IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Carter and George Henry Edwards, both
of Bow, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 8th June 1869, and dated the 11th December 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Carter and
George Henry Edwards at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 11th December 1868.
We, HENRY CARTER and GEORGE HENRY EDWARDS, both of Bow,
in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BREECH-LOADING
FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of
breech-loading fire-arms, whether with the object of converting muzzle-
loaders into breech-loaders or of constructing breech-loaders in the first
instance, and consists in certain improved arrangements and construction
of the closing. breech plug and the methods of opening the same, in the

page_text: arrangements for discharging the central-fire cartridge, and of extracting
such cartridge when discharged.
The breech block or plug is arranged to open and close, by a vertical
motion, by means of a hinge or joint in connection with the barrel, the
plug fitting the space cut away in a converted gun, or falling into the
space formed in a gun manufactured in the first instance for a breech-
loader. The under surface of the plug is flat at the sides to fit the
upper surfaces of the sides of the open brecch, and is provided at each
end with a slotted guide, the guide nearest the barrel serving to contain
the striking pin, the stop of the same, and a tube to which it is con-
nected, the other guide containing the sliding locking catch whereby the
plug is shut down and secured in the body of the
gun. This locking
catch protrudes or extends beyond the closing end of the plug, and
retreats-when-in the act of closing by reason of its angular or curvilinear
face against the surface of the rear of the body; it also is in line with
a stem which enters the tube on which the stop of the striking pin is
fixed, and a spring being inserted within the tube it follows that the
action of the closing catch and the tube, stop, and striker will always be
antagonistic, the spring tending to drive the respective parts from each
other. When the breech plug is closed down the catch simply springs
into position within the body, and when it is desired to open the plug
the catch is moved in a direction in line with the gun towards the
muzzle by means of an external thumb piece on the upper surface of the
plug, and communicating with the sliding catch by means of a slido
picce attached thereto, such slide piece working in a groove cut in
the plug. When the plug is closed down, and while being closed, the
stop of the striker enters a cavity cut in the lower part of the open
breech, and its point comes in contact with the face of another stop
capable of vertical ascent and descent by means of the motion of the
trigger. Now it is evident that the edge or first contact between these
two stops will meet with a check by reason of the arc described between
the centre of motion, which is the hinge or joint on which the rigid
breech plug turns, and the first contact with the trigger stop, but as the
plug is pressed downwards or home into the breech to come level with
the barrel the distance of the needle stop and striker in regard to the
cartridge will be increased, and both will be made to retreat further
behind the cartridge, which of course has previously been inserted into
the barrel. Thus the striker will be drawn back clear of the cartridge,

page_text: while the gun is being closed, by a self-cocking action, but always
against the spring already mentioned; but the instant the vertical
movement of the trigger stop commences its downward motion, caused
by the pull of the trigger, the horizontal forward motion of the striking
pin stop is affected, and as soon as the original points of contact between
the two are again released, by the complete descent and freedom from
contact of the trigger stop, the striker will spring forward and discharge
the arm.
The next part of the Invention consists in the arrangement for
extracting the discharged cartridge, and in order to effect this we pro-
pose to form in front of the joint of the plug and barrel two vertical
grooves or slots, cut one on each side of the lump on the barrel,
descending to the level of the surface of the cut-out cavity of the breech,
and within these slots or grooves, which act as bearings, we place two
small plates which act as levers or driving wedges, their form being such
that when the plug is closed their rear faces shall be flush with the face
of the plug on each side, and their upper curvilinear heads shall be
exposed above the slots in the body, but that when the breech plug is
open and thrown back over the barrel the upper surface of the plug close
to the hinge shall bear upon these two exposed surfaces and force their
breech surfaces to the rear (and vice versa), thus giving them a power
which is irresistible of extracting the cartridge without any extraneous
use of springs, as has too frequently been the practice. These two
wedge or lever actions are utilized to extract the cartridge as follows:-
A small recess is cut in the internal surface of the barrel sufficient to
permit an angular or square side projection of each lever to enter, and
the internal face of each projection is formied with an arced surface to
correspond with the bore, the rear face being formed with a step or
shoulder against which the periphery of the metal or other base of the
cartridge bears when closed in the barrel; it is therefore obvious that
after the discharge the retreat of the wedges or disc levers will instantly
withdraw the discharged cartridge case. The upper protruding surfaces
or extremities of the wedges are each also provided with steps or
shoulders which bear upon the lump on the barrel and prevent the
undue retreat of the cartridge extracting surfaces, which are therefore
always constant in their action and its extent. The bearing of these two
levers is also the arc of a circle formed in the slots or grooves at the end
of the slots nearest the muzzle, which bearing permits of their casy and
unchecked motion.

