MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR THE SAID FIREARMS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Harlow, of Sparkbrook, near Birmingham,
"IMPROVE.
in the County of Warwick. Gun Maker, for the Invention of
MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN
CARTRIDGES FOR THE SAID FIREARMS."
Sealed the 8th March 1867, and dated the 10th September 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund Harlow at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 10th
September 1866.
I, EDMUND HARLOW, of Sparkbrook, near Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Gun Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIREARMS AND IN REVOLVING FIRE-ARMO
AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR THE SAID FIRE-ARM," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists, firstly. of the following improvements in locking
down the barrels of drop-down guns and guns in which the barrels have a
longitudinal sliding motion to and from the break off.

page_text: In locking down the barrels of drop-down guns having the ordinary grip
action I cut a screw thread upon the lever of the grip and also make a corre-
sponding screw thread in the body of the gun. so as thereby to screw the
lever into the body instead of merely slipping it in and holding it in its place
by a small screw as in the ordinary arrangement. By this means I not only
obtain a greater binding power but also greater certainty in the fitting: or
the barrels may be locked down by a screw applied in the following manner: -
I pass a screw through the strap or tang and back of the break-off and make
it engage with the barrels: this screw I work by a lever which lies along the
top of the strap or tang. These improvements may be applied to the actions
of those guns in which the barrels slide longitudinally along the body, their
breech ends either entering a cavity in the face of the break-off or sliding
upon disks fixed on the face of the break-off: in this case I force the barrels
up to and hold them against the face of the break-off by means of a screw
screwing in the body parallel with the barrels. I work this screw by means
of a lever on the under side of the body: the screw may, however, he worked
in various ways.
By these means I both screw and wedge the barrels. I
also force and hold the sliding barrels up against the face of the break-off by
means of a lever working in a vertical plane upon its joint, the said lever
being situated in the body of the gun. The said lever is so shaped that the
front part near the joint bears firmly against the body of the gun and the
back part similarly bears against the lump on the under side of the barrels.
The lever is also so shaped that the tendency to force itself open and release
the barrels is prevented. In order to release the short arm of the lever from
the lamp pressure is put upon the end of the long arm situated underneath
the barrels so as to depress it; the short arm is thereby raised and its nose
made to strike against a lump on the barrels and force them from the
break-off. The arrangement described may be made self-acting by means of
a small catch placed in the body to hold the lever open when the barrels are
in the position for charging and a spring attached to the lever to force it into
its place when the barrels are shut down. The sliding or closing of the
barrels acts upon the catch and allows the lever to drop into its place. This
catch may be applied to any of the existing breech-loading fire-arms.
My Invention relates further to breech-loading fire-arms having fixed
barrels, and consists of the arrangements of parts herein-after described for
opening the breech ends of the said fire-arms for loading and closing them for
discharge cut a longitudinal slot or hole in the top of the barrel for the
introduction of the cartridge: I fit a block into the barrel, the said block
being provided with an arm or projection, which acts as a lever, and lies along

page_text: the strap or tang of the gun: I cut a slot in this block of about half the
length of the said block, and in this slot I fit a second block or link, one end
of which link I join to the large block in the barrel, and the other end to the
barrel at the back end. To open the gun for charging the lever on the tang
is raised, and then drawn back, the link being so placed in the block as to
admit this motion. By the motion of the lever the block is raised out of the
barrel. so as to admit of the introduction of the cartridge into the barrel.
The block having been depressed into the barrel, the gun is ready for discharge,
the link and block being so arranged that it is impossible for the block to be
blown open. Or I arrange the parts of the gun in the following manner :--
bore out the breech end of the barrel somewhat larger than usual, and cut a screw
in it; into the screwed end I screw a hollow plug. the hole in the said plug being
sufficiently large to admit of the cartridge being introduced through it into
the barrel. Underneath the barrel (or upon the top or side) I cut a broad
groove or slot of the same diameter as the enlarged part of the barrels, and
through this slot a plate is made to slide so as to open or close the hollow in
the screw plug, the sliding motions of the said plate being effected by the
unscrewing or screwing of the plug. The said plate is provided with a curved
slot, in which a pin on the plug engages, so that by the screwing of the plug
in one or other direction in the breech end the said pin acts upon the plate
through the slot, and raises or depresses it, and thereby closes or opens the
hollow in the plug: this plate may be made to open and close the plug in a
variety of ways.
My Invention consists further of the following improvements in cartridge
case extractors for guns having moveable barrels and also for guns having fixed
barrels. I will describe this part of my Invention as applied to a drop-down gun.
According to one arrangement of my Invention I place in a recess between the
barrels at the breech ends a spring: this spring is fixed at one end to the rib, and
its free end is situated at about the middle of the barrels. The said spring is of
such a breadth that it occupies the space between the two barrels. When the
cartridges are placed in the barrels and the barrels are shut down the free end of
the spring is compressed and lies flush with the ends of the barrels, the said free
end of the spring bearing against the flanges or rims of the cartridges. When
the barrels are raised after discharge, the spring being free to move acts upon
the rims of the exploded cartridge cases, and starts them from the barrels.
According to another arrangement of my Invention start the cases of the
exploded cartridges by means of a slide working between the barrels and
pressed outwards by a coiled spring at its back. When the barrels are shut
down the slide is fixed flush with the ends of the barrels, and does not press

