IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE ARMS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Wellington Greener, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Gun Manufacturer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE ARMS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Wellington Greener
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th May 1881.
WILLIAM WELLINGTON GREENER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Gun Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE ARMS."
The first part of my Invention relates to the method of throwing out or ejecting
the fired cartridge case from single or double drop down guns, rifles, and pistols,
and is an improvement upon the Needham ejector gun, and based upon the
Invention of Joseph Needham, of Piccadilly, in the County of Middlesex, to whom
Letters Patent were granted on the 7th of April 1874, No. 1205, and the references
I shall make to "Needham's Patent" refer to these Letters Patent.
I make use of the "extractors and ejectors," as fully set forth in "Needham's
Patent," and any breech action on the drop down principle actuated by a top or
other lever, but the said lever not assisting in forcing open the barrels.
Instead of employing the lever to force open the barrels (as in Needham's
Patent) and pivoting the ejectors in the back lump of the barrels, I pivot the
ejectors in the fore lump, and by using a shorter action body I so arrange the
centres that the barrels drop of their own weight without any assistance from the
breech action lever.
I bring forward the centre pivot of the tumblers, and use the turned in extremities
of the extended arms of the tumblers (as in Letters Patent granted to me the
2nd of March 1880, No. 930) to engage with the ejectors and cocking swivel.
I so arrange the ejectors that their lower extremities project rearwards through
the cocking swivel pivoted in the fore under lump of the barrels, having in
addition to its hooked extremity (or at such a distance from either as the size of
the gun and arrangement of the mechanism may require). I cut a slot through
the cocking swivel and the projecting stud thereon so as to allow the lower

page_text: extremities of the pivoted "ejectors" or ejecting cams to project there through
and come in contact with the turned in extremities of the extended arms of the
tumblers.
The lower extremities of the ejecting cams are acted upon by the turned in
extremities of the extended arms of the tumblers in the same manner as are the
ejectors acted upon by the cocking arm projecting from the tumblers in "Needham's
Patent."
Or I can pivot the cocking and ejecting swivel on to the back lump of the barrels
by arranging the centres of the tumblers and lock mechanism further backward;
or if one under barrel lump only is used, and the barrel held down by a top
connection or other means, I can pivot my cocking and ejecting swivel in that only
under lump.
I so arrange the two ejecting cams that when projecting through the cocking
and ejecting swivel they come into contact with the turned in extremities of the
extended arms of the tumblers, and extract the cases; the contact is then broken,
and again renewed after the extended arms of the tumblers slip over the
projections on the cocking swivel, and upon this second contact the ejecting cams
so act upon the extractors as to cause them to spring forward, and so eject the
cases.
Or I can so form the slot in which the barrel lump works that the ejecting cams
may come into contact with it, and so extract the cases; or I can place a stud
therein for the same purpose.
The second part of my Invention relates to the cocking and cocking mechanism
of hammerless drop down guns.
I arrange the lock mechanism of hammerless guns, cocked by means of a hooked
swivel pivoted in the under barrel lump, as in Letters Patent granted to me 2nd of
March 1880 (No. 930) upon movable side lock plates; this I do by altering the
position of the main spring, so that it acts upon a notch, hollow, or stud on the back
of the tumbler, instead of in a notch on the breast of the tumbler, or an arm
extended forward for the purpose of cocking.
I use a bridle to keep the tumbler and secar to the lock plate, and I dispense
with a secar spring, and make the shorter arm of the V main spring to act as a
scear spring.
In hammerless guns cocking by means of a hooked swivel pivoted in the barrel
lump, I keep the swivel to its bearing underneath the turned in extended arms of
the tumblers by means of a swing cam pivoted in the barrel lump, and having
one end bearing against the hooked swivel when the cam is in a horizontal
position.
Upon lifting the forward arm of the swing cam the shorter arm is depressed and
taken from its bearing against the hooked cocking swivel, which may then slip
past the turned in extremities of the extended arms of the tumblers, and allow of
the barrels being removed from and replaced upon the stock of the gun, it being
immaterial whether the locks be first cocked or not.
