when amended
Ly Disclaimer.
8th September 1873.
J. D. COLERIDGE,
Attorney-General.

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Tranter, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Gun Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS,
AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR THE SAME."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Tranter at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th
July 1865.
I, WILLIAM TRANTER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun Maker,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-
ARMS, AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR THE SAME," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in the first place in adapting and applying to breach-
loading guns and pistols a lever working on the bottom or side of the body
or breach piece of the same, and taking into the piece fixed to the barrel or
barrels, and working in the body for the purpose of fixing the barrels in their
place therein with facility, also a slide working on the under side of the barrels
to draw out the empty shells of the cartridges from the barrels, such slide
having wings or projections upon its end for taking hold of for the purpose.
The parts of the gun or pistol are arranged so that the stock is brought con-
veniently within the grasp of the hand, and the lock caused to rest firmly
thereon, thereby diminishing the ordinary tendency to interfere with the aim
by the overhanging of the barrel. In the case of a double pistol the locks are

page_text: arranged with a plate which is solid with the body, and is in the middle of
the pistol, with a hollow peg for carrying the two hammers, and fixing the side
pieces to the body of the pistol.
My Invention consists in the second place in the use of a plunger working
in a line with the barrel, and fixed as required by means of a handle with a
projection or projections acting on the plunger for locking the same in its
place, which handle may be made to work either concentrically or excentrically
with or in relation to the plunger, or the plunger may be fixed as required by
means of a slide working at nearly a right angle a short distance from the
front of the plunger. Part of the lock of this gun will be made to work in
connection with the plunger, by moving a striking pin in the centre of the
plunger, such pin being acted upon by a spiral spring for the purpose of striking
the cartridge hereafter described.
My Invention consists in the third place in forming cartridges with a piece
of metal at the base strong enough to resist the blow from the striker, and
formed to receive a cap placed on the end when required to be fired, or the
fulminating powder may be enclosed in the centre.
And my Invention relates in the last place to breach-loading revolvers, and
consists in forming the chambers with a breach piece for closing the ends of
the chambers, which piece revolves on the centre rod. The chambers are fixed
or locked on this breach piece and caused to revolve simultaneously with it.
The chambers will be free to revolve on the breach piece when required to be
loaded or unloaded. The chambers will be fixed to the breach piece by means
of a slide or hinge joint and a screw at the front.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Tranter in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th January 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
FRANTER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun Maker, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of. Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Franter, Her special licence that I, the said William Franter, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William

page_text: Franter, 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 FIRE-ARMS, AND IN
CARTRIDGES FOR THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Eranter, .my.executors 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 William Franter, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner.the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,.
reference being bad to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
My Invention of "improvements in fire-arms and in cartridges for the same
consists in the first place in adapting and applying to breech-loading guns and
pistols a lever working on the bottom or side of the body or breech piece of
the same, and taking into the piece fixed to the barrel or barrels, and working
in the body for the purpose of fixing the barrels in their place therein with facility,.
also a slide working on the under side of the barrels to draw out the empty
shells of the cartridges from the barrels, such slide having wings or projections:
upon its end for taking hold of for the purpose. The parts of the gun or
pistol are arranged so that the stock is brought conveniently within the grasp.
of the hand, and the lock caused to rest: firmly thereon, thereby diminishing
the ordinary tendency to interfere with the aim by the overhanging of the
barrel. In the case of a double pistol the locks are arranged with a plate-
which is solid with the body, and is in the middle of the pistol, with a hollow
peg for carrying the two hammers, and fixing the side pieces to the body of the
pistol.
My Invention consists in the-second place in the use of. a.plunger working
in a line with the barrel, and fixed as required by means of a handle with a.
projection or projections acting on the plunger for locking the same in its
place, which handle may be made to work.either concentrically or excentrically
with or in relation to the plunger; or the plunger may be fixed as required.
by means of a slide working at nearly a right angle a short distance from the.
front of the plunger. Part of the lock of this gun. will be made to work.in

