IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF REVOLVER FIRE-ARMS, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THEIR MANUFACTURE, ALSO IN CARTRIDGES TO BE USED THEREWITH
Year: 1866

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LETTERS PATENT to John Adams, of No. 391, Strand, in the County
of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF REVOLVER FIRE-ARMS, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THEIR MANUFACTURE,
ALSO IN CARTRIDGES TO BE USED THEREWITH."
Sealed the 23rd November 1866, and dated the 28th July 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Adams at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th July 1866.
I, JOHN ADAMS, of No. 391, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CONSTRUCTION OF REVOLVER FIRE-ARMS, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THEIR
MANUFACTURE, ALSO IN CARTRIDGES TO BE USED THERE WITH," to be as follows:-
This Invention bas for its object improvements in the construction of
revolver fire-arus, and in apparatus employed in their manufacture, also in
cartridges to be used therewith.
In constructing revolver fire-arms I take a forging of iron or steel which
has been reduced roughly to the form of the barrel of the revolver pistol
or fire-arm with the solid frame for the revolving cylinder, and I boro

page_text: out the barrel from end to end, making also a small hole concentric with
the bore in the back of the frame for the revolving cylinder. This forging
may either originally have a space left in it for the revolving cylinder, or
such a space may be subsequently cut out of it; I then place the forging
between two centres in a bolder, which is fixed to a slide rest; one of these 5
centres fits into the bore, and the other into the aforesaid small hole
concentric with the bore, and one of these centres travels by means of a
screw thread parallel with the bore, in order to secure the forging firmly and
accurately in its proper position. The forging is then advanced by means of
the slide rest up to two revolving cutters between which the lower portion of 1
the frame for the revolving cylinder passes, and is reduced to the proper
dimensions so as to receive the breech piece herein-after described; I then
transfer the forging to another holder which is fixed to a slide rest, where it
is secured between similar centres to those above described. This holder is
furnished at one end with a dividing plate, by means of which all the
necessary angles to the barrel of the revolver are obtained with perfect
accuracy. The forging is then advanced by means of the slide rest up to one
revolving cutter, which in succession performs all the necessary outside cuts
to the barrel. The manner in which the forging is held during these
operations between centres, as above described, ensures perfect accuracy in
the required thickness of the sides of the barrel, and also ensures that all the
barrels shall be alike. I then lay the work on a metal holder with the
barrel between two studs or blocks thereon, and I pass a spindle fitting
the barrel accurately down the barrel and through corresponding holes in
hardened steel bushes fitted into the studs or blocks. The work is in this
way accurately set on the holder for two passages or holes to be bored
underneath the barrel and truly parallel to the bore thereof; one of these
boles is to receive the pin or axis of the revolving cylinder, and the, other the
plunger of the ramming apparatus. To ensure the required truth in the
positions and directions of these holes there are other hardened steel bushes
fitted in the aforesaid studs or blocks on the holder, and the drill is guided u
to the work by the passages in these bushes with constant uniformity; the
in order to complete the recess for the ramming apparatus, and recesses fo
the parts of the lock, the work is fixed on a holder between centres, as befor
described, and held in position by the bore and the small hole concentric wit
the bore. The holder is so made as to receive and hold in this manne
between separate centres four different barrels or pieces, and it holds each
a suitable position to be presented to the tools, and these positions a
different the one from the other. The several pieces thus held are advance

