IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN THE CARTRIDGES TO BE USED THEREWITH
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Bentley, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Gun Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN THE CARTRIDGES TO BE USED THEREWITH."
Sealed the 30th September 1856, and dated the 1st April 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Bentley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st April 1856.
I, JOSEPH BENTLEY, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Gun Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS. AND IN THE CARTRIDGES TO BE USED THEREWITH,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in forming rifles, muskets, and other like small
arms so that the barrel can be drawn or advanced from the breech in a direct
line parallel to the bore of the barrel, for the purpose of allowing the cartridge
to be inserted at the hinder end of the barrel; and in constructing the front of
the breech of single-action fire-arms with a short cylindrical or truncated
conical projection, so as to form a plug, which ships into the back of the barrel
to insure a more perfect joint between the breech and the barrel; and an
improved lock when applied to repenting fire-arms; also an improved cartridge
to be used therewith.

page_text: To accomplish these improvements the barrel is mounted, and works longi-
tudinally upon a pin or pins, which project forward from the front of the stock
frame. The pin or pins (when more than one are used) are securely fixed to
the stock frame, and pass into a hole or holes boared into a foot" formed on
the under side of the breech end of the barrel parallel to the bore of the piece,
so that the barrel can slide backwards and forwards thereon in the direction of
its length. The barrel of the piece is caused to advance from and recced to the
breech by means of a lever action, which may be effected by a short lever
jointed at the inner end to the under side of the barrel, and having its fulcrum
upon the end of a pin(or rod) attached to the stock, or by having a metal strap
or connecting rod placed on each side of the stock frame, and extending
forward to the lever a little in advance of the pointat which it is jointed to the
barrel. These connecting straps are jointed to the sides of the stock frame at
one of their ends, and to the sides of the lever at the other. By this arrange-
ment it will be seen that by drawing down the outer end of the lever from its
horizontal position below the barrel, it will cause the barrel to advance from
the breech to allow the charge to be inserted; after which, by returning the
lever to its horizontal position the barrel will receed, and can be firmly secured
to the breech by means of a bolt, which passes through a mortise cut through
the "foot" and across the path of the pin upon which the barrel works. This
bolt has a hole cut through its side to admit of its sliding upon the pin. On
one side of the "foot" a small flat spring is placed, which presses against one
end of the bolt, and causes it to take into a recess cut in the side of the fixed
pin, so as to securely lock the barrel and the breech together when in close
contact. The reverse end of the bolt is provided with a head for the purpose
of removing the bolt from the recess in the pin,which can be immediately done
when the barrel is required to be advanced from the breech, by pressing the
head of the bolt. This locking bolt may be dispensed with by applying a catch
to the end of the lever rod, so as to bolt into a small "snug," or projection
formed on the under side of the barrel. The lever motion, if prefered, can be
so arranged that the outer end of the working lever when drawn up can be in
the rear of the barrel.
When the foregoing improvements are applied to single-action muskets,
rifles, or pistols, the ordinary locks now in use may be applied; but it is pre-
fered to carry the vent from the nipple so as to enter the back of the breech
at the centre of the bore.
These improvements are equally applicable in the construction of needle
guns, and may be applied to repeating fire-arms; in that case, a suitable lock
of an improved kind is used, and which consists of a hammer having the

