IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CARTRIDGES TO BE USED THEREWITH.
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Clinton Edgcumbe Brooman, of the Firm of Robertson,
Brooman, and Company, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London,
Patent Agents, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING
FIRE-ARMS, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CARTRIDGES TO BE USED THEREWITH.'
-A communication from abroad by Antoine Alphonse Chassepot, of
Paris, Franco.
"
Sealed the 20th November 1866, and dated the 7th September 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Clinton Edgcumbe Broo-
man at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 7th September 1866.
I, CLINTON EDGCUMBE BROOMAN, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and
Company, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-
LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CARTRIDGES TO BE USED THERE-
WITH," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to what are known as needle guns, and consists
mainly in the means hereafter described of producing the obturation of the
breech chamber, that is to say, of preventing escape of gas, in the mechanism
of the brecch parts, and in the manufacture of cartridges to be used with theso
guns, all as hereafter described.

page_text: The obturation or hermetic closing is obtained by the instantaneous com-
pression under the action of the explosion of a vulcanized caoutchouc washer
interposed between the front face of the breech bolt, and a flange or shoulder
upon the needle guide, which guide is movable. The washer and the flange
or shoulder are of a little less diameter than the breech in which they are fitted
so as to facilitate their play therein, but the diameter of the front face of the
breech bolt should on the contrary be as nearly as posssble equal to the inner
diameter of the breech. When the explosion takes place the pressure trans
mitted by the movable needle guide to the washer is such that the washer is
compressed sufficiently to hermetically close the rear end of the barrel, and
thereby prevent all passage of gas. After the charge is fired the washer, by
virtue of its elasticity returns to its normal position. This washer is preferably
composed of three superposed layers intimately united, and having different
degrees of hardness, viz. the two outer layers should have such a degree of
hardness that at the moment of the compression the two faces of the washer
have not a tendency to enter the adjoining parts of the mechanism; the inter-
mediate layer, that which chiefly produces the obturation of the chamber,
should be perfectly elastic, but at the same time harder than ordinary
vulcanized caoutchouc of commerce. The mechanism of the breech parts
consists of the brecch, the breech bolt, the movable needle guide, the holding
and releasing apparatus for effecting the discharge of the gun, the coiled spring,
the needle holder or head, and the needle, all arranged and acting as about to
be described.
The breech is screwed to the barrel; it is open at its upper part for a length
equal to that of the rib of the breech bolt to which it allows passage. An
opening is formed at the right-hand side to permit of the introduction of the
cartridge, the back face of this opening serving as a stop to the bolt. The
mechanism for holding back the needle consist of two pieces, a lever and a
follower or catch connected together by a pin or screw, and acted upon by a
spring pressing upon the upper part of the lever. The follower or catch
projects into the breech, while the rear end of the lever, which is pivoted at a
short distance from its centre and communicates with the trigger, receives the
pressure from the trigger and transmits it to the follower or catch; this is
thereby drawn down and effects the releasing of the parts, so that the coiled
spring acts on the needle. The breech bolt is the piece to which all the other
parts of the mechanism are connected; it serves to open and close the
chamber to allow of the insertion of a cartridge.
The projecting rib formed longitudinally on this bolt effects the fixing of
this piece in the breech when the explosion takes place. A knob or handle