page_text: by means of a slide rest up to four revolving cutters, and so a cut of the
required depth is made in each piece; then the slide rest is drawn back, and
the pieces are shifted from one pair of centres to another of the holder, except
that one piece which has been on all the centres and in which the slots
are all inade is removed from the machine, being so far finished, and
another fresh piece is brought to the machine to supply its place. The
slide rest is then again advanced to the cutters, and so the work goes on, each
piece remaining in the machine until the necessary slots to admit the ramming
apparatus and portions of the lock are cut to the exact required dimensions and
form. Several operations are in this way performed at the same time in one
machine, whereby a great saving of expense in the manufacture is secured
together with great accuracy. The barrel and frame made as above described
is not attached directly to the wooden stock or handle of the revolver, but to
its rear end a connecting metal frame is attached by screws, and to this the
stock is fixed. This connecting metal frame is the breech piece already
mentioned; it is accurately shaped by means of revolving cutters, and
contains within it most of the parts of the lock.
The ramming apparatus consists of three parts, firstly, a cylindrical
plunger fitting accurately the hole bored for it in the frame as already
described; secondly, a lever lying along under the barrel and at its rear end
bent downwards so as to pass beneath the pin. or axis of the chambers, and
made to fit partly into the slot cut for it in the frame as before described, and
partly into a corresponding slot cut in the plunger and head of the pin or axis
of the chambers; and, thirdly, a link connecting the plunger and lever; this
link is contained in the slot in the plunger. The lever turns on a pin passing
through its rear end and also through the frame immediately above the hole
or passage bored for the plunger. By arranging the ramming apparatus in
this manner the whole is made powerful and compact and the parts are fitted
very readily. The lever rod is secured in position when not in use by means
of a small bolt which is hollowed at one end about two-thirds of its length to
contain a small spiral spring; this bolt is sunk into a hole at the end of the
lever nearest the muzzle of the barrel to within a quarter of an inch of its
entire length, and secured by means of a small screw; this bolt is acted upon
by the spiral spring and works with a suitable catch attached to the barrel,
thus firmly secures the rod while lying along underneath the barrel.
The percussioning of the cylinders or the cutting the recesses to receive the
nipples is effected in the following manner:-When the chambers are bored
out, a small hole concentric with each of them is bored through the back of
the cylinder, this small hole afterwards receives the nipple. A suitable holder

page_text: is provided and fixed to the bed of the machine, in the sides of which hardened
steel bushes are fixed; through these bushes a moveable hardened steel
mandril or pin fitting the chamber, and the small hole concentric with it at
the base passes. The cylinder is then by turning it on this steel mandril or
pin which forms an axis to the cylinder brought up to a revolving cutter
corresponding in size with the recess to be cut and placed at a distance from
the aforesaid mandril or axis equal to the distance from centre to centre of the
chamber; the cylinder is thus pressed up against the revolving cutter until a
cut of the desirel depth is made, when one cut is complete the cylinder is
shifted round and the mandril or axis entered into another chamber and a
second cut is made as before, and so on until completed.
I construct the ratchet at the back of the cylinder by means of which the
cylinder is turned when in use in such a manner that a portion of it is left
flat, and so as to come close to the back of the solid frame in which the
cylinder is held; by this means a large bearing surface is provided to rest
against the frame, so that the recoil may be firmly resisted. I construct a
cylinder to use cartridges carryingtheirownfulminating priming to be loaded
at the muzzle of the cylinder instead of as heretofore at thebreechendthereof
in order to secure the free revolution of the cylinder and to admit of the same
ramming apparatus as above described being used for charging the chambers
of the cylinder. Each chamber of this cylinder is bored parallel from the
muzzle sufficiently deep to imbed the bullet; a small shoulder is then left,
and a shallow recess or groove may be cut in the chamber just in advance of
the shoulder, so that in ramming down the bullet against this shoulder its
base may be forced into the small recess or groove. The bullet then becomes
firmly held in position and offers sufficient resistance to the blow of the
hammer to cause explosion. From this shoulder to the necessary depth of
the chamber I bore out the chamber a little smaller than at the muzzle, and
by preference slightly conical, so that when metal cartridge cases or cups
which fit the bottom of the chamber are used they may after each discharge
be easily pushed out of the chamber; this I do by means of a small bolt
fixed to the frame at the breech end of the cylinder. This bolt may also be
made available for fixing the cylinder when the revolver is not in use at the
breech end of the chamber I bore a small hole completely through it concen-
tric with the bore of the chamber, through which the nose of the hammer
passes, and strikes the base of the cartridge, thereby causing ignition. Some-
times I employ cartridges with complete metal capsules or cases having a
fulminating priming at their rear ends and very similar to breech-loading
cartridges heretofore employed, but made conical so as to fit to the cone to