page_text: "bents" formed on the edge of its lower limb, and into which the head of the
upper limb of the trigger (which forms the" trigger nose") takes. The front of
the head of the trigger is formed with a small projection on one side, and a
a small vertical groove in the centre. The projection on the front of the trigger
head is advanced sufficiently forward when the hammer is at full cock to
prevent the chambers revolving by coming in contact with the side of the lower
safety partition; and upon the lower limb of the trigger being drawn backwards
for discharging the piece the head is advanced sufficiently forward to clasp the
hinder end of the safety partition within the vertical groove formed on the front
of the trigger, and where it is securely held during the discharge, and until the
pressure of the finger is withdrawn. The trigger spring is placed within a
longitudinal recess formed in the stock frame just belowtherevolving chambers,
and which acts against the upper side of an horizontal groove cut across the
face of the trigger just below the vertical groove used to lock the chambers.
The chambers are caused to rotate by means of a small lever or pawi tooth,
which is attached to the side of the lower limb of the hammer, and works
within a recess formed in the stock frame, and against ratchet teeth formed on
the back of the revolving chambers, as described in a Specification of a Patent
granted to the applicant, and dated the 4th December 1852.
The improvement in cartridges, which are intended to be used with breech-
loading fire-arms, consists in making the backs of a thin material, such as
tissue paper, baving a number of minute holes punctured in the centre, and
covering this with a wad having a circular hole cut through the centre of it to
allow the flash from the detonating powder of the cap to pass through it (the
wad)against the thin tissue, and through the small holes there in to the powder
By this arrangement the wad will be left in the bore of the piece after being
fired, and will require to be withdrawn from chambered breeches by a small
hook; but in those breeches that are not chambered it can be thrust forward
in the barrel by the next cartridge, and will act as a wad before it, and will
serve the purpose of assisting to keep the barrel clean.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Bentley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st October 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
BENTLEY, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Gun Manufacturer, send
greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Joseph Bentley, Her special licence, that I, the said Joseph Bentley, y
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph
Bentley, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING
FIRE-ARMS, AND IN THE CARTRIDGES TO BE USED THEREWITH," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Joseph Bentley, 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 Joseph Bentley, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention is applicable to the class of small fire-arms in which the
charge is introduced at the breech or hinder end of the barrel, and consists of
mechanical arrangements (hereafter described) by which the barrels of rifles,
muskets, pistols, and other like small arms can be drawn to or advanced
from the breech in a direct line parallel to the bore of the barrel, and by which
the barrel can be held securely fixed in close contact with the breech; and
an improved arrangement for a lock applicable to repeating fire-arms; also, an
improved cartridge for breech-loading small arms.
To accomplish these improvements the barrel is mounted, and works longi-
tudinally upon a pin or spindle (or pins when mcre than one are used) which
project forward from the front of the stock frame. The spindle or pins (as the
case may be) are securely fixed to the stock frame, and pass into a hole or holes
bored into what I calla "foot," which is a projection formed on the underside
of the breech end of the barrel. The hole or holes are formed parallel to the
bore of the piece, so that the barrel can slide backwards and forwards thereon
in the direction of its length. The barrel of the piece is caused to advance

page_text: from and recede to the breech by means of a short lever, which is attached to
the under side of the barrel immediately in front of the "foot" by a working
joint, so that it can be drawn downward and backwards to about a right angle
with the barrel. On each side of the stock frame I attach a metal strap or
connecting link, which extends forwards to the lever a little in advance of the
point at which it is jointed to the barrel. These connecting links are attached
by working joints to the side of the stock fraine at one of their ends, and to the
sides of the lever at the other. The outer end of the lever is provided with a
locking bol: or catch, which takes into a small "snug," or projection, formed
on the underside of the barrel immediately in front of the position occupied by
the lever when laid parallel with the barrel; and the lever is provided with a
small spring on the upper side of its inner end, which bears against the under
side of the barrel, so that when the bolt or catch on the outer end of the
working lever is withdrawn from the recess formed in the little "suug" for
its reception the lever will spring towards the palm of the hand of the operator.
By this arrangement it will be seen that by relieving the catch at the end of
the working lever, and drawing it by its outer end from its horizontal position
below the barrel inadownward and backward direction towards the stock, the
barrel will be advanced from the breech to allow the charge to be inserted,
after which, by returning the lever to its normal position, the barrel will recede
to the breech, where it will be firmly held.
The side links connecting the stock frame and the working lever, and upon
the outer ends of which the lever has its fulcrum, may be dispensed with, as
may also the locking bolt on the outer end of the working lever by forming the
working lever with a short vertical armor limbon its inner lower side, which
extends downwards and abuts against a fixed rod, which projects forward from
the stock frame below and parallel with the pin or spindle upon which the
barrel works, and to which I connect the lever by a small transverse stud or
pin working in a slot formed for its reception; the outer end of this lower
fixed rod being suitably enlarged to admit of the slot being formed therein.
The barrel can be firmly secured to the breech by means of a bolt which passes
through a mortise cut through its foot, and across the path of the pin upon
which the barrel works; this bolt has a hole cut through its side to admit of
its sliding upon the pin upon which the barrel works. On one side of the
barrel foot" a small flat spring is placed, which presses against one end of
the bolt, and causes it to take into a recess cut in the side of the upper fixed
pin upon which the barrel slides, so as to securely lock the barrel and the
breech together when in close contact. The reverse end of this bolt is pro-
vided with a head, for the purpose of removing the bolt from the recess in the

