IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International Patent
Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."-A communication from abroad by Henry
Huntington Wolcott, of Yonkers, New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 24th September 1867, and dated the 10th April 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th April 1867.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," a communication, to be as follows:-
The said Invention relates to the construction of breech-loading fire-arms
in which the lock is contained in a moveable frame pivoted in the receiver
whence it is swung in order to load the piece. The said receiver has a
vertical opening with straight sides for the purpose of receiving the lock frame;
the said receiver also serves the purpose of connecting the barrel to the butt
of the stock. The front end of the opening is cut down at right angles to the

page_text: barrel, the latter being made to project a little way within the said opening.
The rear end of this opening is made in two lines or portions, the lower of
which is parallel with the line of the front end, but the upper one is inclined
backward forming an obtuse angle with the lower line and serving as a recoil
bearing. The lock frame is made in two parts or divisions hinged together,
the joint being formed across the front face of one part near its top and fitting
in a socket made across the back of the other part. The said parts are
hinged and unhinged by sliding the joint sideways into and out of the socket.
When the lock frame is in place the displacement of its two parts is prevented
not only by the hammer and trigger, which are pivoted to one of the said parts
and extend through the other, but also by the contact of the straight sides of
the receiver with the ends of the joint of the two parts. The rear end of the
lock frame is formed with two lines to correspond with the lines of the receiver,
so that the rear end of the said frame may fit closely against that end of the
receiver and will be prepared for the recoil caused by the discharge of the
piece. The lock frame is of such a width that it will fit snugly but will move
freely within the receiver to which it is secured by a pin passing through the
sides of the receiver; this pin forms the pivot on which the lock frame swings
and passes through the lower front part of the forward division of the said
frame, and may be surrounded by a bush which forms a pivot for the ejector.
When the lock frame is withdrawn from the receiver its lower front part
enters a cavity made beneath the breech part of the gun, and a toe or projection,
or a pair of the same, on that part of the said frame strike against the under
side of the receiver. The said toes extend beyond the ejector, the latter being
placed in a continuation of the opening or slot made in the forward division
of the lock frame to receive the trigger and sear. The two parts or divisions
of the said frame are kept apart by a spring fitted between them, the heel of
the said spring being let into a recess in the front edge of the rear division,
and its top being allowed to come against the back of the other division.
The lock frame is made open from front to rear in both its divisions to receive
the hammer, the mainspring, the sear (which is in one piece with the trigger),
and the cartridge shell ejector. The latter has an upright limb whose end is
curved to fit the lower side of the shell in front of its flange, a recess being
formed in the breech to receive the same; the ejector has also a limb formed
on the other side of or below its centre of motion. The forward part of this
limb extends into the cavity below the breech while its rear comes above the
forward end of a shelf by whose forward movement beneath the said limb the
ejector is operated. The said shelf is formed on the lower front part of the
lock frame or on the guard plate and extends far enough below it to let the rear

page_text: end of the lower limb of the ejector come between them. When the lock
frame is stopped by the contact of its toes or projections with the receiver the
force exerted by the operator in the act of withdrawing the same overcomes
the spring and causes the rear division of the lock frame to turn on its hinge
and approach the other division. The shelf or projection is part of or rigidly
attached to the rear division and moves with it at the same time moving
rapidly under and turning the ejector by engaging a notch formed on the
under side of the lower limb of the latter; this movement of the ejector causes
its upper limb to move quickly and suddenly away from the breech of the
barrel and throw the shell out of the breech. When the force used in
withdrawing the lock frame is no longer exerted the rear division is forced
backward by the springs placed between the two divisions and the ejector is
immediately returned to its former position by a spiral spring. The foot of
the said spring is supported on the forward end of the lower limb of the
ejector in an annular socket which keeps it from becoming easily displaced,
the upper end or top of the said spring being secured in a like socket in the
under surface of the receiver. The ejector is brought to its first or normal
position by this spiral spring and its upper limb is returned to its place in the
groove or recess in the breech before the lock frame is pushed up again into
the receiver. The hammer and sear are preferably placed within the lock
frame but may if desired be placed on either side thereof, both are pivoted
to the forward division of the said frame. The upper part of the hammer
projects upwards through the top of the rear division and the trigger of which
the sear is a part projects downwards through the bottom of the said division.
The lower part or tumbler of the hammer is notched for full and half cock,
the said notches being engaged by the sear in the usual way. The main-
spring is placed in a slot formed for receiving the hammer in the forward
division of the lock frame. The said mainspring is supported by its euds alone
on the rear parts of the hammer and sear by means of notches made therein.
The back or bow of the spring extends in a horizontal direction toward the
rear of the lock frame. After a discharge the hammer fits close down upon
the forward division of the lock frame, its nose projecting through a slot in
the forward upper part of the said division and into a circular space made
therein for the flange of the cartridge shell; when the hammer is at half-
5 cock its nose is raised out of this circular space. A swell or projection is
formed on the hinge of the two divisions of the lock frame which swell when
brought into contact with the breast of the hammer raises the same far enough
to allow the sear to enter the half-cock notch where it remains until purposely
released. The trigger is protected by the usual guard which is attached to

