IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry William Holland of New Bond Street, in the
County of Middlesex, Gun Maker, for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry William Holland at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th March 1882.
HENRY WILLIAM HOLLAND of New Bond Street in the County of Middlesex,
Gun Maker,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS,"
My invention relates to fire-arins or rifles its chief object being to provide novel
means whereby the lock or lock mechanism may be placed at full cock with greater
facility than is possible in top-lever hammerless guns as hitherto constructed.
According to my said Invention I arrange the main-spring, tumbler, lever and
their appurtenances in such a manner that the force applied through the lever is
exerted at or near the end of the main-spring or upon the tumbler itself close to
the point where the main-spring bears upon it. When I employ a top lever I
provide it with a rod or spindle, which at the end next the lever is carried in a
suitable bearing and the other end of which is formed with a single or double
inclined plane or planes, and bears against a corresponding inclined plane or
planes fixed at or near the end of the main-spring so that when the top lever is
turned the main-spring is depressed by means of the said inclined plane or planes.
The end of the main spring is connected to the tumbler by means of a swivel or
short link or by other suitable means, and the tumbler is thereby brought to full
cock, when the main-spring is depressed, and is thus retained by a sear in the
ordinary manner until released by the pulling of the trigger. When the ordinary
double main-spring is used, the tumbler may be brought to full cock by the force
of the lower and weaker part of the said spring, when the upper and stronger part
thereof has been depressed.

page_text: In guns with more than one main spring I arrange the lever to act either
directly upon the main-springs, or indirectly by means of a bar or other suitable
contrivance.
Instead of the aforesaid inclined plane or planes I may employ screw-threads
or similar contrivances for depressing the main-spring. And either of these
contrivances may be connected to the tumbler itself instead of to the main spring.
According to a modification of my said invention I employ a side or other lever,
provided with a rod or spindle having a projection upon it, which projection is
forced against the top of the main spring or against the tumbler when the said lever
is moved in the required direction.
My said invention is chiefly designed for use with hammerless guns or rifles
but may with obvious modifications be employed in connection with hammer guns.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry William Holland in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th September 1882.
HENRY WILLIAM HOLLAND, of New Bond Street, in the County of Middlesex
Gun Maker IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
"
"
My invention relates to breech loading fire arms its chief object being to provide
novel means whereby the lock-action or lock-mechanism of those arms termed "top
lever" guns may be placed at full cock with greater facility than is practicable in
such guns as hitherto constructed.
According to my said invention, I, in some instances arrange the main-spring
tumbler, lever, and their appurtenances in such a manner that the force applied
through the lever is exerted directly upon the top of the main-spring, and at, or
near, the end thereof next to the tumbler, instead of being exerted upon the said
spring through the medium of the tumbler or bolt. When I employ a top lever,
that is to say, a lever at the top of the lock, I provide it with a rod or spindle
which, at the end next the lever, is carried in a suitable bearing, its other end being
formed with a single or double inclined plane (or planes) arranged to bear against
a corresponding inclined plane (or planes) fixed at, or near, the end of the main-
spring, or upon the back of the tumbler close to the point where the main-spring
bears upon it, so that when the lever is turned to one side of the gun, the
main-spring is depressed by means of the said inclined plane or planes. The end
of the main-spring is connected to the tumbler by a swivel or short link or by otber
suitable means, so that the tumbler (which has an extension for striking the firing
pin) is brought to full cock when the main spring is depressed, the said tumbler
being retained in this position by a sear, in the ordinary manner, until released by
the pulling of the trigger.
Instead of the aforesaid inclined plane or planes I sometimes employ screw-
threads upon the said rod or spindle, and in some instances I use other contrivances
such as a cam acting directly upon the top of the main-spring by means of the
lever.
A convenient and advantageous mode of carrying my invention into practice is
illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 represents a sectional side elevation of the lock of a breech-loading fire-
arm constructed in accordance with my said invention, showing the parts in their
respective positions after firing.
