IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LOCK AND OTHER PARTS OF BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN CARTRIDGES AND PROJECTILES FOR THE SAME
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Vincent Fosbery, V.C., a Captain in the
Bengal Army, of Ladywoll House,ncar Brixham,in the County of Devon,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LOCK AND OTHER PARTS OF
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN CARTRIDGES AND PROJECTILES FOR THE
SAME"
Sealed the 5th March 1867, and dated the 6th September 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Vincent Fosbery
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 6th September 1866.
I, GEORGE VINCENT FOSBERY, V.C., a Captain in the Bengal Army, of
Ladywell House, near Brixhain, in the County of Devon, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LOCK AND OTHER
PARTS OF BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN CARTRIDGES AND PROJECTILES FOR
THE SAME," to be as follows:-
The said improvements consist, first, in the novel arrangement of parts for
opening and closing the breech and keeping the same tight at the time of
firing; second, in the peculiar combination of a hinged breech piece with a

page_text: parallel extractor; third, in the mode of securing the barrel to the breech;
fourth, in the novel construction of cartridges to be used in breech-loading
fire-arms; and, fifth, in the means for lubricating the projectile and barrel.
The breech piece is constructed in the form of a lid or door fitted to turn
upon a pivot or fulcrum pin fixed in the lock plate immediately under the
end of the breech chamber. The upper end of the said lid or door is jointed
to one end of a link or swivel whose other extremity when the breech is closed
rests in a recess or notch formed in the said lock plate The needle by
which the cartridge is exploded slides through an aperture formed in the
breech piece, its rear end being supported in the proper position to bo struck
by the striker or hammer, which at the same moment forces the breech piece
into close contact with the end of the breech chamber. The said striker is
made in the form of a double hook or Spivotted at its centre to the lock plate,
and is so constructed and arranged that at the instant its upper end strikes
and explodes the cartridge its lower hook or curved portion takes upon a stud
or catch fixed in the said lock plate or breech, and is thereby supported,
and prevents the rod supporting the lid or door rising out of the recess or
notch which supports it against the recoil of the piece at the time of firing, or
such striker may be so formed that the striking part passing through a slot
or aperture becomes fixed therein at the moment of striking and acts as a
bolt.
An extractor for removing the empty cartridge cases from the breech
chamber is fitted to slide upon the end thereof. The said extractor is furnished
with a hook or claw or other suitable means for taking hold upon the case
to be withdrawn, and is connected by rods or links to the breech piece or a
portion of the mechanism for operating the same in such a manner that
opening and closing the said breech piece imparts the required movements to
the extractor. With those arms whose breech piece is moveable upon a hinge
or fulcrum placed above or at either side or end of the breech chamber, shoc, or
breech plate I employ a parallel extractor connected to the breech piece in such
a manner that drawing back the extractor besides extracting the cartridge will
cause the opening of the breech. This is advantageously effected by providing
the extractor with teeth or projections which take into the teeth of a small
sector fixed or formed upon the breech piece or moveable piece connected with
the same; with this arrangement of parts drawing back the extractor, besides
removing the cartridge, will open the breech piece, and opening the latter will
draw back the extractor. The same object may be effected by means of an
inclined plane or planes arranged at the end of the breach chamber in such a
position that an arm connected to the breech piece coming in contact with the
said inclined plano will close the breech; another plane or a stop being arranged