page_text: which the back of the chamber is bored as before described, I prefer, however,
to make the cartridges only with a small metal capsule somewhat similar to
an ordinary percussion cap; this forms the rear end of the cartridge and
ensures a gas-tight jointwhen the cartridge is fired. The sides of the cartridge
are made of skin or other material which will consume when the charge is
fired. In this arrangement in order that the capsule may be firmly supported
to receive the blow of the hammer, which is to explode the priming, I inter-
pose a stem between the base of the bullet and the capsule, this stem is blown
out on firing, leaving behind only the small metal capsule which is readily
displaced and falls out.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Adams in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th
January 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
ADAMS, of No. 391, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters,
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of July,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 John Adams, Her special licence that I, the said John Adams, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Adams, 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 THE CONSTRUCTION
OP REVOLVER FIRE-ARMS, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THEIR MANUFACTURE,
ALSO IN CARTRIDGES TO BE USED THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Adams, 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 Adams, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what. manner.the same is to be per-.

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of
revolver fire-arms, and in apparatus employed in their manufacture, also in
cartridges to be used therewith.
In constructing revolver fire-arms I take a forging of iron or steel which
has been reduced roughly to the form of the barrel of the revolver pistol or
fire-arm with the solid frame for the revolving cylinder, and I bore out the
barrel from end to end, making also a small hole concentric with the bore in
the back of the frame for the revolving cylinder. This forging may either
originally have a space left in it for the revolving cylinder, or such a space
may be subsequently cut out of it; I then place the forging between two
centres in a holder which is fixed to a slide rest; one of these centres fits
into the bore, and the other into the aforesaid small hole concentric with the
bore, and one of these centres travels by means of a screw thread parallel
with the bore in order to secure the forging firmlyand accurately in its proper
position. The forging is then advanced by means of the slide rest up to two
revolving cutters, between which the lower portion of the frame for the
revolvingcylinderpassesandisreduced to the roper dimensions so as to receive
the breech piece hereinafter described. I then transfer the forging to another
holderwhich is fixed to a slide rest, where it is secured between similarcentres
to those above described. This holder is furnished at one end with a dividing
plate, by means of which all the necessary angles to the barrel of the
revolver are obtained with perfect accuracy. The forging is then advanced
by means of the slide rest up to one revolving cutter, which.in succession
performs all the necessary outside cuts to the barrel. The manner in which
theforgingis heldduring these operations between centres, as abovedescribed,
ensures perfect accuracy in the required thickness of the sides of the barrel,
and also ensures that all the barrels shall be alike, I then lay the work on a
metal holder with the barrel between two studs or blocks thereon, and I pass
a spindle fitting the barrel accurately down the barrel and through. cor-
responding holes in hardened steel bushes fitted into the studs or blocks.
The work is in this way accurately set on the holder for two passages.or
holes to be bored underneath the barrel and truly parallel to the bore thereof.
One of these holes is to receive the pin or axis of the revolving cylinder, and
the other the plunger of the ramming apparatus. To ensure the required
truth in the positions and directions of these holes there are other hardened
steel bushes fitted in the aforesaid studs or blocks on the holders, and the
drill is guided up to the work by the passages in these bushes with constant

page_text: uniformity. Then in order to complete the recess for the ramming apparatus,
and recesses for the parts of the lock, the work is fixed on a holder between
centres as before described, and held in position by the bore and the small
hole concentric with the bore. The holder is so made as to receive and hold
in this manner between separate centres four different barrels or pieces, and it
holds each in a suitable position to be presented to the tools, and these
positions are different the one from the other. The several pieces thus held
are advanced by means of a slide rest up to four revolving cutters, and so a
cut of the required depth is made in each piece, then the slide rest is drawn
back and the pieces are shifted from one pair of centres to another of the
holder, except that one piece which has been on all the centres and in which
the slots are all made is removed from the machine, being so far finished, and
another fresh piece is brought to the machine to supply its place; the slide
rest is then again advanced to the cutters, and so the work goes on, each piece
remaining in the machine until the necessary slots to admit the ramming
apparatus and portions of the lock are cut to the exact required dimensions
aud form. Several operations are in this way performed at the same time in
one machine, whereby a great saving of expense in the manufacture is secured,
together with great accuracy. The barrel and frame inade as above described
is not attached directly to the wooden stock or handle of the revolver, but to
its rear end a connecting metal frame is attached by screws, and io this the
stock is fixed. This connecting metal frame is the breech piece already
mentioned. It is accurately shaped by means of revolving cutters, and
contains within it most of the parts of the lock.
The rammingapparatus consists of three parts; firstly,a cylindrical plunger
fitting accurately the hole bored for it in the frame, as already described;
secondly, a lever lying along under the barrel, and at its rear end bent down-
wards so as to pass beneath the pin or axis of the chambers and made to fit
partly into the slot cut for it in the frame as before described, and partly into
a corresponding slot cut in the plunger and head of the pin or axis of the
chambers; and, thirdly, a link connecting the plunger and lever; this link is
contained in the slot in the plunger. The lever turns on a pin passing through
its rear end and also through the frame immediatelyabove the hole or passage
bored for the plunger. By arranging the ramming apparatus in this manner
the whole is made powerful and compact, and the parts are fitted very readily..
The lever rod is secured in position when not in use by means of a small bolt
which is hollowed at one end about two-thirds of its length to contain a small
spiral spring. This bolt is sunk into a hole at the end of the lever nearest
the muzzle of the barrel to within about a quarter of an inch of its entire