page_text: on the bolt serves for moving it. The front face of the bolt receives the
obturator composed of the washer and the movable needle guide. The rear
face is terminated by two longitudinal slots limiting the play of the needle,
one slot acting as a safety notch, and the other forming a releasing notch.
A longitudinal slot opposite the rib allows passage to the follower or catch
when the bolt is withdrawn, while the front end of another slot formed
near the right-hand side serves as a stop to the bolt, and prevents it coming
out of the breech when a screw which retains it is in place. In the interior
of the bolt a division separates the lodgement of the movable needle guide from
the lodgement of the other pieces of the mechanism. The movable needle
guide serves to compress the washer at the time of the explosion, as before
stated, and thereby preserves the breech bolt from the direct action of the gas.
This guide is connected to the bolt by a screw, the extremity of which engages
in a space formed in the guide, and which allows the guide to turn in the bolt;
this screw does not prevent the movable guide becoming displaced longi-
tudinally in the bolt by a relative movement, and thus the flange before
described can, by virtue of the reaction of the gas, compress the washer so as
to produce the hermetic obturation. The needle guide has a part projecting
in front of the flange for the purpose of constituting behind the cartridge
an empty space for the expulsion and combustion of the paper residues
remaining in the barrel after the discharge. The projecting part is also
formed with a hollow for the purpose of obviating the deterioration which
would otherwise be produced by gas on the needle.
The holding and releasing apparatus for effecting the discharge of the gun
consists in addition to the trigger, lever, and follower before mentioned of four
pieces connected by pins, and being as it were only one piece; these pieces
are the main or top piece, a roller, a tumbler, and a spring carrying rod.
The front face of the main or top piece is terminated by a projection engaging
into the upper opening of the breech, and at the extremity of which is fixed a
screw, which enters successively into the two longitudinal slots in the bolt,
forming, as before stated, a safety notch and a releasing notch, so that the
play of the holding and releasing parts can only take place in two determined
positions, that is to say when the screw is in the safety notch and in the
releasing notch. The result of this arrangement is that the gun can only be
fired when this screw is in the slot corresponding to it; and as this slot only
corresponds to it when the bolt is quite closed all chance of accident is
impossible. It is the same with the slot corresponding to the safety notch.
The hinder part of the main or top piece is terminated by a raised roughened
portion forming a thumb hold. The longitudinal movement is rendered easier.

page_text: by means of the roller before mentioned, which diminishes the friction of the
parts in the breech. The tumbler retains the top or main piece behind the
follower or catch. The spring carrying rod acts as a conductor to the main
or top piece, and works through a button screwed to the hind face of the
breech bolt. A small tenon on this rod which engages in a longitudinal mortise
in the button serves to unscrew the button by the aid of the top or main piece
after the holding screw has been removed. The coiled spring produces the
'blow of the needle against the priming of the cartridge; it is fitted round the
spring carrying rod, and rests at the back as a point of support upon the
button. The needle holder or head serves as an intermediate piece to connect
the needle to the spring carrying rod. After the needle has been introduced
into its lodgment, the holder or head is connected to the rod by means of a
mortice of T form fitted at the extremity of the rod. The needle for igniting
the charge consists of a steel wire of cylindrical form terminated at its rear
end in a head fixed to the holder, while the front end of the needle is by
preference conical.
To load the arm place the index finger behind the guard and the thumb upon
the raised roughened portion, and draw back the main or top piece of the
releasing apparatus and parts immediately connected therewith; then to open
the arm turn the knob or handle of the breech bolt from right to left, and
draw back this bolt; then place a cartridge in the barrel by the opening at
the right of the breech. To close the arm push the breech bolt forward, and
return the knob or handle from left to right.
In order to put the piece in the safety notch after the breech has been
closed it is necessary by turning the knob to place the releasing apparatus in
relation with the smaller of the two longitudinal slots of the bolt, then to
move the releasing apparatus until its screw reaches the bottom of this slot.
When it is required to fire the gun it is only necessary to close the bolt entirely
and to pull the trigger.
The cartridges to be used with these guns consist of six parts viz., the
priming, the powder case, the powder, the pasteboard wad, the ball case, and
the ball, as hereafter described.
4
The priming consists of a copper cap like the ordinary military cap, but of
smaller dimensions; it is formed at the bottom with two holes diametrically
opposite each other for giving passage to the spark; the fulminating powder
is placed at the bottom of the cap. A small plug of cloth or wax covers it,
so as to preserve it from outward blows. The cap is then covered with a thin
washer of brass or other suitable material, which is pasted upon paper for
forming the base of the cartridge, and the priming is thus complete. The

page_text: powder case is formed from a rectangular piece of paper, rolled upon a
mandril and pasted at its edges; when the case is dry the priming is inserted
by a mandril; then the end of the case is pasted. The case being thus
prepared the charge of powder is inserted, and is pushed down gently to give
rigidity to the cartridge. I next place on the powder a pasteboard wad
formed with a hole into which the twisted end of the paper of the case is
inserted, the excess paper being cut off. The ball case is composed of a paper
jacket rolled twice round a conical mandril, and pasted at the base only.
The ball is by preference of elongated tapered form with a flange at the rear.
After placing the ball in its case this case is connected to the powder case by
a string or thread passed round a groove on each case a slight distance behind
the wad; finally the cartridge is greased..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Clinton Edgcumbe Brooman in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 7th March 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CLINTON
EDGCUMBE BROOMAN, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of
166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh 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 Clinton Edgcumbe Brooman, Her special licence that I, the said
Clinton Edgcumbe Brooman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Clinton Edgcumbe Brooman, 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 BREECE-LOADING FIRE-ARCIS, AND IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF CARTRIDGES TO BE USED THEREWITH," (communicated to
me from abroad by Antoine Alphonse Chassepot, of Paris, France,) upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Clinton Edgcumbe Brooman,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be

