Improvements in and relating to Breech-loading Ordnance.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 31st July, 1894-Accepted. 1st Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Breech-loading Ordnance.
We, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, and LOUIS SILVERMAN, both of Crayford
Works, Crayford, in the County of Kent, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to breech-loading ordnance of the kind described in the
Specification of prior Letters Patent No. 1582 of A.D. 1891. That Specification
describes an improved method of securing the breech-block in place in the breech,
and means by which the said breech-block may be very readily inserted and locked
therein, or unlocked and withdrawn therefrom. The breech-block described in the
said Specification is an expansible breech-block, that is to say it has a mushroom
head arranged in combination with adjustable sections and operated in such a
manner that the sectional part of said block when in the breech may be expanded
or contracted to move the sections into or out of engagement therewith.
The object of the present invention is to improve certain features of such breech-
apparatus in order that the working of the weapons to which it is applied may be
rendered easier, safer, and more certain than heretofore.
According to this invention we provide improved means for preventing the
expansion of the breech-block while it is out of the breech, or whilst moving into
or out of the same, and also, improved means for preventing the expansion of the
breech-block by mischance, into engagement with the breech before it is properly
home therein.
Further, our invention comprises improved means for cocking the firing-pin by
hand, improvements in the cocking and firing devices, aud. other improvements
concerning details of the breech and breech mechanism.
To prevent the breech-block from expanding after the movable sections thereof
have been drawn together and the block has been moved slightly to the rear as a
preliminary to the opening of the breech, we provide on the carrier a suitable guide
in which we place a bolt, which is adapted to slide therein, between suitable stops.
A spring, which is placed at the rear of the bolt, tends always to cause it to
protrude beyond the front face of the carrier. The bolt is so situated, however,
that while the opposed faces of the breech and carrier are in contact its protrusion
is prevented by the face of the breech; but after the breech-block is contracted
and started on its movement out of the breech by movement of the carrier, the
bolt will be moved out, automatically, by the said spring, into engagement with one
of the sections. As long as this engagement continues the block cannot be
expanded, for it is so constructed that prevention of the movement of one section
prevents the movement of the others. Upon reclosing the breech the bolt comes
into contact with the rear face thereof just before the carrier and breech block are
quite home, and is moved thereby so as to disengage the sections of the latter, to
allow them, while the block is moving further home, to be expanded to lock the
same in the breech.
To facilitate the withdrawal of the breech-block from the breech by movement
in a circular arc, we taper the aforesaid sections of the block and we taper the part
of the breech with which they engage. For enabling the breech and sections to
engage with each other we provide on the breech and on the sections one, two, or
more threads, fillets, or abutments of any suitable shape in cross section. The
said threads, fillets, or abutments are circular, and are continuous, with an exception

page_text: hereinafter specified. A suitable clearance is left between the top of the threads,
fillets, or abutments on the sections, and the bottom of the grooves in the breech,
so that the presence of dirt between them will not cause a jam.
To prevent the expansible breech-block from expanding by any mischance, into
engagement with the breech before it has moved properly home therein, we
interrupt the continuity of the said threads, fillets, or abutments, by providing upon
one of the sections of the block a projection for instance, of such dimensions that it
cannot enter between or interlock with the threads, fillets, or abutments in the
breech. This is the exception above referred to.
We provide in the breech a suitable recess adapted to receive the said projection
when the block is quite home. If by accident the breech block is expanded prior
to its entry into the breech, its engagement therewith during its entry is prevented,
for the reason that the projection is not able to enter between the threads, fillets,
or abutments of the breech and therefore will simply ride over them, preventing,
until it arrives opposite the recess aforesaid, any expansive movement of the
sections in the breech.
Moreover, in opening the breech the projection will again ride over the threads
fillets or abutments of the breech, if the breech-block should not have been
contracted sufficiently, and will thus facilitate its further contraction.
We may substitute for the projection and recess aforesaid any equivalent devices
operating on a like principle.
For cocking the firing-pin we place a cocking-lever upon the main shaft by which
the expansion and contraction of the breech-block are effected. The cocking-lever
is arranged to turn freely on the said shaft, and is operated by a movable portion
of the breech-block. In certain cases we arrange that the breech-block and
cocking lever shall be independent of each other except during a portion of the
movement of the block; in other cases we arrange for the movements of the block
and lever to be simultaneous and of equal duration.
