IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH- LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Reeves, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-
LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 19th June 1866, and dated the 26th December 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Reeves at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 26th
'December 1865.
I, CHARLES REEVES, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-
ARMS," to be as follows:-
My improvements in breech-loading fire-arms consist of the following
arrangements of parts, which are suited to discharge cartridges of the kind
commonly called self-ignition cartridges, whether the percussion powder be
placed in the centre of the base of the cartridge, or in the rim of the cartridge,
or in an annular recess at the base of the cartridge, as in cartridges of the

page_text: kind herein-after explained. In the axis of the hinged block by which the
breech end of the barrel is closed, or in a line parallel with the axis of the
said block, I make a hole, in which a rod or striker works, the said rod or
striker being capable of a sliding motion in the said hole. Near the rear
end of the block is a recess or chamber, which opens on the upper side of the
block, and communicates with the hole in which the rod or striker works.
The rear end of the striker which occupies the said recess or chamber is
bevilled or inclined, and the end of the hammer (which on the pulling of
the trigger and the fall of the said hammer enters the said recess or chamber)
is also inclined. On the discharge of the gun the inclined face of the hammer
is driven forcibly against the inclined face of the striker, and the said striker
is driven forward; its front end strikes the percussion powder at the base of
the cartridge and discharges the gun. The return motion of the striker is
effected by a coiled spring. When the gun is required to discharge cartridges
having the percussion powder in the centre of the base, I make the hole in
the block in which the striker works in the axis of the block, but when the
gun is required to discharge cartridges having the percussion powder in the
rim, or in an annular recess at the base of the cartridge, I make the said
hole in the block, in a line parallel, with the axis of the block, and at such a
distance. therefrom that its front end shall be, opposite, a portion of the said
rim or.annular. recess..
My improvements in breech-loading fire-arms consist further in actuating
the striker by means of a lever working by preference horizontally. The short
arm of the said lever bears against the end of the striker. The inner side of
the bead of the hammer is inclined, and when the hammer falls the said inclined
side strikes against the long arm of the lever, causing the short arm to force
the striker against the percussion powder.in. the cartridge and discharge the
gún; or the striker may be actuated. by means of a. wedge: on a horizontal
rod, the said rod being advanced by the head of the hammer: on the fall of
the said hammer, to discharge the gun; or instead of the lever or wedge
actuating the striker and the striker discharging the cartridge, the lever or
wedge itself may be advanced by the falling hammer against the cartridge
and discharge it, that end of the arm of the lever or end of the wedge which
strikes the cartridge being pointed or shaped, of the required form. When
the cartridge is discharged by the direct action of the lever or wedge the said
leyer or wedge. is situated at the front end of breech block or closer, and
the hammer of the gun is placed near the front end of the breech or charge
chamber in order that it may readily act upon the said lever or wedge.
Breech-loading fire-arms provided with mechanism for discharging self-

page_text: ignition cartridges according to my Invention may also be made capable of
discharging ordinary cartridges at pleasure. In this case I provide the fire-
arm with mechanism which on the falling of the hammer is made to strike
a percussion cap and discharge the cartridge.
Another of my improvements in breech-loading fire-arms consists in making
the open breech end of the barrel conical or trumpet-shaped, or of a
hemispherical figure, so that the case of the exploded cartridge may be readily
removed therefrom.
My improvements in cartridges for breech-loading fire-arms consist, firstly,
in placing the percussion powder in an annular metallic trough or depression
in the base of the cartridge, and covering the said depression when filled with
the said powder with a thin disc of metal. The said annular trough or
depression communicates with a hole or holes in the base of the cartridge,
through which holes the flash from the percussion powder communicates with
the gunpowder of the cartridge. Cartridges made according to my Invention
are free from the risk of accidental, discharge, to which central-fire and rim
cartridges are exposed.
My improvements in cartridges for breech-loading fire-arms consist further
in making the base of the cartridge of greater diameter than the body, the
base tapering into the body so as to give the rear end of the cartridge
conical or trumpet-mouth shape; or the said enlarged base may be made of
a spherical figure or, a figure approaching that of a sphere. When a a cartridge
of this kind is used with a breech-loading fire-arm having a conical or trumpet-
mouth or hemispherical open breech, the case of the exploded cartridge does
not stick in the breech, and can be readily removed by hand or by
extractor.
SPECIFICATION-in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Reeves in the Great Seal Patent Office,on. the. 25th
June 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
REEVES, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, send
greeting.
750
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty, Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of December, in the year of our
Lord Ope thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto

page_text: me, the said Charles Reeves, Her special licence that I, the said Charles
Reeves, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Charles Reeves, 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 Iuvention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-
LOADING FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that 1, the said
Charles Reeves, my executors or administrators; by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands aud 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 Charles Reeves, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
perforined, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
.
My improvements in breech-loading fire-arms consist of the following
arrangements of. parts, which are suited to 'discharge cartridges of the kind
commonly called self-ignition cartridges, whether the percussion powder. be
placed in the centre of the base of the cartridge or in the rim of the cartridge,
as in cartridges of the kind herein-after explained. In the axis of the hinged
block by which the breech end of the barrel is closed, or in a line parallel
with the axis of the said block, I make a hole, in which a rod or striker
works, the said rod or striker being capable of a sliding motion in the
said hole. Near the rear end of the block is a recess or chamber, which
opens on the upper side of the block, and communicates with the hole in
which the rod or striker works. The rear end of the striker which occupies
the said recess or chamber is bevilled or inclined, and the end of the hammer
(which on the pulling of the trigger and the fall of the said hammer enters
the said recess or chamber) is also inclined. On the discharge of the 'the
inclined face of the hammer is driven forcibly against the inclined-face of the
striker, and the said striker is driven forward, its front end strikes the per-
cussion powder at the base of the cartridge, and discharges the gun. The
return motion of the striker is effected by a coiled spring. When the gun is
required to discharge cartridges having the percussion powder in the centre of
the base, I make the hole in the block in which the striker works in the axis
gun

page_text: of the block; but when the gun is required to discharge cartridges having the
percussion powder in the rim, or in an annular recess at the base of the
cartridge, 1 make the said hole in the block in a line parallel with the axis. of
the block; and at such a distance therefrom that its front end shall be opposite.
a portion of the said rim or annular recess.
My improvements in-breech-loading fire-arms consist further in actuating
the striker by means of a lever working by preference horizontally. The
short arm of the said lever bears against the end of the striker. The inner
side of the head of the hammer is inclined, and when the hammer falls the
said inclined side strikes against the long arm of the lever, causing the short
arm to force the striker against the percussion powder in the cartridge and
discharge the gun; or the striker may be actuated by means of a wedge on a
horizontal rod, the said rod being advanced by the head of the hammer on.
the fall of the said hammer to discharge the gun; or instead of the lever or
wedge actuating the striker, and the striker discharging the cartridge, the.
lever or wedge itself may be advanced by the falling hammer against the
cartridge and discharge it, that end of the arm of the lever or end of
the wedge which strikes the cartridge being pointed or shaped of the required.
form. When the cartridge is discharged by the direct action of the lever or
wedge the said lever or wedge is situated at the front end of the breech block
or closer, and the hammer of the gun is placed near the front end. of the
breech or charge chamber in order that it may readily. act upon the saiḍ
lever or wedge.
Breech-loading fire-arms provided with mechanism for discharging self-
ignition cartridges according to my Invention may also be made capable of.
discharging ordinary cartridges at pleasure. In this case I provide the fire-
arm with mechanism which on the falling of the hammer is made to strike a
percussion cap and discharge the cartridge.
Another of my improvements in breech-loading fire-arms consists in making
the open breech end of the barrel conical or trumpet-shaped, or of a hemi-
spherical figure, so that the case of the exploded cartridge may be readily
removed therefrom.
.
My improvements in cartridges for breech-loading fire-arms consist, firstly,
in placing the percussion powder in an annular metallic trough or depression
in the base of the cartridge, and covering the said depression when filled with.
the said powder with a thin disc of metal. The said annular trough or
depression communicates with a hole or holes in the base of the cartridge,
through which holes the flash from the percussion powder communicates with
the gunpowder of the cartridge. Cartridges made according to my--Invention

