IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING SMALL ARMS AND NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINERY TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN PARTS OF SMALL ARMS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Tranter of Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Gun Maker for an invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING
SMALL ARMS AND NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINERY TO BE USED IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN PARTS OF SMALL ARMS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Tranter at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th April 1882.
WILLIAM TRANTER of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick Gun Maker.—
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING SMALL ARMS AND NEW OR IMPROVED
MACHINERY TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN PARTS OF SMALL
ARMS."-
My Invention has reference principally to breech loading small arms of the kind
called drop down guns, and this part of my said Invention consists mainly of the
construction and combination of parts hereinafter described for cocking the
hammers of the said guns by the raising of the breech ends of the barrels from the
break off for loading.
By these improvements the requisite tension of the main springs for discharging
the gun is partly obtained by the opening and partly by the closing of the barrels.
I will describe this part of my Invention as applied to a double barrel gun having
internal hammers.
In constructing cocking mechanism according to my Invention I arrange upon
the trigger plate, the two internal hammers of the gun, the said plate carrying the
main springs and the sears and discharging mechanism, the hammers being
connected with the main springs in the usual way.
The upper sides of the main springs are connected with a swivel attached to the
lever for raising the hammers. The arms of the said lever are nearly at right
angles to one another. The vertical arm of the lever is situated near the breast of
the hammers and the said vertical arm has a cross head which crosses the breasts
of the bammers. The other arm of the lever which proceeds towards the barrels
is slightly curved upwards and passes between and is jointed to the fork of the

page_text: swivel. The extreme end of the curved arm of the lever is inclined on its under-
side. By lifting the curved arm of the lever its vertical arm is moved towards
the hammers and the cross head acting upon the breasts of the hammers lifts them to
full cock the main springs being slightly compressed. When the curved arm of the
lever is depressed the main springs are further compressed the vertical arm is
removed from the cocked hammers and the latter are free to be discharged.
The lever described is acted upon by the barrels for cocking the hammers and
for taking the cocking lever out of action in the following manner,
The
In the back lump on the underside of the barrels, is a recess open at the front
of lump. In this recess the extreme end of the curved arm of the cocking lever
works. Below the opening in the recess is an incline which when the barrels are
fully opened, bears against the inclined end of the curved arm of the lever.
configuration of the opening in the said recess is such that on the rising and falling
of the breech ends of the barrels it gives a rising and falling motion to the curved
arm of the cocking lover at the same time permitting of the required curvilinear
motions both of the barrels and cocking lever.
The action of the cocking mechanism is as follows:-When the barrels are
unfastened, the rising of the breech ends of the barrels causes the opening in the
recess in the lump to operate upon the end of the curved arm of the cocking lever,
lifting the said arm and consequently moving backwards the vertical arm, which
Inst named arm through its crosshead lifts the hammers to full cock. Just before
the barrels are fully lifted to open the gun the recess in the lump leaves the end of
the curved arm of the cocking lever and the incline below the recess now bears
upon the inclined end of the said curved arm and supports the lever. On closing
the barrels the curved arm of the cocking lever is depressed, the edge of the recess
in the lump again engages with the said curved arm and the vertical arm is
withdrawn from the hammers which are thus left in their cocked positions. As
the curved arm of the cocking lever is depressed by the action of the lump on the
barrels the said lever operating through the swivel slightly compresses or cramps
the upper arms of the two main springs.
Aly invention consists further of a safety apparatus for preventing the accidental
discharge of the gun constructed in the following manner. On the tang of tho
break off is a thumb plate connected with a vertical lover in the body of the gun.
By means of the said thumb plate, tho said lever may be moved towards and from
the break off.
The upper arm of the said lever is connected with a horizontal rod which engages
with the vertical arm of the cocking lever and the lower arm of the said
vertical lever actuates a safety slide which engages with the scars triggers and
hammers or with the triggers and hammers only. When this safety apparatus is
used the curved arm of the cocking lever is not formed in one piece with the
crosshead, the said curved arm being jointed to the part carrying the crosshead.
