IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH- LOADING SNAP ACTION' FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Henry Malcham, of Sheffield, in the
County of York, Gun Maker, and Thomas Mirfin, of the same
Place, Manager, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-
LOADING SNAP ACTION' FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 16th May 1873, and dated the 14th March 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Henry Malcham
and Thomas Mirfin at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents
with their Petition, on the 14th March 1873.
WC, CHARLES HENRY MALEHAM, of Sheffield, in the County of
York, Gun Maker, and TпомAS MIRFIN, of the same Place, Manager,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BREECH-LOADING 'SNAP ACTION' FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates chiefly to that class of fire-arms known as
"hammerless" guns, and consists in having the bolt, which locks the
barrels in position for firing so arranged that the action of the lever for
unlocking the same will at the same time that it unlocks the barrels
bring back the strikers and cock the locks ready for firing by one

page_text: simultaneous action; and the ends of the cartridges in the barrels when
closed will push out indicators showing that the gun is loaded.
Heretofore the lever which is employed for cocking the locks and
opening the barrels has been placed over the "trigger" guard, which is
objectionable. Now we arrange this lever on the top of the "break off"
or false breech part of the body in a direct line with the centre of the
barrels, and the action of the same is as follows:-When the barrels
have been discharged and require to be reloaded the lever is then pushed
on one side, which brings back the bolt and strikers and cocks the locks
and allows the barrels to fall, and a short lever is fixed inside the body
operated upon by a spring, which lever acts on the end of the bolt,
which immediately brings back the top lever to its original position
where it remains, and at the same time the bolt itself being placed in
position. Then on closing the gun the lever remains in a direct line
with the centre of the barrels, not diverging on one side as heretofore.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Henry Malcham and Thomas Mirfin in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th September 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, CHARLES
HENRY MALEHAM, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Gun Maker,
and THOMAS MIRFIN, of the same Place, Manager, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said Charles Henry Maleham and Thomas Mirfin,
Her special licence that we, the said Charles Henry Malelam and Thomas
Mirfin, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we,
the said Charles Henry Malcham and Thomas Mirfin, our 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 BREECH-

page_text: LOADING SNAP ACTION FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
we, the said Charles Henry Maleham and Thomas Mirfin, our executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, 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
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Charles Henry Maleham and
Thomas Mirfin, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement and accompanying
Sheet of Drawings (that is to say):-
This Invention relates chiefly to that class of fire-arms known as
"hammerless" guns, and consists in having the bolt, which locks the
barrels in position for firing so arranged that the action of the lever for
unlocking the same will at the same time that it unlocks the barrels
bring back the strikers and cock the locks ready for firing by one
simultaneous action; and the ends of the cartridges in the barrels when
closed will push out indicators showing that the gun is loaded.
Heretofore the lever which is employed for cocking the locks and
opening the barrels has been placed over the "trigger" guard, which is
objectionable. Now we arrange this lever on the top of the "break off"
or false breech part of the body in a direct line with the centre of the
barrels, and the action of the same is as follows:- -When the barrels
have been discharged and require to be reloaded the lever is then
pushed on one side, which brings back the bolt and strikers and cocks
the locks and allows the barrels to fall, and a short lever is fixed inside
the body operated upon by a spring, which lever acts on the end of the
bolt, which immediately brings back the top lever to its original position
where it remains, and at the same time the bolt itself being placed in
position. Then on closing the gun the lever remains in a direct line
with the centre of the barrels, not diverging on one side, as heretofore.
In order that this our said Invention may be more clearly understood,
we have hereunto annexed one Sheet of Drawings illustrative of the
same, and have marked the same with figures and letters of reference,
the same letter referring to the same part in the various views or
Figures.

page_text: 3
line with the centre of the barrels, that we overcome a great objection
which has heretofore existed by having the lever placed over the
"trigger" guard.
- a are the indicators which are operated upon by the ends of the
cartridges, and which, when the gun is loaded, stand above the nipple,
as shewn in Figs. 1 and 6, thus indicating that the gun is loaded, and
for distinction the top or portion of the indicators which appear above
the nipples may be of copper or coloured, a spiral spring assisting to
bring back the indicators when the cartridges are withdrawn.
At Figs. 9 and 10 we have shewn a modification of our Invention,
whereby we, by the action of the lever A. and bolt G place the barrels
in position for loading, and cock the locks without the aid of the
strikers C; the strikers C being fixed in nipples in a similiar manner
to the indicators, the locks instead of being operated by the strikers
are operated by the bolt acting upon a projecting pin K fixed on the
tumbler of the locks..
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and shewn
by Drawings how the same may be put into practice, we would have it
understood that we do not confine ourselves to the precise details of
construction as herein shewn, as modifications may be made; but what
we claim as of our Invention and believe to be new is,-
Firstly. The arranging of the lever A on the top side of the false
breech or "break off" of guns or fire-arms, actuated in manner and for
purposes substantially as herein shewn and described.
Secondly. The application and use of lever and spring for acting
directly on the end of the bolt, as herein fully described and illus-
trated.
Thirdly. The arranging of the indicators for indicating that the gun
is loaded, in manner fully described and illustrated.
Fourthly. The bolt for holding the barrels when in position for
firing being used for purposes substantially as herein fully described
and illustrated.
Lastly. The general construction, combination, and arrangement of

page_text: mechanism, as comprised and set forth as our improvements in the
above description and fully shewn in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Charles Henry Maleham and
Thomas Mirfin, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fourth
day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight t
hundred and seventy-three.
Witness,
W. WHITEHEAD,
Patent Agent,
Sheffield.
CHAS. H. MALEHAM. (L.S.)
THOMAS MIRFIN.
(L.S.)