page_text: are free from the risk of accidental discharge to which central-fire and rim
cartridges are exposed.
.
My improvements in cartridges for breech-loading fire-armis consist further
in making the base of the cartridge of greater diameter than the body, the
base tapering into the body, so as to give the fear end of the cartridge a
conical or trumpet-mouth shape; or the said enlarged base may be made of a
hemispherical figure, or a figure approaching that of a sphere. When a
cartridge of this kind is used with a breech-loading fire-arm having a conical
or trumpet-mouth, or hemispherical open breech, the case of the exploded
cartridge does not stick in the breecli, and can be readily removed.
Having explained the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to describe
with reference to the accompanying Drawings the manner in which the same
is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation, and Figure 2 in plan, a breech-
loading rifle containing some of my improvements; Figure 3 is a cross section
of the rifle taken through the line a, Figure 2; and Figure 4 is also a cross
section, taken through the line b, Figure 2; Figure 5 represents in plan the
breech chamber and extreme breech end of the barrel separately, the hinged
block or cover being removed. The same letters of reference indicate the
same parts in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
.
a is the barrel of the rifle, and 6 the breech chamber at the rear of the
said barrel. The said chamber b is opened for the introduction of a cartridge
into the barrel, and closed for the discharge of the rifle by means of a block
or cover c hinged at ³ to the side of the breech chamber. The said hinged
block e when shut down completely fills up the breech chamber 6, as best seen
in Figure 8. The said hinged block is fastened down by means of the spring
catch fastening d engaging with the side of the breech chamber b. The self-
ignition cartridge in the breech end of the barrel a is discharged by means of
a rod or strikere working obliquely in a hole in the hinged block c, the said
rod or striker e being constructed and actuated in the following manner :-
Near the rear end of the block c is a recess or chamber f, which opens on
the upper side of the block, and communicates with the hole in which the rod
or striker e works. The rear end of the pin or striker e which occupies the
recess or chamber f is bevilled or inclined as represented, and the front or
head g of the hammer g of the rifle is also inclined as represented. When
the trigger is pulled to discharge the rifle the inclined part or head ġ¹ of
hammer genters the recess or chamber f, and strikes forcibly against the
inclined face of the striker e, and drives forward the said 'striker, the front end
of the said striker is thereby made to strike the base of the cartridge and

page_text: discharge the gun. When the hammer is raised to half-cock for reloading
the rifle the striker e is returned to the position represented by the coiled
spring h. The sliding motion of the striker e is limited by the stop pin i working
in a slot made in the striker. Instead of placing the pin or striker e obliquely
in the hinged block c, as represented in the Drawing, it may be placed in the
axis of the block. In this case the hammer requires to be cranked, so as to
bring its head or inclined part which acts upon the inclined rear end of the
striker in a line with the axis of the said block. When the rifle is required
to discharge cartridges having the percussion powder in the rim or in an
annular recess at the base of the cartridges, the hole in the block to receive
the striker is made in a line parallel with the axis of the block, and at such a
distance therefrom that its front end shall be opposite a portion of the said
rim or annular recess. By acting upon the striker in the plane in which it
slides according to my Invention the projecting head of the striker upon
which the hammer acts, usually situated above the block, is dispensed with.
I use with the rifle a cartridge case extractor situated on the side of the
breech chamber b. The extractor is best seen in Figures 4 and 5. The said
extractor consists of a square rod k working or sliding in a longitudinal
recess in one side of the breech_chamber 6. To the said rod k the horn or
acting part of the extractor is connected, against which horn the rim of the
cartridge bears when the latter is pushed home into the breech end of the
barrel a. The said horn when in its normal position occupies a recess in
the end of the barrel a, and lies flush with the said end. The extractor is
worked by the handle ³, and its return motion is effected by the coiled
spring m. I make the open breech end of the barrel a conical or trumpet-
mouth shaped, as indicated in dotted lines at a², in Figure 2, into which
conical open breech the conical end of the cartridges (herein-after described)
fits. This conical open breech is represented in section in the rifles repre-
sented in Figures 8 and 18, a conical-ended cartridge being placed therein in
the rifle, Figure 18. Instead of the conical figure represented, the open
breech of the barrel may be made of a hemispherical figure. By making the
open breech end of the barrel of either of these figures the cases of the
exploded cartridges do not stick in the breech, and may be readily removed
therefrom.
In converting old muzzle-loading rifles into breech-loading rifles according
to my Invention I use a shoe which is screwed on the breech end of the
barrel, and constitutes the breech chamber of the rifle. A shoe of this kind
is represented in plan in Figure 6.
: Figure 7 represents in plan, and Figure 8 in longitudinal section, the breech

