IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical
Draughtsman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING
FIRE-ARMS."-A communication from abroad by Herman Funke, of
the City and State of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 12th June 1868, and dated the 15th April 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 15th April 1868.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-
LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to simplify the construction of breech-
loading fire-arms, increase their durability and their capacity for rapid
loading and firing. To this end all the lock mechanism except the
trigger, viz., the firing pin, the mainspring, and the scar, are contained
within the breech block, which is hinged to the frame or breech piece.

page_text: The barrel is screwed into the breech piece, which is recessed at its upper
part, and hollowed out to receive the breech block. This block is
secured by a hinge to the breech piece, and on the pin of the hinge is
mounted the cartridge extractor. On a level with the hinge and in
advance thereof a chamber is formed on the breech frame to receive
a propelling spring which is connected with the cartridge extractor.
The strength of this spring is regulated by a screw plug which closes tho
forward end of the chamber. The breech block is made hollow
throughout, and its forward end is closed by a cap forming a gas check.
This gas check is pierced at its centre to allow the firing pin to protrude
through it and reach the centre of the cartridge contained in the rear of
the barrel. The firing pin is the extremity of a sliding rod fitted into
the breech block, and surrounded by a coiled spring for giving it tho
forward impulse. This rod is notched to receive the catch of the scar
spring which holds it at cock or half-cock as desired, and the scar
spring is secured to the block. At its rear the breech frame forms a
guide for the rear end of the sliding rod to move in. This rod is
extended laterally at its rear for a cortain distance to fit a laterally
extended vertical slot or longitudinal opening in the rear of the breech
frame, and at this part the sliding rod has a vertical extension to which
a handle is fitted for cocking the arm and lifting and depressing the
breech block. The enlargement both vertically and laterally of the
sliding rod is free to slide to and fro in the rear of the brecoh frame, but
so long as it is within the frame the breech block is effectually locked
in its place. To allow of the breech block being raised to charge the
arm the sliding rod must be drawn back to its full extent. In order
more effectually to lock the breech block the vertical extension of the
sliding rod may be provided with a shoulder or catch, which when the
sliding rod is advanced to fire will overlap the rear end of the breech
block. The firing is effected by pulling the trigger, which depresses the
sear spring and leaves the propelling spring free to act, but the arm
may be fired without a trigger when thought desirable. On the hinge
joint of the breech block is a shoulder, which as the block is turned
upwards comes in contact with a shoulder of the cartridge extractor and
moves it on its fulcrum, bringing its extracting tooth down upon the
cartridge flange. As this movement is continued the extractor will
turn until the spring coupled with it, which was at first pressing in a
line above the centre of motion or in opposition to the brocch block,
is thrust down into a line below the centre, the spring will then act in

page_text: the opposite direction and continue the axial motion of the extractor,
causing it to throw out the cartridge rearwards, and the cartridge
meeting with an incline in the bed of the breech frame will be tipped
outwards and discharged from the fire-arm.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 8th October 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COMF, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Iler reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, Her special licence
that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, 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 BREECH-LEADING FIRE-ARMS," being a communication
to me from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
scals, 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 I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing

page_text: hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say):
The object of this Invention is to simplify the construction of breech-
loading fire-arms, and to increase their durability and their capacity
for rapid loading and firing.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of
the improved breech-loader; Fig. 2 is a similar sectional view, but with
the breech piece thrown up; Fig. 3 is a detail top view; Fig. 4 is a
detail side view illustrating the closing of the breech; Fig. 5 is a detail
view shewing the form of the breech piece at the rear end; and Fig. 6
is a detail view or section at *, *, , Fig. 1, showing the form of the rear
portion of the breech frame or receiver. In the several Figures the
same parts are designated by the same letters of reference.
A is the frame or breech piece receptacle; B is the barrel; C, the
stock; D, the trigger guard; and E, the hinged or swinging breech block.
The barrel B may be screwed into the forward end of the frame A, as
clearly shown, and these parts, together with the stock and guard, may be
arranged and united in the usual manner. The breech block E is
hinged at its upper forward portion (immediately in rear of the barrel)
to the frame A. by means of a stud or pin c passing through the pro-
jections or cars 1, 1, and is provided with a suitable gas plug & which
(when the breech block is closed) forms the breech of the charge
chamber or support for the rear end of the cartridge, as clearly seen
at Fig. 1. Within the swinging breech block E is arranged to slide
longitudinally in suitable bearings the hammer pin or firing pin F,
which is actuated by a spiral spring S, and the forward end of which
may be reduced in diameter and allowed to pass through the gas
plug t, as shown, so as to strike the centre of the base of the cartridge;
or the forward end of the pin may be otherwise shaped if deemed
expedient to adapt it to other kinds of cartridges. 1 and 2 are the
half-cock and full-cock notches of the hammer or firing pin F,
and O, N, is a spring sear which takes into the notches and holds
the said pin F back until let off by the trigger h, which is pivotted
ati in such a manner that when its lower end is pulled back its
upper end will pull down the spring sear O, N, and withdraw the
latter from the notches of the pin F. The trigger his provided with
a spring m, and the screw which secures the end of said spring to the
lower side of frame A passes up through the frame and is bevilled off

page_text: at (see Fig. 2) in such a manner as to form an inclined plane
over which the empty cartridge case rides and by which it is lifted,
as will be presently explained. The firing pin F is formed with an
enlargement or dog g about equal in thickness to the diameter of the
pin F, and consequently capable of sliding back and forth through the
slot or opening in the housing or breech portion a', a", of the frame A.
The pin F is also enlarged at f to fit the cut under or enlarged
opening at M of the housing as and for purposes to be presently
explained. e is a handle or hand piece projecting from one side of the
dog, as shewn, for conveniently pulling back or cocking the hammer
or firing pin and lifting and closing the swinging or vibratory breech
block E. Upon the axis or pin c on which the block E turns is hung
the cartridge extractor and ejector W, which is so formed and operated
(as will be presently explained) as to withdraw and eject the empty
cartridge shell when the breech E is swung up to reload the arm.
6 is the ejector spring, which together with its sot screw J is arranged
within the enlargement L of the frame A.
The mode of operating the improved gun in firing may be thus
briefly explained :-Suppose the gun to have been loaded and fired the
parts would then be in the relative positions illustrated at Fig. 1. To
reload and fire, the operator must take hold of the dog handle e, pull
back the hammer or firing pin to the cock notch, and swing up the
brecch block E as seen at Fig. 2. As the breech block is swung up
the shoulder 8 of the portion e comes in contact with the shoulder 9
of the extractor W, and carrying it along with it in its rotation about
the axis c causes the extractor to force back and out of the charge
chamber the empty cartridge case. The volute spring 6, it will be
seen, presses against the extractor W in such a manner (before the
extractor is moved by the swinging breech block, see Fig. 1) as to
tend to retain the extractor in the position shown at Fig. 1; but
after the extractor has been turned so far on its axis as to bring the
point against which the spring 6 bears below a right line passing
through the said axis and the centre of the screw J, the spring then
presses upon the extractor in such a manner as to force the
extractor into the position illustrated at Fig. 2; and since this
effect on the extractor W is produced suddenly by the strong
spring 6, and after the empty case has been loosened from the rear
end of the barrel, the empty shell will be suddenly and violently

