IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BREECH-LOADING OR REPEATING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Joseph Curtis, of Holloway, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF BREECH-LOADING OR REPEATING FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 5th January 1867, and dated the 10th July 1866.
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th July 1866.
I, WILLIAM JOSEPH CURTIS, of Holloway, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby delare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BREECH-LOADING OR REPEATING FIRE-ARMS," to be
as follows:-
One of the principal objects of my Invention is so to construct the arm that
it may be supported on the shoulder, from which it need not be removed until
all the cartridges contained in the magazine have been discharged. The gun
or arm is provided with a crutch or saddle which is so arranged on the under
side of the barrel that the arm when placed on the shoulder will be balanced.
By this means great steadiness of aim may be ensured and the muscles of
the soldier's arm will not be fatigued by being obliged to hold up the gun in a
horizontal position by means of his left arm as is now the case.

page_text: In carying out my Invention the breech end of the barrel is left open, so
that the cartridges may be introduced in the manner herein-after explained.
The cartridges are contained in a magazine consisting of a cylindrical revolving
block placed in rear of the breech and arranged round the centre of the barrel.
In this block a passage or channel of either au annular or a convolute form is
made; this channel or passage terminates in or communicates with a central
cylindrical hole or chamber which is in a line with the bore of the gun, so
that when a cartridge is brought into this hole or chamber it will only be
necessary to push it forward (by means of a piston and a strong spring) into
the breech of the gun. This piston and spring are contained in a tube which
is a prolongation to the rear of the barrel. The piston is worked by means of
a lever or crank arm in frout and connected to the piston by means of side
rods. That part of the breech where the explosion takes place is strengthened
or reinforced by a thick circular block of metal. The cartridge may be
exploded either by means of a needle which is made to pierce the cartridge
and ignite the fulminate contained therein, as in the needle gun, or metallic
cartridges provided with fulminate in their rim or at the central part of the
rear end, as is well known, may be employed, in which latter cases an
exploding pin or hammer must be used as usual in such cases. The breech
of the gun with its reinforce, and also the magazine to contain the cartridges,
are placed behind the crutch or saddle which rests on the shoulder of the
soldier, so that the barrel part which extends forward will be balanced by the
shorter but heavier butt end. The trigger and lever for working the exploding
arrangement and bringing forward the cartridges are placed under the barrel
much forwarder than in ordinary guns, but the arm need not necessarily be
made longer than the ordinary Enfield rifles. If, however, it be deemed
advisable to increase the length of the arın this may be done without difficulty
and without rendering the arm inconvenient to handle. If desired, the sup-
porting crutch or saddle may be dispensed with and a strap may be used
instead, which by passing under the arm of the soldier will secure the gun in
a steady position on the shoulder. As the arm may without inconvenience be
increased in length and a bayonet may be fixed on the end in the usual way,
it will be easy to place the bayonet at least a foot in advance of the position
it is now possible to occupy with guns of the ordinary length. Instead of
closing the breech and drawing back the plunger ready to admit a fresh cart-
ridge by hand by means of a lever I cause the explosive force of the gas, with
the addition of coiled springs suitably arranged, to effect this object; to this
end I place under the barrel near the breech where the explosion of the
charge takes place a small cylinder in which is a piston which is pressed

page_text: forward by a strong coiled spring surrounding the piston rod. A hole pierced
transversely through the barrel opens a communication between the breech
and the cylinder below, into which the gases evolved by the explosion of the
charge will rush and force back the piston, and with it a cross pin or arm at
the opposite end, which is thus connected with the plunger in the barrel,
This plunger is thus forced back and made to compress the spring, which
pushes forward the plunger and the new cartridge. It will of course be
understood that when these parts are forced back by the explosion of the
charge they are retained in that position by detents or catches until released
by a trigger. By this means time is allowed for a new cartridge to descend
into the central passage opposite or in front of the plunger, and when this is
released the coiled spring will force forward the plunger again and push the
artridge into the gun
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Joseph Curtis in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 10th January 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
JOSEPH CURTIS, of Holloway, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of July, 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 William Joseph Curtis, Her special licence that I, the said William
Joseph Curtis, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said William Joseph Curtis, 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 THE CONSTRUCTION OF BREECH-LOADING OR REPEATING
FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Joseph Curtis, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent

page_text: Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Joseph Curtis, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
aud to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
One of the principal objects of my Invention of "Improvements in the
Construction of Breech-loading or Repeating Fire-arms" is so to construct
the arm that it may be supported on the shoulder, from which it need not
be removed until all the cartridges contained in the magazine have been
discharged. The gun or arm is provided with a crutch or saddle which is so
arranged on the under side of the barrel that the arm when placed on the
shoulder will be balanced thereon. By this means great steadiness of aim
may be ensured and the muscles of the soldier's arm will not be fatigued by
being obliged to hold up the gun in a horizontal position by means of his left
nrm as is now the case.
In carrying out my Invention the breech end of the barrel is left open, so
that the cartridges may be introduced in the manner hereafter explained.
The cartridges are contained in a magazine consisting of a cylindrical revolving
case (or a fixed tube may be employed, as shewn with respect to another part
of the Invention) placed in rear of the breech and arranged round the centre
of the barrel. In this case a passage or channel of either au aunular or a
convolute form is made; this channel or passage terminates in or commu-
nicates with a central hole or chamber which is in a line with the bore of the
gun, so that when a cartridge is brought into this hole or chamber it will only
be necessary to push it forward (by means of a piston) into the breech of the
gun; this piston is contained in a tube which is a prolongation to the rear of
the barrel. The piston is worked by means of a lever or crank arm in front
connected to the piston by means of a side rod or rods. The cartridge may
be exploded either by means of a needle which is made to pierce the cartridge
and ignite the fulminate contained therein as in the needle gun, or cartridges
provided with fulminate at the central part of the rear end, as is well known,
may be employed, in which latter cases an exploding piu or hammer must be
used as usual in such cases. The breech of the gun with its reinforce, and
also the magazine to contain the cartridges, are placed behind the crutch or
saddle which rests on the shoulder of the soldier, so that the barrel part which
extends forward will be balanced by the shorter but heavier butt end. The
triggerand lever for workingtheexploding arrangementand bringing forward

page_text: the cartridges are placed under the barrel much forwarder than in ordinary
guns, but the arm need not necessarily be made longer than the ordinary
Enfield rifles. If, however, it be deemed advisable to increase the length of
the arm this may be done without difficulty and without rendering the arm
inconvenient to handle. If desired the supporting crutch or saddle may be
dispensed with and a strap may be used instead, which by passing under the
arm of the soldier will secure the gun in a steady position on the shoulder.
As the arm may without inconvenience be increased in length and a bayonet
may be fixed on the end in the usual way, it will be easy to place the bayonet
at least a foot in advance of the position it is now possible to occupy with
guns of the ordinary length. Instead of closing the breech and drawing back
the plunger ready to admit a fresh cartridge by hand by means of a lever
I cause the explosive force of the gas, with the addition of coiled springs
suitably arranged, to effect this object; to this end I place under the barrel
near the breech where the explosion of the charge takes place a small cylinder
in which is a piston which is pressed forward by a strong coiled spring sur-
rounding the piston rod. Ahole pierced transversely through the barrel opens
a communication between the breech and the cylinder below, into which the
gases evolved by the explosion of the charge will rush and force back the
piston, and with it a cross pin or arin at the opposite end, which is thus
connected with the plunger in the barrel; this plunger is thus forced back
and made to compress the spring which pushes forward the plunger and the
new cartridge. It will of course be understood that when these parts are
forced back by the explosion of the charge they are retained in that position
by detents or catches until released by a trigger. By this means time is
allowed for a new cartridge to descend into the central passage opposite ori:
front of the plunger, and when this is released the coiled spring will force
forward the plunger again and push the cartridge into the gun.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. I is a longitudinal vertical section of
an arm constructed according to my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view; Fig. 3
a section of the magazine D); and Fig. 4 an end view of the barrel.
A is the breech end of the barrel for the charge; A¹ is the enlarged end of
the barrel in which the piston E for closing the breech works; F is the cross
head for operating the piston; it is connected with the rod G, the forward
end H of which forms the block or carriage in which the click or pawl I acts
and retains the piston in its place against the concussion of the exploding
charge in the barrel. The pawl I is secured to the fore end of the barrel by
the block I which is fitted and fixed to the gun. The small rod L. forms a
continuation of the rod G and works in the tube m connected with the trigger