page_text: upon the rims of the cartridges. This fixing of the slide is effected by means
of a catch worked by a lever connected to the slide engaging in the side of the
barrels. The lever of the catch is acted upon in the break-off of the gun.
When the barrels are raised the catch is liberated from the barrels, and the
slide is pressed outwards by its spring, and starts the cases of the exploded
cartridges from the barrels.
My Invention consists further of the following improvements in revolving
pistols or guns: Instead of the ordinary ratchet on the revolving chamber,
by which rotation is given to the said chamber, I make on the said chamber a
ratchet in the form of a series of equal planes or sides, each plane or side
being situated at an obtuse angle to the next one, the number of planes or
sides employed corresponding with the number of the barrels of the revolving
chamber. For example, for a chamber having six barrels employ a ratchet
of the form of a hexagon; I act upon this ratchet by means of an arm or lever
sliding in a groove, and made to work up and down by means of the hammer
or trigger of the pistol or gun. One edge of the said lever is parallel with
one of the planes or sides of the ratchet. To the free end of the lever a small
catch is jointed, the said catch being projected outwards when at liberty to
move by a spring. When the lever is drawn back beyond the side or plane
of the ratchet upon which it bore, the spring catch on the lever is forced
outwards, and bears against the side or plane of the ratchet adjacent to that
upon which it last acted, and when the lever is pushed forward the said catch
pushes forward the ratchet, and gives a portion of a rotation to the chamber.
When the lever has advanced to its full extent the plane or side of the ratchet
acted upon by the catch is situated parallel to the edge of the lever, the spring
catch being compressed in the lever, and the ratchet is locked or fixed. The
lever may be made to work with a downward motion by reversing the catch.
The planes or sides of the ratchet described may either be made upon a
projection at the middle of the chamber or upon the circumference of the
chamber. The lever for acting upon the ratchet may have a rectilinear or a
circular motion. In the latter case the lever may be made in the form of a
sector of a circle.
My improvements in revolving fire-arms consist further of the following
arrangements of parts for removing the revolving chamber from the body for
loading. I make the axis upon which the chamber turns of three bolts or
plugs; one of the said bolts is situated in a hole in the axis of the chamber, the
said bolt being capable of sliding a limited distance therein; the other bolts I
place in the body of the pistol or gun, one at each end of the chamber, the
said end bolts being situated in a line with that in the chamber; one of the