page_text: length, and secured by means of a small screw. This bolt is acted upon by
the spiral spring, and works with a suitable catch attached to the barrel, this
firmly secures the rod when lying along underneath the barrel. The per-
cussioning of the cylinders or the cutting the recesses to receive the nipples
is effected in the following manner :-When the chambers are bored out
a small hele concentric with each of them is bored through the back of the
cylinder; this small hole afterwards receives the nipple. A suitable holder is
provided and fixed to the bed of the machine, in the sides of which holder
hardened steel bushes are fixed; through these bushes a moveable hardened
steel mandril or pin fitting the chamber and the small hole concentric with it
at the base passes; the cylinder is then by turning it on this steel mandril
or pin which forms an axis to the cylinder brought up to a revolving cutter
corresponding in size with the recess to be cut, and placed at a distance from
the aforesaid mandril or axis equal to the distance from centre to centre of the
chamber. The cylinder is thus pressed up against the revolving cutter until
a cut of the desired depth is made. When one cut is completed the cylinder
is shifted round and the mandril or axis entered into another chamber, and
a second cut is made as before, and so on until completed.
I construct a cylinder to use cartridges carrying their own fulminating
priming to be loaded at the muzzle of the cylinder instead of as heretofore
usual at the breech end thereof, in order to secure the free revolution of the
cylinder and to admit of the same ramming apparatus as above described
being used for charging the chambers of the cylinder. Each chamber of this
cylinder is bored parallel from the muzzle sufficiently deep to embed the
bullet. A small shoulder is then left and a shallow recess or groove may be
cut in the chamber just in advance of the shoulder, so that in ramming down
the bullet against this shoulder its base may be forced into the small recess or
groove; the bullet then becomes firmly held in position and offers sufficient
resistance to the blow of the hammer to cause explosion. From this shoulder
to the necessary depth of the chamber I bore out the chamber a little smaller
than at the muzzle, and by preference slightly conical, so that when metal
cartridge cases or cups which fit the bottom of the chamber are used they
inay after each discharge be easily pushed out of the chamber. This I do by
means of a small bolt fixed to the frame at the breech end of the cylinder.
This bolt may also be made available for fixing the cylinder when the revolver
is not in use. At the breech end of the chamber I bore a small hole com-
pletely through it concentric with the bore of the chamber through which the
nose of the hammer passes and strikes the base of the cartridge, thereby
causing ignition. Sometimes I employ cartridges with complete metal