The raising of the barrels and the pressing back of the crosshead in front of
the hammers forces back the said horizontal rod and the upper arm of the lever
and the safety slide is brought over or made to engage with the sears triggers.and
hammers or with the triggers and hammers only, The gun cannot now be
discharged. In order to discharge the gun the thumb plate on the tang must be
pressed forward when the slide is withdrawn from the scars triggers and hammera
and the gun can be discharged.
The lower arm of the lever engages in a notch in the safety slide during the
time of firing. The safety slide is urged forward by a spring at its back.
In order the more effectually to fasten down the barrels I fix on the axis which
actuates the lower bolt a collar having a notch in it and in the expanded end of
the rib is across recess. When the lever by which the barrels are locked down is
turned into its locking position the collar engages in the cross recess in the end of
the rib and assists in holding down the barrels.
My invention consists further in preventing in the following manner the escape
of gas in to the lock mechanisin on the explosion of the cartridge. I make on the

page_text: face of the shoulder of the striking pin a series of concentric depressions or
notches, and I place on the reduced part of the striking pin and between the
face of the notched shoulder described and the break off a cup of thin metal or
leather. As the gas escapes between the striking pin and the whole of the break
off in which the said pin works, the soft metal or leather cup surrounding the said
pin is blown back and its face forced into the notched shoulder of the striking pin.
A gas tight joint for the striking pin is thus formed and the escape of gas in to the
lock mechanism prevented.
The new or improved machinery constituting part of my invention consists of
the arrangement or combination of parts hereinafter described of machinery for
turning or making the exterior of the barrel of small arms concentric with the
interior. The said machinery is constructed essentially as follows:-A fixed axis
or mandril is supported horizontally and carries two or more collars of a size suitable.
to fit the interior of the barrel to be operated upon.
Over one of these collars a
cutter is situated, the said cutter being capable of being raised or lowered
vertically. A pulley is fixed on one end of the barrel and by means of the said
pulley a rotary motion is given to the barrel. By bringing down the cutter to the
required distance the requisite amount of metal is turned from off the exterior of
the barrel. As the barrel is supported internally at the part where the cutter is
operating externally there is no springing or yielding in the barrel and the interior
and exterior are thus made concentric. The barrel is moved longitudinally by
means of a screw in order to bring fresh portions under the operation of the cutter
until the required portions of the barrel has been operated upon.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Tranter in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th October
1882.
WILLIAM TRANTER of Birmingham in the County of Warwick Gun Maker
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING SMALL ARMS AND) NEW OR IMPROVED
MACHINERY TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN PARTS OF SMALL
ARMS
"
My invention has reference principally to breech loading small arms of the kind
called drop down guns; and this part of my said invention consists mainly of the
construction and combination of parts hereinafter described for cocking the hammera
of the said guns by the raising of the breech ends of the barrels from the break off
for loading.
By these improvements the requisite tension of the mainsprings for discharging
the gun is partly obtained by the opening and partly by the closing of the barrels.
I will describe this part of my invention as applied to a double barrel gun having
internal hammers. In constructing cocking mechanism according to my invention,
I arrange upon the trigger plate the two internal hammers of the gun, the said
plate carrying the mainsprings and the sears and discharging mechanism, the
hammers being connected with the mainsprings in the usual way. The upper sides
of the mainsprings are connected with a swivel attached to the lever for raising
the haminers. The arms of the said lever are nearly at right angles to one another.
The vertical arm of the lever is situated near the breast of the hammers and the
said vertical arm has a cross head which crosses the breasts of the haminers. The
other arm of the lever, which proceeds towards the barrels, is slightly curved
upwards and passes between and is jointed to the fork of the swivel. The extreme
end of the curved arm of the lever is inclined on its under side. By lifting the
curved arm of the lever its vertical arm is moved towards the hammers and the
cross bend acting upon the breasts of the hammers lifts them to full cock, the main
springs being slightly compressed. When the curved arm of the lever is depressed,
the main springs are further compressed the vertical arm is removed from the
cocked hammers and the latter are free to be discharged.
