AN IMPROVED BREECH-LOADING RIFLE WITH A DOUBLE-ACTION LEVER MECHANISH
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Karl Ludwig Hartwig Gercko, Phil. Dr., from
Berlin, in Prussin, at present residing at 14, Alfred Place, Bedford
Square, London, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED BREECH-LOADING
RIFLE WITH A DOUBLE-ACTION LEVER MECHANISH."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Karl Ludwig Hartwig
Gerako at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 26th February 1878.
I, KARL LUDWIG HARTWIG GEROKE, Phil. Dr., from Berlin, in Prussia,
at present residing at 14, Alfred Place, Bedford Squaro, London, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED BREECH-LOADING
RIFLE WITH A DOUBLE-ACTION LEVER MECHANISH," to be as follows:-
The principal parts of the mechanism aro (see adjoined Diagram
Drawings) :-1,) the double-action lover bolt with its three parts, giving
it a distinctivo triangular shape, viz., 1°,) the lover axle, to which the
lever arm is attached, revolving in the breech sides; 1',) the breech axle
revolving in the breech block; 1º,) the safety block, securing the breech

page_text: block against being thrown back by the explosion of the powder; 2,) the
lever arm, with 2") the lever arm plate, and 2b) the lover hook fastening
to the lever spring; 3,) the breech block, with 3") the breech, 3b) the
breech plug, and 8° the breech hook, keeping the upper end of the
breech block in position on the breech support; 4,) the needle going 5
through the breach block, with 4) the but end protruding behind for the
hammer to strike upon; 5,) the extractor; 6,) the under lock plate, con-
taining the different parts of the lock placed inside the small of the butt;
7,) the trigger guard, with 8) the lever spring; 9,) the trigger; 10,) tho
sear; 11,) the main and sear spring; 12,) the hammer; 13,) the swivel; 1
14,) the lever guard to prevent the lever bolt from slipping out sideways;
13,) the upper stock plate, with 15º) the breech support for the breech
hook to move upon; 16,) the breech sidcs, with 16º) the junction to the
barrel. The circles a, b, c, d, e, f, g, aro simple pins, of which a, b, c,
can be removed while the others are fast; and h, k, l, m, n, p, are screws, 1
of which however only h, g, m, nccd bo drawn to take the whole
mechanism to pieces for cleaning in less than a minuto.
According to the title of this Invention the gun is constructed with a
breech block, which moves backwards and forwards with a downward
and upward motion of its breech by means of a triangular-shaped double- 2
action lover bolt, which regulates the motions of the whole mechanism
in the following way:-In order to open the breech the lever arm (2) is
taken out of the hold of the lever spring (8) by moving it quickly
forwards, and thus making the lover axle (1º) revolvo backwards to an
angle of 60°. The first part of this motion (angle of 16°) takes the 2
safety block (1) out of its hold, and turning also the breech axle (1)
into the circular groove intended for its rotation it draws at the same
time the needle sufficiently back to get clear of the cartridge (Fig. 3,
Plate II): Then the double-action of the mechanism beginning to work
by the change of position of the two axles the lever axle first causes the
breech axlo to draw back tho breech block about 7-8 millimêtres, and
then presses down the breech into a convenient position for the cartridge
to pass easily in and out of the barrel, setting at the same time the
extractor into action for throwing out the cartridge, and also putting by
the backward motion of the breech block the lock at full cock, while
the breech hook keeps the breech block in position on the breech support
15 (Fig. 3, Plate II). All these motions are effected by one single
movement of the land, viz,, the moving forwards of the lever arm, the

