Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Apr., 1886.
Complete Left, 1st Jan., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 4th Feb., 1887.
I, JOHN GEORGE HOWARD, of Gamatibie, British Bechuanaland, South Africa, but
temporarily residing at 58. Compton Road, Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford,
engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention refers to the type of breech-loading fire-arms in which a hinged or
sliding breech block is moved by hand to open and close the breech, as in the Martini
rifle and the Fraser rifle; and the object of this invention is to provide means by which
the operation of inserting a cartridge effects the closing of the breech, thus obviating
the necessity of closing the breech by a separate operation as in the ordinary manner, and
consequently saving time between the firing of one cartridge and the gun being ready
for the next discharge, and also avoiding the inconvenience which is usually experienced
when the ordinary method of closing the breech is employed from the liability of the
cartridge slipping back if the gun is held upwards before the breech is closed.
When this invention is applied to a Martini rifle, a cam is mounted to turn loosely
upon the pin carrying the follower by which motion is conveyed to the breech-block.
A horn projects from the rear side of the cam and a catch projects from the front side.
A spring bears up against the underside of the horn, tending to turn the cam in a
forward direction upon the pin, but when the breech is open the catch on the cam is
in gear with a vertical pivoted arm. The follower is formed to gear sideways into
cam, but with sufficient play to allow of the movement hereinafter described. When
the cam is in the position described, that is with the catch retained by the pivoted arm,
the follower is in such gear with the cam that the cam itself cannot be turned in a
forward direction without immediately turning the follower also and closing the breech.
An arm formed in one piece with the pivoted arm extends in a forward direction and
is pressed up by means of a spring so as to maintain the vertical arm in gear with the
catch of the cam, and an arm on the extractor projects downwards from the fulcrum by
which the extractor is carried, this last-mentioned arm and the forwardly projecting
arm being in such relative position to one another, when the breech is and the
open
upper or forked end of the extractor back from the end of the barrel, that upon the insertion
of a cartridge, and the consequent forcing forwards of the upper end of the extractor,

page_text: the downward projection of the extractor presses down the forwardly projecting arm
and releases the vertical arm from the catch on the cam. The cam is then immediately
turned over forwards by its spring, carrying with it the follower, and closing the
breech. In case it is not desired to insert a cartridge, the breech may be closed in the
usual way, as the play between the cam and follower permits of the follower being
moved forwards somewhat, independently of the cam. As the breech is raised in this
manner the forward end thereof pushes the upper end of the extractor forwards and
thus releases the catch of the cam. This, however, is merely an incident of the
mechanism, as releasing the cam under such circumstances performs no essential func-
tion. The breech is opened in the usual manner, and as the follower is turned backwards
it carries the cam back with it until in position to be retained by the vertical arm.
The mechanism above described is of course modified when applied to other
descriptions of rifle of the type referred to. When, for instance, it is applied to
the Field rifle the cam is set to be turned in a backward direction by its spring, and
the mechanism for retaining the catch of the cam consists of a sliding piece
pressed backwards against the pressure of a spring by means of the extractor,
as the cartridge is placed in position. As the sliding piece is pressed back-
wards it is disengaged from the catch of the eam, and when the breech is again opened
the sliding piece is forced forwards again by means of its spring and gears with the
catch of the cam.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Breech-loading Fire-arms.
I, JOHN GEORGE HOWARD, of Gamatibié, British Bechuanaland, South Africa, but
temporarily residing at 58 Compton Road, Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford,
engineer, 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, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of
reference marked thereon (that is to say):
This invention refers to the type of breech-loading fire-arms in which a hinged or
sliding breech-block is moved to open and close the breech; and the object is to
provide means by which the operation of inserting the cartridge effects the closing of
the breech, thus obviating the necessity of closing the breech by a separate operation,
and consequently saving time between the firing of one cartridge and the fire-arm
being ready for the next discharge, and also avoiding the inconvenience which is
usually experienced, when the ordinary method of closing the breech is employed,
from the liability of the cartridge slipping back if the fire-arm is held upwards before
the breech is closed.
This invention will be clearly understood on reference to the drawings herewith,
which illustrate its application, by way of example, in the case of the breech-loading
rifle with a hinged falling block described with reference to figures 8, 8ª and 11, of
the drawings accompanying the specification filed by William Field in pursuance of
the conditions of Letters Patent No. 1927, dated the 17th day of May 1877, granted
to him for an invention entitled "Improvements in breech-loading small-arms."
Sufficient only is shewn of the usual parts of the action to enable the application of
this invention to be clearly understood.
One modification of this invention is illustrated by the drawings on sheet 1 herewith,
and another modification by the drawings on sheet 2.
