IMPROVE- MENTS IN REVOLVERS AND REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREWITH
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Piddington, of 53, Gracechurch Street, in
the City of London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN REVOLVERS AND REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE
USED THEREWITH."-A communication from abroad by Albert Spirlet,
Sealed the 20th January 1871, and dated the 27th July 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Piddington at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 27th July 1870.
I, JOHN PIDDINGTON, of 53, Gracechurch Street, in the City of London,
5 Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVERS AND REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN APPARATUS
TO BE USED THEREWITH," being a communication to me from abroad by
Albert Spirlet, Armurier, of No. 5, Quai de la Boverie, Liege, Belgium,
to be as follows:-
0
This Invention consists in a combination of parts and mechanism
whereby revolving fire-arms are readily loaded, and the several parts

page_text: held firmly in position during the discharge, whilst the expended car-
tridge cases are removed from the charge chamber or cylinder by a
simple and at the same time strong and efficient extractor.
In applying these improvements the body of the pistol which carries
the lock, hammer, and trigger arrangements, as also those for producing
the rotary motion of the cylinder, is formed in a manner almost identical
with that ordinarily used for revolvers, in which the cylinder is sup-
ported upon a pin or bar which passes through and is attached to both
the body of the pistol and the enlargement on the under side of the
barrel, but in which the barrel itself is not directly connected with such
a body as that referred to, but, on the contrary, a strap or band is formed
in a piece with the barrel, or attached thereto in any convenient manner,
and continued in a rearward direction over the cylinder for a sufficient
length, and so arranged as to form, with the upper part of the recoil
surface of the body and a screw pin which passes through both, a strong
hinge at right angles to the axis of the barrel, and upon which the
barrel is free to turn, as hereafter described. On the under side of
the barrel, and immediately in front of the cylinder or space which the
cylinder is intended to occupy, is formed or attached a strong piece of
metal, which extends to and abuts against the front end of that part of
the pistol body which supports the trigger guard, and to which body
this extension of the barrel is secured by a spring latch. By means of
this latch and of the hinge the barrel and body of the pistol are firmly
united, and are then almost equal in solidity to a pistol in which the
body for the support of the cylinder is solid, and the barrel attached to
the body by a screw formed upon its rear end, or in any other manner.
Instead of fixing the pin or axis of the cylinder to the body alone, or to
the body and the enlargement on the under side of the barrel, as is
usual, the pin or axis upon which the cylinder rotates is arranged in
such a manner that it is supported by the enlargement on the under
side of the barrel, and consequently the cylinder with its pin or axis
moves with the barrel upon the hinge at the upper part of the recoil
surface, as already described, when the spring latch which secures the
lower and prolonged limb of the barrel to the body is released, which is
readily done by a quick pressure. But apart from its function as an
axis upon which the cylinder is free to rotate, this pin has another and
equally important function in connection with the extractor and ejector

page_text: of the expended cartridge cases. On the rear face of the cylinder is
formed a circular sinking to the depth necessary to receive the extractor,
the thickness of which depends upon that of the rim or shoulder of the
cartridge which it is formed to embrace, and which extractor is arranged
to оссиру about one-half of the circumference of the rim or shoulder,
and consequently it has somewhat of a star-like form. The outward
rim face of this extractor carries the ratchet by which the rotation of the
cylinder is effected, and which may or may not be formed upon or with
it. The forward part of the extractor is a tube, which externally has
the same diameter as the interior of the cylinder which passes over the
pin or axis, but this pin is necessarily reduced in order to pass through
the tube of the extractor, and further the pin has a screw thread cut
upon it, and a screwed cap, which is thus attached to the pin, has a
solid end which when the piston is closed in position for firing enters a
hollow formed for it in the recoil surface, and thus the cylinder rotates
upon an axis supported at two points; this pin or axis has an enlarged
end or head which is prepared to slide upon the under side of the barrel.
The pin and enlargement on the under side of the barrel are prepared to
receive a spiral spring and telescope cover, so as to retain the extractor -
continually in position, unless when intentionally operated, and a small
pin or guide is provided for the extractor, which enters the cylinder and
maintains the extractor continually in the same position as regards the
cartridge chambers and the cylinder.
The ignition of the cartridge may be effected by any convenient means,
but it is preferred so to form the beak of the hammer that it shall pass
through the recoil surface in a line with the igniting medium of the
cartridge and it is also sometimes preferred to form the hinge in such a
manner that it shall on operating the motion of the barrel throw back
the hammer to the half or safety bent, in which position it is maintained
until operated by the trigger or by the hand. It is sometimes also
preferred to use a set screw or other means of securing and maintaining
the extractor and cylinder upon the pin or axis in the place of tha
already described.
It is obvious that the details herein described may be modified to suit
the requirements and without departing from this Invention, which is
for a revolver or revolving pistol or other fire-arm in which the barrel
with the cylinder and extractor, both operated upon the same pin or

