MENTS IN REVOLVERS AND IN REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1872

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to John Piddington, of 53, Gracechurch Street, in
the City of London, Patent 'Agent, for the Invention of IMPROVE
MENTS IN REVOLVERS AND IN REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS."-A communication
from abroad by C. F. Tackels, Captain of Infantry, residing at Huy,
in the Kingdom of Belgium.
Sealed the 4th March 1873, and dated the 7th September 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Piddington at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th September 1872.
I, JOHN PIDDINGTON, of 53, Gracechurch Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVERS AND IN REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS," being a
communication to me from abroad by C. F. Tackels, Captain of Infantry,
residing at Huy, in the Kingdom of Belgium, to be as follows:-
The improvements embraced by this Invention are more especially
applicable to revolving pistols or revolving fire-arms in which central-
fire cartridges are used, the extraction of the expended cartridge cases

page_text: being produced by automatic mechanism which is put in motion by the
action of opening the pistol or fire-arm. The pistol or fire-arm is jointed
and arranged so as to turn on a pivot or hinge at the lower part of the
front end of the frame or body, and is locked or held firmly in position
for discharge, or when not required to be intentionally opened, by a
self-acting spring latch or pedal.
The pistol or fire-arm is divided into two parts united by and turning
upon a hinge constructed at the front end of the foot or lower portion of
the frame or body of the pistol or fire-arm, and the spring latch or lock
which secures and unites the two parts firmly in contact is attached to
the opposite end of the frame or body. This spring latch or pedal is
disengaged by pressure, and thus permits of the free rotary movement of
the barrel with the cylinder and parts connected therewith upon the
hinge, which is provided with a projection so arranged as to put in
motion a tube carrying at its rear end an extractor of a star form, and
which works through the cylinder and turns therewith upon its axis, but
having also a to-and-fro movement in connection with a pin or pivot
upon which it is mounted, and which pin or.
r. pivot serves as the axis
upon which the cylinder revolves, and by means of which the cylinder
with its adjuncts is attached to the frame or body of the pistol or fire-
The movement for the extraction and rejection of the expended
cartridge cases is produced by and dependent upon the lever or projection
formed upon the hinge, which in the act of opening the pistol or fire-
arm is brought in contact with the end of the pin or pivot, and the
return motion of the pin with the extractor is produced by a spiral spring
which surrounds the pin or pivot.
arm.
In order to obviate the disadvantages attendant upon the escape of
gas from faulty cartridges, and the inconvenience resulting from the
fouling thus occasioned, which more or less impedes the proper working
of the pistol or fire-arm, and obstructs the regular action of the lifter
and ratchet arrangement of or upon the cylinder as ordinarily employed,
the recoil face of the frame or body of the pistol or fire-arm against
which the rear or chamber end of the cylinder is in contact when the
pistol or fire-arm is closed is made perfectly solid, except the opening to
permit the passage of the nose of the hammer. The trigger spring
ordinarily placed in a trough formed in the lower part or foot of the
frame or body is dispensed with, and the foot is formed solid. By these
means the entry of gas or powder-fouling into the lock or into the

page_text: working mechanism of the pistol or fire-arm is completely prevented.
The rotation of the cylinder is produced by an oscillating rod attached
to and receiving its motion from the trigger by means of a guide, the
movement thus produced being communicated to the cylinder, which
has teeth or ratchets formed upon its outer rearward circumference, in
which one extremity of the oscillating rod engages, and by the move-
ment of the trigger for the purpose of cocking or discharging the pistol
or fire-arm, or. by the independent. movement of the hammer prior to
discharge, the rotation of the cylinder is effected. By means of a plate
placed on the under side of the foot or body of the pistol or fire-arm;
and so arranged as to be free to slide between two shoulders, the action
of opening the pistol or fire-arm by turning. the forward end upon its
hinge joint brings a portion of the joint arranged for that purpose in
contact with the sliding plate, and by its rearward movement the
hammer is brought to the position of half-cock.
As a consequence of these modifications and the omission of the lifter,
ratchet, and accessories ordinarily employed, a more simple, solid, and
efficient arrangement and disposition of the hammer and mainspring as
also of the trigger is obtained, and for the greater facility of examination
of the interior of the mechanism a moveable side plate is arranged,
which by the withdrawal of a single screw can readily be removed, and
the working parts of the mechanism of the pistol or fire-arm thereby
exposed to view for cleaning, oiling, or other purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Piddington in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 7th March 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
PIDDINGTON, of 53, Gracechurch Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria,, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for. Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Piddington, Her special licence that I,