page_text: capsules or cases baving a fulminating priming at their rear ends, and very
similar to breech-loading cartridges heretofore employed, but made conical
so as to fit to the cone to which the back of the chamber is bored, as before
described.
I prefer, however, to make the cartridges only with a small metal capsule,
somewhat similar to an ordinary percussion cap; this forms the rear end of
the cartridge and ensures a gas-tight joint when the cartridge is fired. The
sides of the cartridge are made of skin or other material which will consume
when the charge is fired. In this arrangement in order that the capsule may
be firmly supported to receive the blow of the hammer which is to explode
the priming 1 interpose a stem between the base of the bullet and the capsule,"
this stem is blown out on firing, leaving behind only the small metal capsule,
which is readily displaced and falls out.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
On Sheets 1, 2, and 3 of the Drawings are shown the various machines for
reducing to the proper dimensions the rough forging of the barrel and frame.
The barrel and frame are, as above stated, roughly forged to shape, and then
the space for the revolving cylinder is cut out by boring numerous small holes
around the edge of the part of the forging to be removed and punching out
this part; or the part may be cut out by circular cutters or otherwise. After-
wards the barrel is bored from end to end, and a small hole is bored through.
the back of the frame concentric with the bore; this I prefer to do by boring
the hole with a small drill carried at the end of a stem or mandril that is
passed down and that fits the barrel. The lower portion of the frame is then
reduced to its proper dimensions by being caused to pass between two
circular cutters. A machine for effecting this is shown on Sheet 1 of the
Drawings.
Figure 1 is n front view, Figure 2 a side view, and Figure 3 a plan of the
machine.
a, a, are the two circular cutters which are carried on the end of an axis b,
on which is a toothed wheel b' gearing with a pinion c¹ on an axis c; on this
axis are fast and loose pullies c³ for receiving a driving band or strap, and in
this manner rotary motion is given to the axis b of the cutters. The axes b
and care carried by a headstock d, which is fixed to a bed similar to the bed
of a lathe; this bed is not shown in the Drawing. The forging to be acted
on by the cutters is held in the position shown by the Drawing between two

page_text: points e, e¹, of a holder carried by a slide f working on guides carried by a
plate g, which is fixed to the bed in a similar mauner to the headstock. One
of the points e is fixed to a projection f' on the top of the slide, and the other
point is formed on the end of a screw that screws into another projection f
on the slide. There is also a third point es carried by the projection f¹; this
point is for entering a hole in the back of the frame, and prevents the forging
from turning round upon the points e, e¹. When the forging has been secured
between the points the slide f is moved forward by turning the crank handle
on the axis of the screw h, or it might be by self-acting gear, so as to pass the
under side of the frame end of the forging between the two circular cutters a, a.
Between the cutters a, a, is a third cutter a' which reduces the frame of the
forging at the point k to its proper dimensions.
After the forging has been subjected to the action of the machine above
described it is acted on by the machine shown on Sheet 2 of the Drawings in
order to reduce the exterior of the barrel and frame to the required shape.
Figure 1 is a front view, Figure 2 a side view, and Figure 3 a plan of the
machine. In this machine the barrelis fixed between points of a holder carried
by a slide rest similar to the one in the machine shown on Sheet 1. One of
these points is a fixed point; the other point e' is capable of being moved
backwards or forwards in a manner similar to the back centre of a lathe by
turning the hand wheel i. Carried by the point e¹ is a dividing plate k which
can turn freely around the point; this plate carries a clamp k², in which the
frame portion of the rough forging is held so that the forging shall turn with
the plate. In the plate are formed as inany holes as it is desired that the
exterior of the barrel should have sides; into either of these holes a spring
catch k² enters to fix the plate whilst one of the sides of the barrel is being
reduced to form. When one of the rough forgings has been fixed to the
holder on the slide rest f in the manner above described the rest is moved
forward to carry the exterior of the barrel or forging against the circular
cutter. After one side of the barrel has thus been reduced to shape the
other sides are in succession reduced in a similar manner. At the same time
that the sides of a barrel or forging are thus being reduced to form the
rear end of the frame portion of another barrel or forging can be reduced by
fixing it between a fixed joint m and a moveable point m¹ carried by the same
slide rest, the barrel or forging being further held by a clamp n, as shown
at Figures 2 and 3.
After that the barrel or forging has been operated on by this machine
it is laid on the metal holder shown at Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (Sheet 2).
Figure 4 is a plan view of the holder shewing a barrel or forging held