page_text: pin, which can beimmediately done when the barrel is required to be advanced
from the breech by pressing the head of the bolt; but I prefer to use the two
side connecting rods or links, and the catch or bolt on the end of the working
lever, as herein-before described.
When applying this part of my Invention to single-action fire-arins, 1 con-
struct the front of the breech with a short cylindrical or truncated conical
projection, through which the vent from the nipple is carried so as to enter the
barrel directly in the centre of the bore of the piece, and the vent opening on
the circular front of the breech is surrounded by a small cylindrical collar or
projection, which enters a hole formed in the centre of the wad, forming the
back of my improved cartridge, herein-after described. This truncated, conical
or cylindrical projection may be dispensed with by forming any conveniently
shaped groove or grooves in the breech piece formed by the front of the stock
frame for the in sertion of a small portion of the rear end of the barrel, which
I construct to fit therein.
When the foregoing improvements are applied to single action muskets,
rifles, or pistols, the ordinary locks now in use may be applied. The foregoing
improvements are equally applicable to needle guns and repeating fire-arms,
to the latter of which I propose to apply an improved lock. This improved
lock forrepeating fire-armsis soarranged that the "bents" which are formed on
the face of the hammer are so placed that the upper limb of the trigger (which
forms the "sear" or "trigger nose"), upon entering the full cock bent, is
thrown snfficiently near to the rotating chamber to prevent their rotating; and
which I construct by forming the front of the head of the trigger (which also
acts as the sear) with a small projection on one side, and a small vertical
groove in the centre. The projection on the front of the trigger head is
advanced sufficiently forward, when the hammer is at full cock, by arranging
the bents on the hammer so that the full cock bent is much further from the
centre than the other parts, that will prevent the chambers revolving by
coming in contact with the side of the lower safety partition, and upon the
lower limb of the trigger being drawn backwards for discharging the piece, the
head is advanced sufficiently forward to clasp the hinder end of the lower safety
partition within the vertical groove formed on the front of the head of the
trigger, and where it is securely held during the discharge and until the
pressure of the finger is withdrawn. The trigger spring is placed within a
longitudinalrecess formed in the stockframejust below the revolvingchambers
and which acts against the upper side of an horizontal groove cut across the
face of the trigger just below the vertical groove used to lock the chambers, o
the trigger spring can be placed behind the trigger, as usual in this class o

page_text: arms.
The chambers are caused to rotate by means of a small lifter or pawl
tooth, which is attached to the side of the lower limb of the hammer, and works
within a recess formed in the stock frame, and against ratchet teeth formed on
the face of the back of the rotating chambers, as described in the Specification
of a Patent granted to me by Her most Gracious Majesty, dated the Fourth
December One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two,
The improvement in cartridges which are intended to be used with breech-
loading fire-arms, consists in making the packs of a thin material such as tissue
paper, having a number of minute holes punctured in the centre, and covering
this with a wad having a circular hole cut through the centre of it to allow the
flash from the detonating powder of the cap to pass through it (the wad)
against the thin tissue and through the small holes therein to the powder. In
place of using a thin material as described, I have found by practice that a
little gun cotton or cotton wool prevents the escape of the powder,and does not
retard,if it does not facilitate, the ignition of the charge. By this arrangement
the wad will be left in the bore of the piece after being fixed, and will require
to be withdrawn from chambered breeches by a small hook, but in those
breeches that are not chambered it can be thrust forward in the barrel by the
next cartridge, and acting before, it will assist in keeping the barrel clean.
That iny said Invention may be the more readily seen and understood I have
hereunto annexed Drawings impartial illustration of the same; like letters
marked thereon having reference to similar parts.
Figure 1 represents the side elevation of so much of a rifle requisite to show
the application of my improvements to a single-action rifle, the piece being
shown closed ready for use; Figure 2 is also a side view of the same, the
barrel being advanced from the breech for the insertion of the cartridge ;
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the stock frame, with its projecting spindle upon
which the barrel works; Figure 4 is a plan or top view of the working lever;
Figure 5 is a plan of a bolt or catch (M) for the end of the lever; Figure 6
is a small spring for the catch (M); Figure 7 is a view of the inner side of one
of the side connecting links; Figure 8 is a plan or top view of ditto; Figure 9
illustrates the motion for advancing the barrel from the breech as applied to a
revolving chambered breech rifle, and is here applied for the purpose of
obtaining a ready method of releasing the revolving chambers as well as
securing a close contract between breech and barrel. The chambered breech is
formed with fast axles or trunions, the inner one working in the stock frame,
and the outer one in the "barrel foot," so that upon the barrel being advanced
from the breech, the chambers will be at liberty to be drawn out of the bearing

