IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVERS OR 23 POCKET PISTOLS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Griffith Brewer of 33 Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVERS OR
23
POCKET PISTOLS Communicated to him from abroad by Jacques Edmond
Turbiaux of Paris France
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Griffith Brewer
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th June 1882.
"
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER of 33 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex
"IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVERS OR POCKET PISTOLS (A Communication to me
from abroad by Jacques Edmond Turbiaux of Paris France)
These improvements relate to revolvers or pocket pistols.
It is well known that many systems of pocket revolvers are in existence but
they are inconvenient for holding in the hand which ought to be one of the first
conditions of a good arm of this class. Besides only a limited number of shots can
be fired on account of their small size, it follows that the arm becomes dangerous
to the person using same because if the adversary seizes the hand of the person
having the revolver the adversary becomes the stronger and can snatch away the
arm with much greater facility as it can only be held by the two fingers. If to
avoid these inconveniences a revolver is made which can be well held in the hand
the size becomes too great, heavy and cumbersome to carry in the pocket. By the
construction of the revolver forming the subject matter of this Invention, the
inventor has obviated the inconveniences above indicated. It differs completely
in form, simplicity and strength from anything of the kind invented up to the
present day. Its size is about that of an ordinary watch, the number of charges
it carries may be varied; for example I propose to describe the invention with
reference to a revolver capable of carrying ten charges, central fire cartridge, rifled
barrel and long range considering its restricted size but it should be understood
that the number of projectiles employed may be varied and central or ring fire or
other cartridges may be used. This arm may be put in the waistcoat pocket as
easily as a watch and without being inconvenient: it is held entirely within the

page_text: "
a
hand the barrel end only passing the fingers; it is thus well held in the hand and
it is next to impossible to pull it away. It can be used as a "knuckle duster
terrible weapon protruding between the fingers and available when the ammunition
has been expended.
The foregoing improvements have been arrived at by the following
arrangements
1. By dispensing with the ordinary stock or handle.
2. By making use of or employing a flat drum or breech of modified construction
to that at present in use.
3. By boring centrally the breech.
4. By employing very simple mechanism placed within the case forming the
bottom of the box which encloses the whole.
According to one arrangement a box is employed which may be made of cast
iron, steel or other suitable metal provided with two ears or projections acting as
holding pieces for the fingers; at the opposite end of the box there is a hinged
piece which operates rods passing through slots in the box; one of these rods
communicates motion to the striker and the other imparts the necessary motion to
the breech piece; this rod is composed of a rigid portion which slides in a groove.
formed in the box and of a flexible or spring portion which enters at a given time
into the breech slot to cause it to turn which is arrested when pressure is removed
from this hinged piece. When the box is taken in the hand the ears or projecting
pieces before referred to being taken as holding points or supports the hinged piece
at bottom being compressed the lever in connection therewith operates the tumbler
of the striker and at a certain part of its course the end of this lever abuts on the
tumbler, and causes the striker to oscillate but the end of the lever is freed from
the tumbler aided by a ring but a spring fixed at one point is always engaged
with the tumbler so that as soon as the upper end of the lever escapes from the
tumbler the spring will act on the striker and will make it strike sharply and
vigorously on the fulminate of the projectile, a small spring will bring the
lever back
The breech piece is of special construction it may be of steel or of any other
metal and of a truncated cone shape; it has on its circumference as many cartridge
chambers as the same will admit of, recesses being provided for retaining the rings
of the cartridges in position; between each chamber and on the flat of the breech
a second recess of hooked form serves to push the breech a division for each shot
fired but that is not sufficient for preserving the perfect parallelism of the chamber
with the barrel if the precaution is not taken to form ou the circumference of the
said breech some V shaped notches as hereafter more fully referred to. The
shutter or hinged piece carries or is provided with a spring which abuts on a
spring ear piece fixed to the box the shape of which corresponds to that of the
V shaped notch formed in the breech block. Supposing the revolver to be in a
state of rest the spring above the shutter only rests on the ear piece which will be
engaged in the V shaped groove formed in the breech but as soon as the shutter is
pressed the spring rod causes the breech to turn by acting on the recesses owing to
the shape of the ✓ grooves of the breech and of the ear piece the latter yielding
to allow the breech to turn. According to the degree of compression given to the
shutter or hinged piece a graduated pressure will be exerted; during the first
period the breech will be operated and will turn on its axis but this first period
passed the pressure of the spring will increase and compress the ear piece into the
V shaped notch before the escape of the striker, this is very important because it
is necessary that the cartridge chamber always comes opposite the barrel before
the percussion can be effected. A ring or eye is connected to the arm for attaching
same to a chain of watch or otherwise. All the mechanism being carried in the
box the said box may be covered in any convenient manner, pivotted on an axis
for example or retained or fixed by bayonet attachment or screw and which can be
with facility opened.
The truncated shape of the ring breech.is important to be able to disengage it