page_text: axis, is hinged by a strap or band to the upper part of the recoil surface
of the body of the pistol, and is secured in position during the act of
discharging the cartridges to the lower and forward portion of the body
which supports the trigger and guard by a spring latch or catch acting
either in the body of the revolver or in the extension on the under side
of the barrel. By operating this spring latch the barrel with the cylinder
and extracting arrangements is released and free to swing upon the
hinge, whereby the chambers of the cylinder are exposed to receive the
cartridges, the hammer having been moved back by this operation
sufficiently to be engaged in the half or safety bent. The cylinder being
charged and the barrel and attached parts turned upon the hinge in the
opposite direction until the extension of the barrel comes in contact
with or against the lower and forward portion of the body, when the
spring latch secures the whole in a solid position during the discharge,
which may effected by any system of single or double action lock.
The cartridges being discharged the operation of opening the arm, as
above described, is performed, and the expended cartridge cases are
extracted and ejected from the chambers by simply pressing upon or
striking the head of the pin or axis, which being free to move a
restricted distance carries with it the extractor, and thereby the expended-
cartridge cases sufficiently far to entirely free them from the chambers of
the cylinder. This being effected, and the head of the pin or axis released,
the pin or axis with the extractor is returned into the original position
by the spiral spring, and the arm as ready to be recharged. During
these operations the cylinder is maintained in position by a slight groove
equal in length to the cylinder, and formed in the strap or band of the
barrel, or in any other convenient manner.
-
The mechanism of the lock ordinarily employed with revolving fire-
arms for the rotation and adjustment of the cylinder, and for operating
the dog or hammer for exploding the cartridge, is modified to suit the
improvements which form the subject of this Invention, as will be well
understood, but it is sometimes preferred to form the entire mechanism
of the lock, or such parts thereof as may be necessary, upon a webb or
thin plate of metal forming part of or securely attached to the body of
the pistol, and occupying the centre or nearly so of the stock as may
be most convenient.
In connection with revolving pistols constructed in accordance with
this Invention, and in order to facilitate the operation of charging or of

page_text: extracting the expended cartridge cases and recharging, a sheath or
holster is sometimes employed, the same being formed of metal or
leather, or of a combination thereof, or of other suitable material, so
arranged as to form under ordinary circumstances a covering to the
revolver, while it is also adapted to be used as an aid in the movements
of opening the arm and withdrawing and expelling the expended
cartridge cases and recharging in the following manner :- -The pistol
being held in the hand as for and after firing a smart blow of the spring
latch upon the top of the holster will free the latch, when, by turning
the butt of the pistol in the hand the barrel swings upon its hinge and
exposes the breech end of the cylinder. On placing the barrel thus as
it were reversed in the holster the head of the pin upon which the
extractor is mounted comes in contact with the outer side of the sheath,
and a slight blow or pressure will effect the extraction and ejection of
the expended cartridge cases, when the pistol is ready for recharging,
after which, on withdrawing the barrel from the holster, a slight motion
or turn of the hand swings the barrel in the reverse direction upon the
binge until the spring latch comes in contact with and closes in
the body or extension of the barrel, and secures the barrel and moveable
parts in position ready for firing. The revolver can thus, if desired, be
operated by one hand only, and it will readily be understood that, for
cavalry purposes especially, such a ready, simple, and efficient aid to the
manipulation would be highly advantageous.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Piddington in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th January 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
PIDDINGTON, of 53, Gracechurch Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-fourth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said John Piddington, Her special licence that I,