page_text: 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 Clinton Edgcumbe Brooman, 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 fol-
lowing statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to what are known as needle guns, and consists
mainly in the means hereafter described of producing the obturation of the
breech chamber, that is to say, of preventing escape of gas, in the mechanism
of the breech parts, and in the manufacture of cartridges to be used with
these guns, all as hereafter described and represented in the accompanying
Drawings.
Figure 1 is a view of the right-hand side of an arm constructed according
to this Invention; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section; Figure 3 is a top view;
Figures 4 and 5 shew in detached views the movable parts of the mechanism;
Figures 6 and 7 are respectively an exterior view and a longitudinal section
of the cartridge.
The obturation or hermetic closing is obtained by the instantaneous com-
pression under the action of the explosion of a vulcanized caoutchouc washer a
interposed between the front face 6 of the breech bolt B, and a flange or
shoulder c upon the needle guide C, which guide is movable. The washer a
and the flange or shoulder care of a little less diameter than the breech in
which they are fitted, so as to facilitate their play therein, but the diameter of
the front face 6 of the breech bolt B should on the contrary be as nearly as
possible equal to the inner diameter of the breech. When the explosion takes
place the pressure transmitted by the movable needle guide O to the washer a
is such that the washer is compressed sufficiently to hermetically close the
rear end of the barrel, and thereby prevent all passage of gas. After the
charge is fired the washer a by virtue of its clasticity returns to its normal
position. This washer is preferably composed of three superposed layers
intimately united, and having different degrees of hardness, viz., the two outer
layers should have such a degree of hardness that at the moment of the
compression the two faces of the washer have not a tendency to enter the
adjoining parts of the mechanism; the intermediate layer, that which chiefly
produces the obturation of the chamber, should be perfectly elastic, but at the
same time harder than ordinary vulcanized caoutchouc of commerce.
The mechanism of the breech parts consists of the breech, the breech bolt,

page_text: the movable needle guide, the holding and releasing apparatus for effecting
the discharge of the gun, the coiled spring, the needle holder or head, and the
needle, all arranged and acting as about to be described. The breech D is
screwed to the barrel E, it is open at its upper part for a length equal to that
of the rib b¹ of the breech bolt B, to which it allows passage. An opening d
is formed at the right-hand side to permit of the introduction of the cartridge,
the back face d of this opening serving as a stop to the rib b'. The mechanism
for holding back the needle consists of two picces, a lever EI and a follower or
catch G, connected together by a pin or screw g, and acted upon by a spring I
pressing upon the upper part of the lever H. The follower or catch G
projects into the breech D, while the rear end of the lever H which is pivoted
at and communicates with the trigger J receives the pressure from the
trigger and transmits it to the follower or catch G, this is thereby drawn
down, and effects the releasing of the parts, so that the coiled spring acts on
the needle. The breech bolt B is the piece to which all the other parts of
the mechanism are connected; it serves to open and close the chamber to
allow of the insertion of a cartridge. The projecting rib b¹ formed longi-
tudinally on this bolt effects the fixing of this piece in the brecch when the
explosion takes place. A knob or handle & on the bolt serves for moving it.
The front face of the bolt receives the obturator composed of the washer a and
the movable needle guide C. The rear face is terminated by two longi-
tudinal slots limiting the play of the needle, one slot i acting as a safety notch,
and the other forming a releasing notch. A longitudinal slot & opposite the
rib b' allows passage to the follower or catch G when the bolt is withdrawn,
while the front end of another slot e formed near the right-hand side serves as
a stop to the bolt B, and prevents it coming out of the breech when a
screw e' which retains it is in place. In the interior of the bolt B a division K
separates the lodgment k of the movable needle guide from the lodgment of
the other pieces of the mechanism. The movable needlo guide C.serves to
compress the washer a at the time of the explosion, as before stated, and
thereby preserves the breech bolt from the direct action of the gas. This
guide C is connected to the bolt B by a screw c', the extremity. of which
engages in a space formed in the guide, and which allows the guide to turn in
the bolt; this screw c³ does not prevent the movable guide becoming displaced
longitudinally in the bolt by a relative movement, and thus the flange c can
by virtue of the reaction of the gas compress the washer a so as to produce
the hermetic obturation. The needle guide C has a part c³ projecting in
front of the flange for the purpose of constituting behind the cartridge an
empty space for the expulsion and combustion of the paper residues remaining