page_text: the said John Piddington, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said John Piddington, 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 REVOLVERS AND IN
REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS," being a communication to me from abroad by
C. F. Tackels, Captain of Infantry, residing at Huy, in the Kingdom of
Belgium, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Piddington, 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
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Piddington, 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 annexed Drawings,
and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say:-
The improvements embraced by this Invention are more especially
applicable to revolving pistols or revolving fire-arms in which central-
fire cartridges are employed, and relate more especially to that class of
revolvers in which the extraction of the expended cartridge cases is
effected by automatic mechanism receiving its motion from the action
of turning the barrel of the revolver with its cylinder or charge chamber
upon a hinged joint, but the essential elements of this Invention are
equally applicable to revolving pistols in which the barrel is fixed to
the body, and the extraction of the expended cartridge cases is effected
by a rod or other means; in this latter case, however, the body or frame
of the pistol would require to be adapted to the altered requirements.
In applying these improvements to a revolving pistol having the
barrel jointed to the lower forward end of the frame or body, the
pistol is composed of two parts, united by and turning upon the axis
of this joint, the one part comprising the barrel with its foot or support
to which the axis of the cylinder or revolving chamber with its adjuncts
is attached, and which support forms with the forward end of the foot

page_text: of the frame or body the hinge above described. The barrel has at its
rear end a strap or bar arranged to close or shut into the upper portion
of the recoil surface of the frame or body, where it is maintained solidly
by a spring latch or catch, which secures and unites the barrel and its
adjuncts to the frame or body of the pistol for discharge, or when not
required to be intentionally opened this frame or body comprising the
butt and the mechanism for discharging the cartridges producing: the
rotation of the cylinder and maintaining the chambers of the cylinder
in perfect conformity with the barrel during the explosion of the
cartridges.
The pistol is opened by exerting a slight pressure upon the thumb
piece of the spring latch, which is thus turned upon its pin or pivot,
and whereby the hammer is first moved backwards to the safety bent,
the catch of the latch becomes disengaged from the screw, the head
of which serves to maintain it in position, and the strap or bar of the
barrel is disengaged, leaving the barrel with its adjuncts free to turn
upon the pivot of its hinge. In doing so the lever or projection solid
to the front end of the frame or body engages the axis upon which the
extractor is mounted, and thereby produces the extraction of the
expended cartridge cases, the extractor which is of a starlike form
remaining projecting beyond the rear face of the cylinder until the
arm is re-charged, when it is returned into position by the reverse action
of the fixed lever, or I sometimes employ a spiral spring which surrounds
the axis of the extractor, and by which the extractor is returned into
position level or nearly so with the rear face of the cylinder, and this
return motion may or may not be completed by the reverse action of
the fixed lever, the action of the spiral spring bringing the barrel
and adjuncts to an angle of forty-five degrees or thereabout with the
frame or body of the pistol after the extraction of the expended
cartridge cases has been completely effected. The cylinder with its
adjuncts is securely attached to the support forming part with the
barrel by a key or screw pin, which however can be removed at dis-
cretion when it is desired to dismount this portion of the mechanism.
The rotation of the cylinder is effected by forming the ratchet upon the
outer circumference of the cylinder or charge chamber.
The mode of producing the rotation of the cylinder and retaining
its chambers successively in position relatively to the axis of the barrel
during the discharge of the cartridge forms one of the improvements

page_text: to which this Patent has reference. I dispense with the lifter and
ratchet arrangements ordinarily employed to produce the rotation of
the cylinder or charge chamber, which enables me to make the recoil
surface of the body of the pistol solid, except the opening, which permits
of the passage of the nose of the hammer to ignite the cartridge and
thereby the escape of gas or of powder fouling resulting from faulty.
cartridges is prevented from entering the mechanism and obstructing
the regular action of the ratchet and lifter and impeding more or less
the proper working of the pistol.
In these my improvements I produce the rotation of the cylinder or
charge chamber by an oscillating lever or plate moving upon a pivot
fixed to the recoil surface of the frame or body of the pistol. This
oscillating lever or plate has an arm or spur which projects slightly
beyond the outer circumference of the recoil surface, and engages with
the teeth of the ratchet upon the cylinder, when the barrel and adjuncts
are closed and locked in position. This oscillating plate is also arranged
in such a manner that a guide receiving its motion from the trigger
causes the rod or plate to oscillate, and by means of the arm or spur
which is maintained in continual contact with the rear end of the
cylinder, when the pistol is closed by means of a spiral or other spring
engages alternately the teeth of the ratchet and lifts or rotates the
cylinder the proportion or distance necessary to bring each chamber
successively in line with the barrel, where it is firmly maintained
during the discharge of the cartridges by a regulator, which obedient
to the action and movement of the trigger enters successively notches
formed, upon the periphery of the cylinder or is alternately retired
therefrom.
These modifications in the mode of rotating the cylinder necessitate
a special adaptation of the trigger, which is formed with an arm or
elongation arranged to receive one end of the guide which communicates
motion to the oscillating plate, this elongation serving also to produce
the movement of the regulator simultaneously with that of the oscillating
plate. In addition to this I form on one side of the trigger a sinking to
receive a piece, which turning upon the same axis as the trigger serves as
a safety bent or stop due to a double movement, one movement dependent
upon the movement of and with the trigger, the other independent of the
trigger but due to the movement produced by the spring latch upon the
hammer, or by moving the hammer directly by the action of the thumb