page_text: second motion being to put in the cartridge, and the third to closo again
tho brecoh in order to be ready for firing. The closing of the breech is
effected by simply moving the lever arm quickly back into tho hold of.
the lever spring, which motion, after the same principle of the double-
action lever mechanism as above, raises again the breech, and leaving
the hammer at full cock draws the breech block forwards and pushes
the well-fitting breech plug? (3) about 3 millimetres into the barrol
behind the cartridge, thus closing all up tightly enough not to permit
any escape of powder gas at the breech.
In order to take the whole mechanism to pieces for cleaning the lever
arm is moved forwards and the lever guard (14) is turned sufficiently in
the same direction for the lever plate (2) to pass it after the lover arm
has been turned back again 20°. Then the lever bolt fastened to the
lever arm is taken out through the opening (A) of the right breech side
(Fig. 2, Plate I), while the breech block with the needlo is taken out
from above. The lock may be taken to pieces with equal caso by'
drawing the scrow (4) and then removing the under lock plate with all
the parts of the lock fastened to it by pins easily to be removed, and tho
extractor is taken out by merely drawing the screw (m). Thus tho
whole mechanism can be taken to pieces and put together again in about
a minute, the lover guard taking at the re-closing of the gun its old
position of itself in consequence of its form fitting closely to that of the
lever arm.
The principal distinctive features of this Invention are as follows:-:
1.) The easy backward and forward motion of the breech block with the
convenient downward and upward motion of the breech effected at a
turning angle of only 00° by the triangular double-action lever bolt. The.
form and action of this triangular double-action lever bolt with so small.
an angle of rotation is the principal distinction of this Invantion.
2.) The tight closing of the barrel. behind the cartridge by a well fitting
plug which excludes the possibility of any powder gas escaping at the
breech.
3.) The simplicity of the lock and every other part of the mechanism,.
the whole containing but 6 screws, of which but 2 need be drawn to
take the whole mechanism to pieces in less than a minute, while for only.
taking out the breech block and needle no scrow need be drawn.
:

page_text: 4.) The solidity of every part of the mechanism, each picce being
strong enough to stand a smart-blow with a hammer and any rough
usage.
5.) The convenience of being able to examine the interior of the barrel
from behind, the breech being placed low enough to pass the rod through
the barrel from behind.
6.) The safe handling of the gun when loaded with the lock at full
cock, the lock being placed inside the small of the butt, so that the gun
is not at all liable to go off by a chance knock against the hammer.
"
7.) The easy and quick handling of the mechanism, each of the three 1
motions necessary to get ready for firing being so calculated as always
to put the hand exactly into the best position for the next movement,
which facility of manipulation gives the possibility of firing easily 15 to
20 rounds in a minute without diminishing at all the time necessary for
taking aim.
1
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Karl Ludwig Hartwig Gercke in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 26th August 1878.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, KARL.
LUDWIG HARTWIG GEROKE, Doctor of Philosophy, of Berlin, in Prussia,
at present residing at 14, Alfred Place, Bedford Square, London, sond
greeting. -
'
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-sixth ?
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Karl Ludwig Hartwig Gercke, Her special licence
that I, the said Karl Ludwig Hartwig Gercke, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Karl Ludwig Hartwig
Gercke, 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, excrcise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for

page_text: "AN IMPROVED BREECH-LOADING RIFLE WITH A DOUBLE-ACTION LEVER MECHANISM,"
upon tho condition (amongst others) that I, the said Karl Ludwig
Hartwig Gercko, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals, 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 Karl Ludwig Hartwig Gercko, 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 thereof, referenco being had to the
accompanying Drawings, that is to say:-
.
'
My Invention chiefly consists of a particular construction and mode
of action of what I term a double action lever bolt, by means of which,
when the breech has to be opened for the insertion of a fresh cartridge,
the breech block is caused to move backwards and then to move down-
wards at its front end, and when the breech has to be closed after the
insertion of the cartridge the said breach block is by the same bolt
O caused to move first upwards and then forwards to its normal position.
During the backward and downward movement of the block the needlo
or striker is drawn back clear of the empty cartridge case, the hammer.
is put at full cock, and the extractor is caused to extract the empty.
caso. This backward and downward movement is effected by a singlo
5 movement of the hand which, by means of a lever arm, gives the lover
bolt a motion on its axis to the extent of about 60° only, a second
movement of the hand serves to insert the fresh cartridgo, and a third
movement by returning the lever arm to its normal position, causes
the lever bolt to move the breech block also to the normal position, the
O rifle being then ready for firing.
The front end of the breech block is provided with a plug which fits
tightly into the barrel behind the cartridge, and prevents any escapo

