IMPROVEMENTS IN FIBRE-ARMS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Hall, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Gun Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FIBRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 2nd November 1869, and dated the 11th May 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Hall at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th May 1869.
I, JOHN HALL, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
The improvements consist in constructing breach-loading fire-arms
either single or double barrelled, and having plungers or rods made to
strike upon and explode cartridges constructed for the purpose, with the
plungers or rods so made and adapted that the movement of the hammer
of the lock shall cause, by its action on suitable mechanism within the
lock and stock of the gun, the plunger or rod to be withdrawn from or
drawn up and from the cartridge just fired and within the breech butt,
and so permit of the ready extraction and insertion of cartridges.

page_text: The improvements may be conveniently performed by making the
plunger of metal with a conical or rising shoulder, on the under side of
which a metal rod or pin is made to impinge by the action of the main-
spring of the lock (when a rebounding lock is used), the plunger being
made to act through a hollow nipple or other space formed for the
purpose, and the breech butt being bored through so as to allow of the
free passage of and the up-and-down movement of the pin actuated by
the mainspring; or a suitable spring or lever may be attached to the
bridle or other convenient part of the lock for the purpose of actuating
the up-and-down pin and enabling it to work on the shoulder of the
plunger and so cause the plunger to be drawn up or within the breech
butt by the movement of the hammer. The plunger may be so con-
structed that when home the collar takes a bearing on its upper side
(left flat for the purpose) against the end or against a shoulder formed
in the hollow nipple for the purpose, and so that the drawing-up move-
ment of the plunger is arrested at the proper position for receiving the
blow of the hammer for exploding the cartridge. When an ordinary
lock is used the solid metal stud on the lock plate is cut or formed with
suitable grooves or rests to receive for the purpose of working therein. a
metal sliding piece of convenient form and actuated by the tumbler of
the lock by the movement caused by raising the hammer, such move-
ment causing the sliding piece to act on and move a suitable crank or
lever, one end of which works the sliding piece and the other the plunger,
and by these means the necessary sliding motion is imparted to the
plunger, and in this case the plunger and nipple may be made in one if
desired, as the crank is so proportioned and fixed as to give the amount
of drawback required; or instead of the tumbler imparting the movement
suitable springs and levers may be introduced for this purpose.
The improvements may be readily applied to existing double, single,
bar, back-action, central-fire, breach-loading guns, rifles, and pistols.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Hall in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 10th November 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HALL, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun Maker, send 3
greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Hall, Her special licence that
I, the said John Hall, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I; the said John Hall, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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, usc, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Hall, 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 John Hall, 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, that is to say :-
1
The improvements consist in constructing breach-loading fire-arms
either single or double barrelled, and having plungers or rods made to
strike upon and explode cartridges constructed for the purpose, with the
plungers or rods so made and adapted that the movement of the hammer
of the lock shall cause, by its action on suitable mechanism within the
lock and stock of the gun, the plunger or rod to be withdrawn from or
drawn up and from the cartridge just fired and within the breach butt,
and so permit of the ready extraction and insertion of cartridges.
The improvements may be conveniently performed by making the
plunger of metal with a conical or rising shoulder, on the under side of.
which a metal rod or pin is made to impinge by the action of the main-
spring of the lock (when a rebounding lock is used), the plunger being
made to act through a hollow nipple or other space formed for the
purpose, and the breech butt being bored through so as. to allow of the-
free passage of and the up-and-down movement of the pin actuated by

page_text: the mainspring; or a suitable spring or lever may be attached to the
bridle or other convenient part of the lock for the purpose of actuating
the up-and-down pin and enabling it to work on the shoulder of the
plunger, and so cause the plunger to be drawn up or within the breech
butt by the movement of the hammer. The plunger may be so con.
structed that when home the collar takes a bearing on its upper side
(left flat for the purpose) against the end or against a shoulder formed
in the hollow nipple for the purpose, and so that the drawing-up move-
ment of the plunger is arrested at the proper position for receiving the
blow of the hammer for exploding the cartridge. When an ordinary
lock is used the solid metal stud on the lock plate is cut or formed with
suitable grooves or rests to receive, for the purpose of working therein, a
metal sliding piece of convenient form and actuated by the tumbler of
the lock by the movement caused by raising the hammer, such move-
ment causing the sliding piece to act on and move a suitable crank or
lever, one end of which works the sliding piece and the other the plunger,
and by these means the necessary sliding motion is imparted to the
plunger, and in this case the plunger and nipple may be made in one if
desired, as the crank is so proportioned and fixed as to give the amount
of drawback required; or instead of the tumbler imparting the movement
suitable springs and levers may be introduced for this purpose.
The improvements may be readily applied to existing double, single,
bar, back-action, central-fire, breech-loading guns, rifles, and pistols.
The accompanying Drawings will serve to illustrate different modes of
performing the improvements above described; but it is obvious that
the details may be varied without departing from the nature of the
Invention.
Figure 1 shows sectional elevation of a lock constructed with a metal
rod or pin a impinging on the plunger b, such rod being actuated by the
mainspring c. In this Figure the hammer is shown in its fixed down or
safety position ready for insertion of cartridge.
Figure 2 shows a lock similar to that above described, but in the
position of after firing or in the moment of firing.
Figure 3 shows another way of actuating the rod a by means of a
Z-piece or levere attached to the lock plate and worked by the tumbler
of the lock f. In this Figure the hammer is shewn full cock and ready
to fire.

page_text: Figure 4 shows another way of actuating the plunger 6 by means of
an angle piece g sliding and working in the grooved check h, said angle
piece being actuated by the action of the tumbler of the lock and made
to work the crank &, as shewn.
Figure 5 shows the arrangement of the parts lastly described in the
moment of or after firing.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Hall, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
JOHN HALL. (L.S.)