page_text: to operate a similar arm for opening the breech piece, the said arms being
connected to the extractor in any suitable and convenient manner. Other
means for producing the required relative movements of the breech piece and
extractor may be employed, the object being to so combine a hinged breech
piece with a parallel extractor that operating the one will also operate the
other. Or the parts may be so modified that though the breech piece is
opened or closed by moving the extractor the latter may or may not be moved
by moving the breech piece. Instead of connecting the barrel to the breech-
loading device by screwing in the ordinary manner I make the said con-
nection by fitting the end of the barrel into a socket formed upon the shoe or
chamber. The end of the barrel is provided with a lump or projection
through which and through the sides of the socket a key or wedge is tightly
driven and holds the said barrel and socket closely and firmly together. Or a
keyway may be formed upon the side of the barrel itself, and a key wedge
or bolt fitted tightly therein. The hole in the socket into which the barrel
is fitted is by preference bored taper, its diameter being largest at the
entrance.
The paper or other compound cartridges for central-fire guns are provided
with a pin or striker fixed in the centre of the base in contact with the
detonating or explosive material of the cartridge. In discharging the piece
the needle, plunger, or other striking device fixed therein strikes the end of
the said pin and thereby causes the explosion. By this method of con-
struction the corrosion of the needle is entirely prevented.
In metalliccentral-fire cartridges and compound central-fire cartridges having
a metallic base the base of the cartridge is strengthened by an inuer skin or
case of metal which protects that part of the outer case and also the interior
of the tube for a short distance, and also enables large charges of gunpowder
to be used therein with safety. This second case or skin, which need only
occupy a short portion of the entire length of the outer case, is used also to
confine the detonating composition in its place, and to afford a resistance to
prevent the same escaping the blow of the needle, striker, or other device
operating on the exterior of the outer case. This composition is preferably
placed in a receptacle formed by an indentation or depression in the inner or
outer case, or in both cases; or it may be placed in a cap or other receptacle
kept in position by such indentation or depression, or by a hole or opening in
the inner case. The said inner case is cut or pierced with holes or openings
to allow the flame from the composition to escape into the body of the
cartridge and communicate fire to the gunpowder or other explosive agent
therein contained. The two cases are preferably united in the process of

page_text: "heading up," by which the rim of the outside case is formed and which
would thus produce a corresponding rim on the inner case, or the said cases
may be united by a subsequent operation, or the inner case may be retained in
its position by indenting the outer case or by other suitable means. During
this operation the detonating composition may be also compressed. In com-
pound cartridges having metallic bases the tube of paper, brass, or other
material may be included between the edges of the two cases and retained in
its place by compression or by the indentation of one or both cases, or the
said tube may be attached to the two cases by tying, cementing, or other con-
venient means; the inner case might then be made to project for some
distance beyond the outer case. These and other cartridges inay also be made
to contain or carry two or more projectiles which shall separate after leaving
the gun.
In manufacturing bullets I form the same with grooves or channels around
their surfaces, projecting rings or shoulders being formed above or below
each groove; the said grooves are filled with lubricating material, and the
bullet is then passed through a die which closes or forces down the rings or
collars over the grooves and encloses the lubricating material, which remains
therein till the cartridge is used. The firing of the piece then forces the
lubricating material from the grooves in the bullet and spreads it all around
the interior of the barrel and thoroughly greases the same.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Vincent Fosbery in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 6th March 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
VINCENT FOSBERY, V.C., a Captain in the Bengal Army, of Ladywell House,
near Brixham, iu the County of Devon, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said George Vincent Fosbery, Her special licence that I, the said George
Vincent Fosbery, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said George Vincent Fosbery, any executors, administrators, and
assigus, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time

page_text: aud 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 THE LOCK AND OTHER PARTS OF BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS,
AND IN CARTRIDGES AND PROJECTILES FOR THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said George Vincent Fosbery, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and scals, 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 George Vincent Fosbery, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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 had to the accompanying Drawings
forming a part of this Specification :-
The said improvements consist, first, in the novel arrangement of parts for
opening and closing the breech and keeping the same tight at the time of
firing; second, in the peculiar combination of a hinged breech piéce with a
parallel extractor; third, in the mode of securing the barrel to the breech;
fourth, in the novel construction of cartridges for breech-loading fire-arms;
and, fifth,in the means for lubricating the projectiles and barrels of fire-arms.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a plan of a rifle constructed according to my improvements
showing the breech closed; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same;
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the said rifle on the line, a, Figure 1,
showing a slight modification of some of the parts; Figure 4 represents one
of these modified portions detached; Figure 5 is a plan of a rifle illustrating
a modified construction and arrangement of my improvements, with parts in
the position into which they are thrown in discharging the piece; Figure 6 is
a longitudinal section of the same on the line y, y, Figure 5; Figure 7 is a
transverse section on the line, z, Figure 5; Figure 8 is a side view of the
said rifle, showing the breech open; Figure 9 is a side elevation of the
same, showing the breech closed; Figures 10 and 11 represent detached
portions of the said rifle.
Figures 12, 13, 14, are sections of various modifications of my improved
cartridges; Figures 15 and 16 illustrate other modifications of the same, and
the mode of securing the projectiles to the cartridge cases and providing the

