IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jacob Snider, junior, of Sullivan County, State of
Pennsylvania, United States of America, but at present residing in the
Strand, London, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 19th May 1865, and dated the 22nd November 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jacob Snider at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd November 1864.
I, JACOB SNIDER, junior, of Sullivan County, State of Pennsylvania, United
States of America, but at present residing in the Strand, London, Merchant,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
My present Invention consists of further improvements on the system of
breech-loading fire-arms for which Letters Patent were granted to François
Eugène Schneider and myself on the 21st day of June 1862, No. 1828, and
are as follows:-I make an opening at the rear end of the barrel to receive a
vertical faced breech-piece, same as described in the Specification of the
Patent before referred to, and I also construct the breech in same manner
as therein described, and to which I add the improvements relating to the
mode of lifting open, and of closing and latching, and locking the same
temporarily in place, as described in my Provisional Specification, filed in the

page_text: Office of Her Majesty's Commissioners of Patents, the Fifth day of November
1864, No. 2741 (64), and in addition to which I now claim as my Invention
the following improvements in the construction, application, and manipulation
of the breech-piece and the draw cartridge. I hinge the breech-piece to either
side of the barrel or shoe in any suitable manner, instead of hinging it as
described in the Specification of the Patent before referred to, and to the
opposite side to that on which it is hinged is the projection for lifting it. I
then attach to the opposite side to which the breech-piece is hinged, or to any
other portion of the barrel (or shoe, as provided for herein,) the draw
cartridge, which I operate by a projection solid to the shaft or part by or on
which it slides, or is guided along a slot or groove made in, on, or through
the barrel or shoe, and which slot, groove, or opening may be made even
entirely through the stockway under the barrel.
My Invention further consists as follows:-The pin upon which the draw
cartridge slides, as described in the Specification of the Patent before referred
to, I lengthen at its rear end towards the breech, so as to have said rear end
or smallest diameter enter into a receptacle for it made in the lump or end of
the breech, and at the side of the breech pin or plug. I then reduce this
pin in length at its largest diameter, as also the tubes in which it slides (as
described in the aforesaid Specification) for the extent of about one-half the
length of said tube. This pin I secure in the tube and to the breech end of
the barrel (or shoe) in a fixed or stationary manner by a screw, or otherwise.
Upon this pin I place the breech-piece and the draw cartridge, the same as is
described in the Specification of the Patent aforesaid, of Schneider and
Snider; but instead of the breech-piece being hinged to the end of said pin,
and there held stationary by a screw, it now slides on said stationary pin; and
instead of the draw cartridge being functioned by being operated by the
shoulder on the pin within the tube, the breech-pièce and the draw cartridge
which now by this my present Invention becomes 'susceptible of being moved
to and fro on the fixed or stationary steel pin'; 'and I operate the draw
cartridge by means of a screw working in 'a 'slot, groove, or opening 'formed
on or in the 'draw cartridge, by first elevating or increasing 'the 'size of the
same in which to make said 'slot, groove, and opening; or by adding metal
solid to the breech-piece, sufficient in which to form 'a grooved cap to overlap
the 'elevated portion of the draw cartridge, or 'by any other suitable means of
connecting or attaching the breech-piece to the draw cartridge, so as to operate
the same in conjunction with the breech-piece upon the fixed or stationary
hinge pin or guide, in manner herein stated.
In making a gun on the 'system and manner afore-named, as described in