page_text: an end view, and Figures 7
In this holder the ends of the
upon it; Figure 5 is a side view, Figure 6
and 8 are transverse sections of the same.
barrel are held between the two end blocks o, o'. Another block o2 passes
up through the opening in the frame that is to receive the revolving cylinder,
and the barrel is secured by a pin which fits the bore of the barrel, passing
through a hole in the block o, then through the barrel and into a hole in the
block o. The holes in the blocks may be fitted with hardened bushes if
desired. When the barrel and frame has thus been secured two holes are
bored in the frame, one to receive the axis of the revolving cylinder, and the
other to receive the plunger of the ramming apparatus. The stems of the
drills or cutters which are to form these holes are passed through holes formed
in the block o', and also through concentric holes in a block o³, and by this
means the position of the holes bored in the frame is secured with the necessary
accuracy. It is preferred that the holes in the block o³ should be bushed as
shown in the transverse section Figure 7. A hole is bored in the block o²
concentric with the holes in the blocks of and 03 through which the drill or
cutter is passed that is to bore the hole to receive the axis of the revolving
cylinder in order that the drill or cutter may pass through the hole in this
block to bore a continuation of the hole into the back of the frame.
When the holes have been bored in the frame as above described it is
removed to be acted on by the machine shown at Sheet 3 of the Drawings.
Figure 1 is a front view, Figure 2 a side view, and Figure 3 a plan of the
machine. The axis of the revolving cutters of this machine is carried in the
saine manner as in the machine shown on Sheet 1; the slide rest to which
the barrels or frames to be operated on are fixed also slides on guides similar
to those shown on the same Sheet. The slide rest of this machine is arranged
to carry a holder, to which are affixed four barrels to be acted on simultaneously
by the circular cutters.. One barrel and frame held between the centres a, a¹,
and a supporting point and thumbscrew a³ is acted on by the cutter No. 1 in
order to complete the groove for the ramming apparatus. Another barrel
held between the centres 6,6', and supporting point and thumbscrew 62isacted
on by the cutter No. 2 to form the groove a to receive the trigger and trigger
spring. Another barrel held between centres c, c', and by a clamp c2 is acted
on by the cutter No. 3 to form a groove or recess y to receive a portion of the
lock, and a fourth barrel held between centres d, d, and by a clamp d² is
acted on by a cutter No. 4 to form the recess, through which passes the
point of the driver for giving a partial rotation to the cylinder. Four separate
barrels are thus simultaneously acted on, and each barrel is in turn acted
on by all the cutters. A full size view of the barrel and frame after it has

page_text: been shaped by the cutters as above described is shown at Figures 4, 5, and 6
on Sheet 3.
On Sheet 4 of the Drawings is shown a machine for shaping the metal
frame or breech piece by which the barrel is connected to the stock; this
machine is arranged to perform three different operations simultaneously on
three different rough breech pieces.
Figure 1 is a front view; Figure 2 a side view, and Figure 3 a plan of
the machine, the machine like those already described is composed of an
axis carrying circular cutters, and of a slide rest and holder that carries the
work. One rough oreech piece is held by a clamp a in the position indicated
by the diagram, Figure 4, in order that it may be acted on by the cutter
No. 1, to accurately surface a portion of the tang and the rear end of the
rough breech piece where it is connected with the wooden stock or handle.
This rough breech piece is transferred to and is held by the clamp 6 in the
position shown by the diagram, Figure 5, in order that it may be acted on
by the cutter No. 2 to form the slot r (see Figures 7), and a third breech
piece is held by a clamp c in the position shown by Figure 6 to be acted on
by a cutter No. 3 which cuts out the slot y. When each of the pieces has
been in succession subjected to the action of all the three cutters it is ready
to be attached to one of the barrel pieces made as already described. I
would here remark that other parts or surfaces of the barrel and of the frame
or breech piece may be similarly shaped by circular cutters, the barrel or
breech piece separately or together being fixed to a slide rest as above
described, by which it is moved up to the cutter, and the form of the barrel
or breech piece being suitably designed to allow of such parts being shaped by
circular cutters.
On Sheet 4 is also shown my arrangement of ramming apparatus for
ramming the cartridges into the chambers of the revolving cylinder. At
Figure 8 is shown a side view, partly in section, of the ramming apparatus,
and Figures 9 show separately the parts of the ramming apparatus composed
as above stated of three parts; firstly, a plunger a fitting the hole bored for
it in the frame; secondly, of the lever b bent downwards at its rear end to
pass beneath the pin or axis of the chambers, and fitting partly in the slot
cut for it in the frame and partly in a slot in the head of the pin or axis of
the revolving chambers; the third part of the ramming apparatus is a link c,
which connects the lever band plungera, the manner of forming and jointing
together the several parts is clearly shown in the Drawings. The catch for
securing the lever b when the ramming apparatus is out of use is also clearly
shown in Figure 8. d is the small hollow bolt of the catch containing the

