IMPROVEMENTS IN SLIDING BLOCK BREECH LOADING SMALL ARMS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Rigby of Dublin Gun Manufacturer and Langrishe
Fyers Banks of Dublin Gentleman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Rigby and Langrishe
Fyers Banks at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st March
1882.
JOHN RIGBY of Dublin Gun Manufacturer and LANGRISHE FYERS BANKS of
Dublin Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SLIDING BLOCK BREECH LOADING SMALL
ARMS
"
Our Invention has reference to breech loading small arms in which the opening
and closing of the breech is effected by the vertical motion of a sliding block in the
body of the gun, the descent of the said block opening the breech for charging and
the rising of the said block closing the breech for discharge.
Our said Invention consists in constructing and arranging the parts of the said
small arms in the manner hereinafter described.
The raising and lowering of the sliding block the cocking of the hammer and the
ejection of the case of the spent cartridge are effected by the action of an external
band lever on the right hand side of the body of the gun. This lever is made, in
one piece with a horizontal axis crossing the fore part of the body of the gun.
This axis has two cams or arms, one of which engages in a recess in the sliding
block and on the raising and lowering of the hand lever raises and lowers the
sliding block, The other cam or arm starts the extractor as hereinafter
explained.
.
The sliding block in its descending motion brings into operation safety
mechanism as herein after explained, whereby the accidental discharge of the gun
is prevented.
The hammer of the gun consists of a rod working in a tubular case in the butt
of the gun, which case also serves as a connection to firmly attach the stock to the
body of the gun the axis of the said rod and case being inclined at a small angle to
the axis of the barrel. The front end of the hammer is of larger diameter than the
rear end and a loose collar of somewhat larger diameter than the front end of the
hammer slides upon the rear part of the hammer and abuts against the shoulder
formed by the junction of the front and rear parts of the hammer.

page_text: This collar also abuts against a shoulder in the interior of the case. The main
spring consists of a strong helical or coiled spring around the rear part of the
hammer. The front end of this spring abuts against the collar described and the
rear end against the plug which closes the rear end of the hammer case. The rear
end of the hammer passes through an axial hole in the said closing plug and has a
light helical spring tending to withdraw the hammer.
The hammer is actuated in the following manner :-
The first named cam or arm on the axis of the, hand lever has on its side, a stud
to which is jointed one end of a nearly horizontal bar, the other end of the said bar
engaging with the tumbler the head of the said tumbler passing through a slot in
the tubular case of the hammer and engaging in a slot in the front end of
the hammer. When the handle is depressed the tumbler and hammer are forced
back into full cock position, the sear engaging in the bent of the tumbler and
retaining the hammer at full cock.
.
By the backward motion of the hammer the coiled main spring is compressed.
On pressing the trigger with the finger, the sear is disengaged from the tumbler
and the hammer now free to move, is shot forward by the main spring and by the
blow it gives to the striker in the sliding block the gun is discharged. The
momentum given by the main spring to the hammer (which is free to move in the
collar on which the spring acts) carries it. beyond the point to which the main
spring expands and the return of the hammer to that point before the sliding block
descends is effected by the light coiled spring on its extreme end.
The extractor is constructed and worked in the following manner.-It consists
of a nearly vertical lever engaging with the rim of the cartridge in the ordinary
way and pivoted near the bottom of the body.
On depressing the hand lever, after discharge, the second described cam or arm
on the axis of the hand lever, bearing against an incline near the top of the
extractor starts the cartridge case with great force. The sliding block which by
the same motion of the hand lever is made to descend next strikes the tail of the
extractor lever and by a sudden jerking motion ejects the cartridge case.
The safety mechanism herein before referred to consists of an axis immediately
over the sear and having a small external thumb lever on the left hand side of the
gun. A portion of this axis is flattened and when the axis is so turned as to bring
the flattened part over the sear, the said sear can rise; but when the axis is so
turned that a cylindrical part is over the sear, the said sear cannot rise and the gun
cannot be discharged.