page_text: said projectiles with lubricating material; Figure 17 illustrates the mode
of constructing the said projectiles. Like letters indicate the same parts
in each of the Figures.
i
In the rifle illustrated by Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, A is the stock; B, the barrel
and C the breech shoe. The latter is formed with a socket C1, in which the
said barrel is firmly secured. The breech piece D, which is constructed to
act as a lid or door, is fitted to turn freely upon the pivot or fulcrum pin a.
The latter is fixed in the shoe C, or to a piece projecting from the lock
plate E, and is arranged directly under the breech or charge chamber bin
the rear end of the barrel B. The said lock plate is formed solidly, or in one
piece with the trigger plate E, and is placed in the central portion of the
stock A. The upper end of the lid or door D is jointed at c to one end
of a link or swivel F, whose other extremity when the breech is closed
rests against the rear end of the recess or chamber G in the shoe C, as shown
in Figure 3. The position of the said lid and other parts of the mechanism
when the breech is open is indicated by the dotted lines in the same Figure.
'The stud or handle D' projecting from the side of the breech piece D is pro-
vided to facilitate the opening and closing of the same, and a similar stud or
handle F is attached to the link or swivel F. The needle H by which the
cartridge is exploded is fitted to slide freely endwise through a perforation in
the breech piece D, its rear end being in the proper relation to the rod H' to
be thrust forward thereby when the said rod is struck by the hammer or
striker I. The rod H' is drawn back by the spring He, and is kept properly
in its place in the link F by the point of the screw a', which projects into the
groove or channel a³ in the said rod. This screw also holds the spring b',
which is arranged to press upon the flat portions 1 and 2 on the joint c of the
breech piece D, and hold the latter and the swivel F properly in position
when the breech is either open or closed. The hammer I is by preference
constructed in the form represented in Figure 3, and is pivotted by means of
the pin 62 to the lock plate E. The end I of the striker or hammer I is
formed to fit the recess or notch d in the rear end of the link or swivel F, and
when the said hammer is down this end takes into the said notch and prevents
the rising of the link or swivel F out of the chamber G, and thereby ensures
a firm support to the breech piece D when the rifle is fired; or the said
striker may be constructed in the form of a double hook or S and pivotted at
its centre to the lock plate E, a stud being provided for the lower arm of the
said hook to bear against at the time of discharge. If desired this lock plate
may be dispensed with, and the striker I, the mainspring E2, and other parts
of the lock may be attached directly to the barrel or breech of the rifle. Au

page_text: extractor for removing the empty cartridge cases from the charge chamber b
is arranged to operate in connection with the breech piece. In the arrange-
ment of parts represented in Figure 3 the bolt J of the said extractor is fitted
to slide in a groove or channel e formed on the exterior of the barrel Bat the
end of the same, which is inserted in and attached to the socket C. This
bolt is furnished with a projecting claw J', which is so formed and arranged
that when the cartridge is introduced into the charge chamber,and the breech
is closed, the said claw will lie under the rim of the cartridge. A projection Ja
is formed or fixed on the rear end of the bolt J in the proper position thereon
to be acted on by the finger or stud D of the breech piece D when the latter
is pulled back to open the breech. The claw J', projection Ja, and finger or
stud D are so arranged as to allow the breech to be partly opened before the
extractor begins to act; or the bolt J may be connected to the breech piece D
or the swivel F by rods or links f, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, or by other
means, the main object being to arrange these parts in such a manner that by
opening and closing the breech the required movements are imparted to
the extractor.
In those arms whose breech piece is moveable upon a hinge or fulcrum
placed above or at either side or end of the breech or shoe a parallel ex-
tractor is employed, which is connected to the breech in such a manner that
drawing back the extractor besides removing the empty cartridge case will
open the breech.
In the rifle represented in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, an d9, the trap or lid D is
fitted to turn upon the pin K, which is fixed in the socket C¹ of the shoc C.
The plunger D2 is by preference attached to the trap D by the screws g which
pass through slots or oblong holes in the latter, and thereby allow the plunger
a slight movement end wise upon the said trap. The plunger D2 is advan-
tageously formed with the cavity or recess in its undersurface, which when the
trap D is down in the chamber G fits over the correspondingly formed piece!
which is secured in the bottom of the said chamber to expel the empty cases
therefrom. The cavity prevents the accidental blowing up of the trap D,
and allows the needle H to be easily cleaned and lubricated. In this arrange-
ment of parts a lock plate E may be employed as represented in the Drawings,
or the parts of the lock may be attached to the barrel or breech in the manner
set forth in the description of Figures 1, 2, and 3. The bolt J of the
extractor is fitted to slide in the groove i, which is formed in a laterally
extended portion of the shoe C, or in a metal plate attached to the said shoe.
The hook or claw J'of tho said extractor is formed with a foot or extension J²,
and the latter is fitted into the groove orguideway J3 formed in the inner side