page_text: |Harlow's Impts. in Brecch-loading and Revolving Fire-arms and Cartridges.
bolts in the body is provided with a spring, which spring presses the inner
end of the said bolt into the hole in the axis of the chamber, and the
latter bolt acts upon the bolt in the chamber, so as to force its opposite
end into the body, the chamber is thereby fixed in its place. In order
to remove the chamber from the body the bolt in the body, which has no
spring attached to it, is pressed in so as to cause the middle bolt in the
chamber to push from out the hole in the chamber the end of the other bolt
having a spring, the chamber being thereby unsupported falls out. Instead of
three bolts as described two only may be used; in this case two springs are
necessary.
My improvements in cartridges are as follows: I make the case or body
of the cartridges of a piece of thin sheet metal bent up into a tubular form,
the edges of the said case not being soldered together, but connected loosely
together by the engagement of the said edges one with the other; I make a
slight flange at one end of the case; I fit a washer or cup in the inside of the
case, and fit a cap on the outside of the case in the usual manner. A cart-
ridge case made in this way may either be made to hold the entire charge or
the powder only. When a short cartridge is required gum the outside of
the case and wrap a piece of paper, or skin, or other material round the case,
the said paper or skin being sufliciently long to hold the shots if necessary;
I gum the top wad and turn the edges of the paper over so as to hold in
the shot.
Cartridges made in the way last described are less costly than the longer ones;
these cartridges and also cartridges of other construction may be made into
pin or central-fire cartridges in the following manner: I pierce a small hole
in the middle of the cap of the cartridge, and make the edges of the said holes
concave or spherical. The percussion caps which 1 place in the said concave
or spherical holes are similar to the flanged cartridges used with revolving and
saloon pistols with the following addition: I indent the bottom of the per-
cussion cap, so that the striker, the end of which is of a spherical figure,
strikes the cap all round the flange or rim. Ordinary percussion caps may be
used indented, as before explained; in this case the anvil used is countersunk
to correspond with the cap and striker. When use an anvil I prefer to
make a small hole through the middle similar to an ordinary nipple.
In making cartridges for military purposes, and when a cheap cartridge is
required, I take a washer and fix a felt wad to it and pierce a hole through
the wad and washer; I make the cartridge up with ordinary cartridge paper
or other material, which may be made combustible so as rapidly to burn
away; the paper in this cartridge is destroyed or carried through the barre!

page_text: with the bullet, and the wad left in the barrel is pushed out by the next cart-
ridge or otherwise removed. I also make cartridges having washers (with or
without a wad) with a case of thin sheet metal as herein-before explained, but
attach the said sheet metal case to the bullet or projectile, so that it forms a
part of the bullet and is carried with it: I also make the bullet with a piece
of tube attached to it, one end of which tube 1 close and cast the bullet on to
it; in this tube I place the powder and the washer for the percussion cap;
on the discharge of this cartridge the tube is carried with the bullet, and the
washer is left in the barrel, which washer may be made to drop out or be
pushed therefrom by the next bullet; or the bullet may be made to form the
anvil for the percussion cap by making a hole through the axis of the bullet,
and placing a washer at the back to hold the percussion cap; or the anvil for
the percussion cap may be made by attaching to the bullet a frame of bars, in
the end of which the anvil and percussion cap are carried.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edmund Harlow in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th March 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDMUND
HARLOW, of Spark Brook, near Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Gun Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria. by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six. in the twenty-ninth year of ller
reign. did, for Herself. Her heirs and successors. give and grant unto me, the
said Edmund Harlow. Her special licence that 1. the said Edmund Harlow,
My executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I. the said Edmund
Harlow, 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 AND IN REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR THE
SAID FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I. the said Edmund
Harlow, 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

page_text: 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 Edmund Harlow, 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 made to the accompanying Drawings marked
A., B., and C., which are intended to illustrate the several improvements
which constitute the said Invention by metrical delineation.
My Invention consists, 1stly, of improvements in locking down the barrels
of drop-down guns and guns in which the barrels have a longitudinal sliding
motion to and from the break-off (see Fig. 1).
In locking down the barrels of drop-down guns having the ordinary grip
action I cut a screw thread upon the grip A of the lever, and also make a
corresponding screw thread in the body B of the gun, so as thereby to screw
the lever grip into the body instead of merely slipping it in and holding it in
its place by a small screw, as in the ordinary arrangement. By this means I
not only obtain a greater binding power but also greater certainty in the
fitting: or the barrels may be locked down by a screw applied in the manner
shewn at Figs. 2 and 2, in which case a screw C through the strap or dang
and back of the break-off, and make it engage with a lump D on the barrel.
This screw I work by a lever E which lies along the top of the strap or tang.
These improvements may be applied to the actions of those guns in which the
barrel slides longitudinally along the body of the breech ends, either entering a
cavity in the face of the break-off or sliding upon discs fixed on the face of
the break-off, see Figs. 3 and 3, in this case I force the barrel F up to and
hold it against the face of the break-off by means of a screw G in the body.
the axes of the screws and barrels being parallel with each other. I work this
screw by means of a lever H on the under side of the body: this lever may be
made to lie parallel with the barrels, and the screw may be worked in various
ways.
By these means I both screw and wedge the ends of the barrels into
the cavities in the break-off. I also force and hold the sliding barrels up
against the face of the break-off, as shewn at Figs. 4 and 4. by means of a
lever C (shewn detached at Fig. 4C) working into a vertical plane upon its
joints, the said lever being situated in the body of the gun, and so shaped that
the front part C' near the joint bears firmly against the body of the gun, and
the back part C similarly bears against the lump B' on the under side of the
barrels. The tendency of the lever to force itself open and release the barrels
is prevented by the peculiar shape here delineated. In order to release the