page_text: end of a breech-loading rifle (the stock and other parts being omitted), in
which the striker is actuated by means of a lever. Figure 9 is a cross section
of the hinged block or. cover, and Figure 10 is a side elevation of the same,
the front plate being removed.
a is the hinged cover or block, and 6 the striker working in a hole è parallel
with the axis of the block; d, d³, is a horizontal lever in the said block, one
arm d of which lever bears against the rear end of the striker b, and the other
d³ occupying the recess or chamber e in an expanded part of the block a, into
which chamber or recess the head of the hammer falls when liberated. One
side of the arm d³ is bevilled or inclined, and the inner side of the head of the
hammer is also inclined. When the said hammer falls the said inclined side
of its head strikes against the inclined side of the arm d³ of the lever d, d³,
and forces the said arm towards the butt end of the rifle. The striker b is
thereby forced by the opposite arm d against the percussion powder in the base
'of the cartridge so as to discharge the rifle. The return motion of the striker
is effected by the coiled spring f. Instead of actuating the striker: by the
horizontal lever d, d³, the said striker may be actuated by means of a wedge
'on a horizontal rod, the said rod being advanced by the head of the hammer
on the fall of the said hammer. This arrangement of. my Invention is repre-
'sented in Figure 14, where is the striker, having its outer end inclined, and
'c is the wedge carried by the rod d, bearing against the said inclined end of
'the striker. The return motions of the striker and wedge are effected by the
coiled springs represented.
"
Figure 11 represents an arrangement of my Invention in which the striker
"is actuated by a lever on the side of the rifle; a, a, is the horizontal lever
'turning on the centre a³. Jointed to the arm a³ of the lever is the striker b,
which passes through the side of the breech end of the barrel in position to
act upon the percussion powder in the side of the cartridge in the said breech
end. The end of the other arm a of the lever occupies the recess or chamber c,
one side of the said arm being bevilled or inclined. The head of the hammer
has the figure represented at d. When the hammer falls the inclined side of
its head d enters the recess c, and strikes against the bevilled side of the long
*arm a of the lever, causing the short arm a² to force the striker 6 against the
percussion powder in the side of the cartridge, and discharge the rifle.
Figure 12 represents in plan, and Figure 18 in cross section, an arrange-
ment for discharging the cartridge on the side by means of a horizontal slide
having an inclined head, upon which the hammer acts. In this case I make
at the side of the breech end of the barrel a chamber e, in which the inclined
head of the hammer may cuter. In the said chamber is a slide 9, having

page_text: an inclined head, the said slide carrying at its back the pin or striker h, the
said slide g works upon the pins i, i, and its return motion is effected by the
coiled springs k around the said pins. On the descent of the hammer its
inclined head f enters the chamber and forces inwards the slide e, and
causes the striker h to strike the side of the cartridge and discharge the rifle.
⚫ Figure 15 represents an arrangement in which the cartridge is discharged
by the direct action of a cranked lever a; a³ is the lever turning horizontally
on the centre a³. The end of the arm a is pointed to act upon the base of
the cartridge, and its opposite arm a² is pressed upon by the spring b. A
portion of the arm a² of the lever occupies the recess or chamber c in the hinged
block or cover d of the rifle, into which the bevilled head of the hammer falls
when depressed. By the fall of the said hammer the arm a² is forced towards
the axis of the rifle, and its opposite arm a thereby made to strike upon the
base of the cartridge and discharge it. Instead of fastening down the hinged
block or cover of the rifle, Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, by the spring fastening
represented in connection with the said rifle, a spring fastening of the construc-
tion represented in Figures 16 and 17 may be used in place thereof, Figure 16
representing a plan of the rifle, and Figure 17 a side elevation of the block
or cover of the same. Figure 18 represents a longitudinal section of the rifle,
and exhibits the conical or trumpet-mouth open breech for receiving the conical
ended cartridges herein-after described. The said fastening of the rifle,
Figures 16 and 17, consists of a lever bolt a turning horizontally on the
centre a², and pressed outwards by the spring b. A projecting piece or thumb
plate c from the said bolt a passes through the dovetail plated by pressure,
upon which thumb plate the bolt a may be disengaged from the break off or
false breech f. The bolt engages in an undercut slot, indicated by dotted
lines at e, in the break off f, the said bolt entering the said undercut slot through
a vertical slot g. When the hinged block or cover h is shut down the bevilled
edge of the bolt a comes against the edge of the vertical slot g, and the said
bolt is pressed inwards and enters the said slot g. The block or cover having
been shut down to its full extent the end of the bolt a is pressed into the
undercut slot e by the spring b, and the block or cover is securely fastened
down. By pressing upon the thumb plate c of the bolt a its free end is
brought opposite the vertical slot g, when the said end can be lifted through
the said slot and the block turned upon its hinge.
:
Figure 19 represents in elevation, and Figure 20 in section a self-ignition
cartridge, constructed according to my Invention, a is the base of the cartridge
made of greater diameter than the body b, the said base tapering into the