page_text: of the bolt J. The said hook slides freely endwise in the groove J³ for a
slight distance, which distance is limited by the shoulders of the bolt J.
The rear end of the latter is furnished with a catch or hook J', which is so
formed and arranged that when the breech is closed the said hook will take
into the notch or recess & formed in the lever Land prevent the rising of the
trap D. The said lever is forged or otherwise firmly secured upon the side of
the said trap or lid. This lever is constructed with a curved arm L' which is
so arranged as to leave a slight space between it and the stud J5 when the
breech is closed, as shown in Figure 9. The rear of the catch J' forms an
inclined plane, which is arranged in such a manner that when the bolt J is
drawn back it will act as a wedge upon the correspondingly formed inclined
plane at the back of the recess or chamber k. The inclined planes 1, 2,
are so arranged in relation to the trap D and bolt J that when the latter is
drawn back the planej will act upon the plane
and start or slightly open
The bolt J is formed with
the trap D before the stud J' strikes the arm L'.
an extension Jo which is enclosed in the tube M, the latter being secured to
the side of the barrel. The end of the extended portion Jo is provided with a
nut or collar 1, and the spindle me which is also enclosed in the tube bears
against this nut or collar and also against the end m' of the tube M, and acts
to draw the bolt J forward into the position represented in Figures 8 and 9,
Instead of constructing and arranging the extractor to operate in the manner
above described the sliding bolt J may be provided with teeth or projections,
which will take into the teeth of a small sector fixed or formed upon the trap
or breech piece Don a lever L. With the parts arranged in this manner,
drawing back the bolt J besides extracting the cartridge will open the breech,
and opening the latter will draw back the said bolt. Other means for pro-
ducing the required relative movements of the breech piece and extractor may
be employed, the object being the combination of a hinged breccb picce with
a parallel extractor in such a manner that one is operated by moving tho
other; or the parts may be so modified that though the breech piece is opened,
or closed,or both, by moving the extractor the latter may or may not be moved
by moving the breech piece. Instead of connecting the barrel B to the shoe C
by screwing in the ordinary manner, the said barrel is preferably secured in
the socket C by means of a key or wedge which is tightly driven through the
said socket and through a lump or projection on the end of the barrel. Or a
keyway may be formed upon the underside of the barrel, and a key wedge
or bolt c' driven tightly through the socket C¹ into the said groove, as shown
in Figure 3. The hole in the socket C is by preference made taper, its
diameter being greatest at the rear to facilitate the insertion of the barrel,

