IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR THE CONVERSION OF MUZZLE-LOADING FIRE-ARMS INTO BREECH-LOADERS
Year: 1864

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LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Turner, junior, of the Firm of Turner and
Son, Gun Manufacturers and Government Contractors, of Fisher Street,
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
Sealed the 4th April 1865, and dated the 6th October 1864...
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Turner at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th October 1864.
I, THOMAS TURNER, junior, of the Firm of Turner and Son, Gun Manu-
facturers and Government Contractors, of Fisher Street, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENTS
ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR THE CONVERSION OF MUZZLE-LOADING FIRE-ARMS INTO
BREECH-LOADERS," to be as follows (that is to say) :-
My improvements in breech-loading fire-arms will be understood from the
following description:The part to which the barrel screws and the nipple is
applied (a lump being formed on the part for that purpose) is hollowed out,
and which hollow extends back to admit the cartridge, and to this a plunger

page_text: is fitted, with a conical or other shaped front end for fitting in and closing the
extreme breech end or bore of the barrel; to this plunger flanges are formed,
which slide in lateral grooves formed in the back end of the hollow groove
before referred to in such a way that-when-the plunger-is-forced-home or into
the position for closing..the breech-end-of-the-barrel, the flanges at its back
end will have passed beyond the grooves, thereby allowing the plunger to be
depressed at its back end from its slightly inclined position down full into the
recess. Externally over the plunger I fasten a smooth flat piece of iron, steel,
or other metal, held down in position by a screw, which plate forms a stop
and a spring, and also covers the plunger for preventing wet or moisture
lodging around it; and this plate is sufficiently broad and fashioned at its
back end to form a stop, as well as a convenient holding for the finger-and
thumb, so that in pulling back the plug or plunger for the purpose of charging
the plug is slightly elevated at the rear end, which elevates two side stops
connected with the plug, from corresponding stops, or shoulders, formed on
each side of the hollow breech, and at the, same time brings the lateral flanges
on the plug in a line with the corresponding parts, of the hollow breech in
which they work, permitting the plug to be pulled back, when the cartridge
may be applied, and the plug or plunger again pushed forward into, position
by the thumb of the right hand, the hammer pulled back, and the piece may
be discharged.
In some instances I purpose applying to this my improved breech-loader a
self-acting apparatus for priming, preferring to use what is technically called
"tape or American priming." From this it will be seen that Enfield or other
rifles or fire-arms now in use, or constructed for muzzle-loading purposes,
can, by the application of my improvements, be converted to breech-loaders,
as it simply requires the part technically called the "lump" and the breech
part of such barrels to. be removed and to apply a breech of my improved
construction, as herein-before described, to, effect this object.
パ

page_text: Government Contractors, of Fisher Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, send greeting..
. WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth-year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Thomas Turner, junior, Her special license that I, the said Thomas
Turner, junior, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 'I,
the said Thomas Turner, junior, my executors, administrators; or 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 "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENTS ARE
ALSO APPLICABLE FOR THE CONVERSION OF MUZZLE-LOADING FIRE-ARMS INTO BREECH-
LOADERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas
Turner, júnior, by an instrument in writing under. my hand and.seal, 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 Thomas Turner, junior, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
My improvements in breech-loading fire-arms will be understood from the
following description:-The part or extra breech end screwed to or on the
brecch end of the barrel-is hollowed out centrally, and which hollow or recessed
part extends back to admit the cartridge with which the gun is to be charged,
and which cartridge I prefer being of the ordinary military kind for breech-
loaders; and to this hollow part a plunger is fitted, with a conical or other
shaped front end, working on a joint, for fitting in- and closing the extrême
breech end or bore of the barrel; to this plunger flanges or grooves are
formed, which slide in lateral grooves or flanges formed in the back end of
the hollow grooved, part before referred to, in such a way that when the
plunger is forced home or into position for closing the breech' end of the
barrel the flanges at its back end will have passed beyond the grooves, thereby
allowing the plunger to be depressed; at its back end from its slightly inclined

page_text: smooth piece of hardened iron, steel, or other metal, held down in position by:
a screw, which plate forms a stop and a spring, and also covers-the-plunger-
and the recess in which_it_slides, thereby preventing-wet-or-moisture-lodging
around it; and this plate is sufficiently broad and fashioned at its back end
to form a stop as well as a convenient bolding for the finger and thumb, so
that in pulling, back the plug or plunger for the purpose of charging, the plug
must be slightly elevated at the rear end, which elevates the side flanges,
stops, or grooves connected with the plug from the corresponding stops,
grooves, or shoulders formed on each side of the hollow breech; and at the
same time brings the lateral flanges or grooves on the plug in a line with the
corresponding parts of the hollow breech in which they work, permitting the
plug to be pulled back, when the cartridge may be applied and the plug or -
plunger again pushed forward into position by the thumb of the right hand,
the, elastic force of the slightly-curved top plate springing down with a click
the rear end of the plug, when, the. hammer being pulled back and the cap-
applied, the piece may be discharged. This operation takes much longer to
describe than to effect, for a rifle or carbine so constructed may be loaded and
discharged, with time for taking aim at the object to be struck, at the rate of
ten or twelve times per minute:
↑
In some instances I purpose applying to this my improved breech-loader a
self-acting apparatus for priming, preferring to use, what is technically called
"tape or American priming," actuating the apparatus by the action of the
cock. From this it will be seen that Enfield or other rifles or fire-arms now
in use or constructed for muzzle-loading purposes can, by the application of
my improvements, be converted to. breech-loaders, as it simply requires the
breech part of such barrels to be removed and to apply an extended breech of
my improved construction; as herein-before described, to effect this object.
.
But in order to be fully and clearly understood as to the nature and object
of my improvements I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto
annexed, observing that the various parts, as they occur in the,, different
Figures are marked with the same letters of reference...
Fig. 1 represents the side view of a military rifle gun half size, the stock,
barrel, bands, lock plate, trigger, and trigger. guard are of the ordinary con-
struction, with the exception of that part of the stock occupied by the ordinary.
break-off, and it is to this part that my improvements are principally confined,
and consist of a strong grooved part which screws into the barrel and permits,
at.its rear end or other, convenient part, of being held down in position, as