page_text: guard N and keeps the rod G in its place. The return l'of the trigger guard
is provided as a fulcrum for the finger in working the rod in conjunction
with the lever and ball 2. The upper end r of the lever 2 serves to lift the
pawl I out of gear in the return stroke for drawing back the piston B and
discharging the spent cartridge case; these parts are shewn in transverse
section at Figures S and 9; O is the trigger, formed with a circular set-off,
with the end of which the wire of communication % is united with the wedge
No. 1, whereby the hammer or piston B is set free by the spring 2, Fig. 5,
being drawn out of contact with the bolt y' of the hammer or piston B, which
is then propelled by the force of the spiral spring E' towards the cartridge C',
the needle being made to strike the cap; E is the piston, formed of a cylinder
or tube, the forward end is stopped by an end piece screwed into the tube,
which piece is perforated for the needle to pass through it. In this case two
small punches .r, r, are also inserted in the end piece, which, projecting about
one-sixteenth of an inch when the piston is pressed forward and in its place,
these punches press against the metal head of the cartridge, then by the
explosion of the powder the cartridge case is driven backwards and impaled
upon the punches x, x; then when the piston is drawn back the cartridge
case comes along with it and is discharged from the barrel, as shewn in the
detached sectional view, Fig. 6. D is the magazine containing the cartridges
to supply the barrel, and is shewn detached in section at Fig. 3; it is formed
in this case of a circular tube, the barrel end being formed of an involute.
The axes of the cartridges coincide with that of the barrel, and they are
pushed towards the centre of the barrel by the ovalar spiral spring E' placed
within the tube. The box or magazine D is kept in its place by the set
screw V, Fig. 1, the end of which enters a hole in the ring of the shoulder
piece S. By unscrewing the set screw V the box D may be pushed back-
wards, or the box may be altogether removed from the barrel. The end A¹
is closed by the stopper w, u, Fig. 1. The cap W, when screwed over all,
completes the end. The shoulder rest S is adapted to rest the gun upon the
shoulder of the operator; it also admits of the gun pressing against the
shoulder in front. The circular strap of leather or india-rubber T is proposed
as a convenient method of slinging or carrying the gun, and also assisting to
steady the gun when fired. The dotted lines S', Fig. 1, is a proposed alter-
native method for sustaining the gun upon and against the shoulder; T
representing a strap which presses upon and against the shoulder. The recoil
of the gun is received by the elastic strap, which thus becomes a buffer for
protecting the operator from any shock when the gun is discharged. When
desired the limb S₁ may be closed against the barrel and kept in its extended

page_text: or closed position by means of thumb latches or springs, denoted by the small
dotted circles.
Fig. 5 is a detached longitudinal section of the hinder part A' of the barrel,
with the piston E, shewing the way in which the hammer is suspended when
the gun is on "whole cock;" the spring 2 fixed at its end to the barrel A¹ has
formed on its inner side a projecting stud 21 which catches the hammer bolty'
when the piston is pushed forward to close the breech; then the wedge 1 at
the end of the wire Z is connected with the trigger, and when the trigger is
drawn back the wedge 1 pushes out the part 2 of the spring, and drawing
back the stud 21 will release the bolt, which is then propelled forward
by the action of the spiral spring E¹ the needle will strike the cap of the
cartridge and the gun will be fired.
Fig. 6 is a detached longitudinal section of the hinder part A' of the barrel
with the piston E showing a second method of seizing the cartridge case, in
order by the back movement of the piston to withdraw the empty cartridge
case from the chamber of the gun. In this case the end of the piston block
is formed somewhat like a hollow punch, the interior being slightly conical or
bevilled. The rim of the cartridge case when the explosion takes place is
forced or jammed into the hollow of the punch, whereby the case is held and
drawn back by the back action of the plunger; then when the plunger has
nearly reached the end of its stroke the bolt y¹ of the hammer B is stopped
by the end of the slit in the barrel A¹, shewn at A, A. The hammer is
stopped and the needle protrudes and strikes the end of the case C¹, which
thereby is knocked out of the punch-like end of the piston and falls through
the opening b out of the barrel.
Fig. 7 is a detached longitudinal section of the hinder part of the barrel A'
and the piston E, showing another mode of withdrawing the cartridge case
from the chamber of the gun. In this case the forward end of the piston is
provided with a spring hook or catch 4, which being fastened at its inner end
to the piston, the forward end of the spring is formed like a species of hook,
which when the piston is pushed forward to close the breech passes below the
raised edge of the cartridge case, a small recess being formed in the breech
for the end to pass. When the piston is drawn back the cartridge case is
withdrawn, and, as described under Fig. 6, the case is knocked out of the
barrel by the bolts y¹ being brought into contact with the end of the slot A, A,
in the barrel A'.
The "modus operandi " is as follows:-The gun is balanced by its weight
being supported upon the shoulder, so that when the operator has obtained
the sight of the object aimed at the sight need not be lost until the whole of

page_text: the cartridges in the magazine have been discharged. When the piston is
drawn back by the operator holding the bolt of the lever 2, the act of drawing
it back causes the lever 2 to assume the position shown by the dotted lines in
Fig. 1, when the end of the lever r will push up the pawl I, and by means of
the rod G the piston will be drawn back and the empty case expelled, and a
new cartridge drops into the chamber of the gun in front of the piston. Thus
the forward movement of the piston B, will cause the lever 2 to occupy its
original position, and when within a certain distance of the trigger guard, due
to the length of the spiral spring in the hollow piston, the operator lays hold
of the tail P of the trigger guard with his finger, the ball of the lever 2 being
in the palm of his hand, and then by closing the hand the spring is com-
pressed and the pawl I, by means of the spring K, falls into its notch and the
breech becomes thereby closed. Then the triggor being pulled by means of
the wire Z the gun is fired. This operation may be repeated until the whole
of the cartridges in the magazine are fired. To re-charge the magazine the
gun is lowered and fresh ammunition is supplied to the box D. The front of
the box may be formed like a pill box, or hinged and secured with a catch, or
in any other suitable way. The cartridges (as has been before observed) are
pushed forward towards the centre of the gun by the ovalar coiled spring E
In order to draw the spring back to re-charge the magazine the spring is
compressed by means of the cord e, e, Fig. 10, which is fixed at the forward
end of the spring. The cord is formed double or like a loop, passing through
holes in the outside of the box. The cord is drawn back and the loop hitched
upon the stud or projections c¹ which holds the spring compressed. When it
is desired to push the cartridge forwards the cord is released and the spring
expands, and the cartridge is pushed forwards, as has been before stated.
Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section of a gun to which the system of piston and
mode of loading and discharging the cartridge case described above apply to
a gun fired from the shoulder in the usual way. The cartridges are applied
by hand, and in this case the gun is formed of a single tube, the shoulder or
butt being formed of metal, either fixed as S or expanding and closing, as
shown by the dotted lines St, as has been before explained. The piece S
may be also made to shift like a bayonet if so desired. In this case the lever 2
and pawl I are formed of one piece like a bell crank, but the action is the
same as has been already described.
Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 13 a cross section of a different
mode of forming the holding bolt for fixing the piston against the breech
When the circular bolt is in the position shown the backward action of the
piston caused by the explosion of the powder will cause the bolt to hold more

page_text: firmly, as has been already described, the operator holding the ball of the
lever in his hand, whilst his finger grasps the tail P of the guard the breech
piston is perfectly assured.
Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 15 a cross section of another
mode of applying the fixing bolt to the breech piston. In this case the bolt
has a vertical action like the bolt of a lock, and is raised or lowered by means
of the lever 2 and short arm 7 entering a slot in the bolt. These details
apply equally to each of the guns before described as well as to that which
follows.
Fig. 10 is a detached longitudinal section of a gun either repeating or hand
loading at the will of the operator. The mode of closing the breech and
discharging the cartridge case is the same as that already described, but the
magazine is formed of a straight tube, the axis of which is parallel with that
of the barrel. The cartridges are pushed towards the chamber of the gun by
the coiled spring, and the spring itself is compressed by the cord e, as in the
case of the circular magazine of Fig. 3 before described; but the forward end
of the case is formed by a kind of lid 5 which works on the joint above, which
when the magazine is in use may be confined by a spring or latch 7 catching
in a loop S, whereby the impelled cartridges, when the piston is drawn back,
are pushed into the chamber of the gun before the piston, and then the dis-
charges may continue without the gun being withdrawn from the shoulder
until the whole of the cartridges are fire 1. But if it is desired to fire and
load by hand, then the lid is turned back, as indicated by the dotted circle,
the tail 6 enters the tube and prevents the cartridges coming forwards, or the
cord e may be drawn back and the spring compressed, then the breech slot or
orifice a is exposed and the cartridges may be inserted one by one.
The cartridges shown and alluded to are those in common use, and called
the regulation cartridge (or other suitable cartridge applicable to the arni
may be employed); but in the case of cartridges being used with a wad, in
which each follows the other, the system of piston and mode of working as
above described will apply, only that the stroke of the piston will be only one
half that required when the cartridge case is discharged; and I recommend
the breech piece to be formed like a hollow punch, before described, the
edges of the punch being made to press against a metal surface of copper or
brass, thereby making a perfect joint at the breech.
Having now described my Invention, and having explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me by
Letters Patent as aforesaid,-
First, constructing fire-arms in the manner hereiu set forth, whereby they

page_text: may be so carried on the shoulder. I further claim the use of the circular
magazine shewn and described in Figures 1 and 3.
Second, I claim the mode of withdrawing the cartridge case from the gun
by punches as shewn and described under Fig. 1, or by a species of hollow
punch or lid described and shewn in Fig. 6, or by the spring catch shewn
and described in Fig. 7, and the mode of dislodging the case described and
shewn in Fig. 6.
Third, I claim the mode of constructing a fire-arm or rifle of a single tube,
as described and shewn in Fig. 11.
Fourth, I claim the mode of making a repeating or hand-loading fire-arm
described and shewn in Fig. 10.
Fifth, I claim the mode of working and securing the breech piece or piston
as described and shown in Figures 1, 12, 13, 14, 15.
Sixth, I claim the mode and means described and shewn of securing the
breech by a breech piece or piston by the peculiar combination of the pawl,
bolt, or lever, as shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Joseph Curtis, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Tenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
W. J. CURTIS. (L.S.)