When the said axis is so turned as not to lock down the sear, another portion of
the said axis is in the path of the descending sliding block so that the said block in
descending strikes against that portion and moves the said axis into such a position
that its cylindrical portion is brought over the sear and the gun cannot be dis-
charged. Thus the cocking of the gun is immediately followed by the safety
apparatus being put into operation. Before discharging the gun the thumb is
pressed upon the lever of the safety apparatus whereby the sear is unlocked and
the pressure of the finger discharges the gun.
By the foregoing description it will be understood that in order to charge the
gun the hand lever is depressed. By this motion of the hand lever the sliding
block is lowered and the breech opened; the hammer is at the same time cocked
and the safety apparatus brought into operation. The extractor is also operated
and any cartridge case in the charge chamber withdrawn and ejected. After tho
introduction of a live cartridge the hand lever is raised; the sliding block ascends
and closes the breech. The gun is now ready for discharge excepting that the
safety apparatus, has to be thrown out of action. This is done by the thumb in
grasping the gun and immediately before pressing the trigger with the fore
finger.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Rigby and Langrishe Fyers Banks in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 13th September 1882.
JOHN RIGBY of Dublin, Gun Manufacturer, and LANGRISHE FYERS BANKS of
Dublin Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN SLIDING BLOCK BREECH LOADING SMALL
ARMS
رو
Our invention has reference to breech loading small arms in which the opening
and closing of the breech is effected by the vertical motion of a sliding block in the
body of the gun, the descent of the said block opening the breech for charging and
the rising of the said block closing the breech for discharge.
Our said Invention consists in constructing and arranging the parts of the said
small arms in the manner herein after described.
The raising and lowering of the sliding block, the cocking of the hammer and
the ejection of the case of the spent cartridge are effected by the action of an
external hand lever on the right hand side of the body of the gun. This lever is
made in one piece with a horizontal axis crossing the fore part of the body of the
gun. This axis carries a piece which has two cams or arms, one of which engages
in a recess in the sliding block and on the raising and lowering of the hand lever
raises and lowers the sliding block. The other cam or arm starts the extractor as
herein after explained. The sliding block in its descending motion brings into
operation, safety mechanism as herein after explained, whereby the accidental
discharge of the gun is prevented.
The hammer of the gun consists of a rod working in a tubular case in the butt
of the gun which case also serves as a connection to firmly attach the stock to the
body of the gun, the axis of the said rod and case being inclined at a small angle
to the axis of the barrel. The front end of the hammer is of larger diameter than
the rear end and a loose collar of somewhat larger diameter than the front end of
the hammer slides upon the rear part of the hammer and abuts against the
shoulder formed by the junction of the front and rear parts of the hammer.
This collar also abuts against a shoulder in the interior of the case. The main
spring consists of a strong helical or coiled spring around the rear part of the
hammer. The front end of this spring abuts against the collar described and the
rear end against the plug which closes the rear end of the hammer case.
The rear
end of the hammer passes through an axial hole in the said closing plug and has a
light helical spring tending to withdraw the hammer.
The hammer is actuated in the following manner.
The first named cam or arm on the axis of the hand lever, has on its side, a stud
to which is jointed one end of a nearly horizontal bar. The other end of the said
bar engages with the tumbler. The head of the said tumbler passes through a slot
in the tubular case of the hammer and engages in a slot in the front end of the
hammer. When the hand lever is depressed, the tumbler and hammer are forced
back into full cock position, the sear engages in the bent of the tumbler and retains
the hammer at full cock.
By the backward motion of the hammer the coiled main spring is compressed.
On pressing the trigger with the finger, the sear is disengaged from the tumbler and
the hammer, now free to move, is shot forward by the main spring and by the blow
it gives to the striker in the sliding block the gun is discharged. The momentum
given by the main spring to the hammer (which is free to move in the collar on
which the spring acts) carries it beyond the point to. which the main spring
expands and the return of the hammer to that point before the sliding block
descends is effected by the light coiled spring on its extreme end.

page_text: The extractor is constructed and worked in the following manner. It consists
of a nearly vertical lever engaging with the rim of the cartridge in the ordinary
way and pivotted near the bottom of the body. On depressing the hand lever,
after discharge, the second described cam or arm on the axis of the hand lever,
bearing against an incline near the top of the extractor starts, the cartridge case.