page_text: to be opened as shewn. G is a slide formed with a slot, as shewn in Fig. 5, to
admit of its being slidden along the piece F, which fits the slot, the slide being
kept to the under side of the barrel by a pin passed through the piece F, as
shewn in Fig. 4. This slide is pressed inwards into the position shewn in Fig. 2
when the barrel is to be closed, and it is drawn outwards into the position
shewn in Fig. 3 for drawing out the shells of empty cartridges from the barrels.
H, H, are wings or projections on the end of the slide for the purpose of taking
hold of it as required.
When my Invention is applied to a double-barrelled pistol the lock is
arranged with a plate which is solid with the body, and is in the middle thereof,
so as to admit of the two hammers being arranged one on each side of it.
The hammers work on a hollow peg screwed and fixed in the said plate, and
the side pieces are fixed to the body of the pistol by means of a pin passing
through the said hollow peg. In this case the slide for withdrawing the
cartridge cases is adapted for drawing out the two cases at once, the lever for
fixing the barrels being the same as above described.
Fig. 6 is a section of a portion of a gun with the improvements referred to
under the second head of my Invention adapted and applied thereto. These
improvements consist of a tube I, into the end of which the barrel is screwed..
This tube is formed with a solid peice K and an enlarged end and tang L, for
fixing to the stock and guard plate, and also with a slot at the top for the
purpose of loading, and a continuation of the same slot at the top for the pro-
jections on the plunger M, and also a corresponding slot at the bottom for the
projections on the striking pin N to work in as required; part of the slot at
the top of the tube has a piece O jointed to it, and inserted in it to form a stop
in order to prevent the plunger M from being drawn too far back, and to
admit of the plunger being withdrawn when required for cleaning. The tube
is also hollowed out to admit of the plunger M being locked by means of the
projections thereon. The plunger M is formed with a handle at M* (not shewn
in the Drawing), for the purpose of moving it as required. The end of the
plunger M is formed into a hollow to act as. a clip P for withdrawing the car-
tridge case. The plunger is also formed with a hole in the direction of its length
for the purpose of carrying the striking pin N, and the hole is enlarged at the
rear end of the plunger in order to give space for the action of the spiral spring
on the striking pin N. A slot is formed on the under side of the plunger at
its rear end, in order to give space for the piece Q formed on the striking pin
N to work in. The rear end of the plunger is closed by means of a screw R,
having a hole through it which serves as a guide for the striking pin N. The
striking pin N is formed with a piece Q on its under side, which piece Q is

page_text: formed with notches for the sear S to take into for the purpose of retaining
the striking pin either at cock or half cock. Tis a knob screwed on the end of
the striking pin N for the purpose of pulling it into full cock. The sear S is
acted upon as required by means of a spring as shewn.. The guard is adapted
as shewn to give strength and stability to the gun.
Fig. 7 is an end view, and Fig. 8 a longitudinal section of a. cartridge
constructed as referred to under the third head of my Invention with a piece
of metal a at the base strong enough to resist the blow from the striker. The
central portion of the piece a is formed to receive a percussion cap as shewn.
The mode of fixing the shell b to the base may be varied from that shown in
the Drawing. The piece a is formed with a flange on its extreme base to
prevent its being driven into the barrel. A hole for firing may be formed
either through the central portion of the piece, or one or more holes on each
side of it.
Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of a revolving chamber c with its end
_ closed by a breech piece d, which revolves on the centre rod not shewn in the
Drawing. The chamber c requires to be hollowed out at its rear end to afford
space for the insertion of the socket part of the breech piece d. The breech
piece d is forined with a socket c, which revolves on the centre rod, and is
caused to revolve with the chamber by the stud pin f, fixed in the breech piece,
taking into a corresponding hole formed in the chamber. A screw is inserted
in the front of the breech piece for the purpose of fixing the chamber as required
in the frame of the pistol, such screw having a hole in the centre for the centre
rod to pass through.
Fig. 10 is a side view, and Fig. 11 a front view of the breech piece. The
ratchet g causes the breech piece and chamber to revolve, and the notches h, h,
are for the purpose of stopping the chamber during its revolution in the required
position for firing. The chambers are fired by means of sliding pegs i, i, inserted
opposite the firing point of each cartridge.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I claim as of my Inven-
tion is,―
First, the construction of breech-loading guns and pistols with a lever for
fixing the barrels in the manner described, also with a slide for withdrawing
cartridge cases as described, and also with the parts arranged so as to avoid
interference with the aim in the manner described.
Secondly, the construction of guns with a plunger and striking pin com-
bined with the other parts, and adapted for working as described.
Thirdly, the construction of cartridges with a piece of metal at the base

page_text: strong enough to resist the blow from the striker, as represented and
described.
And, lastly, the combination of the breech piece with the revolving chamber,
in the manner and for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Franter, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twentieth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
WILLIAM SPENCE,
8, Quality Court,
Chancery Lane.
WILLIAM TRANTER. (L.s.)