IMPROVE- MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING SMALL FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Perkos, of 4, Cleveland St., Fitzroy Square, in
the County of Middlesex, Gun Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING SMALL FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 12th November 1878, and dated the 16th May 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Perkes at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th May 1878.
THOMAS PERKES, of 4, Cleveland St., Fitzroy Square, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Gun Manufacturer. IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING SMALL FIRE-
ARMS.
"
"
The object of my Invention is to make breech-loading drop-down guns self-
cocking, self-extracting, and at the same time perfectly safo.
The first part of my Invention relates to ordinary locks, my object being to make
them self-cocking. For this purpose I extend the hammers or tumblers, or if they
are hammerless the tumblers hammers, into the back of the action which is recessed
out to receive them. These extensions, which are solid by preference (although I
can obtain the same object by making them loose and pin-jointing them to the
hammers or tumblers, or tumbler hammers), are capable of engaging with the lump
on the under side of the barrel or barrels, which has a projection or recess to admit
of these extensions which rest in or upon them. When the barrels begin to tilt on
there axis to receive the cartridges it causes the hammers or tumblers, or tumbler
hammers, to rotate upon their axis and so cock the gun ready for firing.
Another method I employ to obtain the same object is by making these extensions
shorter, so that they come close to the back of the action and engage with a sliding
block working up and down in the breach of the action and parallel with the face,
the extensions resting upon it. On the front side of this sliding block I form a
projection or recess, the lump on the under side of the barrels being formed with a
projection or recess to correspond with each other, so that when the barrels begin to
tilt it raises this sliding block up towards the strap and so cocks the this
gun;

page_text: projection is so formed that when the barrels are closed it takes the cocking slide
with it, leaving the extensions suspended.
Another part of my Invention is doing away with the ordinary locks, and placing
the lockwork upon the trigger plate, thereby simplifying the gun. To do this I
make the trigger plate much wider and stronger, and place the hammers side by
side on the front of the trigger plate, which has been previously recessed out to
receive them; these hammers are made with solid extensions and formed so that
they extend in a line parallel with the barrel lump slot in the action, and engage
with a projection or recess in or on the lump, so that when the barels tilt the
projection acts upon the toes or extensions to raise them to full-cock.
Another method that I employ in my lock trigger plate arrangement is by
dispensing with the solid extensions, and jointing a lever or lifter in between the
hammers, working on the same axis, and extending in front to engage with the lump
on the barrel, the other end resting against the broast of the hammers; or it can be
made to act upon the lower part of the hammers by means of a small solid spur
near the bents, so that when the barrels begin to tilt it takes this lifter with it,
which acts upon the solid spur, and so lifts the hammers into their bents.
In forming this lock trigger plate I leave an upright wall or plate extending
backwards from the hammers, upon which I place the mainsprings to act upon the
hammers, the sears and triggers being jointed on each side of this centre plate to
act upon its respective hammers. They can also be cocked by slides worked by the
fore part.
Another part of my Invention relates to a novel method of locking the triggers
securely, so that the gun cannot under any circumstances be discharged accidentaly.
The means whereby I obtain this object are by pivoting a vertical swing trigger
locking bar immediately at the back of the mainsprings and on a line with the back
of the triggers, and is extended sideways to pass through the lock trigger plate
described above, and swing across both triggers, which are so formed to receive it.
This trigger-locking bar is actuated by means of a lever acting upon the grips
placed on the tang or strap of the action; at the back of this lever I place a slide
that works in a slot in the tang, and is connected to another slide with a notch
spring on the under side of the tang; this inner spring slide is recessed out to allow
the oud of the trigger-locking bar to engage in it. The mode of operating this bar
is by means of an incline formed upon and undor the thumb piece of the grip lever,
a corresponding incline being formed at the end of the outer slide, so that when the
grip lever is pressed sideways the incline upon the lever acts upon the incline at the
end of the slide, and so forces it back, causing the lower end of the moving bar to
lock into or on the triggers.
Another mode which I employ of actuating this swing trigger locking bar is by
means of a fan-shaped cam pivoted to and on the tangs of the action; this pivot
passes through the tang, to which I affix another cam which engages with the swing
bar. One end of the fan-shaped cam rests against the side of the grip lever, and
the other end rests against the slide, so that when the lever is pressed sideways it
causes this cam to rotate against the slide, and so forces it back and locks the
triggers; again, it may be moved by a rod acted upon by a tumbler underneath the
tang; but I do not confine myself to any particular grip lever in any of these
arrangements.