The third part of my Invention relates to safety bolts for hammerless
breechloaders.
I make a locking bolt to work automatically by affixing the locking bolts on to a
horizontal sliding rod in direct communication with the heel plate of a gun by
meaus of the following mechanism.
I construct a horizontal sliding rod having studs thercon, and so arrange it that
the stud at the forward extremity of the rod shall, when the rod is backward to its
greatest extent, be just clear of the extended cocking arm of the tumbler, and the
other stud over a notch in the trigger blade, or just behind the trigger blade itself;
immediately the rod is caused to move forwards the studs affixed thereto travel
with it, the one at the forward extremity passing under the extended arm of the
tumbler, effectually preventing the tumbler coming into contact with the cap of the
cartridge, and the rear stud passing over the trigger blade bolts it and prevents
any upward movement of the trigger.

page_text: I communicate the retrograde and forward horizontal sliding motion to the bolts
by means of a connecting rod attached to the one extremity of a swinging cam
pivotted in the butt of the gun near the heel plate.
The heel plate I construct with a hinge, one part of the heel plate being screwed
or otherwise made fast to the gunstock, the other capable of an ordinary hinge
motion.
I so arrange the swing cam that the opposite extremity to that to which the
connecting rod is fastened comes into contact with the loose flap of the heel plate,
and receives a motion from it immediately the heel plate is pressed.
I keep the horizontal rod and connecting rod as far forward, and the heel plate as
far backward as they will travel by means of a flat, spiral, or V spring acting upon
the swing cam in the butt; thus both the tumblers and triggers are bolted until a
backward movement is given to the bolting rod by pressing the heelplate.
The heelplate is pressed when the gun is at the shoulder for firing, the gun
remaining bolted until that time.
The heel plate, instead of being hinged, can be composed of two pieces joined by
means of a steel spring, or may itself be a spring so set as to be capable of playing
sufficiently to give the requisite movement to the swing cam or other mechanism
in connection with the bolting rod.
The swing cam itself can be dispensed with; the connecting rod actuated by
means of a circular stud or bent arm fixed to a moveable portion of the heel plate,
and its further extremity beyond the hinge or centre on which the moveable part
of the heel plate works.
Or the heel plate may itself press against the connecting rod and communicate
to the locking bolt exactly the same amount of travel as that traversed by the
heel plate.
By the use of the swing cam the heel plate communicates double the extent of
its travel to the connecting rod; or by altering the length of the swing cam I can
get as much increase of travel as the particular arrangements of the lock mechanism
may require.
By an ordinary reversing gear in the connecting rod I can make the bolting rod
and studs bolt when at their backward extremity instead of at their forward
extremity, should any modification of the locking or cocking mechanism require it.
I actuate the same bolting rod and studs by means of a sliding thumb lever
working horizontally on a tang of the breech action, and having a perpendicular
arm extended downward through the hand of the stock, and with its extremity in
contact with a stud on the bolting rod or slots therein.
Or the same motion can be cominunicated by a thumb lever attached to a spindle,
the spindle with its axis at right angles to the locking rods and the thumb lever
on either side of the lock plate.
Into this spindle I aflix an arm or arms extending upwards or downwards as the
spindle is pitched either above or below the locking rod, and coming into contact
with studs upon or slots in the locking rods, and communicating a horizontal
sliding motion to the locking rod upon the thumb lever on the lock plate being
caused to describe the part of a circle.
The fourth part of my Invention relates to double guns and rifles in which the
barrels are fixed to a frame in which a breech block or other mechanism is placed
and manipulated to insert and extract the cartridges.
By placing two barrels the one over the other instead of side by side, as is
usually done, I am enabled to use any of the falling block breech actions now
used for single rifles, that is to say, any breech mechanism in which a block
traveling perpendicularly in a slotted frame for the purpose of exposing and closing
the breech ends of a barrel may be so modified as to form a double barrelled arm
by my Invention of arranging the barrels perpendicularly (one over the other) for
that purpose.
The locking and firing mechanisms now in use are in every way applicable by
my Invention except that they are required in duplicate.