page_text: of the stock frame and lifted out by the hand; Figure 10 is a side elevation of
a revolving-chambered breech pistol partially in section, for the purpose of
exhibiting my improved lock action. In this Figure the rotating chambers
have their front bearing formed partly in the barrel foot, and partly in the
stock frame; and Figures 11 and 12 are a front and side view of the trigger
detached; Figure 13 is a sketch showing the mode I apply the trigger spring
at the rear of the trigger; and Figure 14 is a side elevation of the trigger scen
in Figure 13 shown detached; Figure 15 is a side elevation of any improved
longi.
cartridge; Figure 16 is a back view of the same; and Figure 17 is a
tudinal section of ditto.
A, the stock; B, stock frame; C, a fixed spindle projecting forward from
the stock frame, and upon which the barrel works longitudinally; D, a
truncated cylindrical projection upon which the barrel ships, and through which
the passage from the nipple is formed; E, a small circular collar surrounding the
vent from the nipple; F, the hammer; G, the trigger; H, the trigger guard;
I, the barrel; K, the barrel "foot" which is bored for the reception of the
spindle (C), upon which the barrel works longitudinally, and immediately in
front of which is jointed L the working lever, which is fitted on its out end
with M, a catch or bolt, which takes into a notch formed to receive it in; N, a
small snug or projection on the under side of the barrel; O, a small spring
attached to the working lever, and which acts against the under side of the
barrel when the lever is up, for the purpose of throwing the end of the lever
into the palm of the hand of the operator, upon the catch on the end of the
lever being relieved from the recess in the snug (N); P the side connecting
rods, straps, or links which are jointed to the working lever at one end, and to
the stock of frame at the other; q, a pin which passes through the lever, and
attaches the two outer ends of the side straps (1) thereto; r, a pin which
attaches the inner ends of the side rods (P) to the stock frame; S is a revolving-
chambered breech, constructed with solid trunions or axles which rotated with
the breech, the inner end working within a hole formed in the front of the
stock frame, and the outer one revolves within a bearing formed in the hinder
end of the "foot" of the barrel, or partly in the barrel and partly in the stock
frame; F', the hammer of my improved lock; T, the trigger of my improved
lock action; U, the main spring; W, the swivel or connecting link between
the hammer and main spring; X, trigger spring; Y, a small lifter or pawl
tooth, which is attached to the side of the lower limb of the hammer by a small
pin, and is elevated or depressed by the motion of the hammer and being
provided with a small spring at the back, and which presses against the back

page_text: of the recess in which it works, causing the upper end of the lever to take into
the ratchet formed on the back of the rotating chambers, and in its upward
action forces them round.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, and how the same may be carried into effect, what I claim is,―
Firstly, mounting the barrels of breech loading fire-arms upon a pin or
spindle (or pins or spindles) fixed and projecting forward from the breech, as
herein-before described.
Secondly, the peculiar arrangement of side links and lever for causing
the barrel to advance from and recede to the breech, as herein-before described.
Thirdly, the application of the spring to the working lever to cause it to
spring from the barrel upon the locking bolt being withdrawn, and method of
locking the liver
Fourthly, the arrangement herein-before described for sliding the barrel of
revolving breech-loading fire-arms backwards and forwards, for the purpose of
inserting or taking out the revolving chambers.
Fifthly, arranging the "bents" on the face of the hammer, so that the
"trigger nose" shall be advanced near enough to the chambers when at full
cock, to cause the projecting stud on the face of the trigger head to act as a
catch or bolt to the chambers, and also the forming of the trigger head with
a vertical slot for the purpose of locking the chambers during the time of
discharge, and until the trigger is relieved from the pressure of the finger, as
herein-before described.
And lastly, the combination of the various parts herein-before described
for constructing breech-loading fire-arms, substantially and in the manner
herein-before described.
In witness thereof, I, the said Joseph Bentley, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Thirtieth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
WILLIAM WALKER.
JOSEPH (L.S.) BENTLEY.