IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING SMALL- ARMS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Field, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Gun Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING SMALL-
ARMS."
Sealed the 8th September 1877, and dated the 17th May 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Field at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th May 1877.
WILLIAM FIELD, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun Maker.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING SMALL-ARMS."
My Invention has reference principally to breech-loading small-arms in which
the breech is opened and closed by a hinged rising-and-falling block, but my said
Invention may also be applied to breech-loading small-arms in which the breech is
opened and closed by a vertically sliding breech block.
r
My improvements are applicable to the breech-loading small-arm commonly
called the Martini rifle, but are also applicable, as herein-after pointed out, to other
kinds of rifles.
My improvements consist of the construction and combination of parts, herein-
after described, for opening and closing the breech blocks of the said small-arms,
and for operating the cocking mechanism of the said small-arms, as well as the
extracting mechanism. I will first describe my improvements as applied to a Martini
rifle.
For lowering and raising the hinged breech block of the said rifle, I make in
each side of the said breech block a diagonal or inclined groove, and I place on the
same axis as that on which the cocking tumbler works a forked arm or lever, the
inner forked ends of the said arm or lever being furnished with horns or projections,
which horns or projections engage with and work in the- diagonal or inclined
grooves described in the sides of the breech block. The said axis carrying the
forked lever, and on which the cocking tumbler works, is actuated by a hand lever
external to the body of the rifle. The said hand lever may be situated on the side
or under side of the rifle, or for cavalry purposes the said hand lever may be pro-
longed upwards to the top of the body of the rifle. When the hand lever is moved,
so as to cause the forked arm or lever to turn towards the muzzle of the rifle, the

page_text: 'horns of the said arm or lever, by working in the inclined or diagonal grooves of
the breech block, cause the said block to descend and to open the breech. On
returning the hand lever to its normal position, the forked lever and its horns raise
the said block and close the breech.
Instead of the forked lever described a single arm or lever may be used, and
instead of the forked or single lever working in inclined grooves in the sides, or in
a groove in the side of the breech block, the said grooves or groove may be made in
the under side of the block.
The mechemism for cocking the striking pin of the rifle is constructed and
arranged as follows:-On the lower half of the forked lever by which the breech
block is raised and lowered and on the front face thereof, flat projections or
shoulders are made, and to the lower arm or tail end of the cocking tumbler, which
said tumbler is cranked, a small forked (or single) lever is jointed for operating
upon the tumbler for cocking the rifle. The rear face of the said cocking lever
bears against the flat projections or shoulders of the opening-and-closing arm or
lever. The cocking tumbler is situated within the fork of the last-named lever,
and also within the fork of the small cocking lever. When the hand lever is
moved for opening the rifle the flat shoulders or projections of the opening-and-
closing lever, moving towards the muzzle of the rifle, act upon and give motion in
the same direction to the upper arm of the small cocking lever, and the latter, by
acting on the tail end or lower arm of the tumbler, causes its upper arm to move
towards the butt of the rifle, and cock the striking pin in the ordinary manner, the
cocking tumbler being held in its cocked position by the engagement of the sear of
the trigger with the bent on the tail or lower arm of the said tumbler.
The small cocking lever, herein-before described, may also be used for operating
the extractor of the rifle. In this case an extracting slide or bar works on the
guard plate, the rear end of the said slide being urged forward by the upper arm
of the cocking lever, and the fore end of the said slide operating upon the lower
arm of the extracting lever.
In place of the tumbler, berein-before described, a hammer actuated by a main-
spring may be employed. In this arrangement the hammer when liberated drives
forward the striking pin to discharge the rifle.
Instead of placing the opening-and-closing arm or lever and the cocking tumbler
or hammer on the same axis, as in the Martini rifle, the said arm or lever and
cocking tumbler or hammer may be placed on independant parallel axes, the hand
lever for working the rifle being placed on the axis of the opening or closing arm
or lever.
In this arrangement 1 make on the front of the cocking tumbler or hammer
a projection, and on the rear of the opening-and-closing arm or lever I make
a shoulder, against which the projection on the tumbler or hammer bears, so
that when the said opening and closing arin or lever is moved to open the ritie, the
said shoulder, bearing against the projection of the tumbler, raises it for cocking
the striking pin, and in case of a hammer raises it to full cock.