page_text: I extract with an ordinary single extractor to each barrel, or I can use a double
extractor, withdrawing both cartridges together.
I can also construct a double rifle or gun with the barrels side by side in
conjunction with the mechanism known as Field's Patent (Specification, No. 1927,
1877), and my Invention consists of duplicating the lock mechanism for that
purpose, and in using an extractor to each barrel, acting independently of each
other
The fifth part of my Invention relates to breech loading punt guns, harpoon
guns, signal guns, and small cannon, and in the application of brass cartridge cases
thereto, and the extracting mechanism for the same.
I screw on to the breech end, of the barrel a breech action frame containing a
sliding breech block travelling perpendicularly, and with firing and extracting
mechanism suitably arranged.
By this means I am enabled to construct a punt gun, signal gun, harpoon gun,
or cannon from 1/4 inch calibre that can be loaded from the breech end with a
solid drawn brass cartridge case, and after firing eject the fired case.
The extracting and firing mechanism most suitable for my Invention is that
known as the Field sliding block (Field's Patent, No. 1927, 1877), but any breech-
loading action having a falling breech block travelling in a frame screwed to or
upon the barrel can be used on such guns as I have described in conjunction with
the application of the solid drawn brass cartridge case, and of this application 'my
Invention consists..

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Wellington Greener in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 9th November 1881.
'
WILLIAM WELLINGTON GREENER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Gun Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE ARMS."
My improvements consist, first, in the method of throwing out or ejecting the
fired cartridge case from single or double drop down guns, rifles, and pistols, and is
an improvement upon the "Needham" ejector gun, and based upon the Invention
of Joseph Needham, of Piccadilly, in the County of Middlesex, to whom Letters
Patent were granted on the 7th of April 1874, No. 1205, and the references I shall
make to "Needham's Patent" refer to the Specification duly granted and sealed as
above.
I make use of any breech action on the drop down principle actuated by a top
or other lever, the said lever not assisting in forcing open the barrels.
"
I make use of the "extractors and ejectors' as fully set forth in "Needham's
Patent." Instead of employing the lever to force open the barrels (as in
"Needham's Patent") and pivoting the ejectors in the back lump of the barrels,
I pivot the ejectors in the fore lump of the barrels.
The exact position of the ejectors is indicated by dotted lines f. f, f, f, in
Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The barrels A having one or two lumps S, R, underneath, and
in the hinge lump R turning upon the centre pin q, I pivot the ejectors f. f, at ƒ%,
then by making use of a shorter breech action body I so arrange the centres q, c, P,
in Figs. 1, 2, 3, that the barrels A drop of their own weight, and without any
assistance from the breech action lever or bolts in connection therewith.
I bring forward the centre pivot p of the tumblers B, and use the turned in
extremities e, e, of the extended arms of the tumblers (as in Letters Patent granted
to me the 2nd of June 1880, No. 930) to engage with the ejectors f, f, and cocking
swivel d, d.
I so arrange the ejectors f, f, that their lower extremities project rearwards
through the cocking swivel d pivoted at c, Fig. 2, in the under lump R of the
barrels A.
This cocking swivel, shown in side elevation, Fig. 6, and end elevation, Fig. 7,
I provide with two studs d¹, d³, Fig. 7, in addition to its hooked extremity d²; d³,
Fig. 7. These studs or projections d¹, ³, are placed midway between the centre c
of the cocking swivel and its hooked extremity or extremities d³, d³, or at such
distances from either as the size of the gun and arrangement of the mechanism
may require.
I moreover cut a slot through the cocking swivel d extending from its hooked
extremity d², d, upwards towards the centre C; or I continue the slot through
the hooked extremity, rendering the cocking swivel, as shewn in Fig. 7, and having
two booked extremities d², d', instead of one as described in Letters Patent No. 930,
above referred to.
Or I can employ two cocking swivels by continuing the studded portions of the
cocking swivel to the pivot or centre c instead of uniting them at d, Fig. 7, and
carrying up one arm only to the centre c.
The slot in the cocking swivel is to allow of the lower extremities of the
ejectors ff, pivoted at f² to project there through and come into contact with
the turned in extremities e, e, of the extended arms of the tumblers B, B.