page_text: with facility because if it were perfectly cylindrical externally and internally it
would be difficult to get out. A stop is or may be placed on the box so that by
pushing it in one direction the effect of the shutter or hinge would be annulled;
by pushing it the other way it would be free to act.
According to a modification the centre of the joint of the shutter or hinged
piece is further from the box and the said hinged piece is concentric to the said
box instead of being eccentric. Instead of as in the previous arrangements taking
the fingers on the upper part and exerting pressure with the palm of the hand on
the shutter or hinged piece according to a modification the point of support is
taken at the lower part with the palm of the hand and the fingers act on the ear
pieces which are made movable and are provided with cylinder sliding on the
barrel and a helical spring brings the cylinder to its natural position when no more
pressure is exerted on the hand. The principle is the same as the preceding but
the mode of carrying out same somewhat different.
After having removed the cover which may be fixed by hinge or pivot or joint
the revolver can be turned until the breech which is conical for this purpose falls
into the hand, the cartridges are then introduced by the centre, the breech is
replaced in position the cover is closed, then having withdrawn the safety catch
the arm is ready for operation
Where the use of the hinged shutter is dispensed with by employing the bottom
of the arm as the fulcrum and the fingers for regulating or for operating the
movement in one or the other case it is always by the action or position of the
hand that the arm is fired.
The faces of these fire arms may be covered with plates of wood or metal
ornamented, gilded or silvered nickeled or engraved or otherwise.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edward Griffith Brewer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th December 1882.
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER of 33 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex
"IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVERS OR POCKET PISTOLS (A Communication to me
from abroad by Jacques Edmond Turbiaux of Paris France)
These improvements relate to revolvers or pocket pistols. It is well known that
many systems of pocket revolvers are in existence but they are inconvenient for
holding in the hand which ought to be one of the first conditions of a good arm of
this class. Besides only a limited number of shots can be fired on account of their
small size; it follows that the arm becomes dangerous to the person using same
because if the adversary seizes the hand of the person having the revolver the
adversary becomes the stronger and can snatch away the arm with much greater

page_text: facility as it can only be held by the two fingers. If to avoid these
inconveniences a revolver is made which can be well held in the hand the size
becomes too great, heavy and cumbersome to carry in the pocket.
By the construction of the revolver forming the subject matter of this Invention,
the inventor has obviated the inconveniences above indicated It differs completely
in form, simplicity and strength from anything of the kind invented up to the
present day. Its size is about that of an ordinary watch, the number of charges
it carries may be varied, for example I propose to describe the invention with
reference to a revolver capable of carrying ten charges, central fire cartridge, rifled
barrel and long range considering its restricted size, but it should be understood
that the number of projectiles employed may be varied and central or ring fire or
other cartridge may be used, and of varying calibres. This arm may be put in the
waistcoat pocket as easily as a watch and without being inconvenient; it is held
entirely within the hand the barrel end only passing the fingers; it is thus well
held in the hand and it is next to impossible to pull it away. It can be used as a
"knuckle duster a terrible weapon protruding between the fingers and available
when the ammunition has been expended.
"
The foregoing improvements have been arrived at by the following
arrangements.
1. By dispensing with the ordinary stock or handle.
2. By making use of or employing a flat drum or breech of modified construction
to that at present in use.
3. By boring centrally the breech.
4. By employing very simple mechanism placed within the case forming the
bottom of the box which encloses the whole.
And in order to more fully explain the Invention I will now describe the same
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 illustrates one arrangement of revolver or pocket pistol made according
to this Invention. Figure 1bis is a vertical section through A B Figure 1.
According to this arrangement a box a is employed which may be made of
bronze, steel or any other suitable metal, it is provided at its upper part with a
barrel a² or a socket screw threaded inside so that barrels of different lengths may
be screwed in when necessary; on each side of the barrel on the box there are two
ears or projections a¹ a' acting as holding pieces for the fingers. At or about the
middle of the said box a fixed ring serves as a breech piece and is provided with
an opening centrally and on the barrel axis for the passage of the striker; at g¹ on
the box a there is a hinged piece on which the trigger or operating lever g is
mounted. Two slots are formed in the bottom of the box a for the passage of the
two rods h and . The rod h communicates motion to the striker and the spring
rod shown detached at Figures 5 and 6 imparts the necessary motion to the
magazine b; it will be seen that this rod is composed of a curved rigid portion
which slides in a groove also curved, formed in the bottom of the box and of a
flexible or spring portion which enters at a given time into the notches es of the
magazine to cause it to turn which is arrested when pressure is removed from this
hinged trigger or operating piece g. Striker";-When the box a is taken in the
hand the ears or projecting pieces a¹ before referred to being taken as holding
· points or supports the hinged piece or trigger or operating lever g is compressed,
the lever h moves the cam j¹ which carries at its other end a piece of a lancet
shape or trigger which works inside the breech ring and carries the striker; the
end of the lever h in connection therewith operates the cam j' of the striker and
at a certain part of its course the end i of this lever abuts on the cam j¹ and
causes the striker to oscillate but the end i of the lever is freed from the cam j
aided by the point but a spring k fixed at one point " will always keep its
end ' engaged with the cam so that as soon as the part i of the lever escapes from
the cam the spring k will act on the striker and will make it strike sharply and
vigorously on the fulminate of the projectile whether it be central or ring or other
fire cartridge. A small spring h¹ will bring the lever h back to engage the cam j
"

