IMPROVEMENTS EN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS EN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."-A communication
from abroad by Sante Marelli and Agostino Marelli, both of Milan,
in the Kingdom of Italy.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition; on the 21st November 1872.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE OLARK, of 58, Chandary Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to
be as follows:
--
This Invention, which relates to an improved breech-loading military
fire-arm', is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings; Figure 1 being a
longitudinal section of the breech action after the discharge has taken

page_text: loading. The dotted lines in Figure I also show the precon closed and av
full cock.
Figures 3 to 11 show different views of an improved sight.
Figure 12 shows a tool for use with this improved fire-arm, while
Figures 13 and 14 show an elevation and section of a portion of the butt
to illustrate the method of attaching the breech thereto.
A, Figures 1 and 2, shows the breech end of the barrel enlarged to
receive the cartridge (which may either be a central or rim fire), while
B, C, D, E, F, G, H, K, show a section of the breech body, in which are
fitted the several parts of the breech action, and extending along the
small of the butt, to which it is fixed by means of screws. The operative
parts or action consist of a combined tumbler and striker Q, mounted in
a guard lever M, N, O, P, having a drop action of a breech block R,
main spring S, and trigger T. The striker and trigger are pivoted at
a, b, in a lock chamber formed on the guard lever, to which the brecch
closing block is connected by a curved part c, formed on each side of the
lock chamber, which engages with a corresponding hook or claw formed
on the under side of the breech block. The main spring S, which is of
spiral form, is coiled around a small stud d, also fixed to the drop lever.
The whole lock is thus mounted in the drop lever, which is pivoted at e
to the breech body B, C, D, E, F, G, H, K. One end of the spiral
spring S bears on a small stud ffixed to a part of the striker, while the
other end (passing through a slit in the stud d) is caused to act on the
trigger.
The action of the fire-arm will be readily understood with the as-
sistance of the Drawing. Supposing the gun to have been fired and the
parts to be in the line position shown in Figure 1 in order to reload, the
tail end P of the drop lever is first pulled down so as to bring it to the
position, Figure 2, drawing down with it the sliding block R; the breech
is thus uncovered to allow of the extraction of the spent cartridge case
and the insertion of a fresh cartridge at the same time that the tumbler
and striker Q coming in contact with the fixed projection g in the breech
is cocked or thrown to the position, Figure 2, in which it is held by
the sear h on trigger T. A cartridge having been inserted the guard
lever is returned to position, Figure 1, which raises the sliding block and
thereby closes the brecch end of the barrel. The gun, which as before-

page_text: mentioned is cocked by the drop motion of the guard lever, is then ready
for firing. The extraction of the spent cartridge case is effected
simultaneously with the opening of the breech by means of two bent
levers i, l, fitted in recesses, one on either side of the breech chamber, and
oscillating on a pivot k. The arms of the extractor bear against the rim
of the cartridge so as to withdraw it from the barrel on the sliding block
B, in its downward movement abutting against and depressing the tail i
when operated by the drop lever, as before-described. The action of the
extractor is accelerated by a small nib m, which on being struck at this
moment by the pin n causes a smart blow to be given to the cartridge
case, discharging the same into a tubular cavity L in the "small
butt, from which it falls out at an opening on one side (see Figure 13)
and may be caught by the hand or by a pouch if it is desired to retain
the empty cases; or the empty case may be projected against a lever,
represented in dotted lines at u, Figure 2, whereby an upward rotating
motion is imparted which throws the empty case forwards towards the
muzzle of the gun. The pins n, o, indicate at a glance by their position
whether the gun is loaded and cocked.
of the
The dismounting of the breech action is facilitated by a special ar-
rangement of the pivot e, Figures 1 and 2, which is partly screw
threaded and partly plain, and is provided at one end with a lever or
latoh, which, on being partially rotated by hand or by the drop lever
enables the pivot to be withdrawn, when the whole of the action may be
dismounted. This latch also serves for quick firing by turning it down-
wards, so that on raising the drop lever it shall strike a small stud 2
(Figures 1 and 2) on the sear, projecting on the outside, and thereby.
release the striker without pulling the trigger.
Figures 3, 4, and 5 show an improved arrangement of back sight,
composed of a bed p fitted to slide in a groove on the barrel to which it
is fixed and provided with quadrant shaped flanges q, q, between which
the elevating sight a is pivoted at r. The sight is recessed at one side to
receive a catch t of the form shown in plan, Figure 5, provided with a
nib and thumb piece n, and pressed outwards by a spring behind it, one
of the vertical sides or ear pieces being also formed with a series of
notches to receive the nib. Thus arranged it is evident that the sight
may be securely fixed.in the exact position desired.
Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 show modified arrangements of the
sight, which will be understood without further description. It will be

page_text: observed that in each case the pivot r of the elevating sight & instead of
being placed at a right angle to the axis of the barrel is slightly oblique, so
that the sight notch when elevated will move in a plane at a certain angle
with the line of fire to compensate for deviation in firing at long ranges.
In order to extract defective cartridge cases, part of which might
remain in the barrel, the metallic end only being removed by the
extractor, I employ the device shown in Figure 12, consisting of a
thimble to be applied to the end of the ramrod and having four spring
tongues or prongs, which are inserted in the barrel, so that the prongs
entering the rifled grooves will always ensure the extraction of the case.
The butt end of this improved fire-arm is a distinct piece of wood (see
Figures 13 and 14) strongly fitted by tenon and grooves a³, b¹, to the
breech.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent :
Office on the 20th May 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-sixth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special licence
that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Melville Clark,
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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," a communication to me from
abroad by Sante Marelli and Agostino Marelli, both of Milan, in the
Kingdom of Italy, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the

page_text: 7thly. A perfect closure of the breech is obtained, and even in the
case of defective cartridges the gas cannot injure the fire-arm or shooter.
8thly. The fire-arm is provided with an improved back sight, which is
pivoted obliquely, whereby the sight notch of the elevating flap when
raised is adjusted to rectify deviation in firing at long ranges.