In this arrangement the sear is situated behind the tumbler or hammer instead of
in front thereof, as in the first-described arrangement.
1

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuanco of the conditions of tho Letters Patent filed by
the said William Field in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th November
1877.
"
WILLIAM FIELD, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun Maker.
IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECHI-LOADING SMALL-ARMS."
My Invention has reference principally to breech-loading small-arms in which
the breech is opened and closed by a hinged rising-aud-falling block, but my said
Invention may also be applied to breech-loading small-arms in which tho breech is
opened and closed by a vertically sliding breech block.
My improvements consist of the construction and combination of parts herein-
after described for opening and closing the breech blocks of the said small-arms,
and for operating the cocking mechanism of the said small arms. I will first describe
iny improvements as applied to a hinged falling block rifle.
For lowering and raising the hinged breech block of the said rifle, I make in
cach side of the said breech block a diagonal or inclined groove, and I place on the
same axis as that on which the cocking tumbler works a forked arm or lever, the
inner forked ends of the said arm or lever being furnished with horns or projections,
which horns or projections engage with and work in the diagonal or inclined
grooves described in the sides of the breech block. The said axis carrying the
forked lever, and on which the cocking tumbler works, is actuated by a hand lever
external to the body of the rifle. The said hand lever may be situated on the side
or under side of the rifle, or for cavalry purposes the said land lever may be pro-
longed upwards to the top of the body of the rifle. When the hand lever is moved,
so as to cause the forked arm or lever to turn towards the muzzle of the rifle, the
horns of the said arm or lever, by working in the inclined or diagonal grooves of
the breech block, cause the said block to descend and to open the breech. On
returning the hand lever to its normal position the forked lever and its horns raise
the said block and close the breech.
The mechanism for cocking the striking pin of the rifle is constructed and
arranged as follows:-On the lower half of the forked lever by which the breech
block is raised and lowered and on the front face thereof, flat or curved projections or
shoulders are made, and below the lower arm or tail end of the cocking tumbler,
which said tumbler is cranked, a small forked (or single) lever is jointed for operating
upon the tumbler for cocking the rifle. The rear face of the said cocking lever
bears against the flat or curved projections or shoulders of the opening-and-closing
arm or lever. The cocking tumbler is situated within the fork of the last-named
lever, and also within the fork of the small cocking lever. When the hand
lever is moved for opening the rifle the flat or curved shoulders or projections of the
opening-and-closing lever, moving towards the muzzle of the rifle, act upon and
give motion in the same direction to the upper arm of the sinall cocking lever, and
the latter, by acting on the tail end or lower arin of the tumbler, causes its upper
arm to move towards the butt of the rifle and cock the striking pin, the cocking
tumbler being held in its cocked position by the engagement of the sear of the
trigger with the bent on the tail or lower arm of the said tumbler.
In place of the tumbler, herein-before described, a hammer actuated by a main-
spring may be employed. In this arrangement the hammer when liberated drives
forward the striking pin to discharge the rifle.
Instead of placing the opening-and-closing arm or lever and the cocking tumbler
or hammer on the same axis, as in the rifle herein-before described, the said arm
or lever and cocking tumbler or hammer may be placed on independent parallel
axes, the hand lever for working the rifle being placed on the axis of the opening-
and-closing arm or lever.
In this arrangement I make on the front or boss part of the cocking tumbler or
hammer a projection, and on the rear of the opening and closing arm or lever I
make a shoulder, against which the projection on the tumbler or hammer bears, so

page_text: that when the said opening and closing arm or lever is moved to open the
rifle, the said shoulder, bearing against the projection of the tumbler, raises it for
cocking the striking pin, and in case of a hammer raises it to full cock.
In this arrangement the sear is situated behind the tumbler or hammer instead
of in front thereof, as in the first-described arrangement.
I will now proceed to describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawings,
the manner in which iny Invention may be performed.