page_text: Another improvement in the means of locking the breech plug and
discharging the central-fire cartridge consists in the application to the
sliding locking catch of a lateral motion, by means of an external side
lever set in a bearing on the side of the plug, the axis of which acting
on a wedge or cam motion moves the catch either into the body or away
from the same according as it is desired to fix down the breech or open
the same.
The slide continuing in the front of the catch then is made
to act on a species of lever joint set on a fulcrum (and forming a tumbler
motion), such lever joint surrounding the pivot of the discharging pin
slide, which is thus drawn back by the action of the slide lever to such
position that the catch belonging to the discharging pin is drawn back
against the action of a main spring ready for insertion (while the breech
plug is being closed) behind the trigger stop; this being done the lever
is again raised in line with the side of the arm, when the plug catch
retreats within the body, and thus the breech plug is secured in a closed
position, the striker being still held back by the trigger stop, but when
the trigger is pulled the stops are released and the pin flics against the
cartridge, as in the first example.
The extractor may be formed as first described, or it may consist,
instead of two distinct lever or wedge motions, of an arc or forked picce
placed at the rear of the barrel and connected to a stem in the centre
which passes through and forms as it were a portion of the hinge of the
plug and barrel, since it is secured by the passage of the hinge pin
through it and the hinge joint itself. The operation of opening and
closing is a self-action as in the former example, the closing of the
breech forcing in the extractor with the cartridge, and the opening of
the plug and its fall backwards over the barrel driving out the extracting
faces; but if we desire to do so we may use the two distinct lever
motions described. In the example now described the surface of the
hinge is only on a level with the breech plug and barrel, and a notch
or angular descent takes place on each side of the hinge, one on the
breech plug and the other on the lump of the barrel, the stem of
the extractor shewing on the side and centre of the hinge nearest the
muzzle, a small cavity being cut in both angular spacès for the reception
of the stem when acted upon by the throwing over of the opened plug.
Many modifications of the extractor may be devised, but the principle
of the Invention will not be changed. The upper surface of the sliding
'catch which locks the breech plug down may be made with a chamfered

page_text: or curvilinear form to enable it to enter the body more readily than if it
were a simple butt or square form of catch.
By these improvements it is perfectly evident that the chance of an
accident is reduced to a minimum. It is almost impossible to perceive
how an error can occur in the manipulation of the arm, since all the
operations are in unison and dependent consecutively on the due
management of the user.
In some cases the external side lever, which opens and closes the
brecch and draws back the discharging pin, may consist of a double;
ended lever pivoted to a central axis; and we also propose to employ a
bolt sliding, laterally into the breech plug, actuated by direct lateral
pressure, such bolt acting on a wedge or cam having a forward and
backward motion, whereby the plug catch is secured or released and the
striker is correspondingly operated, substantially as before described.
The latter example is. more applicable for breech-loaders made in the
first instance; more especially for sporting rifles or guns, aud the former
is applicable to converting guns; but we reserve to ourselves the appli-
cations of the various arrangements described. to any purpose wherein
breech-loaders are concerned..
› SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,.
filed by the said Henry Carter and George Henry Edwards in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th June 1869..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE. PRESENTS SHALL COME, we; HENRY
CARTER and GEORGE HENRY EDWARDS,, both. of Bow,, in the County of.
Middlesex, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria,. by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight,.in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs. and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Henry Carter and George Henry
Edwards, Her special licence that we, the said Henry Carter and George
Henry Edwards, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said Henry Carter and George Henry Edwards, our.
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,