The main shaft aforesaid is operated by a handle which is attached thereto,
and is provided with a spring grip which operates, when the breech is closed and
the handle released from the grasp of the operator, to lock the handle to the
carrier.
•
To enable the firing-pin to be cocked by hand we pivot to the carrier a lever,
one end of which is adapted to be operated by a lanyard or otherwise from the
exterior of the weapon whether the breech be shut or open; the other end of this
lever is arranged to actuate the cocking-lever which ordinarily is operated auto-
matically but which can at any time be operated manually, if desired. This is an
important feature of our invention for it permits the re-cocking to take place after
the miss-fire of a cartridge, for example, without the necessity of opening the breech
and risking an explosion.
As an alternative manual cocking-device in order to enable the firing-pin to be
cocked without opening the breech, we extend the pin through the rear face of the
carrier and provide it with a handle or with a T-head, around which a lanyard can
be looped to pull it into the "cocked" position.
In certain classes of ordnance fitted with our improved breech-mechanism, more
particularly in the larger sizes of quick-firing guns, we place the whole of the
cocking and firing mechanism within the carrier and we arrange that the firing
pin shall not extend therethrough. The exterior of the carrier in such cases is free
from projections and closed at the rear and also at the sides, except where a lever
by which the cocking-lever can be manually operated, projects slightly, to the
exterior.
Upon the cocking-levers hereinbefore referred to we form two or more notches,
to be engaged by a pair of sears when the firing-pin is wholly or partially cocked.
One of the two sears is an automatic safety sear which can be caused to release the
firing pin only by the breech-block or by the breech-operating lever. The other
sear can be operated by hand to release the firing pin, which will not move forward,
however, unless it has been previously released by the safety sear.

page_text: In guns which fire loose ammunition or non-obturating cartridges the mushroom
head can be made to serve as an obturator.
Dated this 31st day of October 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in and relating to Breech-loading Ordnance.
We, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, and LOUIS SILVERMAN, both of Crayford
Works, Crayford, in the County of Kent, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to breech-loading ordnance of the kind wherein an
expansible breech-block is employed, that is to say, a breech-block in which,
for example, a head or ❝ mushroom" is used in combination with adjustable
sections operated in such a manner that the sectional part of the said block, when
in the breech, may be expanded or contracted to move the sections into or out of
engagement therewith.
The object of the present invention is to improve certain features of such breech-
apparatus in order that the working of the weapons to which it is applied may be.
rendered easier, safer, and more certain than heretofore.
According to this invention we provide improved means for preventing the
expansion of the breech-block while it is out of the breech, or while moving into or
out of the same, and also, improved means for preventing the expansion of the
breech-block by mischance, into engagement with the breech before it is properly
home therein.
Further, our invention comprises improved means for cocking the firing-pin by
hand, improvements in the cocking and firing devices, and other improvements
concerning details of the breech and breech-mechanism.
In order that our said invention may be clearly understood we will now proceed
to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein
Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a quick-firing gun fitted with our improved
breech-mechanism.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal central section on the line X X of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the carrier, removed from the gun, illustrated in
Figures 1 and 2.
Figures 4 and 5 are plans, in section on the line Y Y of Figure 3, of the top and
bottom halves, respectively, of the said carrier.
Figure 6 is an end elevation of the mushroom carried by the aforesaid
carrier.
Figure 7 is a longitudinal central section of the mushroom on the line X' X' of
Figure 6.
Figures 8 and 9 are front and side elevations, respectively, of a sliding cone,
forming part of the breech-mechanism and adapted to slide upon the stem of the
mushroom.
Figure 10 is a longitudinal central section of the cone on the line Y¹ Y' of
Figure 9.
Figure 11 is a rear elevation of a group of sections which are adapted to slide
upon the cone; the said sections are shown, in this figure, in the positions they
occupy, relatively to each other, when in place upon the cone.
Figure 12 is a longitudinal central section of the group of sections on the
line ZZ of Figure 11.
