IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International Patent
Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN REVOLVING BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."-A communication from abroad.
of the Cite County and State of New York
Sealed the 24th September 1867, and dated the 3rd April 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd April 1867.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Con-
sulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," a communication,
to be as follows:-
The said improvements relate more especially to pistols which have a
revolving cylinder containing a series of charge chambers arranged behind a
fixed barrel, and consist chiefly in the peculiar construction of the said cylinder,
which is made in two concentric portions. One of these portions is fitted to

page_text: slide forward over the inner portion or core, which revolves on a central pin
or axis. The division of the cylinder extends only for a portion of its length.
The rear portion of the charge chambers is formed half in the core and half
in the outer portion of the cylinder, the said chambers being continued
forward beyond the end of the core into the solid front end of the cylinder.
The cartridges employed are of such a length as to extend into the said solid
portion of the cylinder, which sustains the whole force of the explosion. The
charge chambers are formed with a recess at the rear end to receive the rim
or flange of the cartridges.
The said improvements further consist in providing the under side of the
barrel in front of the cylinder with a longitudinally grooved projecting piece,
which is formed with an inclined recess and arranged to operate in com-
bination with a stud or finger on the centre pin or rod whereon the barrel is
turned to release the sliding portion of the cylinder. The barrel is locked
when the pistol is adjusted for firing by a spring catch secured in the pro-
jecting piece and arranged to take into the end of the breech frame.
The inner portion, or core of the cylinder is formed with a flange which
when the breech is closed fits closely to the outer portion of the said cylinder;
this inner portion or core is fitted to turn freely upon the centre pin or rod,
and is provided with a collar which extends into the stock, and is fitted with a
key to keep the said core properly up to the back plate and prevent its
moving endwise. The inner portion or core of the cylinder extends about
half way through the same.
The outer portion of the said cylinder is formed with a recess extending
about half way through to receive the core or inner portion, and the two
portions are so formed that when the breech is closed the two halves into
which the series of chambers is divided fit perfectly together and coincide
exactly with the continuation of the said chambers formed in the solid portion
of the revolving cylinder. The inner portion or core of the cylinder is furnished
with a guide pin or key which fits a longitudinal groove in the outer portion
and keeps the two halves into which the chambers are divided properly
together. The latter is provided with a collar which turns upon the centre
pin and extends into the projection on; the under side of the barrel: A key or
feather passed through the said: projecting piece into a groove in the said
collar unites the barrel firmly to the cylinder, but allows it to turn inde-
pendently upon the centre pin or axis. The centre pin is, firmly secured to
the breech. frame and extends, through the cylinder and through the projecting
piece on the under side of the barrel. The front end of the said pin is pro-
vided with a stud or finger which fits a longitudinal groove in the lower side

page_text: The
of the said projecting piece. The said stud also fits an inclined lateral recess
extending through the side of the projecting piece into the front end of the
longitudinal groove. The rear end of the projecting piece of the barrel is
furnished with a spring catch, which is arranged to enter a recess formed in
the front of the breech frame and lock the barrel to the said frame in the
proper position for firing. The said catch is formed with a knob or pro-
jection which is pressed inward when it is desired to receive the barrel.
latter may be then turned on its axis till the stud on the centre pin is in line
with the longitudinal groove in the projecting piece; the barrel can then be
pushed forward and will draw the outer portion of the cylinder away from the
core or inner portion of the same;. the empty cartridge cases can then be
readily removed and: the chambers filled with fresh. cartridges; the barrel is
then turned on its axis to the proper position for firing, and at the same time
the inclined grooves acting on the stud of the centre-pin forces the barrel back
and brings the outer portion. of the cylinder closely and securely in contact
with the flange on the inner portion or core; the barrel is then locked
by the spring catch and is ready. for. firing.. The rotation of the cylinder to
bring each chamber in line with the barrel is effected by the ordinary
mechanism in connection with the cock or hammer.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 1st October 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer,.
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself,. Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence that I, the said
William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such.
others as I, the said William Robert Lake, 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

page_text: Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING BREECH-LOADING, FIRE-ARMS," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
fullowing statement, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings forming a part of this Specification:-
The said improvements relate more especially to pistols which have a
revolving cylinder containing a series of charge chambers arranged behind a
fixed barrel, and consist chiefly in the peculiar construction of the said
cylinder, which is made in two concentric portions; one of these portions is
fitted to slide forward over the inner portion or core, which revolves on a
central pin or axis. The division of the cylinder extends only for a portion
of its length. The rear portion of the charge chambers is formed half in the
core and half in the outer portion of the cylinder, the said chambers being
continued forward beyond the end of the core into the solid or undivided
front end of the cylinder. The cartridges employed are of such a length as
to extend into the said solid portion of the cylinder, which sustains the whole
force of the explosion. The charge chambers are formed with a recess at the
rear end to receive the rim or flange of the cartridges.
The said improvements further consist in providing the under side of the
barrel in front of the cylinder with a longitudinally grooved projecting piece,
which is formed with an inclined recess and arranged to operate in combination
with a stud or fin on the centre pin or rod whereon the barrel is turned to
release the sliding portion of the cylinder. The barrel is locked when the
pistol is adjusted for firing by a spring catch secured in the projecting piece,
and arranged to take into the end of the breech frame.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side view of my improved pistol with the barrel and revolving
cylinder adjusted for firing; Figure 2 is a side view of the said pistol, showing
the barrel and cylinder adjusted for loading; Figure 3 is a section of the