page_text: in the barrel after the discharge. The projecting part is also formed with a
hollow for the purpose of obviating the deterioration which would otherwise
be produced by the gas on the needle. The holding and releasing apparatus
for effecting the discharge of the gun consists in addition to the trigger lever
and follower before mentioned of four pieces connected by pins and being as it
were only one piece. These pieces are the main or top picce F, a roller, a
tumbler f, and a spring carrying rodf. The front face of the main or top
piece F is terminated by a projection f engaging into the upper opening of
the breech and at the extremity of which is fixed a screw f', which enters
successively into the two longitudinal slots i andj in the bolt, forming as
before stated a safety notch and a releasing notch, so that the play of the
holding and releasing parts can only take place in two determined positions, that
is to say, when the screw is in the safety notch and in the releasing notch. The
result of this arrangement is that the gun can only be fired when this screw f
is in the slot corresponding to it, and as this slot only corresponds to it when
the bolt is quite closed, all chance of accident is impossible. It is the same
with the slot corresponding to the safety notch. The hinder part of the main
or top picce is terminated by a raised roughened portion f forming a thumb
hold. The longitudinal movement is rendered casier by means of the
roller, which diminishes the friction of the parts in the breech. The
tumbler retains the top or main piece behind the follower or catch G.
The spring carrying rod få acts as conductor to the main or top picce
and works through a button L screwed to the hind face of the breech bolt.
A small tenon on the rod f, which engages in a longitudinal mortice
in the button serves to unscrew the button by the aid of the top or main
piece after the holding screw has been removed. The coiled spring M
produces the blow of the needle against the priming of the cartridge, it is
fitted round the spring carrying rod f*, and rests at the back as a point of
support upon the button L. The needle holder or head N serves as an inter-
mediate piece to connect the needle P to the spring carrying rod f. After
the needle has been introduced into its lodgment n the holder or head N is
connected to the rod by means of a mortice of T-form fitted at the extremity
of the rod. The needle P for igniting the charge consists of a steel wire of
cylindrical form terminated at its rear end in a head fixed to the holder N while
the front end of the needle is by preference conical. To load the arm place
the index finger behind the guard and the thumb upon the raised roughened
portions, and draw back the main or top picce F of the releasing apparatus
and parts immediately connected therewith, then to open the arm turn the
knob or handle of the breech bolt B from right to left and draw back this

page_text: bolt; then place a cartridge in the barrel by the opening at the right of the
breech. To close the arm push the breech bolt forward and return its knob
or handle from left to right. In order to put the piece in the safety notch
after the breech has been closed it is necessary by turning tho knob to place
the releasing apparatus in relation with the smaller of the two longitudinal
slots of the bolt, then to move the releasing apparatus until its screw reaches
the bottom of this slot. When it is required to fire the gun it is only
necessary to close the bolt entirely and to pull the trigger. The cartridges to
be used with these guns consist of six parts, viz., the priming, the powder
case, the powder, the pasteboard wad, the ball case, and the ball as hercafter
described.
The priming consists of a copper cap q like the ordinary military cap, but
of smaller dimensions, it is formed at the bottom with two holes diametrically
opposite each other for giving passage to the spark. The fulminating powder r
is placed at the bottom of the cap. A small plugs of cloth or wax covers
it is so as to preserve it from outward blows, the cap is then covered with a thin
washer of brass or other suitable material which is pasted upon paper for
forming the base of the cartridge, and the priming is thus complete. The
powder case is formed from a rectangular piece of paper 1 rolled upon a
mandril and pasted at its edges, when the case is dry the priming is inserted
by a mandril, then the end of the case is pasted. The case being thus
prepared the charge of powder vis inserted and is pushed down gently to
give rigidity to the cartridge. I next place on the powder a pasteboard
wad to, formed with a hole into which the twisted end of the paper of the
case u is inserted, the excess paper being cut off, the ball case is composed
of a paper jacket y rolled twice round a conical mandril and pasted at the
base only. The ball is by preference of the form shown in the Drawing.
After placing the ball in its case, this case is connected to the powder case by
a string or thread passed round a groove on each case a slight distance
behind the wad; finally the cartridge is greased.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as the "Im-
provements in Breech-loading Fire-arms and in the Manufacture of Cartridges
to be used therewith,"―
First. The combination or arrangement of parts constituting a breech-
loading fire-arm, substantially as herein-before described and represented in
the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The arrangement or means substantially as herein-before described