Figures 13 to 24 are hereinafter particularly referred to, they illustrate details
of the mechanism of the breech shown in Figures 1 and 2.

page_text: Figure 24 is a view of certain parts of Figure 2, with some of the details of the
latter modified.
Figure 25 is a rear elevation of a smaller gun, also fitted with our improved
breech-mechanism.
Figure 26 is a section through the carrier of the smaller gun on the line X2 X2
of Figure 25.
Figure 27 is a longitudinal central section on the line Y2 Y2 of Figure 25,
showing the breech closed and the breech-block engaged therewith.
Figure 28 is similar to Figure 27, but with the sections of the breech-block
disengaged from the breech so that the breech-block is ready for withdrawal; in
this figure the firing-pin is fully cocked.
Figure 29 is similar to Figure 28, except that the breech is shown fully open.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
We will first describe the larger and next the smaller gun.
A is the breech of
the gun; Al A' are threads formed therein. B is a ring screwed to the breech
and provided with lugs B¹. C is a spindle secured in the said lugs; D is a carrier
adapted to turn about the said spindle.
A. hole D' is provided in the carrier D to receive a hollow bolt E which is
adapted to slide therein and to operate automatically in the manner hereinafter
described, to prevent, when desired, the expansion of the breech-block. The said
bolt has a shoulder E' thereon and its outward travel is limited by a bush D
screwed into the outer end of the hole, in the path of the shoulder E¹. F is a
spring placed at the rear of the bolt as shown, and tending always to keep it at the
outward extreme of its travel, at which it protrudes beyond the front face of the
carrier. The bolt is so situated, however, that while the opposed faces of the breech
and carrier are in contact its protrusion is prevented by the face of the breech, or
by part of the breech block as in Figure 2. G is a "mushroom" the stem G¹ of
which is screwed into an internal boss D³ formed in the carrier D as shown. The
said stem, which is hollow, contains the firing-pin H which can be moved therein
in the direction of its length. The firing-pin is provided at its forward end with a
shoulder H. A spring I is placed between the shoulder and a screw plug G² which
closes the rear end of the stem G¹. The firing-pin is slotted at H2, the plug at G³,
and the stem at G', as shown.
J is a cone adapted to slide upon the stem of the mushroom. J'J' are flanged
ribs upon the cone, provided for a purpose hereinafter specified. J2 is an extension
upon the cone, slotted at J to receive the end of a cocking-lever hereinafter
referred to. J is a projection upon the rear face of the cone and J' is a curved
surface formed at the edge of that face, just forward of the slot J³.
KK are adjustable sections forming part of the breech-block and provided upon
their peripheries with threads K¹ to engage with the aforesaid threads A¹ in the
breech.
The threads A¹ and K' are circular and continuous, upon the breech and upon the
sections, except that upon one of the sections an interruption is caused by the
presence of a projection K² of such dimensions that it cannot enter between or
interlock with the threads A' in the breech, and in the breech we provide at A² a
suitable recess which interrupts the continuity of the breech threads and is so
situated that the projection K³ is opposite the said recess A³ when and only when
the breech-block is quite home. The projection and recess co-operate in a manner
hereinafter explained to prevent the full expansion of the breech-block until it is
properly home; we may substitute therefor any equivalent devices operating on a
like principle. In substitution for the threads shown in the breech and on the
sections we may provide one, two, or a larger number of other threads, or of fillets,
or abutments, of any suitable shape in cross section.
A suitable clearance is left as exemplified in Figure 2, between the top of the
threads, fillets, or abutments on the sections, and the bottom of those in the breech,
so that the presence of dirt between them will not cause a jam.
.
To facilitate the withdrawal of the breech-block, which moves into or out of the

page_text: breech in a circular arc, we taper the aforesaid sections K of the block and we,
taper the threaded part of the breech with which they engage, as shown.
The sections K are each provided with a groove K³ of approximately the same.
cross-section as that of the ribs J' on the cone. Each groove receives one of the.
said ribs. The said sections, which are adapted to move inward, radially, from the
position in which they are shown in Figure 2, are retained in engagement with
the cone J by the employment of the said ribs and grooves, and are guided, during:
their radial movement, between the inclined rear surface of the head or mush-
room G and the correspondingly-inclined face of an annulus D formed in the
carrier D.