Figure 1 represents, partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section,
the breech end of a hinged falling block rifle, the mechanisms for opening and
closing the breech and for cocking the striking pin being constructed and arranged
according to my Invention, the breech of the rifle, Figure 1, being represented
closed, and the parts in position for discharge; Figure 2 represents the same view
as Figure 1, but with the parts in the positions they respectively occupy, when the
breech is opened for the introduction of a fresh cartridge, and the discharging
mechanism cocked by the opening of the breech; Figure 3 represents the same view
as Figure 2, but with the whole of the breech mechanism in section; Figure 4 repre-
sents in side and front elevation the opening-and-closing lever of the breech block
separately, and Figure 5 represents in side and front elevation the cocking lever
separately.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4,
and 5.
a is the breech shoe, to the rear end of which the rising-and-falling block bis
hinged at b²; c, c², is the cocking tumbler which cocks the striking pin d of the
rifle (see Figure 3), the said striking pin being of the usual kind. In the said
breech block b, and on each side thereof, a diagonal or inclined groove e is made,
and on the same axis f as that on which the cocking tumbler c, c², loosely turns a
forked arm or lever g, g, is rigidly fixed. The forked arm or lever g, g, is shown
separately in Figure 4. The upper and inner ends of the branches of the said
forked lever g, g, are provided with horns or projections g², g, which engage with
and work in the diagonal or inclined grooves c, c, in the sides of the breech block b.
On the end of the axis f carrying the forked lever g, g, and cocking tumbler c, c²,
and external to the shoe or body a is a hand lever 1, by which the opening and
closing and cocking mechanisms are worked. The said hand lever is prolonged
upwards to the top of the gun, and is especially fitted for use by cavalry, or a short
hand lever at the side of the rifle may be employed, or the rifle may be worked by
a hand lever on the under side of the body. When the hand lever is moved in
the direction of the arrow, Figure 1, so as to cause the forked lever g, g, to move
towards the muzzle end of the rifle the horns g, g, of the said forked lever g, by
working in the inclined or diagonal grooves c, e, in the breech block b, cause it to
descend and open the breech, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, where the breech is
represented open, ready for re-charging the rifle. The opening of the breech also
effects the cocking of the tumbler lever c, c, and the striking pin d, as herein-after
described.
After the introduction of a cartridge into the barrel through the open breech the
hand lever is returned to its normal position, or the position represented in
Figure 1. The forked lever is thereby caused, by its horns working in the
inclined or diagonal grooves c of the block b, to raise the said block and to close
the breech.
Instead of the forked lever g, y, a single arm or lever may be used.
The mechanism for cocking the striking pin d is as follows:-Below the lower
arm or tail end c of the cranked tumbler lever c, c, a cocking lever i is jointed at
to the guard of the gun. The said cocking lever i is shown separately in Figure 5.
The arm or tail end c² of the tumbler lever is situated within the fork of the
opening and closing lever g, g, and also within the fork of the cocking lever i, i.
The cocking lever i is provided with a cross bar 3, on which the tail end of the
tumbler lever bears, as best seen in Figure 3. On the front face of each of the
branches g, g, of the opening-and-closing lever projections or shoulders marked g³, g³,

page_text: are made which bear against projections or shoulders i, i, on the upper ends of the
arms of the cocking lever i, i. The shapes of the respective shoulders of the opening
and closing lover g and cocking lever i are best seen in the separate views, Figures
4 and 5. On moving the hand lever from the position represented in Figure 1
to that represented in Figure 2 for opening the breech of the rifle the projections
or shoulders g, g³, of the opening-and-closing lever act upon the shoulders i', is,
of the cocking lever i, and give motion in the same direction to the upper arms of
the said cocking lever. By this motion of the cocking lever its lower arms carrying
the cross bars are lifted, and the said bar 3, by acting on the tail end or lower
arın of the tumbler lever c, c², turns the said tumbler lever on its axis f, and
causes its upper arm c to move towards the butt end of the rifle, and cock tho
striking pin d. The cocking tumbler is held in its cocked position by the engage-
ment of the sear of the trigger with the bent on the tail or lower arm c² of the
said tumbler.
The manner in which the opening and closing lever g, g, when the hand lever h
is moved in the direction of the arrow, Figure 1, acts upon the cocking lever i, and
the latter upon the tumbler lever c, c, for cocking the striking pin d, will be readily
understood by an examination of Figures 1 and 2, and the manner in which the
tumbler lever c, c², is held in its cocked position will be understood by an examination
of Figure 3. On returning the hand lever h to the normal position, Figure 1, the
opening and closing and cocking levers g, g, and i, i, also take their normal positions,
as seen in Figure 1, leaving the tumbler lever c, c, and striking pin d in their cocked
positions. The rifle is then ready for discharge by pressing upon the trigger 1, the
releasing of the tumbler lever c, c, and the advance of the striking pin d effecting
the discharge of the rifle.