page_text: body. The rear end of the cartridge is thus of a conical or trumpet shape.
When a cartridge of this kind is used with a breech-loading gun having a
conical or trumpet-mouth open breech, as represented in the rifles, Figures 8
and 18, the case of the exploded cartridge does not stick in the breech
and can be readily removed. Instead of making the base of the cartridge
of a conicalior trumpet mouth figure, the said base may be made of a hemi-
spherical figure, as represented in Figure 26. In this case the open breech
of the gun has a corresponding figure to receive the said hemispherical base,
In making the conical ended cartridges I use a hollow conical base block c,
shown separately in side and end elevation and 'section in Figure 21. The
said block c may be made of wood, papier-mâché, or other hard material. In
the front end of the said conical block c I make an annular groove or trough d,
in which I place a metallic trough e to contain the fulminate. The said
trough e.communicates by the holes f, f, with the gunpowder g of the car;
tridge. In making up the cartridge the paper or linen or other case 6 is
pasted to the conical block c, and the fulminate placed in the metallic trough e,
A cylindrical metal case or cap.a (shown separately in Figure 21) is next
closed upon the conical block c by means of dies and a press. The gun-
powder 9.and projectile h are finally arranged in the case 6 in the usual
The fulminate in the annular metal troughe is exploded between the
metal capa and metal trough.e by the striker of the gun acting through the
said metal cap a. The flash from the fulminate passes down the holes f
to the gunpowder and discharges the cartridge; or instead of placing the
fulminate in a metal trough in the base block of the cartridge the fulminate
may be placed in.an. annular groove or trough made in the said block, a metal
ring being placed at the bottom of the said trough.for discharging the fulminate
between it and the metal cap or cover... A cartridge of this. construction is
represented in section in Figure 22, where i is the annular trough or depression
in the base block c, and k,the,metal ring at the bottom of the trough. In
this cartridge.an- opening is made in the axis of the block c, down which
the flash from the fulminate passes to explode the gunpowder g of the cartridge.
Instead of placing the fulminate in an annular trough in the base block of the
.cartridge, the said block may have a central depression made in it to receive
the fulminate, the bottom of the depression having a disc of metal to explode
the fulminate between it and the metal cap or cover. A cartridge of the last-
described kind is represented in section in Figure 28, the base block and metal
disc being represented separately in Figure 24; m is the central depression
to receive the fulminate, and n the metal disc at the bottom of the said depres-
manner.

page_text: sion. The flash from the fulminate passes down the holes o on either side of
the depression to the gunpowder 9 of the cartridge. The cartridges having
conical or spherical bases according to my Invention may also be discharged
by means of a percussion cap in the base block of the said cartridges.
Figures 26, 27, and 28 represent conical ended cartridges with percussion
caps in the base blocks. In the cartridge, Figure 26, an opening is made in the
base block to receive a percussion cap and anvil p, and in each of the car-
tridges, Figures 27 and 28, an opening is made in the base block to receive
In this cap a percussion
a metal cup q, having an opening in its closed end.
cap r and anvil or nipples are placed. In Figures 26 and 27 the percussion
cap is acted upon through the outer metal cap,.while in Figure 28 the striker
acts directly upon it. The outer cover of the bodies of the cartridges may be
made of paper, linen, or other flexible material, or of a waterproof material.
The improvements described and represented in Figures 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and
24, for discharging self-ignition cartridges, may be applied to cartridges of the
ordinary form, that is, to cartridges in which the base and body are of the same
diameter.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not
limit myself to the precise details herein described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings, as the same may be varied without departing from
the nature of my Invention; but I claim as my Invention of improvements
in breech-loading fire-arms and in cartridges for breech-loading fire-arms,--
Firstly, the several arrangements of mechanism herein-before described and
represented in Figures 1 to 15 both inclusive, of the accompanying Drawings
for discharging self-ignition cartridges.
Secondly, making the open breech ends of the barrels of breech-loading
fire-arms. of a conical or trumpet shape, or of a hemispherical figure, so that
the base of the exploded cartridge may be readily removed therefrom, as herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 2, 8, and 18, of the accompanying
Drawings.
Thirdly, the improvements in self-ignition cartridges for breech-loading fire-
arms, herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 19, 20, 21, 22, 23,
and 24, of the accompanying Drawings, that is to say, placing the fulminate
or percussion powder in an annular metallic trough or depression in the
base of the cartridge, and covering the said trough or depression when filled
with the fulminate with a metallic cap or cover.
Lastly, making the base of self-ignition cartridges for breech-loading fire-

page_text: arms of a copical.or trumpet-mouth.shape, or of a hemispherical figure, as
herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 19 to 28, both inclusive, of
the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Reeves, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 25th day of June, in the year of our Lord!
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
CHARLES REEVES. (L.S.)