page_text: the Specification of the Letters Patent herein-before referred to, and with
any of the improvements invented by me, as described herein, and in the
Provisional Specification of my application for Letters Patent of the 5th
November 1864, No. 2741, a shoe or receptacle may be used to receive the
breech-piece, and into this shoe the barrel is screwed, as also for any greater
facility of manufacture, and of attaching any of the breech-loading apparatus
thereto (instead of to the barrel itself) in any of the manners described in my
improvements.
I claim all the foregoing as my Invention, and as further improvements
upon the system of breech-loading described in the Specification of Letters.
Patent granted to Francois Eugene Schneider and myself, of June 21, 1862,
No. 1828. as already referred to.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Jacob Snider, junior, in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 22nd May 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME I, JACOB
SNIDER, junior, of Sullivan County, State of Pensylvania, United States of
America, but at present residing in the Strand, London, Merchant, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of November, 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 Jacob Snider, junior, Her special licence that I, the said Jacob
Snider, junior, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Jacob Snider, junior, my executors, administrators, and 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Jacob Snider, junior, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jacob Snider, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
that is to say-
My present Invention consists of further improvements on the system of
breech-loading fire-arms, for which Letters Patent were granted to Francois
Eugène Schneider and myself, on the Twenty-first June, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-two, No. 1828, and are as follows:-I make an opening
at the rear end of the barrel to receive a vertical-faced breech-piece, same as
described in the Specification of the Patent before referred to, and I also
construct the breech in same manner as therein described, and to which I
add the improvements relating to the mode of lifting open, and of closing and
latching, and locking the same temporally, in place, as described in the
Specification of my Patent, bearing date the Fifth November, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-four, No. 2741, and in addition to which I now claim
as my Invention the following improvements in the construction, application,
and manipulation of the breech-piece and the draw cartridge. I hinge the
breech-piece to either side of the barrel or shoe in any suitable manner, instead of
hinging it as described in the Specification of the Patent before referred to, and
to the opposite side to that on which it is hinged is the projection for lifting it.
I then attach to the opposite side to which the breech-piece is hinged, or to
any other portion of the barrel (or shoe, as provided for herein,) the draw
cartridge, which I operate by a projection solid to the shaft, or part by or on
which it slides, or is guided along a slot or groove made in, on, or through the
barrel or shoe, and which slot, groove, or opening may be made even entirely
through the stockway under the barrel.
My Invention further consists as follows:-The pin upon which the draw
cartridge slides, as described in the Specification of the Patent before referred
to, I lengthen at its rear end towards the breech, so as to have said rear end
or smallest diameter enter into a receptacle for it made in the lump or end
of the breech, and at the side of the breech pin or plug. I then reduce
this pin in length at its largest diameter, as also the tube in which it slides
(as described in the aforesaid Specification) for the extent of about one-half
the length of said tube. This pin 1 secure in the tube and to the breech
end of the barrel (or shoe) in a fixed or stationary manner by a screw, or
otherwise. Upon this pin I place the breech-piece and the draw cartridge,
the same as is described in the Specification of the Patent of Schneider and
Suider; but instead of the breech-piece being hinged to the end of said pin,'

page_text: and there held stationary by a screw, it now slides on said stationary pin, and
instead of the draw cartridge being functioned by being operated on by the
shoulder on the pin within the tube, the breech-piece and the draw cartridge
which now by this my present Invention become susceptible of being moved
to and fro ou the fixed or stationary steel pin, and I operate the draw
cartridge by attaching the breech-piece to the draw cartridge by means of a
screw working in a slot, groove, or opening formed on or in the draw
cartridge by first elevating or increasing the size of the same in which to
make said slot, groove, or opening; or by adding metal solid to the breech-
piece sufficient in which to form a grooved cap to overlap the elevated portion
of the draw cartridge, or by any other suitable means of connecting or
attaching the breech-piece to the draw cartridge, so as to operate the same in
conjunction with the breech-piece upon the fixed or stationary hinge pin or
guide in manner herein stated.
of
In making a gun on the system and manner afore-named, as described in the
Specification of the Letters Patent herein-before referred to, and with any of
the improvements invented by me, as described herein, and in the Specification
my Patent of the Fifth November, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
four, No. 2741, a "shoe" or receptacle may be used to receive the breech-piece,
and into this shoe the barrel is screwed, as also for any greater facility of
manufacture; and of attaching any of the breech-loading apparatus thereto.
(instead of to the barrel itself) in any of the manners described in my
*provements.
I claim all the foregoing as my Invention, and as further improvements
upon the system of breech-loading described in the Specification of Letters
Patent granted to François Eugene Schneider and myself of June Twenty-.
first, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, No. 1828, as already
referred to.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a transverse section (with the
breech thrown open); Figure 2, a side elevation; and Figure 3 a plan of so-
much of a breech-loading arm as will be necessary to illustrate one method of
carrying this part of my Invention into effect. Similar letters of reference
refer to like parts in all the Figures.
a is the breech-piece, hinged, as shown, to the opposite side to that
described in the Specification of the Patent of Schneider and Snider, dated
Twenty-first June, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, No. 1828;
b is the draw cartridge, free to move on the stationary pin c, working through
slots in the tube e at the side of the barrel r; f is a spiral spring to return

page_text: the draw cartridge into position after the withdrawal of the expended cartridge
case.
Figure 4 is a transverse section (with breech thrown open); Figure 5, a
longitudinal section; and Figure 6, a plan of another arrangement with the
breech-piece hinged as before. The draw cartridge 6 is in this case worked
through a groove e cut or formed entirely through the shoes and stockway g.
It works on a stationary pin and through slots in the tube under the shoe,
with a spiral spring f to return the draw cartridge into position as before.
Figure 7 is a side elevation, Figure 8 a transverse section through shoe,
breech-piece, and stock, looking towards the breech end of the arm; Figure 9
a plan, and Figure 10 a transverse section through shoe, breech-piece, and
stock, looking towards the muzzle end of the arm of another arrangement.
b is the draw cartridge, free to slide on the pin c. This pin is lengthened at
its rear end, and is screwed or let into a receptacle on the side of the breech
lump, as shown. The draw cartridge 6 moves on the stationary pin c, and is
operated by being attached to the breech-piece a. The hinged lump of the
breech is somewhat enlarged to pass over the tube m of the draw cartridge b,
and held in position, as shown, by means of a screwed cap over the screwed
projecting end of the draw cartridge tube.
b
Figure 11 is a side elevation, Figure 12 is a plan, and Figure 13 a transverse
section through barrel or shoe looking towards the draw cartridge of another
arrangement for operating the draw cartridge. This is effected by means of
a screw h working through an increased solid binge lump i formed on the
breech-piece, and entering a groove in the draw cartridge. The draw
cartridge tube and breech-piece are free to slide on a stationary pin affixed
to the shoe or barrel.
Figure 14 is a side elevation, Figure 15 a partial plan, and Figure 16 a
transverse section of the barrel or shoe looking towards the draw cartridge of
still another arrangement for operating the draw cartridge according to my
Invention. h is a screw or pivot working through a slot k formed in an
elevated portion of the draw cartridge, and at the same time forming a
medium or means for attaching it to a portion of the solid projecting lump of
the breech-piece. The breech a and the draw cartridge b are free to slide on
a stationary pin c, as before described, affixed to the shoe or barrel.
Figure 17 is a side elevation, Figure 18 a transverse section through
barrel looking towards breech; Figure 19 a plan, and Figure 20 a transverse
section of the breech-piece and barrel looking towards muzzle of another
arrangement for operating the draw cartridge on stationary pin. p is a

page_text: grooved cap in the breech-piece overlapping the elevated portion of the draw
cartridge b.
Figure 21 is a side elevation, Figure 22 a plan, and Figure 23 a transverse
section through breech-piece, shoe, and stock, looking towards the muzzle of
yet another arrangement for operating the draw cartridge 6 on a stationary
pin with tube on both sides of the draw cartridge, and working in a tube on
the side of the barrel, and attached to the breech-piece by a screwed cap / on
the screwed end of the tube passing through the hinge lump of the breech-
piece b.
Figure 24 is a side elevation, Figure 25 a plan, and Figure 26 a transverse
section showing an arrangement for attaching the tube to the barrel.
cap by which the tube is attached thereto. This cap or clip covers only the
the upper half of the diameter of the barrel, and to which it is screwed. By
this arrangement I am enabled to dispense with the shoe, and to avoid
brazing the tube to the barrel, as required in some of the other arrangements
before described.
In each of the arrangements before described the breech is temporally
latched, as shown in Figure 5, and which arrangement forms subject matter
of my Patent dated Fifth November, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
four, No. 2741.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my "Improve-
ments in Breech-loading Fire-arms," the several arrangements, together with
any mere modifications thereof, for constructing and operating the draw
cartridge in breech-loading arms, substantially as herein-before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jacob Snider, junior, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
0
Witness,
EDW. G. BREWER,
89, Chancery Lane, W.C.
JACOB SNIDER, JUN³. (L.S.)