page_text: revolving cylinder on the line x, x, Figure 1.
parts in each of the Figures.
Like letters indicate the same
A is the stock, which may be of any suitable form and construction. The
chamber a in the said stock is. provided to receive the mainspring b, which is
attached to the stock at the lower end of the said chamber by a screw c or
other convenient fastening. The free end of the mainspring acts upon the
friction roller d on the hammer e, which is held at full or half cock in the
ordinary manner by the point of the sear f resting in either of the notches e¹, e².
The inner portion or core g of the cylinder is provided with a flange g¹, which
may be screwed upon a neck or projection 9, as shown in Figure 1, or formed
solidly upon the said core. When the breech chambers h are closed this
flange fits closely to the outer portion i of the revolving cylinder. The inner
portion or core g is fitted to turn freely upon the centre pin or rod j, and is
kept up against the back plate k by the shoulder 3 of the said centre pin, or
by means of a collar extended into the stock and fitted with a tangent key in
such a manner as to keep the part g from moving endwise. The inner portion
or core g extends about halfway through the revolving cylinder, and the outer
portion i of the said cylinder is bored or chambered to the proper length to
receive the said core or inner portion. By making the core 9 shorter than
the cartridges the accumulation of dirt between the two portions 9 and i is
prevented; these two portions are so formed that when the breech chambers
are closed, as represented in Figure 1, the two halves into which the
chambers are divided fit perfectly together, and coincide exactly with the
continuation of the said chambers formed in the solid or undivided end of
the outer portion of the revolving cylinder. The inner portion or core g
of the said cylinder is furnished with a guide pin or key l, which fits a hole m
or a longitudinal groove in the outer portion i and keeps the two halves g
and i properly together. The outer portion i of the cylinder is provided with
a collar which turns upon the centre pin j and extends into the projection n
on the under side of the barrel B. A key or feather o passed through the
said projecting piece into a groove p in the collar unites the barrel B
securely to the outer portion i of the said cylinder, but
turn independently upon the centre pin or axis j.
preferably formed with a screw thread, whereby it is firmly secured in the
back plate or other convenient part of the breech frame A', a small screw q
being inserted at the exterior of the screw thread to prevent the turning of
the rod j. The latter extends through the cylinder and through the projecting
piece n on the under side of the barrel B. The front end of the said pin is
provided with a stud or fin r, which fits a longitudinal groove 's in the lower
allows the barrel to
The centre pin j is

page_text: side of the said projecting piece. The said stud also fits an inclined lateral
recess s extending through the side of the projecting piece n into the front
end of the longitudinal groove s.
If found desirable two of' these studs r
grooves s, and recesses s¹ may be provided.. The rear end of the projecting
piece of the barrel B is formed with a chamber or cavity n¹ to receive the
spring catch t, which is arranged to enter a recess formed in the front of
the breech frame A', and lock the barrel to the said fiame in the proper
position for firing, as shown in Figure 1. The said catch is formed, with a
knob or projection t', which is pressed inward when it is desired to release
the barrel B. The pistol is loaded when the parts are in the position shown
in Figure 2, the cartridges being inserted into the chambers h with their rims
resting in the recesses h³, and their ends extending into the undivided end of
the portion of the cylinder. The barrel. B is then turned on its axis j to the
position shown in Figure 1. The sides of the inclined groove s¹ acting on
the stud or fin of the centre pin j forces the said barrel back and brings the
outer portion of the cylinder closely and securely in contact with the flange g¹
on the inner portion cr core g. The barrel B is then locked by the spring:
catch t, and is ready for firing. To empty the charge chambers h, and reload
the pistol, the barrel is released and turned on its axis till the stud on the-
centre pin is in line with the longitudinal grooves; the barrel B can.
then be pushed forward, and will draw the outer portion of the cylinder
away from the core or inner portion 9. The empty cartridge cases can
then all be readily removed, and the chambers h filled with fresh cartridges..
The rotation of the cylinder to bring each chamber in line with the barrel B
is effected by the ordinary mechanism in connection with the cock or
hammer e.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by.
my foreign correspondent, and shown how the same may be conveniently
and advantageously carried into practice, I wish it understood that I do
not confine myself to any particular form or arrangement of the parts of
the lock or devices for causing the rotation of the cylinder, nor to any of the
details of construction relating to the barrel, stock, or other parts common to
all pistols, nor do claim any part of the same, but I claim,―
First, constructing the revolving cylinder in two portions, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
Second, making the core or inner portion g of the revolving cylinder shorter
than the cartridges employed therein, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
Third, the inner and outer portions g and i of the revolving cylinder with

page_text: the chambers h, flange g', and recesses h', constructed, combined, and operating
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth, supporting the barrel B to turn and slide upon a centre pin or axis
attached to the breech frame or stock to adjust the pistol for either loading or
firing, substantially as described.
Fifth, providing the centre pin ; with one or more studs or fins "
arranged to act in combination with grooves s and recesses s¹ formed in
the projection of the barrel, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
Sixth, the spring catch t and recess u for locking the barrel in the position
for firing, substantially as set forth.
Seventh, the parts g and i of the revolving cylinder, the centre pin j, with
the stud or fin r, the barrel B with the projection n, groove and recess s, s¹,
and spring catch t, the breech frame A' with recess u, constructed, combined,
and operating together and with the other parts of a revolving pistol, for the
purposes and substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this First day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)
Witness,
GEORGE HASELTINE.