page_text: short arm C of the lever from the lump pressure is applied to the end of the
long arm underneath the barrels so as to depress it. The short arm is
thereby raised and its nose C' made to strike against a lump B2 on the barrels
and thus force them from the break-off. The arrangement described may be
made self-acting by means of a small catch E (see Figs. 4 and 4) placed
in the body to hold the lever open when the barrels are in position for
charging, and a spring F attached to the lever to force it into its place when
the barrels are shut down. The sliding or closing of the barrels acts upon the
catch and allows the lever to drop into its place. This catch E may be applied
to any of the existing breech-loading fire-arms, being similarly or differently
arranged as circumstances may require.
My Invention relates secondly, to breech-loading fire-arms having fixed
barrels, and consists of the arrangements of parts for opening the breech ends
of the said fire-arms for loading and closing them for discharge. as shewn at
Fig. 5. cut a longitudinal slot or hole in the top of the barrel for the
introduction of the cartridge; I fit a block B into the barrel, the said block
being provided with an arm or projection B'. which acts as a lever and lies
along the strap or tang of the gun. or it may be formed at the side: I cut a
slot in this block of about half the length of the said block, and in this slot I
fit a second block or link C, one end of which link I joint to the large block
in the barrel, and the other end to the barrel at the back end near the top.
To open the gun for charging the lever on the tang is raised and then drawn
backwards, the link being so placed in the block as to admit of this motion.
and the block being made so as to form a kind of hinge at the end which
closes the barrel; this hinge is formed by making the end spherical and the
inside of the barrel of a corresponding concave form. By the motion of the
dever the block is raised out of the barrel so as to admit of the introduction of
the cartridge into the barrel. The block having been depressed into the
barrel the gun is ready for discharge, the link and block being arranged so
that it is impossible for the block to be blown open.
of the gun for raising
Or I arrange the parts
I bore out the breech
Fig. 5 shews the breech of a gun formed upon the ball-jointed rising block
principle just described, in which the block B is bored out to take the
cartridge. C., C. are jointed links fitted into the body
the block to the position shewn by the dotted lines.
of the gun in the manner shewn at Figs. 6 and 6°.
end of the barrel A somewhat larger than usual, and cut a screw way in it.
Into the screwed end I fit a hollow externally screwed plug C, the hole in
the said plug being sufliciently large to admit of the cartridge being introduced
through it into the barrel. Underneath the barrel (or upon the top or side)

page_text: I cut a broad transverse groove or slot in the enlarged part of the barrels, and
through this slot a plate B is made to slide so as to open or close the opening
in the screw plug, the sliding motions of the said plate being effected by the
unscrewing or screwing of the plug. The said plate is provided with a curved
slot D, see Fig. 6. in which a pin E on the plug engages, so that by the
screwing of the plug in one or other direction in the breech end the said pin
acts upon the plate through the slot and raises or depresses it, and thereby
closes or opens the hollow in the plug. The motion of this plate may be
effected by any other mechanism suitable for the purpose.
My Invention consists further of the following improvements in cartridge
case extractors for guns having moveable barrels and also for guns having
fixed barrels. I shall describe this part of my Invention as applied to a drop-
down gun.
According to one arrangement of my Invention, see Fig. 7. I place in a
recess between the barrels at the breech end a spring B: this spring is
fixed at one end to the rib or the lump C on the barrel, and its free end is
situated at about midway between the two barrels: the said spring is of
such a breadth that it occupies the space between the two barrels. When the
cartridges are placed in the barrels, and the barrels are shut down, the free
end of the spring is compressed and lies flush with the ends of the barrel. the
said free end of the spring bearing against the flanges or rims of the cartridges.
When the barrels are raised after discharge the spring being free to move acts
upon the rims of the exploded cartridge cases and starts them from the barrels.
According to another arrangement of my Invention start the cases of
the exploded cartridges by means of a slide B. (see Figs. 8 and 8) working
between the barrels and pressed outwards by a coil spring Cat its back;
when the barrels are shut down the slide is fixed flush with the ends of the
barrels and does not press upon the rims of the cartridges: this fixing of the
slide is effected by means of a catch E (Fig. 8) worked by a lever connected
to the slide engaging in the side of the barrels. The lever of the catch is acted
upon by the break-off of the gun. When the barrels are raised the catch is
liberated from the barrels, and the slide is pressed outwards by its spring C,
and starts the cases of the exploded cartridges from the barrels. In order to
prevent the slide 13 from being forced outwards too far I insert a small screw
pin D through the top rib. the end of which pin is made to enter a short slot D'
cut in the top of the slide and thus to act as a stop.
My Invention consists further of the following improvements in revolving
pistols or guns: Instead of the ordinary ratchet on the revolving chamber by
which rotation is given to the said chamber, I make thereon a ratchet D