page_text: according as the hinged piece g assumes its first position by the action of the
spring g²
The cartridge magazine is shown detached at Figures 3. 4, 7, 8 and 9. This
magazine bis of special construction it may be of steel or of any other: metal
and preferably of a truncated cone shape; it has on its circumference as many
cartridge chambers e' as the same will admit of; recesses e² being provided for
retaining the rings of the cartridges in position; between each chamber and on the
flat of the magazine a second recess e³ of ratchet form serves to push the magazine
a division for each shot fired but that is not sufficient for preserving the perfect
parallelism of the magazine with the barrel if the precaution is not taken to form
on the circumference of the said magazine some V shaped notches as hereafter more
fully referred to
The operation of the magazine Figure 1 is as follows:
The hinged lever g carries or is provided with a spring 92 which abuts on a
spring ear piece n fixed to the box, the shape of which corresponds to that of the
V shaped notched formed in the periphery of the magazine. Supposing the
revolver to be in the position represented at Figure 1 that is in a state of rest, the
spring g above the hinged lever g only rests on the ear piece n which will be
engaged in the V shaped groove formed in the magazine, but as soon as pressure is
put on the hinged lever the spring rod causes the magazine to turn by actipa
the recesses e owing to the shape of the V grooves of the magazine and of the ear
piece n the latter yielding to allow the magazine to turn. According to the degree
of compression given to the hinged lever g a graduated pressure will be exerted;
during the first period the magazine will be operated and will turn on its axis, but
this first period passed the pressure of the spring g² will increase and compress the
ear piece n into the V shaped notch before the escape of the striker; this is very
important because it is necessary that the magazine always comes opposite the
barrel before the percussion can be effected. A ring or eye a³ is connected to the
arm for attaching same to a chain of watch or otherwise. All the mechanism
being carried in the box a the said box may be covered in any convenient manner,
pivotted on an axis for example or retained or fixed by bayonet attachment or
screw and which can be with facility opened.
The truncated shape of the magazine is important to be able to disengage it with
facility because if it were perfectly cylindrical externally and internally it would
be difficult to get out. A bolt mis or may be placed on the box a so that by
pushing it in one direction the effect of the hinged lever would be annuled; by
pushing it the other way it would be free to act. Between the hinged lever g and
its abutment there is sufficient play allowed for the striker to facilitate the action
of the magazine.
Figure 2 is a view of a revolver constructed according to this Invention of a
somewhat modified form.
According to this modification the centre of the joint of the hinged lever is
further from the box a and the said hinged piece is concentric to the said box
instead of being eccentric, it is thought unnecessary to re-produce the mechanism
which is similar
Figures 10, 11 and 12 are views in vertical section, side elevation and front
elevation of a somewhat modified arrangement and although of an appearance
completely different it is in construction quite similar to the arrangement shown at
Figure 1, the principle is always the same and to make it still clearer the same
letters of reference in both cases are preserved.
Instead of as in the previous arrangements, taking the fingers on the upper part
and exerting pressure with the palm of the hand on the shutter or hinged piece
according to this modification the point of support is taken at the lower part with
the palm of the hand and the fingers act on the ear pieces which are made movable
on the barrel, and a helical spring q brings the cylinder p to its natural position
when no more pressure is exerted on the hand. The principle is the same as the
preceding but the mode of carrying out same somewhat different.

page_text: WORKING OF THE REVOLVER.
After having pushed aside the stop bolt that is from the side of the hinged piece
and removed the cover which may be fixed by hinge or pivot or joint the revolver
can be turned until the magazine, which is conical for this purpose falls into the
hand, the cartridges are then introduced by the centre, the magazine is replaced in
position, the cover is closed then having withdrawn the safety catch the arm is
ready for operation.
The hinged lever at the bottom of the box might be dispensed with in which
case the bottom of the box itself forms the point of support and the fingers for
regulating the action. In either case it is by closing the hand that the arm is
discharged.
The faces of these fire-arms may be covered with plates of wood or metal
ornamented, gilded or silvered nickeled or engraved or otherwise as shown by the
dotted lines at Figure 1bis, by this means these weapons may be very highly
decorated when desired, the engraving silvering or other decoration may be made
directly onto the box itself.
The inventor calls this arm "The Protector."
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that I Claim :
00
First In pocket pistols or revolvers, the construction and employment of same
without the butt end substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Second: The employment, of the striker in the hollowed out portion and the
centre of the magazine and utilizing the bottom of the box as a medium for
operating the parts all substantially as set forth.
Third: The construction and arrangement of the parts whereby the arm can be
taken in the palm of the hand as the fulcrum or supporting point pressing it on
the hinged lever or by taking the supporting point in the hand and pressing with
one of the fingers all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth: The construction and employment of revolvers or fire-arms which are
held in the hand with nothing exposed to view except the barrel all constructed
and operated substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Edward Griffith Brewer have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Eighth day of December in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two: