IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING MECHANISM FOR FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thorsten Nordenfelt, of No. 1, Saint Swithin's Lane, in
the City of London, Civil Engineer, for an Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS
IN BREECH-LOADING MECHANISM FOR FIRE-ARMS." A communication from
abroad by Helge Palmcrantz, of Stockholm, in the Kingdom of Sweden.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thorsten Nordenfelt at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th November 1880.
THORSTEN NORDENFELT, of No. 1, Saint Swithin's Lane, in the City of London,
Civil Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING MECHANISM FOR FIRE
ARMS." [A communication from abroad by Helge Palmcrantz, of Stockholm, in
the Kingdom of Sweden.]
This improved breech-loading mechanism is intended not only to allow of a
weapon being loaded and fired in a quick and convenient manner, but also to
close the mechanism safely before the shot is fired.
The mechanism consists of the two following principal parts in combination :-
1. The lock, enclosed in an open box firmly affixed to the barrel, is composed of one
breech-block, movable round a horizontal axis which runs through the lower part
of the box. This axis can be turned by a hand lever fixed to the end of it.
A wedge for the purpose of closing the mechanism holds the breech-block and
obtains an up and down as well as a partly revolving motion by means of an arm
extending from the before mentioned axis.
A hammer fixed in a recess of the wedge with its front resting against the breech
block.
A trigger fixed in the box provided with halfcock arrangement.
2. Extracting mechanism composed of,-
An extractor which acts between the barrel chamber and the breech block.
An arm on the same provided with a slot in which runs one end of a three-
pronged bent connecting piece, the bend of which is joined to a crank connected
with the breech block, and the third end of the connecting piece runs in a guiding
slot cut out on the outside of the box.
The above mentioned parts act together in the following manner, vie. :-
The mechanism is closed when the hand lever fixed to the axis is in its foremost

page_text: position. If the hand lever is pulled backwards the wedge glides somewhat
downwards, during which movement the hammer is cocked.
During the continuation of this movement of the lever the wedge commences to
revolve round the axis of the breech block.
The breech-block must partake in this movement of the wedge because the
breech block is guided by a slot in the wedge.
The first portion of the movement of the breech block is slowly transferred to
when
the extractor, which then acts with great force in loosening the empty case ;
the breech block approaches the termination of its movement, the speed of the
extracting motion is increased and the empty case is thrown out.
The hand-lever is now in its rearmost position, the breech is open, and the
barrel chamber is easily accessible. When, after a fresh cartridge is inserted, the
hand-lever is again pushed forward, the movement of the extractor, of the breech
block, and of the wedge are of course reversed.
The breech block presses the cartridge into the barrel chamber which is thereby
closed. The wedge which acts upon the breech block in its upward motion
continues afterwards its lineal motion upwards and locks the breech block by
After the
closing up the space between it and the recoil bearings of the box.
movement of the wedge is completed the arm acting on the wedge continues its
motion until it touches the trigger and releases the hammer, which now strikes the
firing pin running through the breech block, and the shot is fired.
This mechanism can be applied to a single barrel or to several combined barrels.
The advantages of this mechanism, which allows the use of a made up cartridge
also for large guns, are principally simplicity of loading, safety, and great rapidity
in firing, which advantages are still more enhanced by the strength given to the
parts by their peculiar construction.
It is also especially solid and not likely to get out of order.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thorsten Nordenfelt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th May
1881.
THORSTEN NORDENFELT, of No. 1, Saint Swithin's Lane, in the City of London,
Civil Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING MECHANISM FOR FIRE
ARMS." A communication from abroad by Helge Palmcrantz, of Stockholm, in the
Kingdom of Sweden.
This improved breech loading mechanism is applicable to guns and cannons
which require to rest on a carriage, and has for its object to increase the firing
capacity of such fire arms.
This novel construction of breech mechanism allows of quick and convenient
loading; it also ensures the closing of the breech in a safe way before firing,
and the same movement of the apparatus which closes the breech also fires the
charge. All of these qualities are required in fire arms to meet some of the
requirements of the present day.
In order fully to explain the Invention Drawings are annexed, and a complete
description of the Drawings is hereby given, viz. :-
Figure I. represents (say, to the scale of one half the actual size) a plan of
the breech loading mechanism when closed; Figure II. is a longitudinal section
through centre line of the gun, also when closed; Figure III. is an outside view of
the mechanism when full open; Figure IV. represents the mechanism seen from
behind (end view); Figure V., a longitudinal section of the breech apparatus with
other arrangements for actuating the extractor; Figure VI. is an end view of the
same; Figure VII. is a side view, and Figure VIII. an end view of the breech
apparatus with again another arrangement for actuating the extractor.
The breech loading mechanism consists of the breech closing appliances, the lock
and the extractor combined with each other, so that they receive their motions for
loading, firing, and extracting through one axis, and a hand lever which is moved
forwards and backwards by the man firing.
To the breech end of the barrel (1) the breech box (2), which is open at the top
and bottom, is firmly secured. The breech closing and firing mechanism is
contained in this box, and consists of the breech block (3), the wedge (4), the
hammer (5), and the trigger (6). The breech block moves with a revolving motion
on the axis (7) in the box. This axis runs in right angle to the longitudinal
direction of the gun and rests at both sides in the side cheeks of the box; it can be
turned by means of a hand lever (8) fixed to the projecting end of the axis on the
right hand side of the gun.
When the breech is closed this hand lever is in a
forward position. If the hand lever is brought from this position backwards, the
wedge (4) is drawn down a short distance to unlock and then breech opens, the
breech block and wedge together turning about the axis (7). At the end of the
movement (when the lever is brought as far backwards as it will go) the access to
the barrel chamber is free and the cartridge can easily be inserted.
The breech block (3) is at its lower end slotted through in the middle to give
room for the arm (9), which by means of a key is fastened on to the axis (7). The
arm (9) extends backwards from the axis, and is connected with the wedge (4) by
the cross pin (12). This pin is fixed in the wedge and passes through the curved
slot in the arm. That side of the breech block which faces the barrel chamber is
planed smooth to enable it to fit closely to the chamber. On the rear side of the
breech block there is a projecting dovetail guide (10) running perpendicular, this
is received into a corresponding groove in the wedge (4), enabling the latter to
move up and down on the breech block. On the rear side of the guide facing the

page_text: wedge is cut a recess, into which a corner on the lower part of the hammer (5)
enters when uncocked. The firing pin (11) is placed in the breech block; it passes
through it and is kept back by a spiral spring. The rear end of the firing pin
comes into line with the hammer head after the breech closes, when the wedge
rises to its place.
The wedge (4), which has for its object to lock the breech block (3) when the
latter closes the chamber, rests when in this position against the rear wall of the
breech box (2) at a, a, and a¹, a'.
The motion of the hand lever (8) is transferred to the wedge by means of the
arm (9), which with its curved slot works on the cross pin (12). The motion of
the wedge is downwards, whilst the pin 12 traverses the slot in the arm (9), and
afterwards the wedge and breech block and the arm (9) all move together with the
axis as the hand lever is drawn back.
The hammer (5) is fixed in the same opening in the wedge into which the
arm (9) goes, but above it. When the breech is closed and the hammer uncocked
its lower front corner has entered the recess in the breech block, and as during the
downward movement of the wedge this corner of the hammer is stopped against
the end of the recess, the hammer is compelled to turn backwards.
By this move-
ment the cocking is performed, and the trigger (6) catches the notch in the lower
part of the hammer, at the same time the firing spring (13), which is mounted
within the wedge and connected with the hammer by a swivel or link, is com-
pressed, and the trigger (6) prevents it from returning until the trigger is
touched.
The trigger is fixed in the wedge by a pin, on which it can pivot, and has in
its lower part a through-going pin (14). When the arm (9), during the forward
movement of the hand lever, touches this pin, the nose of the trigger is brought
out of the notch and the hammer strikes. The end of the pin (14), which is
touched by the arm (9), is provided with two wings extending from it in a straight
line crossways, and the corresponding end of the arm 9 has a clearance for these
wings when they are put in the same longitudinal direction. To do this it is only
required to push the pin slightly down, compressing the spiral spring beneath it,
and then to give it a quarter turn, which secures it in the new position, there
being a little notch or recess to retain the pin. When this is done the gun does
not fire by the motion of the hand lever.
The extractor, as seen in Figure II., moves round another axis (15) situated
above the rear of the barrel, and almost perpendicularly above the hand lever axis.
From the axis (15) the extractor (16) descends by clearance notches in the breech
block, and its ends project in front of the breech block and enter notches at the
mouth of the barrel-chamber. An arm (17) with a slot or groove in it extends in
a forward direction from the end of the axis (15). In this slot or groove slides a
stud carried at the upper end of a knee shaped connecting piece (18), which
conveys the motion to the extractor (16). The knee of this connecting piece is for
this purpose joined to the crank (19). This crank has a boss, which passes through
the side of the box (2). The crank is moveable round the hand lever axis (7), but
its boss engages firmly with the breech block (3), and must partake in the
revolving motion of this latter. The third end of the connecting piece (18) moves
in a guide slot (20) applied on the breech box (3). Owing to this combination
and the shape of the guide slot the extractor derives a powerful action, which
stands in well measured relation to the opening and closing of the breech.