The ejecting cams or ejectors are shown in side elevation at Fig. 8, and in end
elevation at Fig. 9, their lower extremities when pivoted in the barrel lump, as
before described, project through the slot in the cocking swivel d and are acted

page_text: upon by the turned in extremities e of the extended arms of the tumblers B in the
same manner as are the ejectors acted upon by the cocking arm projecting from
the tumblers in 65
Needham's Patent," and which may briefly be described as
follows: The gun when closed has the ejectors, cocking swivel, and other
mechanism, in the positions represented in Fig. 1. Upon the gun,being opened and
the barrels falling, the cocking swivel d is raised, and the turned in extremities e
of the arms of the tumblers B being in contact therewith are raised by the
studs d', d³, until slipping over these studs the turned in extremities fall with force,
conveyed by the main springs, upon the lower extremities of the ejectors f, f, each
cjector thereupon forcing out its corresponding extractor g-by, coming in contact
with the legs h, h. The tumblers are then raised by the lower studs or hooks d², d³,
of the cocking swivel d until raised to full cock, as shewn in Fig. 2.
Fig. 3 represents the gun closed and ready for firing, the tumbler B being kept
at cock by the secar m, the cocking swivel d and ejectors occupying their original
positions, same as shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is an elevation of the under-side of the breech action body, showing the
relative positions of the tumblers B, cocking swivel d, scears m, m, and tumbler
bents n, also the seear spring 7 pinned to the body at k.
Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the barrels, shewing cocking swivel d, ejectors f, f
and extractors g, g, in position upon the barrels A.
Fig. 10 is a side and Fig. 11 end elevation of the tumblers B in Figs. 1, 2, 3.
Fig. 12 is side and Fig. 13 end elevation of the double extractor g in Figs. 1, 2,
and 3.
Or I can modify the afore mentioned mechanism by pivoting the cocking swivel d
and ejectors f, f, to the back lump S of the barrels A, Fig. 2, and gain the same
ejecting motion and power by altering also the relative positions of the limbs and
the centres p, q, and f²; or if one under barrel lump only is used, and the barrels A
held down by a top connection or other means, I can pivot my cocking swivel and
ejectors in that said only under barrel lump and obtain same result.
I so arrange the two ejectors f, f, that when projecting through the cocking
swivel d they come into contact with the turned in extremities e, e, of the
tumbler B, and partly extract the cases; the contact is then broken, and again
renewed after the extremities of the tumblers have slipped over the projection d', d³,
of the cocking swivel, and it is upon this second contact that the fired cases are
ejected.
Or I can so form the slot in which the barrel lump works that the ejecting
cams ff, may come into contact with it, or the breech action body itself, and so
extract the cases, or I can place a stud therein for the same purpose.
The second part of my Invention consists of various improvements in the
mechanism and arrangement of the cocking and locking mechanism of hammerless
drop-down guns.
I arrange the lock mechanism of hammerless guns cocked by means of a hooked
swivel pivoted in the under lump of the barrels, as in Letters Patent granted to
me 2nd of March 1880 (No. 930), upon movable lock plates, as in Fig. 14. This I
accomplish by altering the position of the mainspring m so that it acts upon a
notch, hollow, or stud n, Fig. 14, on the back of the tumbler B, instead of on the
breast b or an arm 62 extended forward for the purpose of cocking.
I use a bridle c to keep the tumbler B and seear D to the lock plate A, A, and
I dispense with a seear spring, and make the shorter arm m² of the V main
spring to act as a seear spring, its forward extremity m³ bearing upon the
seear D in the same manner as, and for the same purposes as, an ordinary seear
spring.
In hammerless guns cocking by means of a hooked swivel pivötted to the barrel
lump, I keep the swivel to its bearing underneath the turned in extended arms of
the tumblers by means of a swing cam a, Fig. 21, pivoted at b in the barrel lump,
and having one end a bearing against the hooked swivel d when the cam a is in a
horizontal position, or parallel with the longitudinal axis of the barrels. Upon
་

page_text: lifting the forward or longer arm of the swing cam a the shorter arm is depressed
and taken from its bearing against the hooked cocking swivel d, which may then
slip past the turned in extremities of the extended arms of the tumblers, and allow
of the barrels being removed from and replaced upon the stock of the gun.
