IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR THE SAME, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO ORDNANCE
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Marc Antoine François Mennons, of the Firm of
Mennons and Telescheff, Home and Foreign Patent Agents, of
No. 27, Rue Laffitte, Paris, in the Empire of France, and No. 8, South-
ampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR THE
SAME, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO ORDNANCE."-A
communication from Charles François Galand, residing at Liége, in the
Kingdom of Belgium.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Marc Antoine François
Mennons at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 18th October 1866.
I, MARC ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the Firm of Mennons and
Telescheff, Home and Foreign Patent Agents, of No. 27, Rue Laffitte,
Paris, in the Empire of France, and 8, Southampton Buildings, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR THE
SAME, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO ORDNANCE," to be as
follows:-
This Invention consists, firstly, in an improved system of breech closing
applicable to portable fire-arms and ordnance; and, secondly, in an improved

page_text: cartridge specially adapted to arms provided with this system of breech
closing, but also applicable to central-fire arms of other descriptions.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a carabine provided with the improved
breech-closing mechanism; Figure 2 is an end view of the cartridge chamber
and obturator of the same; Figure 3 is a section of the obturator fitted with
a cap, pillar, or nipple.
A is a tapped breech piece, in which is screwed the end of the barrel B,
and which may be formed of any suitable metal; a, small pressure screw
sliding in a groove formed in the key D, and acting as stop to the latter
when freed from the breech piece A; C, retaining plate of the key or screw
plug D, connected by a hinge, pivot, or other suitable joint with the breech
As this
piece A, so as to cover or uncover at will the chamber of the arm.
plate is not intended to aid the obturation, but only to guide the screw
plug D and facilitate its passage into and out of the cartridge chamber, it
may, if so desired, be replaced by any other arrangement producing the same
effect. Thus, for instance, the plug may be held by a simple ring mounted
on supports pivotted to the sides of the breech piece or barrel, and may be
operated by slides or in any other convenient manner, the essential object
being, as above stated, to guide the keys towards the corresponding opening
of the barrel. D is the key, screw plug, or stopper, by means of which the
obturation is effected, and which constitutes the main feature of the present
improvements; this key may be of any convenient form, and may be operated
either with or without the aid of auxiliary mechanism.. The key shewn in
the Drawing is worked by the direct action of the finger, and may be provided
with two, three, or more screw threads, as desired, a single turn being
sufficient to plug the orifice and enclose the edge of the barrel, thus securing
its perfect obturation. In Figure 1 the end of the barrel B at the end of the
breech piece A comes in contact with the plate C. When the plug D is
inserted its outer circle or grooved cap covers to the same depth the edge of
the barrel, which if desired may be threaded on the outside, the inside of the
cap, being in this case tapped to correspond. The cartridge chamber is thus
hermetically closed :-Firstly, by the insertion of the plug; secondly, by the
adaptation of the grooved part or cap thereof over the open edge of the
barrel; thirdly, by the screwing of the key into the breech piece; and,
fourthly (when desired) by screw threads cut in the cap part of the key, and
corresponding with an external thread at the end of the barrel. The key D
is so constructed that the percussion needle E, Fig. 1, or cap pillar N, Fig. 3,
are lodged in a slot L of sufficient depth to receive the head of the hammer F
on its fall. Independent of other advantages this arrangement assists in

page_text: maintaining the normal position of the key, and checks any tendency to
accidental displacement which might by any possibility occur. E is a
percussion needle or spindle sliding through the centre of the key D; this
needle, of a diameter of about one-sixth of an inch, is provided with a point
surmounted by a cap when used for cartridges ignited from the back. In
this case the point ignites the priming, and the needle is repelled by the
pressure on the cap resulting from the explosion, thus throwing it into position
for the next charge, and at same time intercepting the gases which might
otherwise pass into the orifice through which it works. To effect this the
case of the cap is hollowed internally, and covers a projecting edge of
corresponding depth formed within the key D. A chamber is also formed in
the centre of the key, and charged with grease to facilitate the action of the
needle and still further intercept any possible escape of gas. When the
needle or spindle is intended for the ignition of the front-fire cartridge shewn
in Fig. 4 the point should be replaced by a flat surface. N, Fig. 3,
represents an ordinary cap, nipple, or pillar set in the cavity of the key D,
and which, if so desired, may be substituted to the needle mechanism above
described for the direct ignition of ordinary cartridges. F (Fig. 1) is the
bammer set in the centre of the grip of the stock, and operated by any
suitable description of lock, the tumbler of which should be provided with
three bents, full-cock, safety or half-cock, and, finally, a retaining notch for
the hammer when repelled by the percussion spindle after the discharge. It
will be understood from the preceding description that the same system of
breech closing may be readily applied to double guns and ordnance of
various kinds, the general details of construction and arrangement being
varied accordingly.
Figure 4 represents a cartridge specially adapted for the arm above
described, but which may also be used with central fire-arms of any
description. a is the charge of compressed powder; b is a needle or spindle
of brass, copper, iron, or other suitable metal securely set in the centre of the
compressed powder; c is a pasteboard wad of smaller diameter than the
calibre of the arm, and pierced through the centre to receive the non-
projecting head of the spindle b, which is thus protected froin shocks. If so
desired a soft cushion piece may be fitted to the hole as a further precaution ;
d is the priming set in a small compressed cardboard or wooden wad, or
again, as in d, d, Fig. 5, enclosed in a portion of the compressed powder
adjusted over the point of the spindle, which in this case is maintained at a
certain distance from the fulminate, thus obviating all danger of accidental
ignition; e, felt wad saturated with grease. It will be understood that the

