IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-ARMS, AND IN THE MEANS OF LOADING THE SAME
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Martin Regul Pilon, Citizen of the United States,
residing at Aguas Calientes, in Mexico, and actually at Brussels, in
the Kingdom of Belgium, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-ARMS, AND IN THE
MEANS OF LOADING THE SAME."
Sealed the 10th December 1858, and dated the 23rd August 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Martin Regul Pilon
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd August 1858.
I, MARTIN REGUL PILON, Citizen of the United States, residing at Aguas
Calientes, in Mexico, and actually at Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-ARMS, AND IN THE MEANS
OF LOADING THE SAME," to be as follows:-
I propose to control the recoil, to secure precision of aim, and to increase
the facility of loading fire-arms. In order to effect these objects, I propose
to charge fire-arms at or through the breech, closing up the same by a cap
or stopper. Cannon are to be provided with a spiral spring, on which the
recoil presses, and so the cap or stopper will be maintained in its position;
the carriage of the cannon is to be provided with cog wheels or springs on
which the trunnions or bearers press. For the musket or pistol I propose to

page_text: provide the butt or part which rests on the shoulder or wrist with springs or
cog wheels to control the recoil.. I propose also to change the position of
the lock, and more especially the trigger, which is to be placed on the upper
face or on one side of the butt end, because when the trigger is below, the
pressure always puts the weapon out of line in the act of firing. I also
propose to construct a metallic. cartridge or charge-bearer in the form of a
cylinder, having a nipple at the butt end to contain the priming, which is
placed first in the cylinder next 'the powder, which communicates with the
priming at the neck of the nipple, then prepared wadding, next shot or ball,
and lastly wadding to keep all secure: The improvements will be applicable
to fire-arms constructed upon the ordinary plans, and their use will permit of
heavier charges and ensure longer range than can be borne or attained by
fire-arms; as now constructed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters. Patent, filed
by the said Martin Regul Pilon in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 19th February 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS. SHALL COME,. I, MARTIN
REGUL PILON, Citizen of the United States, residing at Aguas Calientes, in
Mexico, and actually at Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Merchant,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent,, bearing date the Twenty-third day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Martin Regul Pilon, Her special licence that I, the said Martin
Regul Pilon, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
1, the said Martin Regul Pilon, 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 MANUFACTURE AND CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-ARMS, AND IN
THE MEANS OF LOADING THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Martin, Regul Pilon, 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,

page_text: and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
:
i
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Martin Regul Pilon, 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 (that is to say):
-
The objects of my Invention are as follows:-To control the recoil produced
in the fire-arm by the firing, to secure the precision of the aim by altering
the position of the trigger, and to load quickly by means of a metallic charge-
bearer, for the weapons that are charged through the breech. Cannon aro
charged through the breech, and the same is closed up with a cap or stopper
provided with a spiral spring;, this spring has a fulcrum at the back part
on the carriage. When the gun is fired, the recoil presses upon the spring,
and by thus pressing it the cap which stops the breech is maintained at its
place. The carriage of the cannon is provided with cog wheels or springs,
on which the trunnions or bearings press. My improved musket and pistol
have two moveable parts placed the one upon the other; the part which rests
on the human body at the shoulder or at the wrist is provided with springs
cog wheels to control the recoil, in order that it may not be felt by the
shooter, and by such contrivance the recoil is deadened. The lock is placed
on the upper or lower part of the butt end, or on the sides or at the back of
the barrel; the charge is introduced through the breech, or at the mouth of
the barrel. After numerous experiments, I have found that the place of the
trigger must be changed, and the trigger placed on the upper face or on one
side of the butt end, because when the trigger is below, the pressure in the act
of firing always puts the weapon out of line. This arrangement permits the
whole charge it can bear to be placed in the weapon, and its range is thus
increased.
or
Convinced that the improvements and Invention herein described 'must be
generally adopted in the use of fire-arms as soon as their value shall be duly
ascertained, yet I contrive in the meantime to apply them to the weapons
actually used, that is to those which are devoid of the apparatus to deaden
recoil; in order to effect which purpose, I make a musket-bearer or pistol-
bearer, that is to say, a butt end provided with the springs or cog wheels;
such apparatus preserves the human body from all shock from the recoil
which it absorbs, enabling the shooter to fire more easily, and to aim with
greater precision; it moreover permits the charge of the weapon to .be
increased, and thereby increases the range of the same. A metallic charge-

page_text: bearer serves to charge the fire-arms through the breech; its advantage
consists in putting in hand the whole charge united, so that the shooter may
not lose valuable time in introducing. separately into the barrel powder,
prime; and projectile. It is constructed in the form of a cylinder, having a
nipple at its butt end to contain the priming, which is placed first in the
cylinder; next the powder which communicates with the priming at the neck
of the nipple, then prepared wadding, next shot or ball, and, lastly, wadding
to keep all secure.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, I desire it to be
distinctly understood that I lay no claim to the parts of mechanism generally
herein mentioned when taken separately as parts, and not used in combination,
or for the purposes of my Invention, except as regards the charge-bearer ;
but I do claim,-
Firstly; the mechanical applications (herein-before mentioned) to cannon and
the carriages thereof, whereby the recoil is controlled, together with the mode
herein described of stopping the breech.
Secondly, the construction of a musket or pistol provided with springs or
cog wheels to deaden the recoil, and the change in the position of the trigger,
by which the charge may be increased, and greater range and precision of
aim attained.
Thirdly, the application, to a musket or pistol constructed in the ordinary
manner, of my improvements, as herein referred to.
And, lastly, the exclusive use of the metallic charge-bearer, by which the
whole charge is at once placed in the fire-arm.
In witness whereof, I, the said Martin Regul Pilon, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
BALE.
M. REGUL PILON. (L.S.)