Figure 2 represents a sectional elevation of the other side of the same showing it
at full cock.
Figure 3 represents a plan of the same, and,
Figure 4 a section on the line x, x, Figure 1, showing the means for operating
the locking bolt.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the drawing.
a represents the main-spring which is secured at one end by the screw b, and at
the other end is connected, by means of a short link c, to the tumbler d. Near the
end of the main-spring a next to the tumbler is fixed a wedge-shaped piece or
double inclined plane e which is preferably pivoted to the spring in any suitable
manner. is the lever, to which is fixed the rod or spindle g. capable of rotation
in a bearing in the part h.; the lower end of the rod or spindle g. is made with
two inclined planes gl. which when the lever f is turned to the right act upon the
wedge-shaped piece e. to depress the main-spring a. The tumbler d is pivoted at
d'. and is adapted to be engaged by the sear i when placed at full cock, the said
tumbler having an extension, as shown, for striking the firing pin. The sear i. is
acted upon by the spring k and is disengaged from the tumbler d by pulling the
trigger . The rod or spindle g is provided with a stop g² against which presses

page_text: the spring m fixed to the part h the said spring serving to bring the lever back to
its original position as soon as it is released. The rod or spindle g. is also provided
with a pin or projection n, which fits into a slot in the locking bolt o, so that the
latter is withdrawn by the same movement of the lever f, that places the gun at
full cock. These operations are effected by moving the lever f, to the right through
an angle of about forty-five degrees; during this movement the inclined planes g¹
act, one upon each side of the wedge-shaped piece e, and depress the main-spring a ;
and the tumbler d, being connected to the main-spring by the link c, is raised until
it is engaged by the sear; by the same movement of the lever f, the pin or pro-
jection n. acts upon the locking bolt o and withdraws the same so that the barrel p.
can be turned upon its hinge and a fresh cartridge inserted. As soon as the lever f
is released it is brought back to its original position by the spring m, and the
locking bolt is thus inserted to secure the barrel in position, and the gun is ready for
firing. It is obvious that the wedge-shaped piece e could be pivoted, or otherwise
attached, to the back of the tumbler, with the same results, the form of the tumbler
being modified accordingly.
When the ordinary double main-spring is used,' the tumbler may be brought to
full cock by the force of the lower and weaker part of the said spring, at the same
time that the upper and stronger part thereof is depressed by means of the
lever.
In guns with more than one main-spring, I arrange the lever and inclined planes
or other contrivances to act either directly upon the top of the main-springs, or
indirectly by means of a bar bearing upon the said main-springs.
According to a modification of my said Invention, I employ a cam or similar
device operated by means of a side or other lever in such a manner that it will act
upon the top of the main-spring to depress the same. A convenient mode of
applying this device consists in fixing a cam to the end of the lever in such a
manner that it will bear upon the top of the main-spring, or upon a block or piece
attached to the same, at or near the end thereof next to the tumbler, so that the
main-spring will be depressed by raising the lever
My said invention is chiefly designed for use with "hammerless" guns or rifles,
that is to say, those which have no cock or hammer projecting from the lock but
may with obvious modifications be employed in connection with hammer guns.
Having thus fully described my said invention and shown how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I wish it understood that
I am aware that guns have been constructed with a lever placed at one side of the
lock and arranged to act upon the back of the tumbler, by means of a cam or
similar device to cock the gun; I do not therefore make any claim to such devices
when used in connection with a side lever but I claim, in a breech loading fire-
arm-
First. The lever arranged to act by, or through the medium of inclined planes,
screw threads or other means directly upon the top of the main spring to depress
the same and cock the gun, substantially as set forth.
Second. The top lever fixed to the rod or spindle provided with the inclined
plane or planes, or a screw-thread, and adapted to act upon the corresponding
inclined plane or planes or screw-thread upon the top of the main spring, or upon
the back of the tumbler, substantially as set forth and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof I the said Henry William Holland have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Sixteenth day of September in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.