page_text: number of wads in the cartridge may be increased according to circumstances.
f, cylindro-conical projectile of any desired metal, provided when of iron or
steel with a leaden packing of sufficient thickness to fill the grooves of the
The compressed power may if required for blank firing be made
separate from the projectile, in which case it is surrounded with a single fold
of cotton paper, on which is pasted a covering of thin cotton or silk tissue, or
even of paper impregnated with a solution of caoutchouc with collodion or
In this
other suitable material sufficiently impervious and combustible.
manner a blank cartridge may be obtained in the form of a very small
cylinder closed at both ends, and carrying without possibility of accident its
percussion spindle in combination with the priming in front. To complete
the cartridge the felt wad is cemented to it; the projectile is then applied
above, and secured in position by a strip of strong paper so applied as to
cover about one-third of the powder and two-thirds of the projectile.
The main features of this form of cartridge are, reduction in the volume of
the charge, ignition in front between the powder and the projectile, substi-
tution of the spindle in the cartridge to the percussion needle of the arm,
thus obviating the disadvantage which results from the frequent breakage or
deterioration of the latter; and, finally, increased range and penetrating
power resulting from the interposition of the felt wad between the powder
and the projectile. It need scarcely be added that the mode of covering and
other details of manufacture may be varied according to circunstances.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Marc Antoine François Mennons in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th March 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARC
ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the Firm of Mennons and Telescheff, Home
and Foreign Patent Agents, of No. 27, Rue Laffitte, Paris, in the Empire
of France, and 8, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Marc Antoine François Mennons, Her special licence that I, the said
Marc Antoine François Mennons, my executors, administrators, and assigns,

page_text: or such others as I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, 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 BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR THE SAME, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE
TO ORDNANCE," a communication from Charles François Galand, a person
resident at Liège, in the Kingdom of Belgium, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, 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 causo
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 Marc Antoine François Mennons, 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 following statement, reference being had to the figures of the
accompanying Drawing and to the letters marked thereon, that is to say :-,
This Invention consists, firstly, in an improved system of breech closing
applicable to portable fire-arms and ordnance; and secondly, in an improved
cartridge specially adapted to arms provided with this system of breech-closing,
but also applicable to central-fire arms of other descriptions.
Figure 1 of the annexed Drawing is a longitudinal section of a carabine
provided with the improved breech-closing mechanism; Figure 2. is an end
view of the cartridge chamber and obturator of the same; Figure 3 is a section
of the obturator fitted with a cap, pillar, or nipple.
A is a tapped breech piece, in which is screwed the end of the barrel B,
and which may be formed of any suitable metal. a, small pressure screw
sliding in a groove formed in the key D, and acting as stop to the latter when
freed from the breech piece A; C, retaining plate of the key or screw plug D,
connected by a hinge, pivot, or other suitable joint with the breech piece A,
so as to cover or uncover at will the chamber of the arm. As this plate is not
intended to aid the obturation, but only to guide the screw plug D and
facilitate its passage into and out of the cartridge chamber, it may; if SO
desired, be replaced by any other arrangement producing the same effect. Thus
for instance, the plug may be held by a simple ring mounted on supports
pivotted to the sides of the breech piece or barrel, and may be operated by