page_text: on its crest. In addition to this the trigger is furnished with a spur
which by the intermediary of the lifter raises the hammer to half or
full cock. In this latter position the spur acts as the sear nose, which
on becoming disengaged from the full bent of the hammer permits the
forward movement of the hammer which produces the discharge. I
dispense with the trigger spring ordinarily placed in a trough formed
in the lower part or foot of the frame or body which is now formed
solid, and I use a spring split for a portion of its length so as to form
two blades, one acting upon the trigger, the other acting upon the safety
bent or stop. At its lower end this spring unites and has two pro-
jections formed upon it for retaining and securing it in position.
The omission of the lifter ratchet and accessories ordinarily employed
and the substitution of the mechanism herein described permits the
employment of a more simple, solid, and efficient arrangement and
disposition of the hammer and mainspring, and a greater facility of
examination of the working parts of the mechanism, and their removal
if necessary for cleaning, oiling, or other purposes than is ordinarily the
case.
be
The handle or butt of the pistol is formed in a piece with the frame
or body, and has a web continuous or in two or more parts as may
necessary which supports the discharging and rotating mechanism. In
the upper end of this web I form or fix two pivots, the one serving
as the axis of the hammer, the other of the trigger and safety bent or
stop, and at or near the centre of the butt or handle I attach a key so
arranged as to be free to rotate when desired, and by which the main-
spring and trigger spring are compressed and secured firmly in position
or are unbent for removal in case of necessity. The hammer is furnished
with a swivel which engages in the ordinary manner with the fork of
the mainspring; it has a lifter which is actuated by a spur formed upon
the trigger, and has a half bent which engages with the independent
safety bent or stop of the trigger, as also a full bent for discharge. In
addition to the arrangements already described I employ a moveable
side plate which is arranged to cover the working parts of the mecha-
nism. This moveable side plate is arranged to receive and sustain the
projecting ends of the fixed pivots upon which the hammer and trigger
turn, and is arranged to maintain in connection with a lip or spur
formed upon the frame of the butt or handle the wood of the stock on
the side to which the moveable plate is adapted, this side of the wood of

page_text: In place of moving the hammer by means of the spring latch already
described, I sometimes prefer to employ a moveable plate arranged to
slide on the under side of the fore end of the frame or body; this plate
receives its motion from a projection formed upon the joint of the barrel
or support and acts upon the trigger, thereby lifting the hammer to the
half or safety bent.
I will now refer to the annexed Drawings, from which the nature of
the said Invention will be more clearly understood. Similar letters of
reference refer to similar parts in all the Figures.
A is the barrel with its support A¹ and bar A'; a is the pin or pivot
upon which the barrel and its accessories turn; B is the cylinder or
revolving. chamber; B', the ratchet; B³, the stop or notches with which
the regulator H engages; C is the frame or body of the pistol; C¹, the
foot or front end; C2, the recoil face; C³, the handle or butt; 0%, the
webs of the butt on which the mechanism of the lock mounted; C³,
the lever or projection solid to the front end of the frame, and which
engages with the moveable pin R to produce the extraction of the
expended cartridge cases; 0%, the stock; D is the hammer; D', the
nose; D³, the lifter; D³, the swivel; E is the trigger with a sinking E¹
for the reception of the piece I, forming safety bent or stop, and with
an arm or elongation Es receiving the pinion or arm of the guide J,
by means of which motion is communicated to the oscillating plate K.
Es is the spur or sear nose of the trigger; F is the mainspring; F", the
projection against which an arm or spur of the key or cramp N comes
in contact; G is the trigger spring split and arranged to act inde-
pendently upon the piece I forming the stop or safety bent; G¹, the
projection against which one arm or spur of the key N comes in contact
for the compression; H is the regulator, ensuring conformity between
the chambers of the cylinder and the barrel during explosion. c is a
screw serving as the axis of the regulator, or a fixed axis may be
employed as for the hammer and trigger. I is the stop or safety bent
of the trigger; J, the guide communicating motion. from the trigger
to the oscillating plate K by means of J¹, the arm or pinion, and J* an
oblique arm which engages with the rounded hollow K² of the oscillating
plate; K, the oscillating lever plate; K³, the arm or spur which imprints
the movement of rotation upon the cylinder by means of the ratchet B¹
formed upon the outward circumference of the rear end of the cylinder;
K is a rounded hollow in which the oblique arm J' of the guide