page_text: ejected or expelled backward from the charge chamber, and striking
the inclined projection in its backward flight will be thrown clear
of the gun. It is preferred to make the spring 6 in a volute form,
and the set screw J with a conical extension entering within and
steadying the spring, but a plain spiral spring may be employed with
its end properly straightened out to operate on the ejector W. The
object of the set screw J is to increase the effectiveness of the spring 6
by compressing it as it loses its elasticity; or, as circumstances may
require, if the spring be made sufficiently long and properly encased
in the portion L it may break in one or two places, and still be
kept effective by crowding the portions together by the screw J.
The abutment or rear portion of the frame A which extends up in
rear of the breech block (see Figures 3, 4) E is slotted out so as
to permit the lifting out of the pin F and the free passage back and
forth of the dog portion g, but the pin F is enlarged laterally below
the dog and on each side, as seen at f, and the housing or rear
portion of the frame A is cut under, as seen at M, for the accomo-
dation of said portion f, that the whole firing pin, dog projection, and
all may be free to move back and forth in the operations of cocking
and firing the gun. And it will be understood that so long as the
enlarged portion f is within or partially in the opening M the said
portion, and consequently the firing pin and breech block, will be
held down by the overhanging cars a', a", (see Figures 1, 2, 3, 6)
and that it is only when the hammer is pulled clear back, as seen at
Figures 2 and 4, that the breech block can be raised. Thus by means
of the enlarged portion f and cutting under the slotted out portion of
the frame (as shewn at M) the dog and firing pin are prevented from
lifting except when drawn back, and are at the same time free to
slide back and forth. In order to securely lock the breech block E
to the firing pin (to keep the two down together) the rear end of the
block E is cut out, as shewn at 4, 5, Fig. 5, and the forward end of
the enlargement f fits into the cut away portion, thus coupling the
breech block and rear portion of the frame together. The more
firmly to hold the said block down, it is proposed to form the dog g
(which is made solid with the firing pin) so as to lap over the top
of the breech block, as shewn at Fig. 1. The housing is cut out at M,
and so shaped otherwise that the firing pin and dog cannot move
forward until the breech block is clear down to its scat, the enlarged
portion bearing against the rear faces of the ears a', a", (sec

page_text: Figures 4, 6) until the breech is clear down. By reason of this modo
of construction and operation, the firing pin and hammer may be
successfully employed, and the arm used with facility without any
trigger or sear, so that if both these portions of the lock mechanism
be broken out the efficiency of the arm is not very materially reduced,
for it is competent to load, pull back and down the breech block and
hammer into the position shewn at Fig. 4, and since the firing pin is
always prevented from flying forward by the cars a', a", until the
breech lock has arrived at its scat, it is only necessary to allow the
force of the main springs to hold the portion hard against the
cars a', a", and to press down the hand piece e (when the piece is
to be fired) until the portion f can slide through the opening M.
This operation can be very easily performed, and in this way it is
possible to aim accurately and fire the improved arm even with the
scar O, N, and trigger and spring and m all detached from the gun.
It will be seen that by this Invention the great desiderata of
simplicity, efficiency, durability, economy of manufacture, lightness,
and capacity to be quickly loaded and fired are all attained to a
greater degree than by the breech-loading guns heretofore made.
It will be seen that the motions of the hand necessary to manipu-
late the arm are fewer and more convenient than those required with
other breech-loading guns embodying all the operations necessary to
extract and expel the empty shell, load, and fire. The lock mechanism
(except the trigger) being all encased within the breech block is
protected from all causes of derangement and is kept in a clean and
operative condition.
Having explained the construction and operation of the improved
breceli-loading gun, so that one skilled in the art can make and use
it, what I claim therein as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent
is,―
First. In a breech-loading gun having a breech block which swings
up and over substantially as described, combining the hammer or firing
pin, the mainspring, and the sear with the said breech block, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Second. Making the firing pin and dog or hammer in one piece
and with the half and full cock notches in it, substantially as described.

page_text: Third. In a gun having a swinging breech blook and firing pin,
locking the breech block down by means of the firing pin in combina-
tion with the housing or its equivalent, substantially as herein-before
described.
Fourth. The countersink 4, 5, in the rear end of the breech block
in combination with the enlarged portion f of the firing pin and slotted
housing, the whole arranged to operate substantially as described for
the purpose set forth.
Fifth. In combination with the swinging breech chamber and
housing a, a, the overlapping dog and enlargement f, the
whole arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose
described.
Sixthly. The housing cut out at M as specified in combination with
the breech block E, firing pin or hammer, and enlargement f
whereby not only the secure locking of the breech is effected before
the cartridge can be struck by the pin but also the ready and con-
venient firing of the arm may be accomplished without the main-
spring or scar, as herein-before described.
Seventhly. In combination with the sliding pin F and swinging
breech block E, the projecting hand. piece e for cocking and for?
lifting and depressing the breech block.
Eighthly. In combination with the ejector W the spiral spring 6
and set screw J, the whole arranged to operate substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have 2
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Third day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-eight