page_text: the said John Piddington, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said John Piddington, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVERS AND
REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREWITH," being a
communication to me from abroad by Albert Spirlet, Armurier, of No. 31,
Quai de la Boverie, Liège, Belgium, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Piddington, 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 John Piddington, 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 Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say:
This Invention consists in a combination of parts and mechanism
whereby revolving fire-arms are readily loaded, and the several parts held
firmly in position during the discharge, whilst the expended cartridge
cases are removed from the charge chamber or cylinder by a simple
and at the same time strong and efficient extractor.
In applying these improvements the body of the pistol which carries
the lock, hammer, and trigger arrangements, as also those for producing
the rotary motion of the cylinder, is formed in a manner almost identical
with that ordinarily used for revolvers, in which the cylinder is sup-
ported upon a pin or bar, which passes through and is attached to both'
the body of the pistol and the enlargement on the under side of the
barrel, but in which the barrel itself is not directly connected with the
body. In these improvements a strap or band being formed of a piece
with the barrel, or attached thereto in any convenient manner, is con-
tinued in a rearward direction over the cylinder for a sufficient length,

page_text: and so arranged as to form with the upper part of the recoil surface of
the body and a screw pin which passes through both, a strong hinge at
right angles to the axis of the barrel, and upon which the barrel is free
to turn, as herein-after described. On the under side of the barrel and
immediately in front of the cylinder or space which the cylinder is
intended to occupy, is formed or attached a strong piece of metal, which
extends to and abuts against the front end of that part of the pistol
body which supports the trigger guard, and to which body this extension
of the barrel is secured by a spring latch. By means of this latch and
of the hinge the barrel and body of the pistol are firmly united, and
are then almost equal in solidity to a pistol in which the body for the
support of the cylinder is solid, and the barrel attached to the body by
a screw formed upon its rear end, or in any other manner. Instead of
fixing the pin or axis of the cylinder to the body alone, or to the body
and the enlargement on the under side of the barrel, as is usual, the
pin or axis upon which the cylinder rotates is arranged in such a manner
that it is supported by the enlargement on the under side of the barrel,
and consequently the cylinder with its pin or axis moves with the
· barrel upon the hinge at the upper part of the recoil surface, as already
described, when the spring latch which secures the lower and prolonged
limb of the barrel to the body is released, which is readily done by a
quick pressure. But apart from its function as an axis upon which
the cylinder is free to rotate, this pin has another and equally important
function in connection with the extractor and ejector of the expended
cartridge cases. On the rear face of the cylinder is formed a circular
sinking to the depth necessary to receive the extractor, the thickness
of which depends upon that of the rim or shoulder of the cartridge
which it is formed to embrace, and which extractor is arranged to
occupy about one half of the circumference of the rim or shoulder of
O the cartridge, and consequently it has somewhat of a star-like form.
The outward rim face of this extractor carries the ratchet by which
the rotation of the cylinder is effected, and which may or may not be
formed upon or with it. The forward part of the extractor is a tube,
which externally has the same diameter as the interior of the cylinder
which passes over the pin or axis, but this pin is necessarily reduced in
order to pass through the tube of the extractor, and further the pin
has a screw thread cut upon it and a screwed cap, which is thus attached
to the pin; this screwed cap has a solid end, which when the piston