page_text: the bottom of one division of the lock frame. The lever by which the
said lock frame is swung in and out of the receiver is formed from an
elongation on the back of the guard plate. When the hammer is at full-
cock the lock frame is securely and immoveably held in the receiver by the
under side of the hinge coming against the forward face of the hammer and
tumbler which act as a stop and prevent the turning of the said hinge. It
is necessary in order to withdraw the lock frame that its rear division should
turn on its hinge far enough downwards to bring the upper rear part past the
angle formed by the rear part of the receiver. If desired the lock may be
separate from the parts which close the breech, and these parts may be
attached to soine stationary part of the gun. The divisions of the lock frame
can then be made solid and still hinged to each other, the forward division
serving as the." breech plate" and the rear division as a breech block" to
support the said plate and receive and transmit the recoil to the rear part of
the gun, both divisions being still swung out of the receiver simultaneously in
order to load the piece.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 9th October 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence that I, the said William
Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said William Robert Lake, 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," upon the condition (amongst others) that
J; the said William Robert Lake, my executors or administrators, by an

page_text: instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, 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 accompanying Sheet of Drawings forming
a part of this Specification:-
The said Invention relates to the construction of breech-loading fire-arms
whose lock is contained in a movable frame which is pivoted in the receiver
and swung downward therefrom to open the breech and load the piece.
;
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a breech-loading rifle to which my
improvements are applied, showing the breech closed and the lock at half-
cock Figure 2 is also a longitudinal section showing the breech open;
Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side
view of the rear division of the lock frame, the trigger guard and shelf being
removed; Figure 5 is a side view of the front division of the lock frame ;
Figure 6 shows the mainspring; Figure 7 is a side view of the hammer and
tumbler which are made in one piece; Figure 8 is a side view of the trigger
and sear which are also constructed in one piece; Figure 9 is a side view of
the cartridge shell ejector; Figures 10 and 11 are a longitudinal and
transverse section of the bush which surrounds the pivot on which the lock
frame swings; Figure 12 is a section of the breech on the line a, a, Figure 1;
Figure 13 is a longitudinal section showing the piece at full-cock; Figure 14
is a plan of the lock frame and receiver. Like letters indicate the sanie parts
in each of the Figures.
A is the receiver which has a vertical opening with straight sides (Figure 3)
for the purpose of receiving the lock frame C. The said receiver also serves
the purpose of connecting the barrel B to the butt of the stock. The front
end of the said opening is cut down at right angles to the barrel, the latter
being made to project a little way within the opening as shown in Figure 2.
The rear end of this opening is made in two lines or portions, the lower
one A' of which is parallel with the line of the front end, but the upper
one A3 which is the shorter of the two is inclined backward, their place of
meeting producing an obtuse angle O. The line A forms a recoil bearing.

page_text: The lock frame C is made in two parts or divisions a, a', hinged together at b,
the joint being formed across the front face of division a, near its top, and
fitting in a socket made across the back of division a¹. The said parts or
divisions are hinged and unhinged by sliding the joint sideways into and out
of the socket when the lock frame is removed from the gun and the hammer
When the lock frame is in
and trigger are taken out of the said frame.
place in the receiver it is not possible for its two parts or divisions to become
displaced laterally, such displacement being prevented not only by the hammer
and trigger which are pivoted to one of the said parts and extend through the
other, but also by the contact of the straight sides of the receiver with the
ends of the joint b. The rear end of the lock frame is formed with two
lines A³, A, to correspond with the lines A1, A2, of the receiver, so that the
rear end of the said lock frame may fit closely against that end of the receiver
and be prepared for the recoil from the discharge of the piece. The line
or portion A2 of the receiver forming a solid recoil bearing which receives
the recoil squarely through the adjacent part A³ of the lock frame. The said
lock frame is of such a width to fit snugly, but so as to move freely within the
receiver, to which it is secured by a pin f, which passes through the sides of
the receiver, said pin being held by a screw thread cut on it near its head as
is clearly shown in Figure 3. This pin forms the pivot on which the lock
frame swings; it passes through the lower front part of forward division a¹ of
the said frame, and is surrounded in this example by a bush seen detached in
The bush
Figures 10 and 11, which bush forms a pivot for the ejector e.
may be dispensed with and the ejectors be made to vibrate directly on the
pin f. When the lock frame is withdrawn from the receiver it is swung
downward and forward far enough to open the breech of the gun for reloading,
the lower front part of the frame entering a cavity I made beneath the breech
part of the gun by cutting away the stock, and moving upward therein until the
toes or projections L on that part of the said frame strike against the under-
side of the receiver, when the further movement of the frame in that direction
is stopped. The toes L are formed on the sides of division a¹, extending
beyond and on both sides of the ejector, the latter being placed in a continua-
tion of the opening or slot made in the forward division a¹ to receive the trigger
and sear. One of the toes L may be dispensed with if desired, but it is better
to employ both. The divisions or parts a, a', of the said frame are constantly
pushed apart by a spring c, fitted between them as seen in Figures 1 and 2,
the heel of the said spring being let into a recess in the front edge of division a,
and its top being allowed to come against the rear of division a¹. The
spring c may be placed flush with the sides of the divisions, and there may be

page_text: such a spring on each side of the lock frame; its office is to keep the
divisions apart and its shape as well as its position and adjustment may be
varied to suit the judgment of the maker. The lock frame is made open
from front to rear in both its divisions in order to receive the hammer J, the
mainspring F, the sear K (which is in one piece with the trigger,) and the
shell ejector e. The ejector e has an upright limb r, which when the lock
frame is up in the receiver ready for firing occupies a recess m made for it in
the breech of the barrel, its end which is curved extending up to and fitting
the lower side of the shell in front of its flange. The recess m is clearly shown
in Figure 12 and 2. The ejector has also a limb h formed on its bottom or
below its centre of motion. The forward part of limb h extends into cavity I
below the breech, while its rear comes above the forward end of the shelf i
herein-after described, by whose forward movement beneath said limb h the
ejector is operated. The shelf i is formed on the lower front part of the lock
frame or on the guard plate and extends underneath division a', and far
enough below it to let the rear end of the limb h of the ejector come between
them.
When the further movement of the lock frame on being swung out of the
receiver is stopped by the contact of its toes or projections L with the
receiver, as above explained, the force exerted by the operator in the act of
withdrawing the frame immediately falls upon and overcomes the spring cand
causes division a to turn on its hinge b and approach division a¹; the shelf or
projection i, which is part of or is rigidly attached to division a, so as to move
with it, at the same time moving rapidly under the ejector and turning it by
engaging a notch g formed on the under side of the limb h; this movement
thus imparted to the ejector causes its upper limb by moving quickly and
suddenly away from the breech of the barrel to throw the shell E out of the
breech. When the force used in withdrawing the lock frame is no longer
exerted division a is forced backward by the springs placed between the two
divisions and the ejector is immediately returned to its former position by a
spiral spring N contained and operated within the cavity I. The foot of the
spring N is supported on the forward end of the limb h in an annular socket,
which keeps it from becoming easily displaced, the upper end or top of the
said spring being secured in a like socket made for it in the under surface of
the receiver. The ejector is brought to its first or normal position by this
spiral spring and its upper limb r consequently returned to its place in the
groove or recess m before the lock frame is pushed up again into the receiver,
and independently of the return movement of the lock frame, so that said

page_text: limb is in its place next the breech in proper time for the operation of re-
loading. The spring that operates the ejector may be made of any other con-
venient form or be arranged in any other way so long as it performs its office
successfully. The hammer J and sear K are both placed within the lock
frame in this example of my Invention, but they may, if desired, be placed on
either side thereof; both are pivoted to division a¹ of said frame, the former
by a pin p and the latter by a pin q. The upper part of the hammer projects
upwards through the top division a in a slot of sufficient length and width for
its movements, and the trigger H, of which the sear is a part, projects down-
wards through the bottom of the said division a in a similar slot. The lower
part or tumbler of the hammer is notched, as indicated in the Drawing, for
full and half-cock respectively, the said notches being engaged by the sear in
the usual way.
The hammer and trigger can be pivoted, if desired, to
division a of the lock frame instead of to division a¹. F designates the main-
spring, which is placed in the slot already mentioned for receiving the hammer
in division a of the lock frame, being inserted therein from behind, said slot
being exten led backwards through the rear of said division a, and connecting
below with the slot for the trigger; the said mainspring is supported by its
ends alone on the rear parts of the hammer and sear by means of notches
U, S, made therein, into which its ends are inserted; in this example its ends.
are sprung in by first putting the bent upper end of the spring into the
hammer notch U and then springing the other end into the sear notch S.
The back or bow of the spring extends in a horizontal direction toward the
rear of the lock frame, and said spring has no other supports or attachment
than that here described, and has no other contact with any other parts of the
gun. This mode of arranging and supporting the mainspring enables me to
simplify the construction of the lock and its frame and to use a spring of great
length and power compared to such as are attached or supported at a point
or points between their ends. After a discharge the hammer sets close down
upon division a', its nose t projecting through a slot in the forward upper part
of the said division, and into the circular space v made therein for the flange
of the cartridge shell. When the hammer is at half-cock its nose is raised out of
the circular space V (Figures 1 and 2), so as not to press against the flange
of the cartridge. The hammer is always put at half-cock automatically both at
the beginning of the downward movement of the lock frame when it is being
swung out of the receiver in order to reload, and also when the said lock
frame is returned to its place; this is effected by the turning of division a on
its hinge b, which movement brings the swell or projection 6 formed on it