Figure 6 represents in longitudinal section another breech-loading rifle containing
my improvements. In this rifle a hammer m, actuated by the flat mainspring n
is used in place of the tumbler lever c, c, and the coiled mainspring described and
represented in the arrangement, Figures 1, 2, and 3, and the said hammer m drives
forward when discharged a striking pin of the ordinary kind in the block b, and as
shown in the rifles, Figures 11 and 12, herein-after described. In the arrangement,
Figure 6, the hammer m is represented in its cocked position ready to discharge
the rifle, and it will be seen, by reference to the said Figure 6, that the tumbler of
the hammer is acted upon by the cross bar 3 of the cocking lever i, instead of the
said cross bar acting upon the tail end of the tumbler lever c, c, when a tumbler lever
is employed. The action of the breech block raising and depressing mechanism and
the cocking mechanism of the hammer rifle, Figure 6, is the same as the action of
the mechanisms of the falling block rifle herein-before described, and corresponding
parts are marked with the same letters of reference.
Figure 7 represents in longitudinal section and Figure 8 in side elevation a
hinged falling block rifle, in which the opening-and-closing lever and the cocking
tumbler are situated on independent parallel axes.
Figure 8 represents an elevation of the gun taken on the side opposite to that
at which the elevation, Figure 8, is taken.
Figure 9 represents the opening-and-closing lever detached, and Figure 9^ repre-
sents a portion of the breech shoe in section, and shows the action of the spring
arm by which the opening-and-closing lever is locked.
In this arrangement g, g, is the opening-and-closing lever fixed on the axis p,
the horns of the said lever engaging with the inclined or diagonal slots c in
the block b for raising and lowering it in the manner herein-before described. On
the said axis p is the hand lever q (shown in Figure 8) for operating the opening-
and-closing lever g, g, and also the cocking tumbler c, c. The cocking tumbler
c, c, turns loosely on the axis r, and the arm c of the said tumbler engages with
the striking pin in the breech block. At the base or boss part of the opening and
closing lever g, g², is a shoulder g, which is made to bear against the projection c
of the tumbler c. A sear on the trigger lengages with the bent in the tumbler c, and
holds the said tumbler in its cocked position. In the Drawing the tumbler is

page_text: represented in its discharged position. When the hand lever q is moved in the
direction of the arrow, Figure 8, the lever g, g, depresses the block b in the manner
before described, and by the action of the shoulder g' on the said lever g,
against the projection c of the tumbler the arm c of the tumbler is raised into its
cocked position, and the striking pin connected with the said tumbler arm also brought
to its cocked position for firing. By means of the safety bolt 8, 8, 83, (shown
separately in Figure 10) the trigger may be prevented from being pulled. The
cylindrical axis s of the safety bolt is cut away at 8, and when the said axis is
turned so as to present the cut-away part s to the sear of the trigger, the said
trigger may be pulled and the rifle discharged. When, however, the safety bolt is
turned by its thumb plate s through a quadrant, so as to bring an uncut away
part of the axis 8 under the sear , the said scar cannot descend by pressure on the
trigger, and the accidental discharge of the rifle is prevented.
In order to prevent the accidental turning of the safety bolt a spring arm,
marked in Figures 8 and 10, works in a depression or neck at the end of the
axis 8 of the said bolt, the free end of the said spring arm s being notched for the
axis to work in.
On the handle s of the safety bolt is a stud, and two holes are made in the
guard, into one or other of which the said stud snaps by the pressure of the spring.
8 when the safety bolt 8 is in its acting or non-acting position.
In order to hold the horned raising and lowering lever firmly in the position in
which the breech is closed, I place on the opposite side of the breech shoe to that
at which the hand lever is situated a spring arm x, fixed to the shoe at x2 (sce
Figures 8 and 9). The free end of this spring arm carries a stud ³ inclined at
its end, which stud passes through a hole in the shoe, and when the horned raising
and lowering lever g has reached its highest position springs into a cupped recess
made on the outside of one of the horns of the said lever g, and thereby holds the
said lever firmly in its raised position.
Figure 9 represents the spring arm & in conjunction with the horn described of
the lever and with a portion of the breech shoe, and illustrates the manner in which
the stud of the spring arm drops into the recess in the said horned lever. When the
hand lever is moved to open the breech the stud is lifted from the recess in the
horned lever, and the said lever is released.
Figure 11 represents in longitudinal section a rifle in which a hammer t is placed
on the axis instead of a tumbler, the tumbler or boss part of the hammer t having
a projection t, against which the shoulder g of the opening and closing lever bears.
The action of this rifle is the same as that last described, and corresponding parts
are marked with the same letters of reference.
Figure 12 represents in longitudinal section the last-described arrangement.
applied to a rifle having a vertically sliding breech block. In the said Figure 12
u is the vertically sliding breech block working in a mortice in the breech shoe a,
the said block u being provided with inclined or diagonal grooves e, as described
with respect to the hinged rising and falling block b.
The construction and action of the raising and lowering and cocking mechanisms
of the vertically sliding block rifle, Figure 12, are the same as those described with
reference to Figure 11, and corresponding parts are marked with the same letters of
reference.
The mechanism, herein-before described and illustrated in Figure 6, where the
opening and closing lever and hammer are situated on the same axis as the hand
lever, may be applied to rifles having vertically sliding breech blocks.
In Figures 1, 2, and 3 an ordinary bell crank lever extractor, marked w, is repre-
sented, but in Figures 6, 7, 11, and 12 an extractor of a different construction is
represented. The said extractor, Figures 6, 7, 11, and 12 consists of a compound
lever, the two parts of the said lever being marked respectively and v. The
upper arm of the vertical lever v carries the extractor fork, and the outer arm of tho
nearly horizontal lever vis acted upon by the falling block bor u. By the
depression of the outer aim of the lever the short arm or tail end of the said

page_text: lever acts upon the short arm or tail end of the other lever v, and the extracting
lever proper is thereby made to start and extract the empty cartridge case with
great power.
The extractor last described may be used with the rifle, Figures 1, 2, and 3,
instead of the bell crank extracting lever represented.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I claim as iny Invention
of improvements in breech loading small arms,-
First. The construction and combination of parts herein-before described and
illustrated in the several Figures of the accompanying Drawings for lowering and
raising the hinged rising and falling breech blocks and vertically sliding breech
blocks of breech loading small arms, whether a tumbler or tumbler lever or a
hammer be employed to discharge the small arm, that is to say, making an
inclined or diagonal groove in one or in both sides of the breech block, and placing
on the axis of the hand lever of the rifle or gun a single or forked horned lever, the
horn or horns of which single or forked lever engage with and work in the inclined
groove or grooves in the block, and by their action lower or raise the breech block
when the hand lever is moved in the required direction, substantially as described.
and illustrated.
Secondly. The construction and combination of parts herein-before described and
illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the accompanying Drawings for cocking
the tumblers or tumbler levers and striking pins of hinged rising and falling block
guns or rifles, that is to say, placing in front of the horned raising and lowering
lever of the rifle, and below the tail end of the tumbler or tumbler lever a cocking
lever, which cocking lever is acted upon by projections on the front of the said
raising and lowering lever, and made to act upon the tail end of the tumbler or
tumbler lever, and cock the said tumbler or tumbler lever when the hand lever is
moved in the proper direction to open the breech, the several parts of the raising
and lowering lever and cocking lever being constructed, arranged, and operating
substantially as described and illustrated.
Thirdly. The adaptation or application of the cocking mechanism herein-before
described and represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 to breech loading small arms, in
which a hammer is employed instead of a tumbler or tumbler lever, as herein before
described and illustrated in Figure 6 of the accompanying Drawings, also the
adaptation or application of the said cocking mechanism, Figure 6, to breech loading
small arms having vertically sliding breech blocks.
Lastly. The construction and arrangements of parts for raising and lowering the
breech block and cocking the rifle or gun, substantially as herein before described and
illustrated in Figures 7, 8, 9, and 11 of the accompanying Drawings, in which the
raising and lowering lever and hand lever are fixed on one axis, and the cocking
tumbler or hammer is situated on an independent and parallel axis. Also the
adaptation or application of the arrangement of parts represented in Figure 11
to vertically sliding block guns or rifles, as herein-before described and illustrated
in Figure 12 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Field, have hereunto set my hand and
scal, this Second day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
HENRY SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
WILLIAM FIELD. (L.S.)