The sliding block which by the same motion of the hand lever is made to descend,
next strikes the tail of the extractor lever and by a sudden jerking motion ejects,
the cartridge case. The safety mechanism, herein before referred to consists of an
axis immediately over the sear and having a small external thumb lever on the
left hand side of the gun. A portion of this axis is flattened and when the axis is.
so turned as to bring the flattened part over the sear, the said sear can rise; but
when the axis is so turned that a cylindrical part is over the sear the said sear
cannot rise and the gun cannot be discharged When the said axis is so turned as
not to lock down the sear, another portion of the said axis is in the path of the
descending sliding block, so that the said block in descending strikes against that
portion and moves the said axis into such a position that tits cylindrical portion is
brought over the sear and the gun cannot be discharged. Thus the cocking of the
gun is immediately followed by the safety apparatus being put into operation.
Before discharging the gun the thumb is pressed upon the lever of the safety
apparatus, whereby the sear is unlocked and the pressure of the finger discharges
the gun.
By the foregoing description it will be understood that in order to charge the
gun, the hand lever is depressed. By this motion of the hand lever the sliding
block is lowered and the breech opened; the hammer is at the same. time cocked
and the safety apparatus brought into operation. The extractor is also operated
and any cartridge case in the charge chamber withdrawn and ejected. After the
introduction of a live cartridge the hand lever is raised the sliding block ascends
and closes the breech. The gun is now ready for discharge excepting that the
safety apparatus has to be thrown out of action. This is done by the thumb in
grasping the gun and immediately before pressing the trigger with the fore finger.
We will now describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the manner
in which our invention is to be performed.
'
Figures 1 and 2 represent longitudinal vertical sections of the breech end of a
sliding block breech loading gun containing our improvements.
The sliding block is represented in Figure 1 in its raised position for closing the
breech and the hammer in its discharged position; and the said block is represented
in Figure 2 in its lowered position and the extractor and safety apparatus in their
acting positions and the hammer cocked.
Figures 3 and 4 represent elevations of opposite sides of the gun; Figure 5
represents a plan of upper side and Figure 6 a plan of under side of the gun the
trigger plate being removed in Figure 6, Figure 7 represents a plan of the upper or
inner side of the trigger plate and parts carried by it; Figures 8 and 9 represent
cross sections of the gun taken through the breech action, with the block removed;
the section Figure 8 looking towards the muzzle end of the gun and the section
Figure 9 looking towards the butt end of the gun. The other Figures represent
separate parts and details of the gun as herein after explained.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several Figures of
the drawings.
a, is the sliding breech block having a vertical motion in the body or shoe b.
The said sliding block is shown separately in Figure 10, the said Figure 10
exhibiting opposite sides and an end elevation of the block.
The said block a is secured in the body b and guided in its motion by the
removeable pin a² taking into the guide slot a³. The pin a² is carried by the
arm a (shewn separately in Figure 11) outside the body or shoe b; c..is the external
hand lever on the right hand side of the gun (shewn separately in Figure 12) made
in one piece with the horizontal cross axis c. On the said axis.c² of the hand
Tever c is fixed a piece having two arms or cams d. c. (shown separately in

page_text: Figure 13). The arm & engages in a recess a³ in the sliding block a and on the
raising and lowering of the hand lever c raises and lowers the said block. The
recess a³ is best seen in Figure 10. The said arm d. also serves to actuate the
tumbler f. (shewn separately in Figure 15) by which the hammer h. is cocked,
the said tumbler being held in its cocked position by the turned back arm or sear
of the trigger i. taking into the bent or notch in the said tumbler. The trigger
and its sear are shewn separately in Figure 16. The connection between the
arm d, on the axis c. and the tumbler f. is effected by the link g (shewn separately
in Figure 14). One end of this link has a stud g². which takes into the recess in
the tumbler and the other end of the link has a hole g³. which takes upon the
stud on the arm d. The other arm c on the axis c². is for the purpose of
operating the extractor k (shewn separately in Figure 17) the said extractor also
being operated upon for the ejection of the empty cartridge case by the sliding
block a as herein after explained.