page_text: is closed in position for firing enters a hollow formed for it in the recoil
surface, and thus the cylinder rotates upon an axis supported at two
points; this pin or axis has an enlarged end or head, which is prepared
to slide upon the under side of the barrel. The pin and enlargement
on the under side of the barrel are prepared to receive a spiral spring,
SO as to retain the extractor continually in position, unless when
intentionally operated, and a small pin or guide is provided for the
extractor, which enters the cylinder and maintains the extractor con-
tinually in the same position as regards the cartridge chambers and
the cylinder.
The ignition of the cartridge may be effected by any convenient
means, but it is preferred so to form the beak of the hammer that it
shall pass through the recoil surface in a line with the igniting medium
of the cartridge, and it is also sometimes preferred to form the hinge
in such a manner that it shall on operating the motion of the barrel
throw back the hammer to the half or safety bent, in which position
it is maintained until operated by the trigger or by the hand. It is
sometimes also preferred to use a set screw or other means of securing
and maintaining the extractor and cylinder upon the pin or axis in the
place of that already described.
It is obvious that the details herein-described may be modified to
suit the requirements and without departing from this Invention, which
is for a revolver or revolving pistol, or other fire-arm, in which the
barrel, with the cylinder and extractor, both operated upon the same
pin or axis, is hinged by a strap or band to the upper part of the
recoil surface of the body of the pistol, and is secured in position during
the act of discharging the cartridges to the lower and forward portion
of the body which supports the trigger and guard by a spring latch or
.catch acting either in the body of the revolver or in the extension on
the under side of the barrel. By operating this spring latch the barrel
with the cylinder and extracting arrangements is released and free to
swing upon the hinge, whereby the chambers of the cylinder are exposed
to receive the cartridges, the hammer having been moved back by
this operation sufficiently to be engaged in the half, or safety bent.
The cylinder being charged and the barrel and attached parts turned
upon the hinge in the opposite direction until the extension of the
barrel comes in contact with or against the lower and forward portion

page_text: of the body, when the spring latch secures the whole in a solid position
during the discharge, which may be effected by any system of single
or double-action lock. The cartridges being discharged the operation
of opening the arm, as above described, is performed, and the expended
cartridge cases are extracted and ejected from the chambers by simply
pressing upon or striking the enlarged end or head of the pin or axis,
which being free to move a restricted distance carries with it the
extractor, and by means of the extractor the expended cartridge cases
are withdrawn sufficiently far to entirely free them from the chambers
of the cylinder. This being effected and the head of the pin or axis
released, the pin or axis with the extractor is returned into its original
position by the spiral spring, and the arm is then ready to be recharged.
During these operations the cylinder is maintained in position by a
slight groove equal in length to the cylinder, and formed in the strap
or band of the barrel or in any other convenient manner.
The mechanism of the lock ordinarily employed with revolving fire-
arms for the rotation and adjustment of the cylinder, and for operating
the dog or hammer for exploding the cartridge, is modified to suit the
improvements which form the subject of this Invention, as will be
well understood, but it is sometimes preferred to form the entire
mechanism of the lock or such parts thereof as may be necessary upon
a web or thin plate of metal, forming part of or securely attached to the
body of the pistol, and occupying the centre or nearly so of the stock as
may be most convenient.
In connection with revolving pistols constructed in accordance with
this Invention, and in order to facilitate the operation of charging, or
of extracting the expended cartridge cases, and recharging, a sheath
or holster is sometimes employed, the same being formed of metal or
leather, or of a combination of metal and leather, or of other suitable
material so arranged as to form under ordinary circumstances a covering
to the revolver, while it is also adapted to be used as an aid in the
movements of opening the arm and withdrawing and expelling the
expended cartridge case and recharging in the following manner:
The pistol being held in the hand as for and after firing, a smart blow
of the spring latch upon the top of the holster will free the latch,
when by turning the butt of the pistol in the hand the barrel swings
upon its hinge and exposes the breech end of the cylinder. On placing