page_text: and represented in the accompanying Drawings of producing the obturation
or hermetic closing of the breech at the time of the explosion.
Third. The arrangement of the mechanism of the breech, substantially as
herein-before described and represented in the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. Manufacturing cartridges for breech-loading fire-arms, substantially
as herein-before described and represented in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Clinton Edgcumbe Brooman, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of March, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-seven.

page_text: In the Matter of a Patent granted to CLINTON EDGCUMBE BROOMAN, of
the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of 166, Fleet
Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents, for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CARTRIDGES
TO BE USED THEREWITH," (a communication from abroad by Antoine
Alphonse Chassepot, of Paris, France,) bearing date at Westminster,
the 7th day of September, 1866, (No. 2304), and which said
Letters Patent have been duly assigned to the said Antoine
Alphonse Chassepot, and are now registered in his name in the
Register of Proprietors pursuant to the 35th Section of the Patent
Law Amendment Act.
ISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION proposed to be
entered by the said Antoine Alphonse Chassepot as such assignee as
aforesaid, pursuant to the Statutes in that case made and provided.
WHEREAS since the filing of the Specification to the said Patent I have
scertained that the claim made in the second claiming clause at the end of
e said Specification which claims separately the means described for
btaining the hermetic closing of the breech at the time of the explosion
annot be supported, I for this reason wish to disclaim, and do hereby disclaim,
ach second claiming clause, and for the same reason I strike out from the

page_text: first paragraph of the said Specification the words "in the means hereafter
described of producing the obturation of the breech chamber, that is to say,
of preventing escape of gas," and in order to make the description of the said
Invention consistent with the aforesaid Disclaimer I alter the said Specifica-
tion by inserting in the paragraph preceding the claiming clauses, between
the word "declare" and the word "that," the following words, (viz)., that I
do not claim the means described of producing the obturation of the breech
comme
ent or one or the claiming
clauses into the word second, and
the word "fourth" at the commencement of another claiming clause into the
word third, and in order that the effect of this Disclaimer and Memorandum
of Alteration may be better understood I annex a copy of the Specification as
it will appear when such Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration have
been made as aforesaid.
"This Invention relates to what are known as needle guns, and consists
"mainly in the mechanism of the breech parts, and in the manufacture
"of cartridges to be used with these guns, all as hereafter described and
represented in the accompanying Drawings.
"Figure 1 is a view of the right-hand side of an arm constructed according
"to this Invention; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section; Figure 3 is a top
"view; Figures 4 and 5 shew in detached views the movable parts of the
"mechanism; Figures 6 and 7 are respectively an exterior view and a
"longitudinal section of the cartridge.
"The obturation or hermetic closing is obtained by the instantaneous
"compression under the action of the explosion of a vulcanized caoutchouc
"washer a interposed between the front face 6 of the breech bolt B, and a
flange or shoulder c upon the needle guide C, which guide is movable. The
"washer a and the flange or shoulder c are of a little less diameter than the
breech in which they are fitted, so as to facilitate their play therein, but the
"diameter of the front face b of the breech bolt B should on the contrary be
as nearly as possible equal to the inner diameter of the breech. When the
explosion takes place the pressure transmitted by the moveable needle
guide C to the washer a is such that the washer is compressed sufficiently
" to hermetically close the rear end of the barrel, and thereby prevent all
passage of gas. After the charge is fired the washer a by virtue of its
elasticity returns to its norinal position; this washer is preferably composed