page_text: In my improved central-fire cartridges the base is strengthened by an
inner skin or case of metal; this method of construction allows larger charges
of gunpowder to be used with safety in the said cartridges. The additional
case or skin n, which need only occupy a short portion of the entire length
of the outer case n¹, serves also to confine the detonating composition, and to
prevent the same being displaced and missing the blow of the needle, striker,
or other device which strikes the exterior of the outer case n¹; by this
means the ordinary hat cap and anvil employed in central-fire cartridges of
ordinary construction are dispensed with. The detonating composition may
be placed in a receptacle formed by the indentation or depression of the inner
case n, outer case n', or of both, or it may be placed in a cap or other
receptacle kept in position by such indentation or depression, or by a hole or
opening in the inner case n; or a plate na may be inserted between the bases
of the two cases n, n', as shown in Figure 16, in which arrangement the
detonating composition is placed between tho said plate n2 and the inuer
case n, and a hole or perforation n³ is formed in the outer case to allow the
needle to pass through the said plate. The case " is cut or pierced with
holes or openings to allow the flame from the detonating composition to
escape into the body of the cartridge and communicate fire to the gunpowder
or other explosive agent with which the same is charged. The two cases
n, n¹, are preferably united in the process of "heading up" or forming the
rim or flange of the outside case n', a corresponding rim being at the same
time formed on the inner case n; or the said cases n, n¹, may be united by a
subsequent operation, or the inner case may be retained in its position by
indenting the outer case, or by other suitable means; during this operation
the detonating composition may be also compressed. Incompound cartridges
having metallic bases, Figure 14, the tube or coil o, which may be of paper,
metal, or other material, may be included between the two cases n, n', and
retained in its place by compression or by the indentation of one or both
cases; or the said tube or coil may be attached to the two cases by tying,
cementing, or other suitable means; the inner case n should in this mode
of construction be made to extend beyond the outer case n¹.
Figures 12 and 13 illustrate the mode of applying the ordinary hat cap ?,
anvil p¹, and percussion cap 22 to cartridges constructed with an inner
strengthening case. In Figure 13 the said hat cap is sustained in its position
by a wad q of paper pulp or other material, while in Figure 12 this object
is effected by a metallic washer q' which is pressed down around the said
hat cap.
The bullet shown in Figures 15, 16, and 17 is formed with grooves or

page_text: channels around its periphery; projecting rings or collars r¹ are formed
above or below each of the said grooves, and the latter are filled with lubri-
cating material. The bullet is then passed through a die which closes or
forces down the rings or collars r¹ over the grooves, and encloses the lubricating
material, as shown in Figures 15 and 16. The explosion of the charge
expands the rim at the base of the bullet, and causes it to fill the bore of
the rifle or other piece, and compressing the central portions ³ forces the
lubricating material from the grooves 7 in the bullet, spreading it around the
interior of the barrel and thoroughly greases the same.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and shown how the same
may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I claim,-
First, the breech piece D, link F, needle H, rod H¹, and hammer I,
Figures 1, 2, and 3, constructed, combined, and operating for the purposes
and substantially in the manner set forth.
Second, a parallel extractor with a sliding bolt J and claw J' constructed
and arranged to operate in combination with the said breech piece, substantially
in the manner set forth.
Third, the combination of a parallel sliding extractor with a hinged breech
piece in such a manner that the breech is opened and the cartridge removed
from the charge chamber by one movement of the said extractor.
Fourth, the combination of the said extractor and breech piece in such a
manner that either will be operated by moving the other.
Fifth, the modified arrangement of these parts, wherein the said breech
piece is operated by moving the extractor, and the latter may or may not be
moved by moving the said breech piece.
Sixth, the trap or lid D with the curved arm or stop L², recess, and
inclined plane arranged to operate in combination with the sliding bolt J,
stud J', catch or tooth J4, inclined plane, and spring m, Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
for the purposes and substantially in the manner set forth.
Seventh, securing the barrel B to the breech shoe C by means of a key or
bolt substantially in the manner set forth.
Eighth, constructing metallic or compound central-fire cartridges with an
inner case or tube n for the purposes and substantially in the manner set
forth.
Ninth, uniting the said inner case or tube n with the outer case or shell n¹
of a cartridge, substantially in the manner set forth.
Tenth, constructing a compound cartridge with a coil of metal, paper, or
other material o inserted and secured between the two cases n and n¹, sub-
stantially in the manner set forth.

page_text: Eleventh, constructing a bullet or projectile with grooves r and collars or
flanges for the purpose and substantially in the manner set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Vincent Fosbery, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
GEORGE VINCENT FOSBERY, V.C. (L.S.)
W. ROBT. LAKE,
8, Southampton Buildings,
W.C.