Referring, first, to the drawings on sheet 1, figure 1 is a side elevation of the action
frame, with the nearer cheek shewn as if cut away in order to expose to view the
interior mechanism. The flanges on the nearer side of the trigger plate are also
shewn as if cut away.
A is the breech-block, hinged at B. Cis the follower carried
upon the pin D, and E is the lever by which the breech is opened and closed. F is
the extractor carried by the pin F¹, and G is the intermediate lever through which
motion is conveyed from the underside of the breech-block to the extractor. A sliding
sear a, forming part of the mechanism constituting this invention, is provided with
two lugs bb between which a part formed on the lower end of the extractor gears, so
that the movement of the extractor causes an endway movement of the sear.
hinder end of the sear has a vertical abutment or catch c formed thereon.
A cam,
formed of two collars d d joined together by a bar, is fitted to turn easily on
cylindrical portions of the pin D on either side of the follower. Figure 2 is a view
of the opposite side of the cam and follower to that shewn by figure 1. Figure 3 is
a vertical section taken through the centre of the follower, and figure 4 is a plan of
the cam.
The bar joining the two ends d d of the cam bears against the
shoulders ee on the follower as the cam is turned in a backward direction on the
The

page_text: spindle D, and thus the cam cannot be turned in a backward direction without
carrying back with it the follower C and closing the breech. This bar terminates,
at the face of the cam d shewn by figure 1, in a catch against the underside of
which the end of a spring e¹ bears, and a part of the cam is hollowed, as shewn at f,
to give greater room for the movement of the end of the spring. The spring e¹ tends
constantly to turn the cam in a backward direction so as to move back the follower
and close the breech. A catch is formed on the right-hand side of the cam, in
position to come opposite to the abutment e on the hinder end of the sear a. Figure 5
is a plan of the spring el, sear a, follower and cam dd. The two ends of the cam
are shewn by broken lines, as they are let in to the faces of the follower so as to avoid
increasing the width of the breech frame. The spring and sear are each shewn to be
shaped on plan to clear the lugs which carry the extractor pin, and by which the
forward end of the trigger plate is secured to the action-frame.
The operation of the mechanism above-described is as follows:-
By pushing forward the lever E, and consequently the follower C, in the usual
manner, the shoulders e e, pressing against the bar, carry the cam d d in a forward
direction of rotation and, consequently, compress the spring e¹, and raise the lower
end of the catch into position immediately above the level of the top of the
abutment ; and the pressure of the underside of the breech-block upon the lever G,
operating, in the usual manner through the medium of such last-mentioned lever to
move forward the lower end of the extractor, and to move backward the divided or
forked part of the extractor, causes the part, aforesaid, on the lower end of the
extractor to move forwards the sear a, and bring the top of the abutment e underneath
the catch on the cam. The parts are thus locked in position with the breech open,
but upon the insertion of a fresh cartridge the forked end of the extractor is, of course,
moved forwards again by the simple process of putting in the cartridge, and thus the
sear a is moved backwards until the abutment is clear of the catch, with the result
that the spring e¹ operates immediately to turn back the cam d'd and with it the
follower Cand lever E, and thus closes the breech-block A and maintains it in its
closed position. If, however, it is desired to close the breech without inserting a
fresh cartridge, the lever E is simply drawn back, and the follower is free to turn in
a backward direction and close the breech, and, as the breech closes up, the forked
end of the extractor is pushed forwards, by the front end of the breech-block, and the
abutment on the sear a is, consequently, moved clear of the catch on the cam, and
the cam is thus returned by the spring e so as to bring the bar d¹ to bear against the
shoulders e e on the follower.
Figure 6 is a back elevation of the extractor. The width of the lower part of the
extractor is increased on the side c¹ so as to form the part which gears between the
lugs bb on the sear. The sear « may be carried in V-slides sunk in the trigger plate,
or may be guided by means of a pin passing through a slot in the sear, as will readily
be understood.
The usual spring for maintaining the breech in its closed position is dispensed with.
The illustrations shew the above modification of this invention as applied in the case
of a hinged breech block, but such modification is applicable, also, as will be obvious,
in the case of a sliding breech-block operated in a similar manner. In the case of the
Field sliding breech block, which is operated exactly in the manner of the hinged
block above described, the, application of this modification, of my invention is
practically identical with its application in the case of the hinged block.
Referring now to the drawings on sheet. 2 herewith, figures 7 and 8 are corre
sponding views to figure 1 (sheet 1) but shew, respectively, the breech as closed, and
as open. The same letters of reference upon both views refer to the same parts, and
the parts corresponding to those shewn by figure 1 are correspondingly lettered.