L is a shaft pivoted vertically in the carrier D with a handle L' at its lower.
end; in the handle a spring-controlled lever L2 is pivoted, one end of which forms:
a spring grip; the other end has upon it a projection L3 which, when the handle is:
not gripped, is maintained, by the action of the spring L', in engagement with a
recess D³ in the underside of the carrier. One part of the shaft L is approximately
hexagonal, and receives an arm M the boss of which has a bore shaped to fit the
approximately hexagonal part of the shaft so that it will turn with, but not round,
the shaft. The said boss is provided with a projection M' to operate a safety sear.
The end of the arm M is curved to a radius measured from the centre of the
shaft L, so that it can fit close against the curved seating J of similar radius on
the cone.
N is a cocking-lever, placed on the shaft I, on which it turns freely just above
the arm M. One end of the cocking lever is provided with notches N1 N2 with
which automatic and non-automatic sears engage. The other end lies in the same
plane as the projection J* on the cone and is extended through the slot G4 in the
stem G¹ of the mushroom G, and the slot G³ in the plug G², into the slot H³ in the
firing-pin H to engage with the latter.
O is a pin screwed into the carrier, to serve as a pivot in the interior thereof for
a lever P one end of which passes through the carrier to the exterior where it is
provided with an eye P' to receive a lanyard. At the other end of the said lever.
is a curved arm P2 to bear against the cocking lever N. The combination of the
cocking-lever N and the lever P constitutes one of two devices herein described, by
way of example, for enabling the firing-pin to be cocked by hand whether the:
breech is shut or open.
Pivoted on the pin O at a point below the lever P is a lever Q one end Q₁of
which is formed as a sear to engage with the notches N' N² of the cocking-lever N ;
the other end is provided with an eye Q2 and has a lanyard R attached thereto.
This device is operated non-automatically when the release of the firing-pin is
desired.
Below the sear Q an automatic sear S is pivoted; this also, is on the pin O and.
is adapted to engage with the notches N' N of the cocking-lever N; it is provided
with a finger S adapted to be operated by the aforesaid projection M' on the boss,
of the arm M.
The sears Q and S are pressed towards the cocking-lever N by springs Q³.
and Scarried by the sears and bearing against the inside of the carrier.
The extracting devices are of a well-known type and therefore are not further
referred to herein.
Figures 13 and 14 are views, at right angles to each other, of the shaft L, with,
its handle I'
Figures 15 and 16 show the arm M in elevation and plan, respectively.
Figures 17 and 18 show the cocking-lever N in elevation and plan respectively.
Figures 19 and 20 show the lever P in elevation and plan, respectively.
Figures 21 and 22 show the sear Q in elevation and plan, respectively.
Figures 23 and 24 show the automatic sear S in elevation and plan, respectively.
Figures 13 to 24 are drawn to a larger scale than Figures 1 to 12.
We will now describe the operation of this gun, assuming that the parts thereof
are in the positions in which they are indicated in Figures 1 and 2. To open the

page_text: breech and cock the firing-pin, the handle L₁ is gripped and thereby the
projection L³ acts to release it from the carrier D; next, the handle is pulled
outward from the breech, thus turning the shaft L and causing it to move the
arm M clear of the curved surface J' of the cone J, thereby unlocking the same.
The arm M is moved on into contact with the metal at the rear end of the slot J³
in the extension J2 and then by a continuation of its movement draws the cone J
along the stem G' to the rear. In the rearward movement of the cone J the
sections K are drawn inward radially, from the threads A¹ of the breech, and the
projection J on the cone turns the cocking-lever N on its pivot L and cocks
the firing-pin H. The cocking lever and with it the firing pin are held in the half
cocked or in the full-cocked position by the sears Q and S which engage
automatically with the notches N¹ and N2 as the cocking-lever turns. Instead of
making the breech-block and cocking-lever independent of each other, as in the
present instance, except during a portion of the movement of the block, we may
arrange, by suitably extending the projection J' that the movements of the block
and cocking lever shall be simultaneous and of equal duration. After the
contraction of the breech-block and the cocking of the firing pin the outward
'movement of the handle L' is continued, but it now moves with, and not relatively
to, the carrier, turning the latter about the spindle C so that the breech-block
moves with the carrier and thus opens the breech.