Or I effect the same end by substituting for the cam a a rod a, Fig. 20, turning
in the under barrel lump, and having a stud or head a² bearing against the hooked
swivel d. This head. a is flattened on two sides, and when the flats are top and
bottom the swivel d is kept to its bearing, but upon giving to the rod a half turn,-
and thus putting the narrow sides of the rod top and bottom, the swivel & slips on
each side of the head a² of the rod a, and the barrels may then be removed from
or placed upon the stock.
The third part of my Invention consists of safety locking mechanism for
hammerless guns.
I make a locking bolt to work automatically by affixing the locking bolts a', a²,
on to a horizontal sliding rod B in direct communication with the heel plate c of a
gun by means of the following mechanism and as illustrated on the Drawings:-
I construct a horizontal sliding rod B, Figs. 16, 17, having studs thereon a¹, a²,
and so arrange it that the stud a2 at the forward extremity of the rod shall, when
the rod B is backward to its greatest extent, be just clear of the extended cocking
arm of the tumbler d, and the other stud a¹ over a notch n in the trigger
blade m, or just behind the trigger blade m itself. Immediately the rod B is caused
to move forwards, the studs a¹, a², affixed thereto to travel with it, the one at the
forward extremity passing under the extended arm d² of the tumbler d, effectually
preventing the tumbler from falling upon, or striking, or coming into contact in
any way with the cap of the cartridge, and the rear stud a passing over the
trigger blade m bolts the trigger, and prevents it moving upward and pressing
against the seear.
I communicate the retrograde and forward horizontal sliding motion to the
bolts by means of the mechanism shewn in Figs. 15 and 16, and consisting of a
connecting rod B2, Figs. 15, 18, 19, attached to the one extremity of a swinging
cam e, Fig. 15, pivoted at f in the butt of the gun g near the heel plate c,
Fig. 15.
The heel plate c I construct with a hinge joint, the hinge being shown at H;
thus one part of the heel plate c being screwed or otherwise made fast to the gun
stock g, the other c² capable of an ordinary hinge motion.
I so arrange the awing cam e, Fig. 15, that the opposite extremity to that to
which the connecting rod 62 is fastened comes in contact with the loose flap c³ of
the heel plate c, and receives a motion from it immediately the heel plate is pressed
by placing the gun to the shoulder for firing.
I keep the horizontal rod B and connecting rod B³ as far forward, and the heel
flap cas far backward as they will travel by means of a flat, spiral, or V spring k
Fig. 15, acting upon the swing came in the butt g of the gun, thus both the
tumblers d and triggers M are bolted until a backward movement is given to the
bolting rod B by pressing the heel plate.
The beel plate is pressed when the gun is at the shoulder for firing, the gun
remaining bolted until that time.
The heel plate instead of being hinged can be composed of two pieces joined by
means of a steel spring, or may itself be a spring so set as to be capable of playing
sufficiently to give the requisite movement to the swing cam e or other mechanism
in connection with a bolting rod B.
The swing cam e can be dispensed with. I then actuate the connecting rod by
means of a circular or bent stud e, Fig. 18, fixed to the movable portion c² of the
heel plate c, having its further extremity beyond the hinge H or centre on which
the movable part of the heel plate works. Or the heel plate c²
may itself press
against the connecting rod 62, and communicate to the sliding rod B exactly the
same amount of travel as that traversed by the heel plate flap c². By using a
swing.cam, e the heel plate c2.communicates. to the connecting rod B² the double

page_text: extent of travel traversed by the flap c² of the heel plate, or I can so alter the
length of either of the arms of the swing cam e as to get more or-less travel
conveyed to the connecting rod B2 as any peculiarity in the size or construction of
the gun may require.