page_text: (see Figs. 9. 9" 9. 9, 9, 9, and 9. in the form of a series of equal planes o
sides in each plane or side being situated at an obtuse angle to the next one.
the number of planes or sides employed corresponding with the number of
the barrels of the revolving chamber. For example. for a chamber having
six barrels employ a ratchet of the form of a hexagon: I act upon this
ratchet by means of an arm or lever E sliding in a groove. and made to work
up and down by means of the hammer or trigger of the pistol or gun formed
as shewn at 9. 9. and 9. One edge of the said lever is parallel with
one of the planes or sides of the ratchet to the free end of the lever a small
catch E' is jointed, the said catch being projected outwards when at liberty
to move by a spring. When the lever is drawn back beyond the side or plane
of the ratchet upon which it bore. the spring catch on the lever is forced
outwards and bears against the side or plane of the ratchet adjacent to that
upon which it last acted. and when the lever is pushed forward the said catch
pushes forward the ratchet and gives a portion of rotation to the chamber.
When the lever has advanced to its full extent the plane or side of the ratchet
acted upon by the catch is situated parallel to the edge of the lever, the
spring catch being compressed in the lever. and the chamber is rocked or
fixed. The lever may be made to work with a downward motion by reversing
the catch. as shewn by the dotted line, Fig. 9. The planes or sides of the
ratchet described may either be made upon a projection upon the middle
of the chamber or upon the circumference of the chamber. The lever
for acting upon the ratchet may have a rectilinial or circular motion:
in the latter case the lever may be made in the form of a sector of a circle.
see Figs. Dr.
My improvements in revolving fire-arms consists further of the following
arrangements of parts for removing the revolving chamber from the body for
loading, see Fig. 10, I make the axis upon which the chamber turns of three
bolts or plugs A. B. (: one of the said bolts B is situated in a hole in the
axis of the chamber, the said bolt being capable of sliding a limited distance
therein. The other bolts A and C place in the body of the pistol or gun,
one at each end of the chamber. the said end bolts being situated in a line
with that in the chamber. One of the bolts C in the body is provided with a
spring, which spring presses the inner end of the said bolts into the hole in
the axis of the chamber against one end of the bolt B in the chamber so as to
force its opposite end into the body; the chamber is thereby fixed in its place.
In order to remove the chamber from the body the bolt A which has no spring
attached to it is pressed in so as to cause the middle bolt in the chamber to push
from out the hole in the chamber, the end of the other bolt having a spring,

