Improvements in Breech Loading Small-arms.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left; 22nd Feb., 1892-Accepted, 9th Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breech Loading Small-arms.
I JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of
Middlesex Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention which has
been communicated to me from abroad by Frederick John Choles of Pietermaritz-
burg in the Colony of Natal Colonial Armourer to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to enable fire arms to be discharged without the
use of the usual trigger and by pressure so exerted as not to disturb the aim taken
by the person using the fire arm.
According to this invention the lever by which the breech block is brought
down for loading is provided with a roller or bearing piece which when the said
lever is operated moves back the hammer which is then retained by the sear which
The thumb picce
can be released for firing by means of a thumb piece and lever.
projects so that it can be pressed inwards to release the hammer for firing but it
lies in a recess and does not at any time protrude beyond the line of the body or
frame of the fire arm so that the fire arm can be safely handled when loaded with-
out danger of accidental discharge. A special indicator is not necessary as this
thumb piece acts as an indicator shewing as it does by its position whether the fire
arm is cocked or not. After the fall of the hammer the main spring throws back
the needle or striker flush with the face of the breech block.
Dated this 8th day of June 1901
J. H. JOHNSON & CO.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breech Loading Small-arms.
1, JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of
Middlesex Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has
been communicated to me from abroad by Frederick John Choles of Pietermaritz-
burg in the Colony of Natal Colonial Armourer) and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The object of this invention is to provide a fire arm which will give more accuracy
in firing this being effected by a breech mechanism which is so contrived and
arranged that the arm may be discharged by a gentle pressure of the thumb, thus
giving more steadiness at the time of firing and dispensing with the use of a
trigger.
In a fire arm constructed according to this invention the lever by which the
breech block is operated is provided with a bearing picce or antifriction roller
which when the said lever is lowered to open the breech noves back the hammer
into position to be retained by the sear. The sear can be disengaged from the
hammer, for firing, by means of a thumb piece and lever. The hammer, sear,
mainspring and needle or striker pin may be carried by the breech block and when
on the field the said block can be readily removed for cleaning or repairs and
replaced without the assistance of an armourer.
The thumb piece projects so that it can be pressed inwards to release the hammer
for firing but it lies in a recess and does not at any time protrude beyond the line

page_text: or the body of the fire arm or frame of the action so that the fire arm can be safely
handled when loaded without danger of accidental discharge.
A special indicator is not necessary as the thumb piece, shews by its position,
whether the fire arm is 'cocked or not: After the hammer has been released and
has thrown the needle or striker forward the main spring throws back the needle or
striker flush with or clear of the face of the breech block ready for the next
operation.
And in order that my said invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed,
particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the several
figures of the accompanying drawings the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a section of a fire arm constructed according to my improvements
shewing the breech block and operating lever depressed and the breech open
(ready for loading).
Figure 2 is a similar section showing the breech block closed and the hammer
cocked ready for firing, and
Figure 3 is a similar section slowing the position of the parts after the arm has
been discharged.
A is the breech block opérating lever centred at a² to the plate or frame A', the
arm a of which lever acts upon the breech block H to raise and lower it in the
frame A On the lever A is a bearing piece or antifriction roller B by means of
which the hammer C is cocked. The hammer is mounted on the centre pin c in
the breech block H and is formed with a tail piece c against which the roller B
acts to cock the haniner by causing a notch c² in the hanimer to engage with the
sear D. The sear is centred at d to the breech block and is acted upon by the
spring E so as to cause it to engage with the notch in the hammer. I is a
thumb piece or press button fitting in a hole in the bottom of a recess f formed in
the frame or strap by which the breech of the arm is secured to the stock, the said
thumb piece being so arranged as not to protrude at any time beyond the line of
the body of the fire arm. The lower end of the shank of the said press button
which projects through the opening in the recess has a notch in it in which one arm
of a lever G (centred at ) engages the other arm of the said lever bearing against
the tail of the sear D. The breech block H which is pivotted at h to the action
body or frame A¹ carries in the slot the needle or striker I which striker is
provided with a curved projection against which one end of the main spring J
bears the other end of the said main spring bearing on a projection on the tail c¹
of the hammer C. K is the extractor centred at k.
In using the fire arm the lever A is depressed to open the breech the end a¹ of
the said lever bearing on a part of the breech block H so as to cause it to turn
down on the centre so that it assumes the position shewn in Figure 1.
The breech block in its descent comes into contact with the lower part of the
extractor K causing it to turn on its centre k to extract the cartridge and at the
same time the tail end c' of the hammer C is brought into contact with the bearing
piece or antifriction roller B on the lever A so as to turn the hammer on its
centre c and allow the sear D to engage in the notch e thus cocking the fire arm as
shewn in Figure 1.
·
When a cartridge has been inserted through the open breech the lever A is
returned into its original position thereby raising the breech block and closing the
breech the parts now assuming the position shown in Figure 2.
To discharge the fire arm pressure is applied to the thumb piece F and thereby
through the lever G disengaging the sear D from the notch and releasing the
hammer C which under the influence of the mainspring J is driven forward against
the needle or striker I to fire the gun. The mainspring J by bearing against the
protruding part i on the needle or striker I, after firing, throws back the needle or
striker flush with or clear of the face of the breech block.
After the fire arm has been discharged the thumb piece F is held in its depressed

page_text: position in the recess by the back part of the hammer bearing against the under
part of the sear (see Fig. 3). A special indicator is therefore unnecessary as the
position of the thumb piece itself shews whether the fire arm is cocked or not.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a triggerless breech loading small arm a hinged breech block carrying the
hammer, needle or striker, and engaging sear, in combination with a lever for
operating the breech block and provided with means for simultaneously cocking the
hammer when lowering the breech block substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In breech loading small arms in which the charge is fired by means of a
presser button or thumb piece situated in a recess, the combination of a hinged
breech block carrying the hammer and engaging sear, needle or striker, and main-
spring arranged to act on the said needle so as to return it to its normal position
after firing substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompany-
ing drawings.
3. The general combination and arrangement of parts constituting the fire arm
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Date : 0.1 dev of Wohmuary 1805
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.