page_text: behind said binge into contact with the breast of the hammer at the point 7,
thereby raising the hammer far enough to allow the sear to enter the half-
cock notch, where it remains until purposely released. The turning of
division a ou the hinge 6 takes place both in the upper and downward move-
ment when the lock frame is passing the angle O formed at the meeting. of
the parts A', A2, of the receiver. The trigger is protected by the usual
guard G which is attached to the bottom of division a. The shelf i which
operates the ejector in throwing out the shell is in this example formed on the
forward part of the guard plate, but it may be formed by an elongation of
division a, if desired. The lever G', by which the said lock frame is swung in
and out of the receiver, is formed from an.elongation on the back of the guard
plate. When the bammer is at full-cock the lock frame is securely and im-
movably held in the receiver and kept from falling down and from being with-
drawn, because division a is then prevented from turning downward on its
hinge b, the part marked 8 on the under side of the hinge coming against the
forward face of the hammer and tumbler at or near the place marked 9, and
the hammer and tumbler consequently operating as a stop to the turning of the
said hinge. Since it is necessary in order to withdraw the lock frame that
division a be made to turn on its hinge far enough downwards to bring the
upper rear part A3 past the angle O at the rear part of the receiver, it is
evident that by preventing it from turning, as is done by the hammer when at
full-cock, the lock frame will be by that means immovably held in place in
the receiver until the hammer is released, thereby preventing the displacement
of the lock frame previous to and during the act of firing. It will be observed
that the lock frame C takes the place which in some other breech-loaders is
filled by the "breech plate" and "breech block," and that in addition thereto
it contains the lock of the gun. If it is desired to have the lock separate
from the parts which close the breech, and to attach them to some stationary
part of the gun, that change can be made, and the divisions a, a, can then be
made solid, being still binged to each other as at b, division a¹ serving as the
"breech plate" and division a as the "breech block" which support the
plate and receives and transmits the recoil to the rear part of the gun, both
divisions being still swung out of the receiver simultaneously as above
mentioned in order to reload.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, and shown how the same may be conveniently
and advantageously carried into operation, I do not confine myself to the
exact details set forth and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, as these

page_text: may be modified without departing from the principles of my Invention; but
I claim,--
First, the lock frame C composed of two parts or division a, a', hinged to
each other, constructed and operated substantially as described.
Second, I also claim the mode, substantially as above described, of supporting
the mainspring.
Third, I also claim the mode, substantially as herein described, of attaching
the mainspring to the hammer and sear of a gun.
Fourth, I also claim the swell or projection 6, back of hinge b of division a
of the lock frame, for the purpose of bringing the hammer to half-cock in the
way substantially as above described.
Fifth, I also claim the ejector e, made and arranged substantially as
described.
Sixth, I also claim the ejector e, in combination with division a of the
lock frame, by means of whose movement it is operated substantially as
described.
Seventh, I also claim the use of the shelf i, or its equivalent, for operating
the ejector in freeing and throwing the shell out of the barrel, substantially as
described.
Eighth, I also claim the limb h formed on the lower part of the ejector in
combination with the spring in the recess I under the breech end of the
barrel, substantially as described.
Ninth, I also claim so constructing and arranging the divisions of the lock
frame that when the hammer is at full-cock the part 8 of division a comes
against the hammer at the part 9, thereby preventing division a from being
turned downwards on its hinge and holding the lock frame firmly in the
receiver, substantially as shown and described.
Tenth, I also claim the use of a toe or projection L, one or more, or its
equivalent, on the front of division a', in order to limit the movement of the
lock frame beneath the breech part of the barrel after it has been swung out
of the receiver, substantially as described.
Eleventh, I also claim the divisions a, a', hinged to each other, or their
equivalents, when used as a breech plate and breech block without attaching
the lock to them or either of them, substantially as specified.
Twelfth, I also claim arranging and connecting the breech plate and
breech block of a gun, so that they can be simultaneously withdrawn and
replaced in the receiver, substantially as specified.
Thirteenth, I also claim constructing and arranging the lock frame of a

page_text: breech-loading gun, that is to say, the parts which close the breech and at
the same time carry or contain the lock, so that said frame can be swung out
of the receiver in order to reload, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)
Witness,
GEORGE HASELTINE.