page_text: the barrel thus, as it were, reversed in the holster, the head of the pin
upon which the extractor is mounted comes in contact with the outer
side of the sheath, and a slight blow or pressure will effect the extraction
and ejection of the expended cartridge cases when the pistol is ready
for recharging, after which, on withdrawing the barrel from the holster,
a slight motion or turn of the hand swings the barrel in the reverse
direction upon the hinge until the spring latch comes in contact with
and closes into the body or extension of the barrel, and secures the
barrel and moveable parts in position ready for firing. The revolver
can thus, if desired, be operated by one hand only, and it will readily be
understood, that for cavalry purposes especially, such a ready, simple,
and efficient aid to the manipulation would be highly advantageous.
I will now refer to the annexed Drawings, from which the nature of
the said Invention will be more clearly understood. In these Drawings
similar letters of reference apply to like parts in all the Figures.
A is the stock, butt, or handle of the pistol; B is the barrel; b, strap
or band formed of a piece with the barrel; b', the hinge joint of the
strap or band; 62, portion of the hinge joint which throws back the
hammer to the half or safety bent; b³, extension or enlargement of
the barrel in front of the cylinder; 6*, groove in the strap or band for
maintaining the cylinder in position; C is the body of the revolver or
pistol; c, the recoil surface of the body; c¹, the hinge joint of the body;
c², front end of the pistol body prepared to receive the spring latch E;
D is the screw pin which forms the gudgeon of the hinge b¹ and c¹; E is
the spring latch with its spiral spring and set screw; F is the trigger
guard; f, the trigger; f', the trigger spring; G is the pin or axis upon
which the cylinder rotates, and to the forward end of which the extractor
is attached;, g, the screw thread formed upon the end of the pin or axis;
g, the screwed cap with solid end, which serves to retain the.extractor
in position upon the pin or axis; g³, the enlarged end or head of the
pin or axis; H is the cylinder; h, the circular sinking in the rear face
of the cylinder to receive the extractor; /¹, chambers of the cylinder;
J is the extractor; j, the ratchet upon the outer face of the extractor;
j¹, tube of the extractor, through which passes the pin or axis G, and
upon which pin or axis the extractor rotates in connection with the
cylinder H; 2, small pin or guide of the extractor; K, the spiral spring
upon the pin or axis G; L, the hammer; 1, the beak of the hammer;

page_text: M, the cartridge; m, the rim or shoulder of the cartridge; N, the
mechanism of the lock.
The three Drawings illustrate on an actual scale one mode of putting
into operation these improvements, but it will be readily understood
that the several parts may be varied, either in form or dimension, to
adapt these improvements to revolving pistols of any calibre.
Figure 1 is a side view; Figure 2, a front end view, looking from
the muzzle; and Figure 3, a side view with the barrel and attached
parts turned upon the hinge after the release of the spring catch, and
shewing the extractor as it would appear when disengaged from its
position in the cylinder for the extraction and rejection of the expended
cartridge cases.
This Invention is not confined to the exact details as herein set forth
and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings, as it is sometimes
preferred to employ a double mainspring in lieu of a single one, as
herein delineated, and sometimes also it is preferred to form the entire
mechanism of the lock upon a web or thin plate of metal, which may
or may not form part of the body of the pistol, as may be most
convenient.
The sheath or holster which is employed facilitates materially when
on horseback, or for cavalry purposes, the movements connected with
opening the revolver, removing the expended cartridge cases, and
recharging, the whole of which operations can thus readily be per-
formed with one hand, leaving, the other free for the management of
the reins, and this sheath or holster can be attached to the saddle, to
a belt, or carried in any convenient manner.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention,
and the manner in which it is to be performed, I would observe in con-
clusion that it is not limited to the precise details herein-before described
and illustrated in the annexed Drawings, as the same may be varied
without departing from the essential features of the said Invention,
neither do I claim the whole of the parts when taken separately and
independently of each other, but what I consider novel and original, and
therefore claim as constituting the Invention secured to me by the
said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent arc,--

page_text: First. The said improvements, parts, and mechanism when combined,
substantially in the manner herein before described and illustrated in
the accompanying Drawings.
And, secondly. The arrangements and combinations of parts and
mechanism herein-before described, as and for the purposes aforesaid, or
any mere modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Piddington, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of January, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one.
JOHN PIDDINGTON. (L.S.)