page_text: action of a breech block R, main spring S, and trigger T. The striker
and trigger are pivoted at a, b, in a lock chamber formed on the guard
lever to which the breech closing block is connected by a curved part c
formed on each side of the lock chamber which engages with a corre-
sponding hook or claw formed on the underside of the breech block.
The main spring S is coiled around a small stud d also fixed to the drop
lever. The whole lock is thus mounted in the drop lever which is
pivoted at e to the breech body B, C, D, E, F, G, H, K. One end of
the spring S bears on a small stud ffixed to a part of the striker, while
the other end (passing through a slit in the stud d) is caused to act on
the trigger..
The action of the fire-arm will be readily understood with the
assistance of the Drawing. Suppose the gun to have been fired and the
parts to be in the line position shown in Figure 1 in order to reload, the
tail end P of the drop lever is first pulled down so as to bring it to the
position Figure 2, drawing down with it the sliding block R. The
breech is thus uncovered to allow of the extraction of the spent cartridge
case and the insertion of a fresh cartridge at the same time that the
tumbler and striker Q coming in contact with the fixed projection g on
the breech body is cooked or thrown back to the position shown in
Figure 2, in which it is held by the sear hon trigger T. A cartridge
having been inserted the guard lever is returned to position Figure 1,
which raises the sliding block and thereby closes the breech end of the
barrel. The gun which as before-mentioned is cocked by the drop
motion of the guard lever is then ready for firing.
•
The extraction of the spent cartridge case is effected simultaneously
with the opening of the breech by means of two crank arms i, l, fitted in
recesses one on either side of the breech chamber and oscillating on a
pivot k. The arms 1 of the extractor bear against the rim of the
cartridge so as to withdraw it from the barrel on the sliding block B, in
its downward movement abutting against and depressing the tail i.
Figure 1 shows a detached view of the extractor and sliding block in
the position they occupy previous to the extraction of the cartridge
case; Figure 2 shows the same parts after the case has been withdrawn
by the arms of the extractor; while Figures 3 and 4 show a front
view and transverse section of the extractor. The action of the
extractor is accelerated just before the end of its movement by the end
of pin n striking a small nut m, and causing a slight blow to be given to

page_text: ">
the cartridge which is discharged into a tubular cavity L in the "small
of the butt, from which it falls out at an opening on one side (see
Figure 13) and may be caught by the hand or by a pouch if it is desired
to retain the empty cases, or the empty case may be projected against a
lever represented in dotted lines at u, Figure 2, whereby an upward
rotating motion is imparted to the case which throws the same forward
towards the muzzle of the gun. The pins n, o, indicate at a glance by
their position whether the gun is loaded and cocked.
The dismounting of the breech action is facilitated by a special
arrangement of the pivot e, Figures 1 and 2, which is partly screw- 1
threaded on two or three sides and partly plain, so that on being partially
rotated by the aid of a lever with which it is provided at one end the '
pivot may be withdrawn which permits of the whole of the action being
dismounted. This lever may be moved by hand or by the drop lever if
connected thereto. This lever also serves for quick firing by turning it 1
downwards so that on raising the drop lever it shall strike a small stud z
(Figures 1 and 2)-on-the sear which projects on the outside whereby.the
striker will be released without pulling the trigger.
Figures 3, 4, and 5 show an improved arrangement of back sight
composed of a plate p bevelled at the ends and fitted or dovetailed into a 2
corresponding slide on the barrel. It is provided with quadrant shaped
flanges q, q, between which the elevating sight & is pivoted at r. The
sight is recessed at one side to receive a catch & of the form shown in plan
Figure 5 provided with a nib and thumb piece u, and pressed outwards by '
a spring behind it, one of the flanges 9 being also formed with a series of 2
notches to receive the nib. Thus arranged it is evident that the sight may
be securely fixed in the exact position desired. The elevating sight
being provided with a notch u as usual, which together with the fore.
sight placed at the muzzle end of the barrel determines the line of sight;
the latter may be determined according to the distance in an exact and 3
invariable manner by raising the back sight. For the sake of con-
venience in manufacture I may make catch t, thumb piece u, and the
spring, all of one piece of metal as shown in Figure 5ª.
Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 show modified arrangements of the
sight which will be understood without further description. It will be
observed that in each case the pivot r of the elevating sight & instead of
being placed at a right angle to the axis of the barrel is slightly oblique,
and also slightly inclined, so that the sight notch when elevated will

page_text: 7th. The cavity or channel L in the butt for the discharge and
collection of the spent cartridge cases as shown and described.
8th. The butt composed of a distinct piece of wood when fixed to
the body of the breech by tenon a¹ and grooves b', 6', as shown and
described.
9th. Pivoting the back sight in such manner that it moves in an
oblique plane, so that when elevated the sight notch will be adjusted to
rectify deviation in firing at long ranges as shown and described.
10th. The mode of fixing the elevating sight by means of spring
catch t, u, as shown and described.
11th. Providing the striker Q with two points or noses to enable
either central or rim fire cartridges to be used.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of May, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
Witness,
HENRY W. DEWEY,
53, Chancery Lane.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)