page_text: slides, or in any other convenient manner, the essential object being as above
stated to guide the key towards the corresponding opening of the barrel. D is
the key, screw, plug, or stopper by means of which the obturation is effected,
'and which constitutes the main feature of the present improvements. This key
may be of any convenient form, and may be operated either with or without the
aid of auxiliary mechanism. The key shewn in the Drawing is worked 'bý
the direct action of the finger, and may be provided with two, three, or more
screw threads as desired, a single turn being sufficient to plug the orifice and
enclose the edge of the barrel, thus securing its perfect obturation.
In Fig. 1 the end of the barrel B at the end of the breech piece A comes
in contact with the plate C. When the plug D is inserted its outer circle or
grooved cap covers to the same depth the edge of the barrel, which, if desired,
inay be threaded on the outside, the inside of the cap being in this case tapped.
to correspond. The cartridge chamber is thus hermetically closed, firstly, by
the insertion of the plug; secondly, by the adaptation of the grooved part or
'cap thereof over the open edge of the barrel; thirdly, by the screwing of the
key into the breech piece; and fourthly (when desired) by screw threads cut in
the cap part of the key, and corresponding with an external thread at the end
of the barrel. The key D is so constructed that the percussion needle E, Fig. 1,
or cap pillar N, Fig. 8, are lodged in a slot L of sufficient depth to receive
the head of the hammer F on its fall. Independent of other advantages this
arrangement assists in maintaining the normal position of the key 'and checks
any tendency to accidental displacement which might by any possibility occur.
E is a percussion needle or spindle sliding through the centre of the
key D; this needle, of a diameter of about one-sixth of an inch, is provided
with a point surmounted by a cap when used for cartridges ignited from
the back. In this case the point ignites the priming, and the needle is
repelled by the pressure on the cap resulting from the explosion, thus throwing
it into position for the next charge, and at same time intercepting the gases
which might otherwise pass into the orifice through which it works; to
effect this the base of the cap is hollowed internally, and covers a projecting
edge of corresponding depth formed within the key D. A chamber is also
formed in the centre of the key, and charged with grease to facilitate the
action of the needle and still further intercept any possible escape of gas.
When the needle or spindle is intended for the ignition of the front-fire
cartridge shewn in Fig. 4, the point should be replaced by a flat surface.
N, Fig. 8, represents an ordinary cap nipple or pillar set in the cavity of
the key D, and which if so desired may be substituted to the needle
mechanism above described for the direct ignition of ordinary cartridges.

page_text: F, Fig. 1, is the hammer set in the centre of the grip of the stock, and
operated by any suitable description of lock, the tumbler of which should be
provided with three bents. for full-cock, safety or half, cock, and, finally a
retaining notch for the hammer when repelled by the percussion spindle after
the discharge. It will be understood from the preceding description that the
same system of breech.closing may be readily applied to double guns and
ordnance of various kinds, the general details of construction and arrange-
ment being varied accordingly.
Fig. 4 represents a cartridge specially adapted for the arm above described,
but which may also be used with central-fire arms of any description.
arm,
1
a is the charge of compressed powder; b is a needle or spindle of brass, copper,
iron, or other suitable metal, securely set in the centre of the compressed
powder c is, a pasteboard wad of smaller diameter than the calibre of the
and pierced through the center to receive the non-projecting head of the
spindle b, which is thus protected from shocks; if so desired a soft cushion
piece may be fitted to the hole as a further precaution; d is the priming set
in a small compressed cardboard or wooden wad, or again, 'as in d, d, Fig. 5,
enclosed in a portion of the compressed powder adjusted over the point of
the spindle, which in this case is maintained at a certain distance from the
fulminate, thus obviating all danger of accidental ignition; felt wad
saturated with grease. It will be understood that the number of wads in
the cartridge may be increased according to circumstances. f, cylindro-conical
projectile of any desired metal, provided when of steel or iron with a leaden
packing of sufficient thickness to fill the grooves of the arm. The com-
pressed powder may if required for blank firing be made separate from the
projectile, in which case it is surrounded with a simple fold of cotton paper,
on which is pasted a covering of thin cotton or silk tissue, or even of paper
impregnated with a solution of caoutchouc with collodion or other suitable
material sufficiently impervious and combustible. In this manner a blank
cartridge may be obtained in the form of a very small cylinder closed at
both ends, and carrying without possibility of accident its percussion spindle
in combination with the priming in front. To complete the cartridge the
felt wad is cemented to it; the projectile is then applied above and secured
in position by a strip of strong paper so applied as to cover about one-third
of the powder and two-thirds of the projectile. The main features of this
form of cartridge are, reduction in the volume of the charge, ignition in
front between the powder and the projectile, substitution of the spindle in the
cartridge to the percussion needle of the arm, thus obviating the disadvantage
which results from the frequent breakage or deterioration of the latter, and,

page_text: finally, increased range and penetrating power resulting from the interposition
of the felt wad between the powder and the projectile. It need scarcely be
added that the mode of covering and other details of manufacture may be
varied according to circumstances.
Having now described the nature of the said improvements, and the
manner of carrying them into effect, I would have it understood that I do
.not confine myself to the precise details above laid down, as these may
obviously be modified without deviating from the principles or main features
of the Invention; but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters
Patent is,-
Firstly, the application to breech-loading fire-arms and ordnance of an
obturating device, mainly composed of a screw. plug or key, constructed and
operated substantially as herein described and shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, of
the accompanying Drawing.
1. Secondly, the improved central-fire cartridge containing a percussion
needle, as above specified and shewn in Figures 4, 5, of the accompanying
Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, have
hereto set my hand and seal, this Second day of March, in the
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
year
M. E. MENNONS. (10)