page_text: 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 "In-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that we, the said Henry Carter and George
Henry Edwards, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 I, the said Henry Carter, 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:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of
breech-loading fire-arms, whether with the object of converting muzzle-
loaders into breech-loaders or of constructing breech-loaders in the first
instance, and consists in certain improved arrangements and construction
of the closing breech plug, and the methods of opening the same, in the
arrangements for discharging the central-fire cartridge, and of extracting
such cartridge when discharged.
The breech block or plug is arranged to open and close by a vertical
motion by means of a hinge or joint in connection with the barrel, the
plug fitting the space cut away in a converted gun, or falling into the space
formed in a gun manufactured in the first instance for a breech-loader.
The under surface of the plug is flat at the sides to fit the upper surfaces
of the sides of the open breech, and is provided at each end with a slotted
guide, the guide nearest the barrel serving to contain the striking pin, the
stop of the same, and a tube to which it is connected, the other guide
containing the sliding locking catch, whereby the plug is shut down and
secured in the body of the gun. This locking catch protrudes or extends
beyond the closing end of the plug, and retreats when in the act of closing
by reason of its angular or curvilinear face against the surface of the rear
of the body; it also is in line with a stem which enters the tube on which
the stop of the striking pin is fixed, and a spring being inserted within
the tube it follows that the action of the closing catch and the tube,

page_text: stop, and striker will always be antagonistic, the spring tending to drive
the respective parts from cach other. When the breech plug is closed
down the catch simply springs into position within the body, and when
it is desired to open the plug the catch is moved in a direction in line
with the gun towards the muzzle by means of an external thumb piece
on the upper surface of the plug, and communicating with the sliding
catch by means of a slide piece attached thereto, such slide piece
working in a groove cut in the plug. When the plug is closed down,
and while being closed, the stop of the striker enters a cavity cut in the
lower part of the open breech, and its point comes in contact with the
face of another stop capable of vertical ascent and descent by means of
the motion of the trigger. Now it is evident that the edge or first
contact between these two stops will meet with a check by reason of
the are described between the centre of motion, which is the hinge or
joint on which the rigid breech plug. turns, and the first contact with the
trigger stop, but as the plug is. pressed. downwards or home into the
breech to come-level with the barrel the distance of the needle stop and
striker in regard to the cartridge will be increased, and both will be
made to retreat further behind the cartridge, which of course has
previously been inserted: into the barrel.. Thus the striker will be drawn
back clear of the cartridge while the gun is being closed by a self-
cocking action, but always against the spring already mentioned, but the
instant the vertical movement of the trigger stop commences its down-
ward motion caused by the- pull of the trigger, the horizontal forward
motion of the striking. pin is affected, and as soon.as the original points
of contact between the two are again released by the complete descent
and freedom. from contact of the trigger stop the striker. will spring
forward and discharge the arm..
The next part of the Invention consists in the arrangement for
extracting the discharged cartridge, and in order to effect this we propose
to form in front of the joint of the plug and barrel. two vertical grooves
or slots, cut one on each side of the lump on the barrel, descending to
the level of the surface of the cut-out cavity of the breech, and within
these slots or grooves which act as bearings we place two small plates,
which act as levers or driving wedges, their form being such that when
the plug is closed their rear faces shall be flush with the face of the plug
on each side, and their upper curvilinear heads shall be exposed.above
the slots in the body, but that when the breech plug is open and thrown

page_text: back over the barrel the upper surface of the plug close to the hinge
shall bear upon these two exposed surfaces; and force their breech
surfaces to the rear (and vice versa), thus enabling them to extract the
cartridge without the aid of springs which may however be used as
supplementary extractors if required. These two wedge or lever actions
are utilized to extract the cartridge as follows:-A small recess is cut in
the internal surface of the barrel sufficient to permit an angular or
square side projection of each lever to enter, and the internal face of
each projection is formed as an arc of a circle to correspond with the
bore, the rear face being formed with a step or shoulder, against which
the periphery of the metal or other base of the cartridge bears when
closed in the barrel; it is therefore obvious that after the discharge the
retreat of the wedges or disc levers will instantly withdraw the discharged
cartridge case by the rapid backward motion into the shoc of the lower
edge of the extractors gripping the cartridge rim. The upper protruding
surfaces or extremities of the wedges are each also provided with steps or
shoulders which bear upon the lump on the barrel, and prevent the
-undue retreat of the cartridge extracting surfaces, which are therefore
always constant in their action and its extent. The bearings of these
two levers are also arcs of circles formed in the slots or grooves, which
bearings permit of their easy and unchecked motion.
Another improvement in the means of locking the breech plug and
discharging the central-fire cartridge consists in the application to the
sliding locking catch of an external side lever set in a bearing on the
side of the plug, the axis of which acting on a wedge or cam motion
moves the catch either into the body or away from the same according
as it is desired to close down the breech or open the same. The slide
continuing in the front of the catch is then made to act on a species
of lever joint set on a fulcrum and forming a tumbler motion, such
lever joint surrounding the pivot of the discharging pin slide, which
is thus drawn back by the action of the lever to such position that the
catch of the tumbler is drawn back against the action of a mainspring
(while the breech plug is being closed) behind the trigger stop, this being
done the lever is again raised in line with the side of the arm, when
the plug catch retreats within the body, and thus the breech plug is
secured in a closed position, the striker being still held back by the
trigger stop, but when the trigger is pulled the stops are released and
the pin flies against the cartridge; as in the first example.

page_text: The extractor may be formed as first described, or it may consist instead
of an arc or forked piece placed at the rear of the barrel and connected to
a stem in the centre which passes through and forms as it were a portion
of the hinge of the plug and barrel, since it is secured by the passage of
the hinge pin through it and the hinge joint itself. The operation of
opening and closing is a self-action as in the former example, the closing
of the breech forcing in the extractor with the cartridge, and the opening
of the plug and its fall backwards over the barrel driving out the
extracting faces. But if we desire to do so we may use the two distinct
lever motions described. In the example now described the surface
of the hinge is only on a level with the breech plug and barrel, and
a notch or angular descent takes place on each side of the hinge, onc
on the breech plug and the other on the lump of the barrel, the stem
of the extractor shewing on the side and centre of the hinge nearest
the muzzle, a small cavity being cut in both angular spaces for the
reception of the stem when acted upon by the throwing over of the
opened plug. Many modifications of the extractor may be devised, but
the principle of the Invention will not be changed. The upper surface
of the sliding catch which locks the breech plug down may be made
with a chamfered or curvilinear form to enable it to enter the body
more readily than if it were a simple butt or square form of catch.
By these improvements it is perfectly evident that the chance of
an accident is reduced to a minimum, it is almost impossible to perceive
how an error can occur in the manipulation of the arm since all the
operations are in unison and dependent consecutively on the due
management of the user.
In some cases the external side lever which opens and closes the breech
and draws back the discharging pin may consist of a double-ended lever
pivoted to a central axis, and we also propose to employ a bolt sliding
laterally into the breech plug actuated by direct lateral pressure, such bolt
acting on a wedge or cam having a forward and backward motion whereby
the plug catch is secured or released and the striker is correspondingly
operated, substantially as before described. The latter example is more
applicable for breech-loaders, in the first instance more especially for
sporting rifles or guns, and the former is applicable to converting guns;
but we reserve to ourselves the applications of the various arrangements
described to any purpose wherein breech-loaders are concerned.
Fig. 1 of the annexed Drawings represents partly in-section the plug

page_text: or breech block a hinged to the barrel, and containing the striking
pin connected by the tube c to the stop d, and also containing the
locking catch e and stem f; g is the spring within the tube which
forces the pin and locking catch apart. While the plug is being closed
down the stop d passes through the open breech or shoc 7, and comes 5
in contact with the lever stop i, Fig. 9, and is thus drawn back bringing
thic striker with it; the stop i being acted upon by the trigger releases
the pin and the cartridge is discharged.
Fig. 10 shows the thumb picce for unlocking the catch e. The shaft j
is passed transversely through the plug and secured by a screw cap; 1
half the thickness of the shaft is removed at the centre, as shown at k,
corresponding with k, Fig. 1, and it will be evident that by turning
thic thumb piece or handle the cylindrical portion of the shaft will be
brought to bear against e¹ which is a stem attached to c, and thus the
catch will be driven back into the plug a. Instead of this cam motion 1
a sliding projection may be set in a groove formed in the plug over
the stem e¹ and attached thereto, when by pushing the projection against
the action of the spring and catch the plug will be opened.
Fig. 2 shews an under plan view of the shoe / of the gun in which the
breech plug or block is secured. In this example a different releasing 2
action is afforded to the stop. d by a lateral movement of the lever i; in
cach case a sear spring, as shewn at 1, should be applied to the lever.
In Fig. 1 the stop is also held back by a lateral motion lever catch,
although the one shewn in Fig. 9 can be used. m is a fixed bar on the
shoe, and the trigger plate being made with a knife edge enters like a 2
wedge between m and i and moves the lever on its fulcrum n, thus
releasing the stop d by the corresponding lateral motion of the step i.
Fig. 3 shews more clearly the external side view of the breech plug
thrown back, o, o, being the slotted or hollow guides in which the
striking pin, tube, and locking catch of Fig. 1 are secured.
Fig. shews an end view of the entrance to the barrel immediately
next the breech plug. p, p, are the two extractors in Fig. 1; p shews
the projecting portion of one extractor, the breech plug being closed; in
Fig. 3 the other extremity of the extractor is shewn forced outwards into
the shoe by the falling back of the plug towards the barrel.
Fig. 5 shows an internal side view and an edge view of the extractor. Two
recesses are cut in the shoe, one on cach side, to suit the curvilinear form
of the extractors, as shown in the dotted line of Fig. 3, and they are of

page_text: course kept in position by the hinged joint of the breech plug; their lower
extremities are formed to grip under the rim of the cartridge, and it is
obvious that the great leverage caused by throwing over the breech
block will be sufficient to extract the cartridge, however tightly it
may become fixed by the explosion. If desirable, however, supple-
mentary extractors may also be used, consisting of small springs and
catches applied in the shoe, so that when the cartridge is released by the
extractors p an extra impulse may be given to throw it completely out of
the barrel. With regard to the helical spring in the tube c, Fig. 1,
equal pressure is given to the striker and to the locking catch, but if
desired the spring which operates the locking catch may be made in a
separate division from and weaker than that which operates the striker.
A disc and rivet could be employed to separate the two. A spring of
small power is amply sufficient for the locking catch.
Fig. 6 represents a plan view, the top plate, Fig. 8, being removed, of
another system of withdrawing the striking pin and locking catch against
the action of the spring and of securing them in a position of half cock;
Fig. 7 is a side view, partly in section. a is a circular plate having a
handle b attached; this plate is set in a circular recess cut in the top of
the plug, in which it is free to turn to and fro by the motion of the
handle to the points c, c. The breech block is enlarged by the circular
extension f to form a secure scat for the plate. c and d are stems fixed
respectively on the locking catch and striking pin tube containing the
helical spring. In Fig. 6 these two stems (which should be surrounded
by rings or rollers to prevent friction) move to and from each other in
the slot shewn by the dotted lines g cut in the plug, and h, ', are spaces
or openings cut through the plate, by which the stems e and d are con-
trolled. In the Drawing the striking pin and locking catch are drawn as
far as possible together, and the plug can be opened and thrown back for
the insertion of the cartridge, but when the plug is again shut down the
stop i of the pin tube is brought behind the trigger lever stop (not shewn
in the Drawing); the handle being then pushed to the other end of the
block to the point c turns the plate carrying the curvilinear spaces /
and partly round. The stem e follows the curve of the space
helical spring aiding the movement of the plate by forcing the stem
against it, so that the locking catch flies into the body of the gun, but
the striking pin is held back by the trigger lever until the gun is dis-
charged. So also by turning the handle half the distance between c, c,
the

page_text: the gun will be locked, but cannot be discharged by the trigger because
the curved space will still hold back the stem d, and therefore the arm
is at half-cock.
Figs. 11 and 12 show another example of the application of the self-
locking and self-cocking action of the closing breech block. In this
case the block is hinged or jointed by a pin and three bearings to the
left-hand side of the breech shoc, and opens by the handle on the
right-hand side of the plug. The action of this handle is the same as in
the last example, so that the striker and locking catch are controlled
in the same manner, nevertheless a modification of that action may be
used so long as by the lever motion of the handle the striker and
locking catch are respectively controlled. a is the block or plug
c, the striking pin; d, the stop of the striker; e, the locking catch; the
internal arrangements of the tubes and helical spring are substantially
the same as in the former examples. Fig. 11 is a plan view, and Fig. 12
an outside view (the side shield or continuation of the top of the
plug being removed to shew the interior). f is the shaft or pin attached
to the arm, and on which the block is turned on its bearings g, g, J.
7 is the extractor which grips the cartridge rim by means of a circular
rim on its opposite side; this extractor is attached to the tube i sliding
loosely on the shaft f through the centre bearing to the guide j, to
which the tube i is also attached; from j a small horizontal rod is
carried to the rear of the block, and for the sake of strength may
pass in any suitable bearing; this carries a curved or angular stop k,
above which and attached to the internal and upper part of the plug
the cam is applied, fastened by a hinged joint or otherwise; this cam
is formed of a plate of metal cut in a triangular form, having its right-
hand edge slightly curvilinear, and it is bent to form an arc of a circle
whose centre is the axis of the shaft f, or nearly so, in order that it may
pass round the tubes m, m, containing a small helical spring surrounding
the shaft. The action of this cam is obvious. As the plug is thrown
over to the left in opening the gun the cam falls over with it, and in
its course bears against the stop k and forces it back to the extent of
half an inch, more or less, according to the largest width of the cam,
or to its more or less obtuse angle. The result is that the guide j is
drawn back carrying the tube i and extractor back also into the open
space under the portion a¹ of the block, and between the front and
central bearings g, g; therefore the throwing over of the plug not only

