CERTAIN NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING AND REPEATING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ebenezer Goodnow Lamson, of Windsor, of the
State of Vermont, of the United States of America, for the Invention
of "CERTAIN NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING AND
REPEATING FIRE-ARMS."-A communication by Albert Ball, residing
at Worcester, in the County of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts,
of the said United States.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Ebenezer Goodnow Lamson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 23rd November 1865, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, BE IT KNOWN
that I, EBENEZER GOODNOW LAMSON, of Windsor, of the State of Vermont,
of the United States of America, am in possession of an Invention of
"CERTAIN NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING AND REPEATING
FIRE-ARMS," such Invention having been communicated to me by one
Albert Ball, a person resident at Worcester, in the County of Worcester,
and State of Massachusetts, of the said United States; and I do hereby
declare myself to be the first introducer of the said Invention into the
Kingdom of Great Britain, and that the nature of the said Invention, and

page_text: the manner in which it is to be performed, are fully described in the
following Specification and represented in the accompanying Drawings,
marked Plates 1, 2, and 3.
The first portion of my Invention is illustrated in Plate 1, and may be
thus explained:-Of the said Plate Figure 1 denotes a side view of a fire-
arm with its lock case cover or plate removed, so as to exhibit the operative
parts in their proper positions at the instant of discharge of a cartridge;
Figure 2 is a transverse section taken through the charge chamber;
Figure 3 is a view of the under side of the upper portion of the magazine;
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the arm, the operative parts being
therein exhibited as in the positions in which they are at the discharge of
a cartridge from the magazine, and preparatory to the raising of such
cartridge up to and its deposit within the charge chamber of the barrel;
Figure 5 is a side view of the movable side plate or cover of the case of
the lock; Figure 6 is a top view of the charge carriage. The fire-arm
represented in the aforesaid Figures is a repeating pistol, but my Invention
is equally applicable to a rifle, a musket, or a carbine. The several
charges (which are what is termed fixed ammunition) are contained
within a tube or magazine, which is situated underneath and alongside of
the barrel in manner as represented in the said Figures, in which B denotes
the barrel, and W the magazine. The barrel is screwed into the part b of
the stock, in which the charge chamber is partially constructed, the
remainder of the charge chamber being formed in a charging carriage
represented at O in Figures 1 and 4.
In my Invention the charging carriage is employed not only for receiving
a cartridge from the magazine and transporting it to and inserting it
within the charge chamber, and so as to be ready for being exploded, but it
is also subsequently employed, or after discharge of the cartridge, for
extracting from the charge chamber, or that part of it directly connected
with and stationary with the barrel, the shell of such cartridge. Further-
more, the charging carriage is so made as to enable the shell after having
been so withdrawn to be ejected laterally from the carriage by the action
of a spring or other device. The several cartridges as arranged within
the magazine are exhibited at C, C, C, the rearmost one being placed
within the charging carriage o. This carriage, formed as shown in Figures
1, 2, and 4, is joined to a trigger guard lever R, by means of which the
elevation and depression of the charging carriage may be effected; P is a
locking piece or device for preventing the carriage o from. being driven
backward during discharge of a cartridge. This locking pièce has a flange

page_text: or projection v which rests on a tumbler I, and is provided with a spring g
whose object is to effect the elevation of the locking piece; H is the
hammer or cock on whose centre pin or axle the tumbler I is fixed; this
tumbler carries a lever latch c by which the locking piece P is drawn down-
ward and away from the carriage ó at the proper period, preparatory to
being moved backward and downward with respect to the barrel or its
portion of the charge chamber. A small spring f applied to the catch e
operates to keep the catch in proper connection with the locking piece P:
The movable side piece X shown in Figure 5 is to be fastened to the
stock V by means of screws, the heads of which are represented at Z, Z;
in such Figure. This side plate is recessed or notched at A for a two-
be
fold purpose, that is to say, not only in order that the cartridges may
introduced through the notchi A into the magazine, but that their shells;
after explosion of their charges; may be successively ejected from the
cartridge carriage. Each of the cartridges used in my said fire-arm has a
copper or metal shell or powder cup, which not only contains the powder
and-ball but has a flange at its rear end for holding the percussion powder,
the form of the cartridge being as shown in Figure 4. The flange, when
the cartridge is within the socket of the carriage o, rests within a corre-
sponding recess or groove / formed at the rear of the socket and against
the breech or back thereof. The breech of the cartridge rests against the
said breech or back of the socket, which, when the cartridge is within the
load chamber of the barrel, constitutes a breech for the barrel. The load
cliamber is partly formed in the stock and partly in the carriage o. As
the shell of the cartridge when in the charge chamber overlaps the joint
between the front end of the carriage o and its next adjacent part of the
stock such joint will be protected by such shell from the action of the gases
resulting from the explosion of the powder. The flange of the cartridge
also serves to make a close joint at the breech or rear end of the charge
chamber. A helical spring S placed within the magazine and in advance
of the cartridges serves by means of a plunger T to press them backward
toward the cartridge carriage o as occasion may require.. This plunger
has a small projection or knob N extending from it and through a groove r
made longitudinally in the magazine, the knob N serving to enable the
spring S to be contracted, or the plunger to be moved forward preparatory'
to the charging of the magazine with cartridges. A notch K (see
Figure 3) serves to receive the knob and hold the plunger stationary during
the introduction of the cartridges into the magazine. With the carriage o
there is employed a cartridge shell' discharger or spring D (see Figures 2'