page_text: engages; k, pivot of the oscillating lever plate K with enlarged screw
head; upon this pivot is placed the spiral spring, which maintains the
arm or spur K¹ constantly in contact with the teeth of the ratchet on
the rear face of the cylinder when the pistol is closed; L is the spring
latch or pedal lever; 1, the screw forming pivot upon which this spring
latch turns, and by which it is attached to the recoil face 0° of the
frame or body; P, a screw attached also to the recoil face C³, and
forming a stop to the spring latch; 2, the thumbpiece; M, the spring
to this latch; m, the screw pin or pivot by which it is attached to
the frame or body of the pistol; N, the key or cramp lever, by which
the main and trigger springs are secured in place or released or unbent
for dismounting; N¹, the pivot; N2, the nut securing the key to the
web of the frame or body; N³, hole in the web for this pivot; N*, arms
acting upon the projections F and G¹ of the springs; O is the trigger
guard formed separately from the frame or body; O¹, the screw; 0%, the
dovetail; P, the moveable side plate covering the mechanism of the
lock; p, the screw pin attaching this moveable side plate to the frame
or body. Qis the axis of the cylinder containing the moveable pin R,
or the tube R' with its pin R² surrounded by a spiral spring, to the end
of which pin the star extractor S is attached by the screw R³; Q¹is the
shoulder of the axis, which serves to maintain the cylinder in position;
is the set screw guiding the extractor pin R in the tube Q; S,
extractor in form of a star with guides &¹ and s²; T, key by which
the axis Q carrying the cylinder and adjuncts is attached to the sup-
port A of the barrel. U, fixed pivot serving as the axis of the
hammer D; V, fixed pivot serving as the axis of the trigger E, and
.safety bent or stop I.
The annexed Drawings represent on a scale of actual grandcur a
pistol constructed in conformity with the foregoing descriptions, the
chief component parts being also shewn in detail.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, the whole of the parts being in repose
and the arm closed.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation, the moveable side plate
and the wood of the stock being removed to expose the mechanism of
the lock and means employed for rotating and retaining the cylinder
.chambers successively in conformity with the axis of the barrel, and
also the method of straining and fixing the trigger and mainsprings.
The barrel is drawn, turned upon its axis, and the extractor projected

page_text: beyond the rear face of the cylinder. The hammer is here shown in the
position it would occupy after the explosion of the cartridge had been
effected and the trigger returned to its normal position. This is an
error, because the hammer is always thrown back to the safety bent
before the pistol is opened and would never occupy the position here
shown during the time the arm is open unless intentionally placed
in this position. It would however be necessary to replace the hammer
at half cock, or in the safety bent before the arm could be closed,
otherwise it would be impossible for the end of the strap or bar of the
barrel to close. into the upper portion of the recoil surface of the frame
or body, this movement of the hammer being assured by the spring
catch.
Figure 3 a side elevation, and Figure 4 a rear end view of the barrel
with its support and bar.
Figure 5 a secțional side view, Figure 6 an under side view, and
Figure 7 a front view of the recoil surface of the body or frame of the
pistol. The position of the oscillating lever plate is shewn by dotted
lines upon
the recoil surface of the frame or body.
Figure 8 a side view, and Figure 9 a front view of the main
spring.
Figure 10 a side view, and Figure 11 a front view of the combined
trigger and stop or safety bent spring.
Figure 12 a side view, and Figure 13 an under side view of the
hammer.
Figure 14 a side view, and Figure 15 a back view of the trigger.
Figure 16 a side view, and Figure 17 a back view of the stop or safety
bent of the trigger.
Figure 18 is a side view, and Figure 19 a sectional view of the oscil-
lating plate.
Figures 20 front and side views of the guide which communicates
motion to the oscillating plate from the trigger.
Figures 21 side and end views of the regulator.
Figures 22 side and under side views of the spring latch or catch.
Figures 23 side and sectional views of the spring which actuates the
spring latch..

page_text: teeth of the ratchet formed on the rear face of the cylinder when the
latter is closed into position by means of a spiral or other spring and
the retention of the chambers of the cylinder in conformity with the
axis of the barrel during discharge by means of the regulator obedient
to the action of the trigger, substantially as herein described and illus-
trated in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. Forming the safety bent of the arm in the manner described
and indicated, turning upon the same axis as the trigger and partaking
of the motion imparted to the trigger, or having an independent
motion, as and for the purposes named, together with the employ of a
spring partially split and forming two blades, one blade acting directly
upon the trigger, the other upon the safety bent or stop.
Third. The means herein described and illustrated of fixing and
bending or unfixing and unbending the main and trigger springs for
removal or otherwise.
Fourth. The modified arrangements herein described and illustrated
of the discharging and rotating mechanism of the pistol, thereby
avoiding the entry of gas or powder fouling and the consequent
derangement of the internal mechanism of the pistol.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Piddington, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
DIVAFON
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