page_text: will be hereafter seen, by a screw, preferring to effect this by adapting the.
said screw to the double purpose of assisting in holding on the back strap of
the guard. The .hollow part herein referred to, marked A, is principally
obscured, and B is a plug that works in the same by the sunken groove C
working on corresponding projections on each side of the hollow part A. The.
circular, terminus D is formed from the plate E. and E' by being bent around,
for receiving a checkered-ended pin, bolt, or screw, the term checkered being i
used, as I prefer this part being so finished, as it is by the finger and thumb,
being applied to this part that the motion or pulling back of the plug into the:
position here shown is effected. The said circular part D, with top platė E.
and E', is held in position and, secured. to the plunger B.by the stud a and
screw F; seen best at Fig. 2, which is a top view of Figure 1, showing the
parts comprehending my improvements in the same relative position as in the
last Figure; but with the cock or hammer omitted; and in this view I am
enabled to show the front end of the plunger or plug that enters the breech:
end of the barrel, and by its means stop or cut off the escape of gas during
the explosion of the cartridge, and this part I have marked G; H, H, repře-
sents where the hollow part A. screws into the breech of the barrel I.
Fig. 3 is a side. view identical with. Figure 1, with the exception. that int
the latter the parts constituting my improvements are exhibited extended:or
pulled back in position for loading or. receiving. the cartridge, while in this
view.I have represented. the parts.in position for firing; a part of the stock;
and barrel, as also the hollow part referred to in the other views as marked A,:
are here shown in section for the purpose of better exhibiting the plunger. Bi
and plug end G; as also the projections that engage in each part to hold the
plug in position, in doing which..it will be seen that the partly exhibited:
cartridge J has been pushed forward.in position for igniting, by the explosion
of a cap placed upon the nipple, as exhibited in Figures 1 and 2, but omitted?
in this; the front end or plug G is united to the plunger by a joint, in order
to allow it sufficient freedom that it may maintain its parallel position, while
the plunger may be-slightly elevated in order to lift the part b, which may be
round or square, as desired, over the corresponding projection in the hollow
part A,.marked C, which must be effected by the finger and thumb being
applied to the part D before. the plunger with its plug G can be pulled back,
and as a further security, I prefer alsó forming a projection on each of
the plunger, here shown d, which in like manner abuts against projections on
each side of the hollow part marked e, hereafter to be referred to.
I have said that I prefer making the cover or part E and E' of steel or

page_text: other hardened metal, as the spring thereby obtained holds it down on the
parts below, but in the act of closing or locking, the plunger in position, the
inclined end E¹, Figure.1, and the corresponding inclination of the part over
which it slides in the same Figure, marked f, brings its elàstic quality into
action, causing the projections on the rear end of the plunger. to. snap down.
over the corresponding projections of the part A in-which-it-works,-and-shown-
in Figure 3,-marked-respectively-c, e,-and-b, d,-and-in-this-view-I-have also
exhibited where the part A, A, is screwed into the breech-end of the barrel,
as also a screwg passing through the guard strap and stock to take into the
solid rear end of the part A, and which part A. I have exhibited in a side view
detached: at Fig. 4, and in a top view at Fig. 5, with the plunger placed in
the same for the purpose. of exhibiting the projections d, d, and e, e, but which
plunger and part A I have represented in an end view at Fig. 6, but in both
cases, without the cover E and E, with thumb piece D, while at Fig. 7
I have represented the plunger detached, as also the cover in edge and top
view at Fig. 8.
- I have not thought it necessary to exhibit the receptacle for the "tape or
American. přiming" herein-before referred to; as also the means of actuating
the same, as the same may be done in various ways, and arranged for holding
more or less, priming, but, by preference;. I place the priming holder in front
or in advance of the nipple, and actuate it, either. outside or inside of the lock
plate, by the action of the cock, or the same: may. be effected by the action of
the plunger; in: the rear of the nipple,.and protected by the cover or part E
and:E' extending sufficiently over on the lock side for that purpose..
Having now given a general description of my Invention; and the manner
in which the same may be carried into effect, I desire to be understood that
I do not purpose confining: myself to the: exact details: as herein exhibited, as
the same may be considerably modified. without departing from the object,
principle,.or: qualities of my Invention, as; for instance, in constructing new
guns, or applying my principle: to old ones, it may be necessary to make such
modifications as shall conduce to the economy of its application in relation to
security and durability, in which case the nipple may be applied to the part
described and marked in the Drawings as the part A, its front end being;
extended and fashioned for that purpose as exhibited at Fig. 9, showing the
barrel screwed ready for connection with my improved breech or part
marked A, preferring to screw-it on to the barrel instead of in as berein-before
exhibited, but what I claim as new and of my. Invention, and wish.protected.
by these my in part recited-Letters Patent is, the general mode and manner

page_text: herein described and exhibited for opening and closing the breech end of
fire-arms for the purposes of loading and cleaning.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Turner, junior, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
JAMES S. COCKINGS, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
Birmingham.
THOMAS TURNER, JUNIOR. (L.S.).