page_text: opens the gun but extracts the cartridge, the plug having no sliding
motion whatever. When the cam has completely drawn back the
extractor the stop comes under a tapering channel cut below the cam,
and the spring in the tubes m, m, causes the extractor to fly forward,
drawing the catch with it; the cam may then be passed over the
catch by the turn of the plug in order to close the arm after a fresli
cartridge is inserted, since the hinge joint allows of a slight extent of.
outward motion, and a small flat spring applied to the outside of the
cam presses it down ready for gearing again with the catch k. The cam
is so adjusted as not to bear against the catch for withdrawing the
cartridge case, until the block has been sufficiently up to allow its
front lower circular form to escape the edge or rim of the case, and
then the catch is suddenly drawn back by the further throw of the
breech block and cam. The cartridge case will then freely fall out to
the right of the gun, the pull of the extractor being on the left, and the
right-hand side of the open shoe or breech offering no impediment.
Fig. 13 shews an example of the further improvement on the principle.
of this Invention; it represents a vertical mid section of the gun, and
Fig. 14 is a plan view of the same. a is the breech block containing
the sliding locking catch e, which has a space e¹ cut therein for the
reception of a cam or excentric f, through which the square portion of a
shaft is passed at g, such shaft being turned by the handle h (Fig. 14)
and secured by the screw cap i; a slot, shewn in dotted lines, permits
the locking catch to move to and fro by the turn of the excentric so as
to open or close the breech. It will be clear from the Drawing,
Fig. 13, that if the sliding catch is forced into the breech either by
closing down the plug or turning the handle its upper limb e² will act-
on the short arm of the tumbler j and throw it over its fulcrum k
bringing down the mainspring, while the lower limb of the tumbler
will be thrown back behind its fulcrum, tilting its toothed extremity.
behind the trigger stop or lever m, whereby the gun becomes securely.
cocked, the striking pin n attached to the tumbler following its course.
The gun being now closed the lever handle / is turned up in line with
the gun (Fig. 14) and the locking catch is closed, but even if the handle
should not be turned back the action of the mainspring 1, in the act of
discharge, will instantly throw the upper limb of the tumbler against.
the locking catch and close it into the body of the gun, as shewn in.
Fig. 13.

page_text: Fig. 15 represents the entrance to the barrel for the purpose of
explaining the extractor, which is actuated on the same principle as
in the double extractors. It will be observed in Figs. 13 and 14 that the
junctions of the upper part of the breech plug and barrel (the hinge
intervening) are made with descending angles at a'; a stem o set on
the hinge pin is continued from the horse-shoe plate extractor p, against
which the upper rim of the cartridge bears, so that when the breech
block is thrown back on the barrel, the two angular depressions come in
contact and the stem is driven back into a recess in the barrel, thereby
throwing out the extractor and withdrawing the cartridge. As beforc
stated supplementary spring extractors may be applied in the shoe if
necessary.
Fig. 16 represents a side view of the breech block of this gun removed
from the shoe; Fig. 17 is its locking catch end; and Fig. 18, the striking
pin facc. shewing the junction to correspond with Fig. 15;
arrangements are particularly adapted for double-barrel arms or rifles.
these
Fig. 19 represents a safety trigger action to prevent accidental
discharge when the gun is cocked. a is the guard plate; b, the trigger
plate with a slot cut through at c; d is the trigger spring bearing in
the aperture e in the plate b which is set on the fulcrum f; g is a
transverse sliding stop, which is moved by the right hand across the
plate a; h is a flat spring bearing on the slide to hold it in position, scc
Fig. 20, a plan view.
Fig. 21 is a plan view of the slide shewing the recess o through which
the trigger plate may be elevated by the pull of the trigger; n, the solid
portion of the slide which being brought into the slot c holds the trigger
plate from vertical motion; Fig. 22 is a front view.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, we would remark in
conclusion that we do not restrict ourselves to the exact details and
configuration of parts which we have expressed and shewn, as the same
may be varied or modified without affecting the results to be accomplished;
but what we claim is,-
1st. The application to breech blocks in central-fire breech-loading
fire-arms of a self-locking and self-cocking action, caused by the action
of closing down the breech block, and also the means of releasing or
opening the plug by the retreat into the block of the locking catch,
as described and shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12.

page_text: 2ndly. The method of extracting the cartridge by the double-lever
extractors, as described and shown at Figs. 4 and 5.
3rdly. The combined application to breech blocks of the arrangements
of sliding locking catch and tumbler in connection with the striker
pin, all actuated by the action of the mainspring and the excentric in
connection with the lever handle, as described and shown in Figs. 13,
14, 16, 17, and 18.
4thly. The means of extracting the cartridge case, as described in
Figs. 14 and 15.
And, lastly. The safety trigger action, as described in Figs. 19, 20, 21,
and 22, all substantially as hercin specified and shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Carter, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE,
Office for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.
HENRY CARTER. (L.S.)