page_text: spiral spring d', which presses the bolt outwards from the end of the lever;
the bolt is stopped from moving out too far by a screw pin not shown in the
Drawing; the lever 6 near its outer end is cut away, as shown at b', b', on
two opposite sides, the narrow portion left of the lever at this point is, when
the lever is out of use, received between two clips formed as shown by the
Drawing. A portion of the bolt d is cut away in a similar manner to the
lever so that it may pass between the clipping pieces on the under side of
the barrel. In order to bring this part of the bolt opposite the clips so that
it may pass between them the bolt has to be pressed inwards, when the
lever is to be secured by the clips, the bolt is pressed inwards merely by
turning up the lever, the incline d² on the bolt then strikes against the under
side of the clips, and thus the bolt is pressed back, and as soon as the bolt
has passed between the clips the bolt is again pressed forward by its spiral
spring, the round portion of the bolt is then unable to pass between the
clips, and the lever is held fast. When it is desired to release the lever
from the catch the bolt is pressed inwards by the finger and the lever then
turned down.
On Sheet 5 of the Drawings is shown the arrangement of machinery for
percussioning the ends of the revolving cylinders or shaping them to receive the
nipples,a hole is first bored through the centre of the cylinder for the pin or
axis on which it is to turn, and after the cylinder has been reduced to its proper
dimensions the chambers of the revolving cylinder are then bored. To bore
the chambers in the cylinder I by preference first bore a small hole through
or partly through one end of the cylinder and employ for this purpose a frame
such as is shown in the section, Figure 1,in which to hold the cylinderwhilst it
is being bored, and the cutting tool or drill to form this hole is passed through
the bushed hole b in the end of the frame. A pin a accurately fitting this
hole,and the bushed hole 6 in the frame, is then inserted to hold the cylinder
accurately in position in the frame, whilst a second hole is bored through
another bushed hole b' in the opposite end of the frame. The cylinder is
then removed from this frame, and is held by a centre bolt between two
plates c and d, as shown in Figure 2; each of these plates has formed through
it as many bushed holes as it is desired that the cylinder shall have chambers,
and two pins e, fare passed through two of these holes into the two holes
already bored in the opposite endsof the cylinder, the remainder of the holes aro
then bored in the cylinder, the bushed holes in the plates forming guides for
the boring tools and ensuring the holes being correctly bored in the cylinder.
The cylinder is then removed from between the plates and the chambers are
bored to the proper dimensions for receiving the charge. The cylinder is

page_text: c,
then acted on by the machine shown at Figures 3 and 4; this machine is
for shaping the end of the cylinder to receive the nipples. a is a circular
revolving cutter carried as in the machine shown on Sheet 1, the cylinder to
be acted on by this cutter is held on a pin or mandril b, carried by a holder.
which is fixed to the same bed as that to which the frame carrying the axis,
of the revolving cutter is affixed; the pin or mandril b can be slid into or out
of holes in the sides of the holder c, and thus the cylinder can readily be
placed upon it; a portion of the pin on to which the cylinder is placed is
made to fit one of the chambers of the cylinder, and also to pass through the
small hole concentric with it, which is formed through the base of the
Cylinder; when the cylinder is thus held on the pin a workman by hand
turns the cylinder on the pin (or it may be turned by self-acting gear) and
presses it against the cutter until the cutter has entered to the depth
desired, if desired the depth to which the cutter is allowed to act may be
regulated by a suitable stop, the cylinder is then removed from the pin.
and the pin is passed through a fresh hole in the cylinder and the same,
operation is repeated until all the recesses to receive the nipples are formed.
I have not thought it necessary to give any further description of my improve-
ments in cartridges carrying their own fulminating priming or of my improve-
ments in revolving fire-arms with which such cartridges are to be used as they
will readily be understood from the description above given.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Adams, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
JOHN ADAMS. (L.S.)