Another part of my Invention relates to a novel mode of actuating the extractor
to throw the cartridges cases from the barrel or barrels after the gun is discharged.
For this purpose I employ an ordinary cam in the fore part of the gun acted upon by
the dropping or tilting of the barrel or barrels in the ordinary way. Upon this cam I
form a projection or eccentric spur, to which I apply a spring, either flat or spiral;
this spur
is so formed that it holds the spring in position by means of a bent, into
which the spring falls slightly, the spring having previously been raised by means
of an extension on the knuckle of the action during the closing of the gun; this
extension raises the spring to allow the extractor to pass freely home or nearly
home when in the act of closing the gun, the face of the action forces slightly

page_text: against the back of the extractor, the leg of which presses against the cam and
causes it to be moved round till the end of the spring falls into the bent on the
spur.
The cartridges are partly extracted by means of the barrels tilting. The knuckle
joint pressing against the cam when the barrels are nearly tilted to their full extent,
the extension comes in contact with the eccentric spur to release the spring, which
forces the cam round very sharp to give a blow to the end of the extractor, which
causes the cartridges to be thrown right away from the barrel or barrels; this
arrangement can be worked by a spiral spring and rod working in the fore part and
forced into a bent by means of the extractor pressing against, the face of the action;
during the act of closing the gun also this eccentric cam spur may be made loose
and fitted on to the same pin as that which the cam works.
Another improvement that I apply in combination with this spring cam arrange-
ment is to keep the loaded cartridge from being thrown out at the same time as the
exploded one; to gain this object I cut in the face of the action a circular recess
between the strikers, and extending to the top of the face of the action in this
recess I place two circular formed slides capable of working to the right and left
and meeting in the centre, the lower ends of these slides being inclined, to operate
these slides I place upon the lower part of the extractor face a wedged-shaped
projection capable of engaging with these inclined face slides; the mode of moving
these slides is during the action of closing the breach of the gun, when the
extractor projection in sliding down the face comes in contact with the face slides
to force them above the face of the action.
At the back of the action and through to the recess in the face of the action I
place a striker or wedge-shaped bar for each barrel, the front ends of which are
inclined to correspond with an incline recess formed in or upon the face slides;
when the hammers are released to discharge the gun they come in contact with
these bars or strikers to force the slides down, so that when the gun is opened it
allows the cartridge to pass freely out, the one that has not been fired being kept in
the chamber by means of the face slide standing above the face of the action; these
strikers or bars aro independant of the exploding strikers.
These cam arrangements are applicable to all drop-down guns and rifles.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Perkes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th November
1878.
THOMAS PERKES, of 4, Cleveland Street, Fitzroy Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Gun Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING SMALL FIRE-
ARMS."
The purpose of my Invention is to wake breech-loading drop-down guns self-
cocking, self-extracting, and at the same time perfectly safe.
The first part of my Invention relates to ordinary locks, my object being to make
them self-cocking. For this purpose I extend the tumblers into a recess made in
These tumbler extensions or arms are
the back part of the body of the action.
capable of acting on the lump on the under side of the barrel or barrels, which has
a projection on which they rest, or a recess in which they recline. When the
barrels tilt to receive the cartridges the projection or recess on or in the lump of the
barrel or barrels forces the tumblers into position ready for firing.
The tumbler arms may also be made shorter so as to extend only to the back of
the breech, and to engage with a slide which is forced up and down in or at the
back of the breech by the tilting of the barrels. The projection or recess of the
lump is so formed that when the barrels are closed, it takes the cocking slide with it,
leaving the tumbler arms suspended.
Another part of my Invention is that instead of using the ordinary locks, I
place a peculiarly constructed lockwork upon a thick broad trigger plate. I place
the tumblers or hammers side by side on the trigger plate. These tuinblers or
hammers are mado with solid extensions or toes, and extend parallel with the barrel
lump slot in the body of the action. These extensions or toes engage with a pro-
jection or recess on or in the lump, so that when the barrels tilt the projection
or recess of the lump acts upon the toes of the tumblers and raises them into
cock,
Another method which I adopt is to joint a lever or lifter in between the
tumblers and on the same axis. One end of this lifter engages with the lump of
the barrels, and the other end with the breast of the tumbler or hammer. It can
be made to act upon the lower part of the tumblers or hammers by a spur placed near
the bents, so that the tilting of the barrels sets the lever in motion which actuates
the spur, and so lifts the tumblers or hammers into their position to receive the
sears. This lever or lifter can be made to act on the tumblers or hammers by being
placed in the body of the action, and is greatly assisted by a spring which will
cause the barrels to tilt more easily. In this lock trigger plate I form an upright
wall extending backward from the tumblers or hammers. On the sides of this
wall I place the work of each lock.
