IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS AND IN CARTRIDGES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Brownlow Hugh Mathew, of Saint James', in the
County of Middlesex, Lieutenant Royal Bombay Engineers, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS AND IN CARTRIDGES."
Sealed the 19th September 1862, and dated the 21st March 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Brownlow Hugh Mathew
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st March 1862.
I, BROWNLOW HUGH MATHEW, of Saint James', in the County of Middlesex,
Lieutenant Royal Bombay Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS AND IN CARTRIDGES," to be
as follows:-
My Invention relates to large and small arms and ordnance, and com-
prises, first, a new arrangement of parts for breech-loading arms; second, a
new method of rifling arms; third, an improved back sight for arms; and,
fourth, an improved cartridge for breech-loading arms.
I construct my breech-loading arms as hereafter explained. At the rear
end of an ordinary barrel I form a longitudinal aperture, and at the back of
that aperture I form a transverse cylindrical hole for the reception of
curvilinear wedge. The longitudinal aperture.is filled and covered by a solid
plunger, the face of which bears against the end of the barrel proper; the rear
end of the plunger is formed with a hollow curve to receive the curvilinear

page_text: surface of the wedge. The curvilinear wedge is furnished on one side with a
projection, which forms a crank, the pin of which is inserted in a slot of a side
lever, the fore end of which is attached to the fore part of the plunger, while
the back end terminates in a handle for opening and closing the breech. By
the closing of the breech the plunger is wedged up against the end of the
barrel proper, and maintained in its place. By moving the handle of the
lever to open the breech, the curvilinear wedge is first turned to release
the plunger, and the continued rotation of the wedge raises the rear end
thereof, and the handle being pulled back withdraws the plunger, and opens
up the breech aperture for the reception of a fresh charge.
My method of rifling consists in forming the grooves in such manner that
the projectile shall be upheld truly and continuously during its passage through
the barrel. As an instance of one manner in which I carry my Invention
into effect, I make four grooves, with the sides converging towards the common
centre, and partially hollow, the lands between the grooves either of an equal.
depth throughout, or varying from the breech to the muzzle.
I form my improved back sight by imparting an additional and independent
vertical motion to the ordinary notch, and by adding thereto two points
capable of lateral adjustment to and from each other.
My improved cartridge to be used with the breech before described consists
in forming the case with a flange projecting from the rear, and with a tail
carried from the flange, in the end of. which a percussion cap is inserted. For
other than the system of breech before described, and in some cases even for
that system, I dispense with the tail. The flange being, compressed between
the fixed and movable breech assists in rendering the breech gas-tight. When
the cartridges are formed with a tail carrying the percussion cap, they are
withdrawn from the barrel after being discharged on opening the breech.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Brownlow Hugh Mathew in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 20th September 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BROWNLOW
HUGH MATHEW, of Saint James', in the County of Middlesex, Lieutenant
Royal Bombay Engineers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her

page_text: reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Brownlow Hugh Mathew, Her special licence, that I, the said Brownlow
Hugh Mathew, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Brownlow Hugh Mathew, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FIRE-ARMS AND IN CARTRIDGES," upon the condition (amongst others).
that I, the said Brownlow Hugh Mathew, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
!
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Brownlow Hugh Mathew, 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 thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, that
is to say:
My Invention relates to large and small arms and ordnance, and comprises,
first, a new arrangement of parts for breech-loading arms; second, a, new
method of rifling arms; third, an improved back sight for arms; and, fourth;
an improved cartridge for breech-loading arms.
:
I construct my breech-loading arms as hereafter explained. At the rear
end of an ordinary barrel I form a longitudinal aperture, and at the back of
that aperture I form a transverse cylindrical hole for the reception of a
curvilinear wedge. The longitudinal aperture is filled and covered by a solid
plunger, the face of which bears against the end of the barrel proper; the rear
end of the plunger is formed with a hollow curve to receive the curvilinear
surface of the wedge. The curvilinear wedge is furnished on one side with a
projection, which forms a crank, the pin of which is inserted in a slot of a side
lever, the fore end of which is attached to the fore part of the plunger or
barrel, while the back end terminates in a handle for opening and closing
the breech. . :
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a side elevation of so much of a
breech-loading carbine as will be necessary to explain this part of my Inven-
tion; Figure 2 is a plan. of the same, shewing the breech open ready to receive
a cartridge. a is the longitudinal aperture formed at the rear end of the