page_text: "of three superposed layers intimately united and having different degrees.
"of hardness, viz., the two outer layers should have such a degree of
"hardness that at the moment of the compression the two faces of the
washer have not a tendency to enter the adjoining parts of the mechanism;
"the intermediate layer, that which chiefly produces the obturation, of
"the chamber, should be perfectly elastic, but at the same time harder
"than ordinary vulcanized caoutchouc of commerce. The inechanism of
"the breech parts consists of the breech, the breech bolt, the movable
"needle guide, the holding and releasing apparatus for effecting the discharge
"of the gun, the coiled spring, the needle holder or head, and the needle, all
"arranged and acting as about to be described. The breech D is screwed to
66
66
the barrel E; it is open at its upper part for a length equal to that of the
"rib b' of the breech bolt. B, to which it allows passage. An opening d is
"formed at the right-hand side to permit of the introduction of the cartridge,
the back face d' of this opening serving as a stop to the rib b¹. The
"mechanism for holding back the needle consists of two pieces, a lever H
"and a follower or catch G, connected together by a pin or screw g, and acted
upon by a spring I pressing upon the upper part of the lever H. The
"follower or catch G projects into the breech D, while the rear end of the
"lever H, which is pivoted at h' and communicates with the trigger J;
"receives the pressure from the trigger and transmits it to the follower or
"catch G, this is thereby drawn down and effects the releasing of the parts,
so that the coiled spring acts on the needle. The breech bolt B is the
piece to which all the other parts of the mechanism are connected, it serves
to open and close the chamber to allow of the insertion of a cartridge. The
"projecting rib 6, formed longitudinally on this bolt,.effects the fixing of this
piece in the breech when the explosion takes place. A knob or handle 62
on the bolt serves. for moving it. The front face of the bolt receives the
"obturator, composed of the washer a and the moveable needle guide C.
"The rear face is terminated by two longitudinal slots limiting the play of the
"needle, one slot i acting as a safety notch, and the other j forming a releasing
"notch. A longitudinal slot 6 opposite the rib 6' allows passage to the follower
« or catch G when the bolt is withdrawn, while the front end of another slot 6,
"formed near the right-hand side, serves as a stop to the bolt B, and prevents
"it coming out of the breech when a screw which retains it is in place.
"In the interior of the bolt B a division K separates the lodgument k of
"the moveable needle guide from the lodgment of the other pieces of the
"mechanism. The moveable needle guide C serves to compress the washer a
at the time of the expl sion as before stated, and thereby preserves the
6
"

page_text: 66
6
66
66
"breech bolt from the direct action of the gas. This guide C is connected
"to the bolt B by a screw c', the extremity of which engages in a space
"formed in the guide, and which allows the guide to turn in the bolt; this
"screw does not prevent the movable guide becoming displaced longi-
"tudinally in the bolt by a relative movement, and thus the flange c can by
"virtue of the reaction of the gas compress the washer a so as to produce
"the hermetic obturation. The needle guide C has a part projecting in
"front of the flange for the purpose of constituting behind the cartridge an
empty space for the expulsion and combustion of the paper residues
remaining in the barrel after the discharge. The projecting part is also
"formed with a hollow for the purpose of obviating the deterioration which
"would otherwise be produced by the gas on the needle. The holding and
"releasing apparatus for effecting the discharge of the gun consists, in addition
"to the trigger lever and follower before mentioned, of four pieces connected
by pins, and being as it were only one piece. These pieces are the main or
top piece F, a roller f, a tumbler f, and a spring carrying rod f. The front
"face of the main or top piece F is terminated by a projection f³ engaging into
"the upper opening of the breech, and at the extremity of which is fixed a
"screw f', which enters successively into the two longitudinal slots i and jin
"the bolt, forming as before stated a safety notch and a releasing notch, so
"that the play of the holding and releasing parts can only take place in two
"determined positions, that is to say, when the screw is in the safety notch
" and in the releasing notch. The result of this arrangement is that the gun
can only be fired when this screw f' is in the slot corresponding to it, and
"as this slot only corresponds to it when the bolt is quite closed all chance of
"accident is impossible. It is the same with the slot corresponding to the
safety notch. The hinder part of the main or top piece is terminated by a
" raised roughened portion f³, forming a thumb hold. The longitudinal
"movement is rendered easier by means of the roller f, which diminishes the
friction of the parts in the breech. The tumbler f¹ retains the top or main
piece behind the follower or catch G. The spring carrying rod f* acts as
"a conductor to the main or top piece, and works through a button L screwed
to the hind face of the breech bolt. A small tenon l on the rod f, which
engages in a longitudinal mortice in the button, serves to unscrew the
"button by the aid of the top or main piece after the holding screw has been
" removed; the coiled spring M produces the blow of the needle against the
priming of the cartridge; it is fitted round the spring carrying rod ƒ³,
"and rests at the back, us a point of support, upon the button L. The
"needle holder or head N serves as an intermediate piece to connect
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"
"the needle P to the spring carrying rod f*. After the needle has been
"introduced into its lodgment n the holder or head N is connected to the rod
"by means of a mortice of T form fitted at the extremity of the rod. The
"needle P for igniting the charge consists of a steel wire of cylindrical form,
"terminated at its rear end in a head fixed to the holder N, while the front
"end of the needle is by preference conical. To load the arm place the
"index finger behind the guard and the thumb upon the raised roughened
portion f, and draw back the main or top piece F of the releasing
apparatus and parts immediately connected therewith; then to open the
arm turn the knob or handle 6 of the breech bolt B from right to left
"and draw back this bolt; then place a cartridge in the barrel by the
"opening at the right of the breech. To close the arm push the breech
"bolt forward and return its knob or handle from left to right. In order to
66 put the piece in the safety notch after the breech has been closed it is
"necessary, by turning the knob, to place the releasing apparatus in relation
"with the smaller of the two longitudinal slots of the bolt, then to move
"the releasing apparatus until its screw reaches the bottom of the slot.
"When it is required to fire the gun it is only necessary to close the bolt
"entirely and to pull the trigger. The cartridges to be used with these
" guns consist of six parts, vizt., the priming, the powder case, the powder,
"the pasteboard wad, the ball case, and the ball as hereafter described.
"The priming consists of a copper cap q like the ordinary military cap but
" of smaller dimensions; it is formed at the bottom with two holes diametri=
cally opposite each other for giving passage to the spark. The fulminating
powder r is placed at the bottom of the cap. A small plugs of cloth or
"wax covers it, so as to preserve it from outward blows; the cap is then
"covered with a thin washer t of brass or other suitable material, which is
pasted upon paper for forming the base of the cartridge, and the priming is
"thus complete. The powder case is formed from a rectangular piece of
paper u, rolled upon a mandril and pasted at its edges; when the case is dry
"the priming is inserted by a mandril, then the end of the case is pasted.
"The case being thus prepared the charge of powder v is inserted and is
"
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66
pushed down gently to give rigidity to the cartridge. I next place ou the
"powder a pasteboard wad w, formed with a hole, into which the twisted end
"of the paper of the case u is inserted, the excess paper being cut off; the
ball case is composed of a paper jacket y rolled twice round a conical
"mandril and pasted at the base only. The ball is by preference of the
"form shown in the Drawing. After placing the ball in its case this case is
"connected to the powder case by a string or thread passed round a groove

page_text: each case a slight distance behind the wad, finally the cartridge is
"greased.
"And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I do not claim the
means described of producing the obturation of the breech chamber, that is
to say, of preventing the escape of gas apart from the combination consisting
"of such means combined with the other parts of the fire-arm as berein-
"before set forth; but that I claim as the Improvements in Breech-
loading Fire-arms, and in the Manufacture of Cartridges to be used
"therewith,
"First, the combination or arrangement of parts constituting a breech-
"loading fire-arm substantially as herein-before described, and represented in
"the accompanying Drawings.
Second, the arrangement of the mechanism of the breech substantially
as herein-before described, and represented in the accompanying Drawings,
Third, manufacturing cartridges for breech-loading fire-armus substan-
tially as herein-before described, and represented in the accompany ing
"Drawings."
In witness whereof, I, the said Antoine Alphonse Chassepot, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of March, in the
year of our Lord Oue thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
ALPHONSE HELBRONNER.
To the Commissioners of Patents for Inventions.
I hereby grant my fiat, giving leave to the above-named Antoine Alphonse
Chassepot, Assignce of the said Letters Patent, to file in the Great Seal
Patent Office, with the Specification to which the same relates, the above
written Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration.
I hereby grant my fiat, giving leave to the above-named Antoine Alphonse
Chassepot, Assignce of the said Letters Patent, to file in the Great Seal
Patent Office, with the Specification to which the same relates, the above
written Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration.
Temple,
7th April 1868.
W. B. BRETT,
Solicitor-General.