Figure 9 is a front elevation of the follower, shewn in a vertical position; and
figure 10 is a view, in side elevation to an exaggerated scale, of the back end of the
closing spring hereinafter described, and the lower end of the follower. A spring
is carried upon the trigger-plate. The lower end of one side of the follower (and
also part of the pin D therethrough) is cut away as shewn at i; and, in the upward

page_text: h
position of the follower, the back end of the spring bears under the part ; and
maintains the breech-block in its closed position. A nose o, slanted off on its under-
side, projects at the front of the follower immediately over the part, and a shoulder r
is formed between the base of the nose and the front end of the parti. A corre-
sponding shoulder is formed on the spring near the back end thereof. When the
breech is opened, in the usual manner, that is, by means of the lever E, the follower is
turned into the position shewn by figures 8 and 10, and the shoulder on the follower
is brought into relation with the shoulder on the spring, as shewn by these figures,
and the parts are consequently locked in the position shewn, with the breech open.
The back end of the lever G is thickened so as to bring its upper side nearer to the
underside of the breech-block, in order to ensure that the breech-block will be in
contact therewith at as early a point in opening as will permit of the free extraction of
the cartridge case.
"
As a cartridge is inserted and the forked end of the extractor, consequently, pushed
forwards, the breech-block is raised and the follower turned backwards, thus moving
the shoulder out of lock with the shoulder ¹, with the result that the back end of
the spring bears against the underside of the part i of the follower and by its action
completes the backward movement of the follower and closes the breech; and, when
such operation has been accomplished the spring maintains the follower in its back-
ward position, with the breech consequently closed. If it is desired to close the
breech without inserting a cartridge, this operation may be commenced by means of
the lever E in the usual manner, with the result of drawing the shoulder out of lock
with the shoulder, after which the spring comes into operation underneath the
part as before described, and completes the closing of the breech.
In this modification, also, the usual spring for maintaining the breech in its closed
position is dispensed with.
The latter described modification is applicable, as will be obvious, in the case
generally of both hinged and sliding breech blocks operated by means of a follower,
the variations in the mechanism necessary to suit various types of fire-arm being
apparent to persons skilled in the trade to which the invention relates; for instance,
take the type of fire-arm known as the "Deeley and Edge," and which forms the
subject of Letters Patent No. 1241 of 1881; referring to figure 2 of the drawings
accompanying the Queen's Printer's copy of the final specification of such invention;
it will be obvious that a spring corresponding to the spring h, aforesaid, may be fixed
underneath the barrel and have its rear end formed with a shoulder corresponding to
the shoulder, aforesaid, to gear with parts on the upperside of the cam block
corresponding with the parts and "" aforesaid.
"
k
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and the manner of performing the same, I declare that what I claim, is :-
1. In a breech loading fire-arm the breech of which is opened by the aid of an
interior follower, means by which the insertion of a cartridge operates, through the
medium of the lower end of the extractor, to cause the automatic closing of the breech,
substantially as described.
2. In a breech-loading fire-arm having a follower fitted to the breech-block, the
combination of a cam capable of turning loosely upon the follower pin, with a stop on
the follower, and with a spring by which such cam may be pressed against such stop
and turned so as to carry with it the follower in a direction to close the breech, and so
as to effect such closing of the breech and maintain it closed, and with means by
which when the follower and cam have been turned in the opposite direction and
against the pressure of the spring in opening the breech, such cam and follower may
he locked in position due to the breech being open, and with means by which, on the
insertion of a cartridge, the extractor operates to cause the unlocking of such eam
and follower, and the consequent automatic closing of the breech, substantially as
described.
3. In a breech loading fire-arm having a follower fitted to the breech block, the
combination of a spring with a part of the follower formed so that the pressure of the

page_text: spring thereagainst operates to turn the follower in a direction to close the breech,
and so as to effect such closing of the breech and maintain it closed, and with means
by which, when the follower has been turned in the opposite direction and the breech
opened, the follower is interlocked with the spring and the breech consequently
maintained open, and, with means by which, on the insertion of a cartridge, the
extractor operates to cause the unlocking of such follower and allow the spring to turn
the follower and thus automatically close the breech, substantially as described.
4. In a breech-loading fire-arm having a follower fitted to the breech-block, the
means by which the insertion of a cartridge causes the automatic closing of the breech,
substantially as described with reference to the drawings on sheet 1 herewith.
5. In a breech-loading fire-arm having a follower fitted to the breech-block, the
means by which the insertion of a cartridge causes the automatic closing of the
breech, substantially as described with reference to the drawings on sheet 2 herewith.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton,
Agent for the Applicant.