In working the mechanism, the power required to make the weapon perform
all its functions, is applied on the hand lever (8) which is moved forwards and
backwards.
Figure II. shows the position after firing; when from this position the handle is
brought backwards, the arm (9) descends and acts with its slot on the pin (12) in
the wedge (4), which is thereby forced down along the guide on the breech block,
and the hammer (5), which cannot pass the recess without turning backwards,
cocks, the length of the slot in the arm (9) preventing a further downward

page_text: motion of the wedge. As soon as this is clear of the recoil blocks a, a¹, in the rear
wall of the breech box, it, together with the breech block, revolves with the axis (7)
during the continued backward motion of the band lever. There are grooves b in
the sides of the wedge (4), and pins b', projecting from the walls of the box (2),
entering these, aid in controlling the movements of the wedge. The motion of the
breech block in its earlier part is slowly transferred to the extractor (16), which
then can act with great force in loosening the cartridge case. When the breech
block approaches the end of its movement, the speed of the extractor is increased,
and the empty cartridge case is thrown out.
Figure III. shows the position when the breech is open. After a fresh cartridge
has been put in, the hand lever is again brought forward, the movements of the
extractor, of the breech block, and of the wedge, will take place in the reverse way.
The breech block pushes the cartridge home into the barrel chamber, which it closes,
and it is then locked by the wedge being forced up between the breech block and
the recoil blocks a, a', in the wall of the box (2). After the motion of the wedge
has ceased, and by the continued forward motion of the hand lever, the arm (9)
meets the pin (14) in the lower part of the trigger, which being pushed back frees
the hammer, this then strikes the firing pin, and the shot is fired.
In guns of a certain calibre, there is room to place the mechanism for actuating
the extractor inside the box (2). In Figures V. and VI., it is shown to be so
arranged. Figure V. is a longitudinal, section, and Figure VI., a transverse section.
As here shown, the extractor (16), Figures V. and VI., is fitted on to the axis (7)
round which it moves. It receives its motion from the breech block (3) through a
link (18), provided with three studs (17), (17), and (19). The stud (19) attaches
the connecting piece to the breech block, while (17), during the revolving motion
of the breech block, is pulled downwards between the surfaces a, b, c, on the
extractor (16) and d, e, on the end of the barrel. In the commencement of this
operation, the extractor is wedged out slowly and with great force, but in the last
moments the speed is increased through the shape of the surface c, b, and the
stud (17) approaching the centre of revolution, the cartridge case is thus thrown
out with sufficient rapidity. The studs (17) on the connecting piece (18) enter
guide slots (20) formed in pieces fixed upon the walls of the breech box.
As another alternative to the extractor mechanism before mentioned, I can use
the one shown in Figures VII. and VIII. The extractor (16) is here applied
in the same way, and on the axis (15) as in Figures I., II., III., and VI.,
but instead of the more complicated connection with the breech block, I simply
change the lever (17) on to the same side as the hand lever (8), and lengthen the
lever (17) so far down that it reaches the boss of the hand lever. The hand lever
is bent or cranked outwards so that only the part nearer the centre comes against
the lever (17) to give the suitable motion to the extractor, the outer end of the
hand lever passing clear. It will be seen from Figure VII. that any power and
speed required for the extraction easily can be obtained.
When desired, several barrels may be combined side by side, the breech
mechanism of the series having one common axis, and being actuated by one hand
lever.
This novel breech loading mechanism makes it possible to use made-up cartridges
for guns of larger calibres than beretofore. It has great simplicity, quickness, and
safety, in loading and firing. The firing arrangement can be instantly set out of
action. The mechanism being composed of simple, strong, and well protected
parts, it is almost impossible for it to get out of order.
Having now fully described my Invention of improvements in breech loading
mechanism for fire arms, I will in conclusion state what I consider novel and to
which I make claim,-
First. The combination of the breech block, the wedge, the striking apparatus
within the wedge, the extractor, and the lever handle actuating these parts,
substantially as herein described.

page_text: Second. The combination of the breech block, the wedge, the striking apparatus
within the wedge, and the lever handle, in such manner that by one movement of
the handle, the breech block is turned into position to close the breech, the wedge
is inserted behind the breech block, and the striking apparatus is released, substantially
as herein described.
Third. The combination of the parts 2, 3, 4, 7, and 9, substantially as herein
described.
Fourth. The combination of the parts 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20, in Figures I.,
II., III, and IV., constituting the extractor mechanism, substantially as herein
described.
Fifth. The combination of the parts 6, 9, and 14, forming an automatic firing
apparatus capable of being put out of operation at pleasure, substantially as
described.
Sixth. The improved breech loading mechanisms, substantially as described and
shown by the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thorsten Nordenfelt, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
THORSTEN NORDENFELT. (L.S.)