page_text: and 4). During the forward movement of the carriage o such carriage
will press back the spring, which as soon as the carriage may have been
retracted will be free to act against the cartridge shell t laterally from the
carriage; J is a spring or guard by which the cartridge while being raised
up by the carriage o is maintained in place thereon.
The operation of the fire-arm may be thus described:-Preparatory to
charging the magazine with cartridges the spring S should be contracted,
and afterwards should be held so by turning the knob N laterally into the
notch K. The charging carriage having been depressed to its lowest
position the cartridges should be successively inserted through the depres-
sion A and into the magazine, after which the knob N should be turned
out of the notch K in order that the plunger, by means of the spring, may
be so borne against the row of cartridges as to press them forward toward
the charging carriage o. Next, by pulling the lever upward toward the
stock the charging carriage with a cartridge will be elevated, and during
its rise will be moved forward until it may have reached its position as
shown in Figure 1. The shell of a cartridge, while in the charge chamber,
will close the joints thereof in manner as herein-before mentioned. During
the passage of the charging carriage o from its position as shown in
Figure 4 into that as represented in Figure 1, the rear end of the said
carriage will slide forward on the upper surface of the locking piece P and
off the key or catch c, and as soon as the carriage may have introduced the
cartridge into the barrel or charge chamber thereof the piece P will be
thrown up by the action of the spring g and will lock the said carriage in
position. During the transition of the charging carriage o from its
position as shown in Figure 4 to that exhibited in Figure 1 the hammer H
will remain stationary and elevated as shown in Figure 4, ready to be
thrown down for discharging the cartridge, the depression of the hammer
being effected by a main spring, which with the trigger to be applied to
the tumbler is not represented in the Drawings. It will be impossible to
lischarge the cartridge until the locking piece P may have been elevated
into its highest position. During the upward movement of the carriage o
the flange of the cartridge within it will be moved in contact with the.
spring J, which on entering a notch in the top of the carriage and bearing
on the flange will serve to keep the cartridge in its proper position until it
may enter or have passed into the charge chamber or hore of the arm.
The hammer by striking against the flange of the cartridge explodes the
priming thereof. At the moment the hammer is thrown against the
cartridge the tumbler will have been turned around with respect to the

page_text: projection of the locking piece P, in manner as shown in Figure 1, and
so as to prevent any downward movement of the piece P during explosion
of the cartridge. After having discharged the fire-arm the hammer should.
be raised. During the descent of the hammer to explode the cartridge:
the key or catch e will be elevated and locked in the upper side of the
piece P, and will pull downward the said piece P during the elevation of.
the hammer. By depressing the lever R the carriage o will be moved
back ward on the piece P, and will be depressed at its front end. The shell
of the cartridge in the meanwhile will be drawn out of the cartridge
chamber and be thrown off or ejected from the carriage by the reaction of
the spring D, after which another cartridge will be forced into place on
the carriage ready for being raised up to the charge chamber. During the
rearward movement of the carriage o it will press the catch fout of action
on the locking piece P.
What I claim as my Invention in the above described fire-arm is as
follows, viz. claim the mode substantially as described of making the
rear part of the barrel or cartridge chamber and the front part of the
charging carriage, that is to say, making the charging carriage with a
recess or trough for receiving a cartridge and allowing of the ejectment of
its shell in manner as explained, and so constructing the breech end of
the barrel or the cartridge chamber thereof that such recess or trough of
such charging carriage may when the cartridge is in place in the bore or
cartridge chamber form part of and complete such cartridge chamber in
manner substantially as described.
I also claim the combination of the ejecting spring D with the charging
carriage when constructed and combined with a magazine and barrel sub-
stantially in manner and to operate therewith as herein-before explained.
I also claim the combination of the locking piece P, and its actuating
mechanism (viz., the spring g and catch f,) with the tumbler I and the
charging carriage o, the whole being constructed and arranged in manner
and so as to operate together substantially as described.
I also claim the charging carriage as made in manner and so as to operate
with the magazine and the barrel.as described, viz., to receive within it a
cartridge from the magazine to raise it up to the barrel or charge chamber
thereof to form part of and serve as a breech to such chamber,
And, finally, to withdraw the shell of the cartridge. therefrom as
explained.
.
Plate 2 represents certain other of my said improvements. In the said:
Plate Figure 1 denotes a longitudinal section of a fire-arm provided with