The lever described is acted upon by the barrels for cocking the hammers and
for taking the cocking lever out of action in the following manner.
In the back lump on the underside of the barrels, is a recess open at the front of
the lump. In this recess the extreme end of the curved arm of the cocking lever
works. Below the opening in the recess is an incline which when the barrels are
fully opened bears against the inclined end of the curved arm of the lever. The
configuration of the opening in the said recess is such that on the rising and
falling of the breech ends of the barrels it gives a rising and falling motion to
the curved arm of the cocking lever at the same time permitting of the required
curvilinear motions both of the barrels and the cocking lever
The action of the cocking mechanism is as follows:-When the barrels are
unfastened the rising of the breech ends of the barrels causes the opening in tlie
recess in the lump to operate upon the end of the curved arm of the cocking lever
lifting the said arm and consequently moving backwards the vertical arm which
last named arm through its cross head lifts the hammers to full cock. Just before
the barrels are fully lifted to open the gun the recess in the lump leaves the end of
the curved arm of the cocking lever and the incline below the recess now bears
upon the inclined end of the said curved arm and supports the lever. On closing
the barrels the curved arm of the cocking lever is depressed, the edge of the recess

page_text: in the lump again engages with the said curved arm and the vertical arm is
withdrawn from the hammers which are thus left in their cocked positions. As
the curved arm of the cocking lever is depressed by the action, of the lump on the
barrels, the said lever operating through the swivel slightly compresses or cramps
the upper arms of the two mainsprings.
My invention consists further of a safety apparatus for preventing the, accidental
discharge of the gun constructed in the following manner. On the tang of the
break off is a thumb plate connected with a vertical lever in the body of the gun.
By means of the said thumb plate the said lever may be moved towards and from
the break off. The upper arm of the said lever is connected with a horizontal rod
which engages with the vertical arm of the cocking lever and the lower arm of the
said vertical lever actuates a safety slide which engages with the sears triggers and
hainmers or with the triggers and hammers only.
When the safety apparatus is used, the curved arın of the cocking lever is not
forined in one piece with the cross head the said curved arm being jointed to the
part carrying the cross head. The raising of the barrels and the pressing back of
the cross head in front of the hammers forces back the said horizontal rod and the
upper arm of the lever and the safety slide is brought over or made to engage with
the sears, triggers and hammers or with the triggers and hammers only. The gun
cannot now be discharged. In order to discharge the gun the thumb plate on the
tang must be pressed forward when the slide is withdrawn from the sears, triggers
and hammers and the gun can be discharged.
The lower arm of the lever engages in a notch in the safety slide during the time
of firing. The safety slide is urged forward by a spring at its back.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying Drawings represent in longitudinal
section the breech end of a double barrel drop down gun containing cocking and
safety mechanisms constructed according to my invention; Figure 4 is a plan of
the body of the gun and Figure 5 is a plan of the lock plate carrying the lock and
cocking and safety mechanisms; Figures 6 and 7 are cross sections of portions of
the gun taken on opposite sides of the hammers; Figure 6 being taken at the front
of the hammers looking towards the butt end of the gun and Figure 7 being taken
at the back of the hammers looking towards the barrels; Figure 8 represents a
side elevation and Figure 9 an end elevation of a portion of the barrels; Figures 10
to 17 represent detached parts of the gun as hereinafter explained.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts, in Figures 1 to 17 both
inclusive.
In Figure 1 the barrels are represented shut down and the hammers discharged,
the safety apparatus being thrown out of action.
In Figure 2 the barrels are represented raised from the break off the hammers
cocked, the main springs partly compressed, and the safety apparatus in action.