After the breech-block is contracted and started on its movement out of the
breech by the movement of the carrier, the bolt E will move out automatically
by the action of the spring F, into engagement with one of the sections K.
The manner in which the block contracts and in which the bolt E engages one
of the sections K can be clearly seen in two of the sectional plans, Figures 28
and 29, although they relate to the smaller gun hereinafter described, for in
respect of the bolt E and the breech-block and the action thereof both guns are
alike. As long as this engagement continues, the block cannot be expanded, for
during the time in which movement of one section is prevented, movement of
the cone and therefore of the rest of the sections is also prevented. Upon re-closing
the breech by a series of operations effected in reverse order to the foregoing, the
bolt E comes into contact with the rear face of the breech just before the carrier
and breech-block are quite home and is moved thereby so as to disengage the
sections of the latter, to allow them, while the block is moving further home, to
lock the same in the breech.
If by accident the breech-block is expanded prior to its entry into the breech,
its engagement therewith during its entry is prevented for the reason that the
projection K2 is not able to enter between the threads A' or fillets or abutments in
the breech, and therefore will simply ride over them, preventing until it arrives
opposite the recess A³ aforesaid any further expansive movement of the sections in
the breech. Moreover, in opening. the breech, the projection K2 will again ride
over the threads fillets or abutments of the breech if the breech-block should not
have been contracted sufficiently, and will thus facilitate its further contraction.
After the closing of the breech, and in the return movement of the arm M to lock
the breech by moving into the position in which it is shown in Figure 2, the
projection M'acts upon the finger S₁ of the sear S and moves it, automatically, out
of engagement with the notches of the cocking-lever N. The sear S can be
operated only by the arm M, and unless it be thus operated the other sear Q even
if operated will not release the firing pin, which cannot therefore move forward to
strike the cap in a cartridge until the breech is closed and locked.
To cock the firing-pin by band the outer end of the lever P must be pulled by a
lanyard or otherwise, whereupon its inner end P2 will push the cocking-lever N
round upon its spindle O to cause it to cock the firing-pin.
This is an important feature of our invention for it permits the re-cocking of the
firing-pin after a miss-fire for instance, without the need of opening the breech.
The whole of the cocking and firing mechanism, in the larger gun, is within the
carrier, and as the firing-pin does not protrude therethrough, the exterior of the carrier

page_text: is neat, and free from projections at the rear, and also at the sides except where the
levers P and Q protrude.
In the modification illustrated in Figure 24 an extension N³ is provided upon
one side of the longer arm of the lever N to bear against the rear face of the
cone J when the breech is closed as shown. A cavity K is provided in the rear
face of the cone in such a situation that the extension N³ will come opposite thereto
upon the completion of the operation of cocking, which commences simultaneously
with the commencement of the rearward movement of the cone and is effected by
the said cone which presses upon the extension N³ and thereby turns the lever Ň
until the firing pin is fully cocked, by which time the extension N³ which has
moved upon the rear face of the cone during cocking, will come opposite the
cavity K and will be received thereon during the further rearward movement of
the cone.
By this arrangement the firing-pin is cocked during the first portion of the
rearward movement of the cone, instead of during the last part thereof as in the
preceding example.
a
In this modification moreover the firing pin is shown hollow and contains
the spring instead of being surrounded by the spring as in the gun shown in
Figure 2. At the rear end of the pin is provided a toe piece H° with which the
cocking lever engages.
In the smaller type of gun illustrated by Figures 25 to 29, the breech mechanism
is, in most respects, similar in construction and operation to that hereinbefore
described with reference to Figures 1 to 24, but it differs therefrom in certain
details, as will now be explained.
The firing-pin is extended through the rear face of the carrier D and at its outer
end is provided with a cross-head H³ and a handle H, so as to constitute the second
of the two devices herein described, for enabling the firing-pin to be cocked by
hand whether the breech is shut or open.
The cross-head is provided with two extensions H and H. The extension H
has teeth H thereon, as shown.