Or I use an ordinary reversing gear R, Fig. 19, in the connecting rod B2, Fig. 19,
and make the bolting rod B and locking studs a', a², bolt when at their backward
extremity instead of at their forward extremity, should any modification of the
locking or cocking mechanism require it.
I actuate the same bolting rod B2 and studs a', a², Fig. 17, by means of a sliding
thumb lever working horizontally on the tang of the breech action, and having a
perpendicular arm extended downward through the hand of the stock, and with its
extremity in contact with a stud on the bolting rod, or a slot therein.
Or I communicate the same motion to the horizontal bolting rod B by means of
a thumb lever on a spindle, the axes of the spindle and the bolting rod being at
right angles. Into the spindle I affix an arm or arms extending upwards or
downwards, as the spindle is pitched either above or below the locking rod and
coming into contact with studs on the bolting bars B or slots therein, and com-
municating a horizontal sliding motion thereto upon the thumb being caused to
describe the portion of a circle.
The fourth part of my Invention consists in placing two barrels, the one over
the other, for the purpose of making a double gun with a fixed breech action body
or frame and movable breech block, and is applicable to all of the breech actions
and mechanisms now used, in which a movable breech block sliding vertically in
the breech action body is used to cover up the breech end of the barrels and
entrance to the cartridge chambers.
'
In arranging the barrels perpendicularly the one over the other, as shewn at
A, A, Fig. 22, one breech block B only is required. The strikers C, mainspring M,
triggers.J, hammers d, and extractors f, e, are each required in duplicate.
One lever L only is required to work the breech block and duplicate extracting
and firing mechanism.
Fig. 22 is a side elevation of a double rifle or the "Field" Patent (Specification
No. 1927, A.D. 1877), showing arrangement of barrels and firing and extracting
mechanism, and Fig. 23 is an end elevation of the same.
The fifth part of my Invention consists of the application of solid drawn brass
cartridge cases to breech loading punt, harpoon, and signal guns.
I screw on to the breech end of the barrel a breech action frame haying a
perpendicularly sliding breech block and with firing and extracting mechanism
suitably arranged; thus I can construct a harpoon, signal, or punt gun, or small
cannon, from 1% inch in the calibre or bore,jthat can be loaded from the breech and
with a solid drawn brass cartridge case, and after firing eject the fired case.
The extracting, firing, and breech mechanism that I consider the more suitable
for my Invention is that known as the "Field" sliding block (Field's Patent,
No. 1927, 1877, above referred to), but any breech loading action having the
qualifications heretofore enumerated are equally as applicable.
I also construct a double rifle gun with the barrels side by side in conjunction
with the mechanism known as Field's Patent (Specification No. 1927, 1877), and
my Invention consists in duplicating the lock mechanism for that purpose, and in
using an extractor to each barrel acting independently of each other.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same may be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself
to the precise details herein described or illustrated, as the same may be varied
without departing from the nature of my Invention, but broadly I claim,-
First. The ejecting mechanism and double extractor combined with a top lever
breech action, substantially as herein before set forth and shewn on the Drawings.
Secondly. The studded and hooked cocking swivel as an agent for cocking and
ejecting mechanisms, as herein before described and shewn on the Drawings.
Thirdly. The horizontal sliding rod bolting the trigger blade and propping up

page_text: described.
the tumbler, substantially for the purposes as herein before set forth and
Fourthly. The swing cam pivoted in the butt; the hinged spring or jointed heel
plate for the purpose of actuating a safety bolt or bolts, as herein before set forth
and described.
Fifthly. The application of two barrels, one over the other, to breech loading
actions in which a sliding block is used, and the application of two barrels, either
side by side or the one over the other, to Field's Patent sliding block breech
action, and the duplication of its firing and extracting mechanism for the purpose
of constructing double arms, as herein before fully set forth and described.
Sixthly. The application of solid drawn brass cartridge cases to punt guns,
harpoon guns, signal guns, or cannon over 1 calibre, and the use of an extractor
to guns of this or larger calibre for the purpose of ejecting the fired cartridge
case.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Wellington Greener, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
WILLIAM WELLINGTON GREENER. (L.S.)
WILLIAM WELLINGTON GREENER. (L.S.)