The mainsprings have a complex action, and are so placed as to actuate both
the tumblers and scars simultaneously, thereby rendering the ordinary sear spring
unnecessary.
This portion of my Invention may be modified by placing the lock work on a
plate in or at the back of the breech-piece instead of on the trigger plate as
described above.
The tumblers or hammers can also be acted upon by slides or cocking bars made
to slide from the knuckle joint to the tumblers or hammers, and propelled by the
fore end in the tilting of the barrels.
To prevent friction in these and all other kinds of locks, 1 affix a roller, solid bead
bar, or roller wire on the long arm of the mainspring, and the back of the hammer
or tumbler respectively. These rollers or their equivalents work smoothly together
and greatly increase the force of the lock, and secure certainty in discharging the
gun.
Another part of my Invention relates to a novel method of securely locking the
triggers, so that the gun cannot under any circumstances be discharged accidentally.

page_text: The means by which I obtain this are as follows:-Firstly, by placing a vertical
Bwing trigger locking bar on the wall of the trigger plate, and at the rear end of
the mainsprings. Such locking bar is placed at the back of the triggers, and is
extended sideways to pass through the wall of the trigger plate described above.
It is swung across both triggers and is brought in contact with a slide which works
through a slot in the strap or tang of the body. The working end of this slido has
an incline corresponding with an incline on the thumb end of the grip lever.
When the lever is pressed open its incline passes along the incline of the said slide
which forces the said locking bar over both triggers and completely locks them. I
do not confine myself to any particular kind of grip lever in this portion of my
Invention.
Another part of my Invention relates to a novel mode of actuating the extractor
to throw the cartridges from the barrels after the gun is discharged. For this
purpose I employ in the end of the fore end a cam of peculiar shape which is set in
inotion by the tilting of the barrels. On this cam I form a projection or eccentric
spur, to which I apply cither a flat V or spiral spring. This spur is so formed that
it holds the spring in position by a bent into which the spring falls, the said spring
having been previously raised by an extension on the knuckle of the action in the
closing of the gun. This extension raises the spring to allow the extractor to pass
freely home. Whon the gun closes the face of the body forces the extractor against
the cam and moves it round till the end of the spring falls into its bent. When the
barrels tilt the can forces the cartridges about the ordinary distance; the knuckle
joint extension then comes in contact with the eccentric spur of the cam and
releases the spring, which forces the cam round with a sharp blow on the end of the
extractor and propels the cartridges instantly froin the barrels.
The aforesaid eccentric cam spur may, if preferred, be made loose and fitted on
the same pin upon which the cam works.
The cartridges may be made to fly from the barrels, also by the application of n
rod, and either a spiral V or flat spring working on the fore end. The said knuckle
joint extension may be made to act on this cam without the spring, and thereby
to secure a longer travel to the extractor than with the ordinary cam.
In this Invention the extractor travels an extraordinary distance, and to prevent
it swerving either to one side or the other, as the ordinary extractor will do on
being subjected to pressure, I unite the two legs in one by drilling a semicircular
hole down the side of the long leg upon which the cam acts, and inserting the small
leg in it; I thus make one key leg of the two legs, and I also form this compound
leg from the solid bar of steel.
Another improvement in this spring cam arrangement is to keep the loaded
cartridge from being thrown out at the same time as the exploded one. To attain
this object, I cut in the breech piece two slots. In these slots I place suitable slides
with inclined ends, which, as they meet, form a V. As the barrels close a wedge-
shaped projection on the extractor, acting on the inclined ends of the slides, forces
them some distance above the head of the action. On the inner side of the strikers
are two wedge-shaped slides. When one of the hammers falls, it forces one of these
slides against one of the face slides, and drops it level with the head of the action,
and so releases the dead cartridge, and allows it to pass freely out of the barrels,
while the live cartridge cannot pass out, because the face slide retains its position
above the head of the action. These cartridge-stop slides may be raised by rods
or bars acted upon by the fore end. These improved cam arrangements are appli-
cable to all drop-down guns and rifles.