page_text: such improvements; Figure 2 is a transverse section taken through its
magazine cover; Figure 3 is a side view of it. This fire-arm, like that
herein-before explained, has a tubular magazine arranged underneath and
along side its barrel. With this magazine a charging carriage is employed
to receive the cartridges and introduce them successively into the rear
portion or charge chamber of the barrel. In this fire-arm the improve-
ment consists in a new mechanism for retracting the cartridges or drawing
them out of the magazine and into the charging carriage as circumstances
may require, the, said. mechanism consisting, of a rack bar, a spring or spring
presser, and certain impelling and retaining pawls arranged together and
operating as herein-after described; also in the combination of a pawl
elevator with the pawls and the rack bar and, the spring, presser; also in
the combination of a magazine cover and its, band or connection with the
magazine and the barrel; also in the arrangement of the pawl spring with
reference to the two pawls. In the aforesaid Figures of Plate 2 A denotes
the barrel, and B the tubular magazine of the fire-arm; C is the stock; D,
the charging carriage; E, the trigger guard:lever, by which the said carriage.
is operated; and G; the device for, expelling a cartridge shell from the
cartridge carriage. The cartridges are represented at a, a, a, a, as arranged,
within the magazine in line with, one another and in rear of a helical spring
presser F; placed within the magazine and supported at the front ex-
tremity of a notched or rack bar c, which extends from the lock case or
chamber m into the magazine, as shown in Figure 1. This spring presser
consists of a double headed slider b and a spring c enveloping it, and
arranged between the larger head:b of the slider and a projection d from
the rack. The rod of the slider plays freely, through the projection d, and
is furnished with a smaller head f, which is. in advance of the projection.d,
and serves to keep the presser Ę in. connection with the rack bar.. The
said rack bar is notched as s shown at g, g, 5, 5, the distance between each.
two next, adjacent, notches. being, equal to the,, length of a cartridge.
Furthermore the presser. E is in longitudinal section equal to that of a
cartridge, Two pawls G, H, act on the upper edge of the rack bar, and
with its notches they (the, said pawls) being pressed upon the bar by the
force of a spring L, which presses on, the two pawls and is fastened at its
rear end to the stock. One of these pawls is a retaining and the other an
impelling pawl. The latter, which is exhibited at G, is jointed to the
shorter arm of the lever E, and consequently is operated by such lever
during its movements. While the longer arm of the lever is in the act of
being forced downward, the impelling pawl will be pressed against a notch

page_text: of the rack bar and will cause such rack bar to be moved backward, the
length of a cartridge, the retaining pawl by taking into another notch.
serving to prevent the advance of the rack bar. The spring presser
during the rearward, movement of the rack; bar should be contracted so, as
to, press, with elastic force against the next adjacent cartridge and so as to
press the range of cartridges backward against the cartridge carriage..
Under these circumstances, and as soon; as, a cartridge shell may have, been.
withdrawn from the barrel and expelled laterally from the cartridge carriage,
the rearmost cartridge of the series in the magazine will by the action of
the spring presser be suddenly forced back on an inclined guide or plane.k,.
and from thence. into the seat or recess of the cartridge carriage. A
lever is applied to the stock and so as when, turned in one direction it;
will press upward the retaining pawl, which at the same time will, elevate
the impelling pawl, the said lever serving to raise, the pawls out of action,
with the rack bar, in order that the latter may be drawn out of the
magazine. As the magazine has a slot extending. through it lengthwise
and for reception of the rack bar it becomes desirable to have the slot.
protected from dirt or extraneous matters, which getting into the magazine:
might affect the proper movements of the cartridges. For this, purpose. I
cover the magazine. with a wooden cover, slider, or shoe R, so adapted to
the magazine as to slide on it and be held to it and the barrel by a band. S.
going around the two. This cover not only protects the magazine.from,
dust but from becoming indented or otherwise injured. Another mode,
in which I have contemplated the action of the pawls to the rack bar and,
its spring presser is to hinge the pawls, to the, latter when it is separate
from the rack bar, the teeth of the rack bar being arranged near its front end,,
and so that the pawls may work in them. In this case the rack bar, is: to,
be connected with the trigger guard lever by, a connecting rod,, which when
the lever is moved will produce a movement of the bar longitudinally of it.
Of the fire-arm represented in Plate 2, and herein-above described,,
I claim as my Invention the combination of the rack bar. c,, the spring
presser F, or its equivalent, and the impelling and retaining, pawls G, H,
the whole being applied to the magazine B, and, the trigger guard, lever, E,,
and so as to operate together and with the charging carriage substantially
as specified.
I claim the combination of the pawl elevator J with the pawls G, H, and.
the rack bar c, and spring presser F, when applied to a magazine B.and a.
trigger guard lever E, substantially in manner and so as to operate as
specified..

page_text: I also claim the arrangement of the pawl spring I with reference to the
two pawls G, H, whereby it is caused to operate both of them.
I also claim the combination of the magazine cover R, and its band or
attachment S with the separate tubular magazine B and the barrel A.
Plate 3 exhibits the balance of my improvements. In this latter Plate
Figure 1 is a side view of the barrel of a repeating fire-arm, with such last-
mentioned improvements applied to it, and Figure 2 is a longitudinal
section; Figure 3 is a front end view, and Figure 4 a transverse section"
thereof; Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the spring contractor, to be
herein-after described; Figure 6 is a side view of the magazine with its
spring contractor, trough, and tip; Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of
the magazine, the spring and follower thereof, and also the stop pawl, and
the series of holes by which the follower is prevented from being forced
back against the spring by the cartridge or cartridges.
In the Drawings A denotes the barrel of a repeating fire-arm, there
being arranged underneath the barrel a tube or magazine B for holding a
series of cartridges. Within this tube or magazine there is a thimble-shaped
follower or slider C and a helical spring D, the latter being for moving
the follower rearward in order to propel the several cartridges along toward
the breech end of the barrel, as circumstances may require. For drawing
the follower forward within the magazine in order to contract the. spring
D what may be termed a spring contractor E is employed, it being some-
what like a ramrod and made in two parts or lengths, a, b, the longer of
which (6) is provided at its rear end with a male screw to screw into the
front part of the shorter part a, such shorter part a being furnished with a
hook or projection c extending laterally from it at its rear end. The
spring contractor so made is placed alongside of the magazine, and opens
into it by a slit e extending nearly if not entirely throughout the
length of the magazine. This slit is for the reception of the shorter arm of
a lever catch or stop catch, which is formed and arranged within the follower
C in manner as shown in Figure 7. A spring g operates to force the
hook h of the catch f through an opening in the side of the follower. A
series of holes i, i, i, i, is made through the side of the magazine and at
distances apart from one to another equal to the length of the cartridges
to be used in the magazine. Whenever the follower is at rest in the
magazine the hook h will be in some one of the holes, and will prevent the
cartridge or collection of cartridges from being moved so as to force the
follower against the spring D in such manner as to contract it or produce
longitudinal retraction of it. The object of the stop catch fand the holes

page_text: i, i, i, i, is to prevent longitudinal vibrations of the cartridge or cartridges
in the magazine. By pulling forward the contractor E the follower may
be drawn into the magazine so as to contract the spring thereof. In this
operation the hook of the contractor will so act against the stop catch f
as to cause its hook h to move back entirely within the follower in order
to enable the latter to be moved along, into, and within the magazine.
Furthermore, besides such action, the hook of the contractor has such hold
or the lever stop catch as to effect the retraction of the follower during
the forward movement of the retractor. A spring lever latch F supported
by the metallic tip band G, and arranged and formed as shown in Figure 2
will catch the follower at the extreme position of its retraction and hold it
there until such latch may be relieved from the follower, which may be
accomplished by pressing the shorter arm b of the latch toward the barrel.
A spring affixed to the latch in advance of its fulcrum serves to throw
the latch into engagement with the follower at the proper time. The tip
band G is screwed to the front end of the magazine tube and goes around
the barrel, and not only forms a head to the magazine but constitutes a
support to the latch F. The purpose of the latch F is to hold the
magazine or follower spring D contracted while the magazine may be in
the act of being charged with cartridges. The purpose of constructing
the spring contractor in the manner as explained is to allow of its longer
part 6 being separated from the shorter part a and withdrawn from the
trough d in order that such part 6 may be employed, either as a rammer
to expel a cartridge from the barrel or for any other useful purpose, it
being also, especially advantageous for effecting the cleaning of the inside
of the barrel, in which it is supposed to be screwed to a wiper to be run
into the barrel. The contractor E is arranged alongside of the lever latch
F instead of being passed underneath the barrel. The magazine slides
endwise into a wooden cover or stock I which fits to it and the barrel, and
is held in place by the tip band and by a back band K, the tip band being
held to a barrel by means of a screw n.
The barrel by being separate
from the magazine can not only expand lengthwise when heated without.
producing corresponding expansion of the magazine, but it becomes so
insulated from the magazine as not to heat it and the cartridges so as to
enflame the percussion priming of any one of the latter. The uniform.
expansion or contraction of the barrel (when heated) gained by having:
the magazine and barrel separate from one another as specified, ensures.
greater accuracy of firing, for when both are in one piece of metal, or so,
combined that the expansion of one cannot take place equally with that of
b

page_text: the other, the barrel is likely to become heated irregularly, or fastest
where it may be the thinnest, and so as to crook or bend more or less;
and thereby injuriously affect the proper direction of a ball while being
discharged from it. The wooden cover I prevents dirt or foreign matters
from getting into the contractor and the magazine and impeding the action
of the parts therein.
I claim the arrangement and combination of the spring contractor É,
with the barrel and the magazine, provided with a spring and follower, as
specified.
I also claim the spring contractor, made substantially as clescribed.
I also claim the combination of the lever latch F, or its mechanical
equivalent, with the magazine, the spring, and follower thereof and the
spring contractor.
I also claim the combination and arrangement of the tip band Ġ with
the barrel, the magazine, the lever latch, and the spring contractor;
substantially as set forth.
Figure 4, Plate 2, is a side view of a carbine involving improvements
as herein-before described. The advantages claimed for this arm over any
other repeating gun are as follows:-Greater simplicity of construction, a
much less number of parts, and a more graceful and symmetrical form.
The arm can be used by those less expert in the manipulations of firing;
and will work continuously with less liability of interruption, and with less
trouble from fouling than is experienced with any other repeater yet
produced. It combines all the advantages of a single or breech-loading
gun and a repeater, being used for either with equal facility. In the
operation of loading no part of the gun is detached, and there is conse-
quently no liability of losing any part. A serious objection to guns which,
in loading, require the removal of any piece, is the danger of dropping the
piece so removed, particularly when galloping upon horseback, or in the
confusion of an engagement. The magazine may be filled, or only partially
so, and the gun used equally well, and there is no danger of any piece of
the arm refusing to perform its proper office. If the cartridge is entered the
wrong way the action of the lever will at once free the gun and allow the
next cartridge to assume its place without removing any piece of the gun,
and with but a few seconds' interruption in the firing. The shell is perfectly
certain to be ejected after firing, and no irregularity in the size or form of
the same will interfere with ejectment (as is the case with other repeaters,
and also with many single loaders), the shell being extracted from the
chamber and ejected equally well whether the gun is used as a repeater or

page_text: single loader. The cartridge in passing from the magazine to the chamber
is carried in the trough of the carrier block (which becomes a part of the
chamber) without injury to the cartridge, and without the liability of
loosening the ball in the shell, as where the cartridge passes over a curved
surface a little variation in the length of cartridges, which is a serious
difficulty with some other repeaters, is not perceived in the working of this
gun. The mechanism of the breech is so simple there is scarcely a
possibility of deranging any of its parts. There can be no explosion of
the magazine, as this is substantially closed whenever a cartridge enters the
barrel. The magazine is entirely covered and protected from accident.
The breech and lock can be removed for cleaning by simply displacing two
screws, and the rod serves the double purpose of withdrawing the magazine
spring preparatory to loading and for use in cleaning the barrel. The arm
works free in all its parts, and cannot be gummed up or impeded in its
proper and legitimate operations. It cannot be balked in the hands of the
most inexperienced soldier.
In witness whereof, I, the said
hereunto set my hand and
1865
Ebenezer Goodnow Lamson, have
seal, this 31st day of October,
EBENEZER GOODNOW LAMSON. (L.s.)