page_text: barrel b, which latter is shewn detached in side elevation at Figure 3, in plan
at Figure 4, and in longitudinal section at Figure 5; c is the transverse
cylindrical hole for the reception of the curvilinear wedge d, detached views of
which wedge are given at Figures 6 and 7. It will be seen that in making
this hole I bore out part of the head of the breech plug. The wedge is
formed with a step e, and in a piece with an arm or crank f, as will be more
clearly explained hereafter. 9 is the plunger, forming one solid piece, the
upper part or cover being made of steel, a detached view of which is given in
side elevation at Figure 8, and in plan at Figure 9. The nipple is screwed
into the cover, and the line of fire passes, as shewn by the dotted lines in
Figure 8, to the centre of the rear of the cartridge. The plunger is curved at
its rear end, and bears against the curvilinear wedge between, say, the points a
and y when inserted in the aperture a, as shewn in the longitudinal sections,
Figures 10 and 11. h is a pin on the end of the crank f, which passes
through a slot i in a spring lever k, free to move upon the pin 1; m is a pin,
by preference conical, on the same lever k, taking when the breech is closed
into an aperture in the side of the barrel, and when the breech is partially or
wholly open into a groove n formed in the side of the cover of the plunger g,
and along which it travels while the plunger is being withdrawn from and
inserted in the aperture a. The curvilinear wedge d is secured to the barrel
by a screw q, which has a milled edge, so that it may be easily removed when
required. When the arm is charged, the plunger g and curvilinear wedge d
with its step e are in the position shewn at Figure 10, when the plunger being
wedged up between the barrel 6 and the wedge d, the greater the power
exerted against the plunger by the discharge the tighter the wedging. up
becomes. Now, to open the breech, release the pin m by means of the finger
piece of the lever k from the aperture in the side of the barrel, and allow it
to enter the groove n in the side of the plunger. The same motion of the
lever k through the pin h and crank fimparts a partial rotary motion. to the
wedge d, whereupon the step e raises the tail of the plunger into the position
shown at Figure 11, when it is drawn by hand to the position indicated by the
dotted lines in Figure 11, and by the full lines in Figure 2, and the arm is
ready to receive a cartridge; the motion of the plunger is guided by the pin in
travelling through the slot n. To close the breech the plunger is returned by
hand to the position shewn by the full lines in Figure 11; the lever k is
depressed, the wedge d receives a partial turn, and the plunger is secured as
before. o is a curve removed from the sides of the longitudinal aperture in
the rear end of the barrel, corresponding in size with an enlargement p-left
upon the plunger.g. To remove the plunger from the aperture a it is drawn

page_text: back as far as the curve o, and lifted out. The enlargement p acts at the
same time as a guide to the plunger, and prevents it leaving the aperture,
except at the curve o.. Unless the breech is wholly closed, and the plunger
wedged up, the crank pin h abuts against a stop s upon the back of the
hammer, and prevents it being set at full cock, but on the contrary, when the
breech is closed, and the plunger wedged up, the crank pin h has been
lowered sufficiently to allow of the recess passing over the pin and the hammer
being placed at full cock. When this part of my Invention is applied to
breech-loading ordnance, the plunger may be withdrawn by means of a ratchet
paul and lever, or other suitable mechanical appliance.
My method of rifling consists, in forming the grooves in such manner that
the projectile shall be upheld truly and continuously during its passage through
the barrel. Figure 12 will illustrate one manner in which I carry this part of
my Invention into effect. I cut away from the interior surface of the barrel;
except those parts from a to b, and from c to d, to form the peculiar curves
a, c, and b, d, and. I cause the termination of the curves to converge towards
the common centre, as shewn by the dotted lines."
I form my improved back sight by imparting an additional and independent
vertical motion to the ordinary notch, and by adding thereto two points capable
of lateral adjustment to and from each other. Figure 13 shows in front
elevation, and Figure 14 in top view, so much of a back sight as will be
necessary to explain this part of my Invention. b, b, are two pins inserted in
holders c, c, and capable of lateral adjustment therein. The adjustment may
be performed by a key, and after being once adjusted, they may, if desired; be
fixed. The sight is taken between the pins, the foresight, and the object.
My improved cartridge to be used with the breech before described, consists
in forming the case with a flange projecting from the rear, and with a tail
carried from the flange, in the end of which a percussion cap is inserted. For
other than the system of breech before described, and in some cases even for
that system, I dispense with a portion of the tail. The flange being com-
pressed between the fixed and movable breech assists in rendering the breech
gas-tight. Figure 15 shows in plan, and Figure 16 in side view, a cartridge
made in this manner. a is the flange, and 6 the tail projecting therefrom,
with an aperture c for the insertion of a percussion cap. The cartridge is
jointed to facilitate its insertion into the barrel. The flange 'and tail may be
made separate from the case, and of leather, or any other suitable material, as
shown at Figure 17, and may be applied to any description of cartridge, as, for
example, to a skin cartridge, shown at Figure 18, and it may have a cap
inserted in the aperture, as shewn at Figure 19. The cap is secured in the

page_text: aperture in the tail by skin or paper, and when skin is employed the cap is
at the same time made waterproof. To load with a cartridge formed with a
capped tail, insert the cartridge in the aperture a, and place the cap on the
nipple, as shewn in Figure 2, then close the plunger, as shewn in Figure 1:
Upon withdrawing the plunger after the discharge the nipple brings with it
the tail and cartridge case, except where the tail is attached to a flannel or
other cartridge, which would be carried off by the explosion.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First, the construction, arrangement, and method of action of the breech
parts of breech-loading fire-arms, substantially as herein-before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings...
Second, rifling fire-arms by forming the grooves in such manner that the
projectile shall be upheld truly during its passage through the barrel, as herein,
before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Third, the construction of back sights for fire-arms, as herein-before
described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth, the construction of cartridges, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Brownlow Hugh Mathew, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of September, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-two.
BROWNLOW H. MATHEW. (L.S.)