In Figure 3 the barrels are represented shut down after loading, the main springs
further compressed or cramped and the gun ready for discharge, after taking the
safety apparatus out of action.
I will first describe the cocking mechanism.
a, a are the internal hammers of the gun (one of which is shown separately in
Figure 10) and b, b are the main springs connected to the cranes of the hammers
in the usual way; c is the swivel (shown separately in Figure 11) to which the
upper sides of the main springs b. b are connected; de is the cranked cocking
lever made in two separate parts; namely of a curved nearly horizontal arm d and
a vertical arm e having a cross head e² which head e crosses the breasts of the
hammers a, a (see Figures 6 and 7). The arms de of the cocking lever turn on
the same centre d³ and the extreme end of the curved arm d may carry an anti
friction roller as represented or may be left solid. The said curved arm d of the
cocking lever is shown separately in Figure 12, and the vertical arm e carrying
the cross head e² is shown separately in Figure 13. The curved arm d is furnished
with a heel which on the raising of the said arm in the manner hereinafter
described bears against the part es (see Figure 13) of the vertical arm e and gives

page_text: a back motion to the said arm for cocking the hammers and putting the safety
apparatus into action. When the curved arm d is depressed, its heel de is removed
from the arm and the latter is free to return to the position represented in
Figure 1 by the action of the horizontal sliding rod of the safety apparatus, when
the latter is taken out of action. The curved arm & passes through an opening e
(see Figure 11) in the swivel a the bottom of the swivel riding or turning in a
cross notch in the said arm ɖ. By the descent of the arm & of the cocking lever,
the position of the swivel is so changed as to effect the complete compressing or
cramping of the main springs b, b. The cocking lever d, e, is acted upon by the
barrels when they are raised and lowered in the following manner. In the back
lump is a recess g open at the front of the lump in which recess the extreme end
of the cocking arm d works. The configuration of the said recess y is such that
on the rising and falling of the breech ends of the barrels it gives a rising and
falling motion to the curved arm d of the cocking lever at the same time
permitting of the required curvilinear motions both of the barrels and cocking
lever as will be understood by an examination of Figures 1, 2 and 3.
I will now describe the action of the cocking mechanism. The gun having been
discharged, the parts occupy the respective positions represented in Figure 1. In order
to cock the hammers a, a the barrels are unfastoned by turning aside the hand
lever on the tang. As the breech ends of the barrels rise, the recess in the back
Jump operates upon and lifts the end of the curved arm d of the cocking lever
and the said curved arm acting through its heel d moves back the vertical arm e,
which arme by means of its cross hond lifts the hammers a, a to full cock and
slightly compresses the main springs bb the hammers being retained in their cocked
positions by the sears k, k in the usual way. Just before the barrels are fully
lifted to open the gun, the recess g in the lumpf leaves the end of the curved arin d
of the cocking lever which arm is now supported by the bottom edge of the lump
the parts occupying the respective positions represented in Figure 2. On closing
the barrels after charging them the curved arm d of the cocking lever is depressed
the edge of the recess in the lump again engaging with the said curved arm.
The huel of the curved arm is thereby withdrawn from the vertical arm e and
the Intter is free to take the position shown in Figure 1 by the action of the safety
apparatus and falling hammers, the parts now occupying the positions represented
in Figure 3. As the curved arm d takes the position Figure 3 it operates upon
and changes the position of the swivel cso that the latter further compresses or
cramps the two main springs b, b and the gun is ready to be discharged, excepting
that the safety apparatus has to be taken out of action. Thus, the cocking of the
hammers by the raising of the barrels effects the partial compression of the main
springs and the closing of the gun completes the compression or cramping of the
main spring for the discharge of the gun.
I will now describe the construction and action of the safety apparatus :- is a
thumb plate working on the tang, the said thumb plate being connected with the
vertical lever m (shown separately in Figure 14); n is a horizontal sliding rod
situated at the middle of the lock plate. This rod has a backward motion given to
it by the vertical arms of the cocking lever on cocking the hammers. The sliding
rod n is represented separately in Figure 15. Its rear end has the form represented
and engages in an opening in the upper arm of the lever m; p is the safety slide
(shown separately in plan and section in Figure 10) working in recesses in the
body (see Figure 7) It is provided with two sets of forks or projections p, p² and
The hooks or projections p², at the front end of the safety slide p are
for engaging with notches in the backs of the hammers a. a and the middle
looks pare for engaging with the sears, which sears are pressed upon by
the double spring 7 represented separately in Figure 17. The part p" on the under-
side of the safety slide p in its forward motion, moves over the ends of the triggers
to engage with and lock the triggers. The safety slide p is pressed into the safety
position when at liberty to move by the coiled spring around the rod s bearing
against the rear end of the said slide p. The lower arm of the vortical lover m

page_text: works in a recess 2 in the safety slide p and the said lower arm.can be made to
engage with a notch p³ in the safety slide to hold it in its withdrawn position.
The action of the safety apparatus is as follows. After the gun has been
discharged the parts of the safety apparatus occupy the positions. represented in
Figure 1 On cocking the haminers by the raising of the breech ends of the barrels
the vertical arm e of the cocking lever operates upon and pushes back the sliding
rod n and the latter by its back motion turns the vertical lever m from the position
represented in Figure 1 to that represented in Figures 2 and 3, thereby disengaging
the lower arm of the said lever m from the notch p³ in the safety slide P, which
slide is shot forward into its safety position Figures 2 and 3 by the coiled spring q.
The parts p², p² and p³, p³ of the safety slide p in its forward motion are made to
engage with the hammers a, a and sears k, k respectively and the part 2 on the
underside of the safety slide with the triggers so as to lock the said hammers,
sears and triggers as represented in Figures 2 and and thereby prevent the
accidental discharge of the gun. Thus the cocking of the gun automatically puts
the safety apparatus into action. Before the gun can be discharged, the safety
slide p must be withdrawn. This is effected by pressing the thumb plate / towards
the barrels into the position represented in Figure 1. This motion of the thumb
plate reverses the position of the lever m and its lower arm forces back the safety
slide p so as to unlock the hammers and sears, the safety slide being held in its
back or non acting position by the engaging of the lower arm of the lever m with
the notch 2 in the said safety slide as seen in Figure 1.
The cocking lever may be made in one piece.
In order the more effectually to fasten down the barrels I fix on the axis which
actuates the lower bolt, a collar having a notch in it and in the expanded end of
the rib is a cross recess. When the lever by which the barrels are locked down is
turned into its locking position, the collar engages in the cross recess in the end of
the rib and assists in holding down the barrels.
As
My invention consists further in preventing in the following manner the escape
of gas into the lock mechanism on the explosion of the cartridge. I-make on the
face of the shoulder of the striking pin a series of concentric depressions or notches
and I place on the reduced part of the striking pin and between the face of the
notched shoulder described and the break off, a cup of thin metal or leather.
the gas escapes between the striking pin and the hole in the break off in which the
said pin works, the soft metal or leather cup surrounding the said pin is blown
back and its face forced into the notched shoulder of the striking pin. A gas tight
joint for the striking pin is thus formed and the escape of gas into the lock
mechanisin prevented.
The new or improved machinery constituting part of my invention consists of
the arrangement or combination of parts hereinafter described of machinery for
turning or making the exterior of the barrels of small arms concentric with the
interior. The said machinery is constructed essentially as follows. A fixed axis
or mandril is supported horizontally and carries two or more collars of a size
suitable to fit the interior of the barrel to be operated upon. Over one of these
collars, a cutter is situated the said cutter being capable of being raised or lowered
vertically. A pulley is fixed on one end of the barrel and by means of the said
pulley a rotary motion is given to the barrel. By bringing down the cutter to the
required distance the requisite amount of metal is turned from off the exterior of
the barrel. As the barrel is supported internally at the part where the cutter is
operating externally, there is no injurious springing or yielding in the barrel and the
interior and exterior are thus made concentric. The barrel is moved longitudinally
by means of a screw in order to bring fresh portions under the operation of the
cutter until the required portion of the barrel has been operated upon.
This part of my invention is represented in Figures 18 19 and 20 of the
accompanying Drawings; Figure 18 represents a side elevation of the machinery
partly in longitudinal tion; Figure 19 a longitudinal section of a portion of the

page_text: barrel and collared mandril and Figure 20 a cross section showing the cutter and
cutter holder.
a is the fixed axis or mandril supported horizontally in the holders or clamps b
and c.
On the said fixed mandril a are two collars a², a³ of a size suitable to fit the
interior of the barrel d to be operated upon. The middle collar a* is situated at
the part of the barrel to be turned and the other collar ³ is situated near the end
of the barrel and acts as a support for the end of the barrel. The barrel & is
rotated upon the collars a², a by means of the pulley c over which a driving band
passes the said pulley being capable of being fixed to and removed from the barrel.
One end of the rotating barrel d takes a bearing against the lever f and by acting
upon the said lever by means of the hand screw a longitudinal motion may be
given to the barrel d; h is the cutter carried by the holder i turning on the joint i²
and le is a stop screw pin for adjusting the cut (see Figure 20).
The parts having been arranged in the manner represented and the barrel d
rotated by means of the pulley and driving band, the cutter h is brought down
upon the barrel and the required amount of metal turned from off the exterior of
the barrel, fresh portions of the barrel being brought under the operation of the
cutter by moving the barrel longitudinally by means of the hand screw g and
lever f
By this arrangement the barrel is supported internally at the part where the
cutter is operating externally and hence there is no injurious springing or yielding
of the barrel and the interior and exterior are thereby made concentric.
By substituting for the collared mandril represented, other mandrils having
collars of different lengths and positions, other portions of the barrels may be
turned and the interior and exterior made concentric as described with respect to
the middle part of the barrel. In this way the whole or those parts of the barrel
which require to be made true or concentric externally and internally may be
operated upon.
Having now described the nature of my invention and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the
precise details herein described and illustrated as the same may be varied without
departing from the nature of my Invention.
But I claim as my invention of improvements in small arms of the kind called
drop down small arins herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 17
both inclusive of the accompanying drawings;-
First Cocking the hammers of the said small arms on raising the breech ends
of the barrels for loading by means of the cranked cocking lever constructed as
described, the said cranked lover being operated upon by a recess g in the back
lump on the barrels substantially as described and illustrated.
Secondly The combination with the cranked cocking lever of the swivel c, c²
connected with the upper arms of the main springs, whereby the depression of the
curved arm of the said cocking lever on the closing of the gun causes the main
springs, which have been partly compressed or cramped by the opening of the gun,
to be fully compressed or crainped ready for discharging the hammers; the required
tension of the main springs being thus obtained partly by the opening and partly
by the closing of the gun substantially as described and illustrated.
Thirdly The construction and combination of the parts of safety apparatus
described and illustrated for locking the hammers and triggers or the hammers
sears and triggers of breech loading drop down small arms, the said safety apparatus
being put into action by the cocking of the hammers and taken out of action for
the discharge of the small arms by hand.
1 clain Fourthly-The new or improved machinery for turning the exterior of
the barrels of small arms concentric with the interior herein before described and
illustrated in Figures 18, 19 and 20 of the accompanying Drawings;-that is to
say, supporting the interior of that part of the barrel under the operation of the
cutter by means of a fixed collared mandril or axis upon which the barrel is rotated,

page_text: the said collared mandril being used for the purpose and substantially as described
and illustrated.
In witness whereof I the said William Tranter have hereunto set my hand
and seal this ninth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.