ADRANTVAN

page_text: receive the sear m. The tumbler k on the trigger plate o is acted on by the
mainspring n, which has a roller ³ acting on the roller or its equivalent of the
tumbler
.
The short arm of the mainspring actuates the sear at the point m². When the
grip levert is pressed open to release the barrels, the thumb piece t' of the said
lever t (which has an incline) acts upon the corresponding incline 8' of the slide 8,
and forces the trigger-locking bar q on the trigger 2, where it is held in locking
position by the spring 7. When the gun is closed and in position for firing, the
triggers are released by pressing the slides forward, as shewn in Figure 3.
In the tilting of the barrels a the extension e on the knuckle of the body i presses
on the cam d, working in the fore end c. The cam d is thus made to move
round by the spring f, resting on the spur g, and acting on the end of the
extractor b³.
In the closing of the gun the projection 62 on the extractor b³, in passing down
the face of the breech i presses the inclined end of the face slides w, w, (as shewn
in Figure 5), and raises them into position to stop the live cartridge, at the
same time forcing the cam d to be acted on by the spring f on the opening of the
gun as before described.
The dead cartridge is allowed to pass out of the barrel freely by the tumbler k
falling on the wedge slide u, and so forcing the face slides w level with the
breech.
Figure 2 shews a view of an under lever rifle, constructed according to my
Invention. a is the axle pin, on which the barrels & tilt; b is a part of the lump e,
capable of being raised by the rod f on the lever g; c is a projection on or recess in
the lump e, acting on the extension i of the hammer h, and thereby forcing it into
full-cock.
Figures 3 and 4 shew views of a gun, open and closed, in which another method
is adopted. In this arrangement slides or bars actuated by the fore end are used to
cock the gun; i is the body through which the slide or bar b passes from the
knuckle to the hammer e. The slide or bar bis impelled towards the hammer e
by a bearing surface c¹ in the fore end c. In the tilting of the barrels a, the
bearing surface c¹ acts upon the end b¹ of the cocking bar b, while the other end b³,
engaging with the tumbler or hammer e, forces it into full-cock, as shown in
Figure 4.
As the gun opens the cocking bar b acts on the inclined end of the face slide w,
and raises it above the head of the gun. In this position it imprisons the cartridge
till the falling of the hammer or tumbler releases it in the following manner:-The
slide or cocking bar b operates on the face slide w by the incline x acting on the
corresponding incline g on the end of the face slide w. The falling of the hammer
or tumbler removes the bar b, and allows the spring to drive the face slide w into
a neutral position, and so allows the dead cartridge to escape from the barrel. The
lockwork cam spring and extractor are fully illustrated in Figures 1, 6, and 7 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it under-
stood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein-before described and
illustrated, as the same will admit of modification without departing from the
principles of my Invention; what I claim and desire to secure by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent is,-
Firstly. The tumbler or hammer extensions, acted on by projections or recesses
formed upon or in the lump on the under side of the barrel or barrels, to raise such
tumblers or hammers into position to discharge the gun, together with the inter-
vening slides, working in the breech piece, substantially as herein-before described
and illustrated.
Secondly. The actuating the slides or bars acted on by the fore end in the tilting
of the barrels, so as to be capable of raising, either directly or indirectly, the hammers
or tumblers of gun locks, substantially as herein-before described and illustrated.

page_text: Thirdly. The application of rollers, solid bead bars, or roller wires to tumblers or
hammers in all lock work, acting either directly or indirectly upon mainsprings,
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-before described.
Fourthly. The application of spring power to cams or lovers in the forc ends of
guns, as also the applying a spring and rod to the ends of extractors and a knuckle
extension, either with or without springs acting upon a cam to prolong the travel
of the extractor, and also the employment of a compound extractor leg, all substan-
tially as herein-before described.
Fifthly. I claim the principle of employing an extractor as a means of raising
suitable stops, whereby the live cartridge is retained in the barrel, substantially as
herein-before described and illustrated.
Sixthly. I claim the principle of tilting the barrel or barrels as a means of raising
stops to retain the live cartridge in the barrel, substantially as horein-before
described and illustrated.
Soventhly. I claim the use of a swing-locking bar, capable of securely locking tho
triggers and scars, substantially as herein-before described and illustrated.
Eightbly. I also claim the forming an incline on the thumb end of the grip lever
and the end of the top slido actuated thereby, substantially in the manner and for
the purposes herein-before described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Perkes, have hereunto sot my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord Ono
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
T. PERKES. (L.S.)