The arm M, which serves, as in the larger gun, to lock the breech, and also to
move the cone J by acting upon the extension J2 has a finger M² formed thereon,
which when the firing-pin H is at the forward extreme of its travel, is in front of
the extension H³. Qis a pawl pivoted in the carrier D to act upon the teeth H7.
The said pawl is secured upon the squared end of a spindle Q' which at the other
end is provided with a lever Q2 by which the spindle Q' can be rotated to lift the
pawl Qout of engagement with the teeth H. The end Q³ of the lever Q2 is
provided with an eye to receive a lanyard, and the other end Q is shaped to enter
the cavity D¹ in the carrier and to bear against one end of the spring F therein,
which latter operates thereon to keep the lever normally in such a position that the
pawl Q is maintained in engagement with the teeth H.
No spring grip is fitted to the handle L'. During the first part of the movement
of the shaft L in the opening of the breech and while the arm M is unlocking the
cone J, the finger M2 acts upon the extension H to move the firing-pin to the rear
sufficiently far for the pawl Q to engage with the teeth H on the extension H6 so
as to hold the firing-pin at half-cock. Having thus half-cocked the firing-pin, the
finger M' moves clear of the extension H' and the arm M commences to act upon
the extension J2 of the cone and moves it to the rear. The cone acts to withdraw
the sections K of the block from engagement with the threads of the breech and the
cocking of the firing-pin is completed by the extension J2 which in the rearward
movement of the cone comes into contact with the extension H' on the crosshead H³
and thereby pushes the firing-pin to the extreme of its rearward travel. The
position of the parts when these operations are completed is shown clearly in
Figure 28. By pulling at the handle H the firing-pin may be pulled to the rear,
non-automatically, at any time.
Figure 29 shows the block and carrier swung clear of the breach. To release
the firing-pin, the end Q³ of the lever Q2 is drawn smartly to the rear, whereby

page_text: the spindle Q is rotated and the pawl Q, turning with it, is lifted out of
engagement with the teeth H' whereupon the spring I pushes the firing-pin.
forward through the face of the mushroom G, provided that the breech is
properly locked. Otherwise the end of the arm M² will occupy such a position
in the path of the extension H³ as to prevent the firing-pin H from completing its
forward movement.
The said Figures 27 to 29 show clearly the action of the bolt E, for in Figure 27
the bolt is shown within the hole D in the carrier; in Figure 28 the breech-
block is shown contracted with the bolt bearing against the rear face of the
breech and in partial engagement with the side of one of the sections K; this
position is one into which it passes automatically, immediately upon the contraction
of the block. In Figure 29 the bolt E is shown in the position it assumes
immediately upon the retirement of the carrier from the breech, that is to say,
in complete engagement with one of the sections K to keep the block contracted
until the carrier is again brought up to the rear face of the breech.
In guns which fire loose ammunition or non-obturating cartridges the mushroom
head can be made to serve as an obturator.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
:―
1. An expansible breech-block having radially adjustable or movable parts or
sections, and a spring bolt arranged in combination with a carrier and operating
automatically to engage and disengage the adjustable or movable parts or sections,
substantially as hereinbefore described, for the purposes specified.
2. The expansible breech-block having, in combination with its radially
adjustable or movable parts or sections, means for preventing expansion of the
block into engagement with the breech before it is properly home therein,
substantially as herein before described.
3. The said expansible breech-block provided with means whereby the firing-pin
can be cocked from the exterior of the carrier, substantially as hereinbefore
described, for the purposes specified.
4. The expansible breech-block with its radially adjustable or movable parts or
sections tapered and provided with one, two, or more threads, fillets or abutments,
substantially as hereinbefore described, for the purposes specified.
5. The mechanism for cocking and controlling the firing pin, substantially as
herein before described with reference to Figures 1 to 24 of the accompanying
drawings, and operating as specified.
6. The modified cocking mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to Figure 244 of the accompanying drawings and operating as specified.
7. The cocking and firing mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to Figures 25 to 29 of the accompanying drawings, and operating as
specified.
8. The improved breech-mechanism, constructed substantially as herein before
described with reference to Figures 1 to 24 or Figures 25 to 29 of the
accompanying drawings and operating as specified.
Dated this 31st day of July 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.