page_text: the chamber being thereby unsupported falls out. Instead of three bolts
as described. two only may be used in this case two springs are necessary.
My improvements in cartridges illustrated upon Drawing are as follows:
make the case or body of the cartridges of a piece of thin sheet metal bent
up into a tubular form. the edges of the said case not being soldered together,
but connected loosely together by the engagement of the said edges one with
the other, as shewn at A. I make a slight flange B at one end of the case, I
fit a washer or cup (in the inside of the case. and fit a cap on the outside of
the case in the usual manner. A cartridge case formed in this way may
either be made to hold the entire charge or the powder only. When a short
cartridge is required J gum the outside of the case, and wrap a piece of paper.
or skin. or other material, such as linen, cloth, or millboard covered with a
solution of shellac, white lead, and naptha. or spirits of wine, or other suitable
ingredients round the case: the said paper or skin, &c. being sufficiently long
to hold the shots. If necessary I gum the top wad and turn the edges of
the paper over So as to hold the shot. Cartridges made in the way last
described are less costly than the longer ones. These cartridges and also car-
tridges of other constructions may be made into pin or central-fire cartridges
in the following manner: pierce a small hole in the middle of the cap of
the cartridges, and make the edges of the said holes concave or spherical. The
percussion caps which I place in the said concave or spherical holes are similar
to those in the flanged cartridges used with revolving and saloon pistols, with
the following additions: indent the bottom of the percussion cap D so that
the striker E. the end of which is of a spherical figure. strikes the cap all
round the flange or rim. Ordinary percussion caps may be used if thus
indented. In this case the anvil used is countersunk to correspond with the
cap and striker. and such caps may also be used without an anvil. When
I use an anvil I prefer to make a small hole through the middle similar to an
ordinary nipple.
In making cartridges for military purposes, and when a cheap cartridge is
required, I take a washer and fix a felt wad to it F", and pierce a hole through
the wad and washer: d also use a tube or cup to form the washer: or in
place of the washer (see E'. E. E. and E) I make the cartridge up with
ordinary cartridge paper or other material, which may be made combustible,
so as rapidly to burn away. The paper in this cartridge is destroyed or
carried through the barrel with the bullet. and the wad left in the barrel is
pushed out by the next cartridge or otherwise removed. When I wish the
cartridge to be removed I make a groove in the edge of the washer, in which
1 cause the extractor to engage, or I use two washers G and G₁ making A'

page_text: next to the wad rather smaller than the other. When I form a metal car-
tridge upon this plan I prefer to make the washer of thick metal, and force
the end in a die, so as to form a flange G: this flange 1 draw into a cup G'.
so making the edges thin and the bottom thick: round the bottom I turn or
otherwise make G. before mentioned. The cup may be drawn on to and over
the case instead of the case enclosing the cup, as is the usual practice. By
experiment find that a cartridge made in this way will answer with the
common cap and anvil. 1 also make cartridges having washers (with or
without a wad) with a case of thin sheet metal, as herein-before explained.
but attach the said sheet metal case to the bullet or projectile, so that it
forms a part of the bullet and is carried away with it. I also make the bullet
with a piece of tube attached to it, one end of which tube I close and cast the
bullet on to it. I make four cuts through and partly along this case or tube,
and cover the same with thin paper in order to prevent the tube or case from
expanding in this tube I place the powder and the washer for the per-
cussion cap. On the discharge of this cartridge the tube is carried with
it, and the washer is left in the barrel which washer may be made to drop
out or be pushed therefrom by the next bullet, or the bullet may be made to
form the anvil for the percussion cap by making a hole through the axis of
the bullet and placing the washer at the back to hold the percussion cap; or
the anvil for the percussion cap may be made by attaching to the bullet a
frame of bars, in the end of which anvil and percussion cap are carried:
these bars I make of a triangular section. with their apexes to the centre. so
that the explosive force of the powder has little or no effect upon them. 1
claim. -
First, the externally screwed axis and form of the grip of the lever,
Figs. 1 and 1.
Secondly, the locking-down action. Figs. 2 and 2, with or without an
external screw thread on the axis of the lever.
Thirdly, the locking and wedging
and 3ª.
parallel screw" slide action, Figs. 3
Fourthly, the sliding lock-down action and parts. Figs. 4 to 4" inclusive.
Fifthly, the breech blocks. Figs. 5 and 5, and the "ball joint of the
latter, with or without a centre pin.
Sixthly, the breech-closing plate. with combined screw and slide action,
Figs. 6 and 6, or their equivalents.
Seventhly, the breech-spring extractor. Figs. 8. 8. and 8.
Eighthly, the polygonal revolving chamber and parts, and take-out chamber
and parts, Figs. 9 to 9'.

page_text: pes.
artridges.
Lastly, the cartridges. substantially as described. particularly with the
washer and cup, anvil, and indented percussion cap.
In witness whereof. I. the said Edmund Harlow, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of March. in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
EDMUND HARLOW. (L.S.)