page_text: Figure 2 is a longitudinal section showing the parts in the position
they occupy after the firing of a charge, and before the opening of the
breech; Figure 3 is a similar view showing the parts in the position
they occupy after the breech has been opened for the insertion of a fresh
cartridge.
Figuro 4 is a view of the side plate of the breech.
Figure 5 is a top view or plan of the double-action lover bolt and
lever arm when in the position represented in Figure 3. 1 is the
double-action lever bolt with three parts which give it a distinctive
triangular shape; these three parts are, first, the lever axle 1* to
which the lever arm is attached, and having its bearings in the breech
sides; second, the breech axlo 1º turning in the breech block; and,
third, the safety block 1° which prevents the breech block being thrown
back by the force of the explosion; 2 is the lever arm; 2, the lever
arm plate; and 2b, the lever hook for fastening the lover to the lever
spring 8; 3 is the breech block, the top 3* of which forms a guido
to facilitate the insertion of the cartridge; 3b is the breech plug; and
3º, the breech hook for keeping the upper end of the breech block
in position on the breech support 15"; 4 is the needle or striker passing
through the breech block, its rear end protruding behind the block for
the hammer to strike upon. A portion of the block 1º is cut away,
as seen at 1º, Figure 5, to allow the needle or striker to pass; 5 is tho
extractor; 6 is the under lock plate containing the different parts of
the lock placed inside the small of the butt; 7 is the trigger guard;
9 is the trigger; 10, the scar formed in one piece with the trigger;
11, the main and scar spring; 12, the hammer; 13, the swivel; 14, a
lever guard to prevent the bolt slipping out at the side; 15, the upper
stock plate; 16, the side plates of the breech; a, b, c, d, e, aro simple
pins, of which a and b can be removed, the others being fast; h, k, l,
m, n, are screws, of which however only h and m nced bo drawn to tako
the whole mechanism to pieces for cleaning.
The action is as follows:-In order to open the breech the lever
arm 2 is released from the spring 8 by moving it quickly forwards,
and thus making the axle 1ª revolve backwards to an extent of
about 60°, that is to say, into tho position seen in Figure 3. During
the first 16° of this movement the safety block 1° is moved out of
its hold, and the breech axlo 16 being turned into the circular groove

page_text: intended for its rotation draws back the needlo or striker sufficiently
to clear the cartridge. Then the double action of the mechanism
beginning to work by the change of position of the two axles, the
lover axle first causes the breech axle to draw back the breech block
about to % of an inch, and then presses down the block so
that the upper part is in a convenient position for the empty cartridgo
case to pass easily out of, and the fresh cartridge to pass easily into,
the barrel; at the same time, by the front portion of the brecch
block coming down upon the part 5* of the extractor, the extractor
is caused to eject the empty case, and also by the backward motion
of the brocch block the lock is put at full cock, while the breech hook 3°
keeps the breech block in position on the breech support 15ª.
For inserting the cartridge a particular advantage is derived from
the peculiar movement of the breech block, which by its forward
motion presses the cartridge home however tight it may be as soon
as it has passed the plug 8, thus avoiding one of the great dis-
advantages of the merely sinking breech block, which when a car-
tridge goes in somewhat tighter than intended frequently grazes away
the entire back of the cartridgo shell. After a fresh cartridge has
been inserted the breech is closed by simply moving back tho lever
arm quickly so as to cause the hook 2º to be caught by the spring 8;
this motion, in accordance with the same principle of double action
above explained, again lifts the breech block, and leaving the hammer
at full cock pushes the block forwards until the plug 8b enters the
barrel behind the cartridge, as seen in Figure 2, thus closing all
hermetically.
In order, when required, to prevent the gun being fired or (so to say)
to put it at "half cock," I employ a stop 17 which is free to be moved
horizontally on a centre 17ª by a thumb piece 17b; by turning this stop
so as to bring it in front of the hammer the gun cannot be fired.
When it is required to take the whole mechanism to pieces for
cleaning the lover arm is moved forwards, and the lever guard 14 is
put into the position scen in Figure 4 to allow the plate 2ª to pass it
after the lover arm has been turned back again to the extent of 25°.
Then the lever bolt fastened to the lever arm is taken out at the
right side of the breech through the opening scen in Figuro 4, and
the breech block with the needle is taken out at the top. The lock
may be taken to picces with equal caso by drawing tho sorow h, and