This
The hand lever c, and parts connected with it are held firmly in either of the
two. positions which they are capable of taking, by means of the spring . bearing
upon flat planes on different parts of the boss or bush part carrying the cams or
arms d. e. as seen in Figures 1 and 2. The said spring , also gives the slight back
or return motion to the sliding block a after it has descended beyond the position
for opening the breech for acting upon the extractor for the ejection of the empty
cartridge case. The hammer h of the gun (shewn separately in Figure 184) works
in the inclined tubular case 2. fixed in the butt of the gun; h³ is the main spring
of the hammer situated around the reduced rear part of the hammer.
spring ³ takes an abutment at one end against the shoulder h on the said hammer
and the other end of the spring bears against the separable or loose collar h³
screwed into the open end of the hammer case h². The collar 5. is tubular and is
passed to its place by sliding it on the reduced part of the hammer, screwing it
home in the case h2: and fixing it by the screw nut he taking a bearing against
the bottom of the recess in the butt of the gun (see Figures 1 and 2) The
rear end of the hammer h passes beyond the axial hole in the closing collar h³,
and a light helical spring h', tends after the discharge of the said hammer, to
withdraw it into the position represented in Figure 1. The nose part or front
of the hammer acts upon the striker in the block a to discharge the gun.
The tumbler by which the hammer is cocked engages in a slot m in the said
haminer.
The extractor / consists of a nearly vertical lever turning on the centre k². near
the bottom of the body b, the arm e on the axis c² of the hand lever c operating
upon the part of the extractor (see Figure 17).
The safety apparatus (shewn separately in Figure 18) consists of an axis n
crossing the body of the gun, the inner end of the axis turning in a bracket carried
by the body (see Figure 9). Its outer end has a small external thumb plate n³ for
turning it out of action. A portion of the axis n is flattened and has the form
best seen in the cross sections of the said axis Figures 12 and 18.
When the safety axis n is turned into the position represented in Figure 2, it
bears upon the sear 2 of the trigger, and locking the said sear, prevents the
discharge of the gun, and when the safety axis n. is turned through a quadrant
into the position represented in Figure 1, it is removed from off the sear and the
latter is at liberty to rise to discharge the gun. When in the unlocking position
Figure 1 a portion of the safety axis n is situated in the path of the descending
block a. and the said axis is automatically put into its safety position on opening
the breech for charging, and after the hammer has been cocked as herein after
explained. The safety axis n. is turned into its unlocking position by means of
the external thumb-plate n². before the gun can be discharged and the said safety
axis is kept in either of its two positions by means of the spring p. bearing upon
the flattened sides of the said axis.
We sometimes so arrange the spring 1. bearing on the boss of the axis of the hand
lever c. that the upward movement of that lever may be arrested before the breech

page_text: block is wholly raised and thus after inserting a cartridge and partly closing the
breech, the gun can be carried with safety. When it is desired to discharge the
gun an upward pressure is given to the hand lever with the side of the fore finger
sufficient to overcome the resistance of the spring catch. The hand lever then
takes its upward position, fully closing the breech and the gun can be fired.
We will now describe the action of the several parts of the gun.
The gun having been discharged the several parts occupy the positions represented
in Figure 1. In order to reload the gun, the hand lever c is depressed from the
position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1 to that indicated in dotted lines in
Figure 2. By this depression of the hand lever c. the following motions take place.
The arın or cam & on the axis c. of the hand lever c, engaging with the recess a³,
in the block a, depresses the said block so as to open the breech and at the same
time operates, through the connecting link g, the tumbler f. which tumbler forces
back the hammer h into its cocked position Figure 2 and compresses the main
spring, the sear 23. of the trigger i. engaging with the bent in the tumbler and
retaining the hammer at full cock. As the block a approaches the end of its
descending stroke, the shoulder a. on it strikes against the safety axis n. (having
the position Figure 1) and turns the said axis through a quadrant and causes it to
bear upon and lock the sear i. as seen in Figure 2. When the block a has descended
sufficiently far to open the breech the second arm or cam e, on the axis of the
hand lever comes into operation and acts upon the part of the extractor moving
the said extractor towards the butt end of the gun. The cartridge case is thereby
started from its place in the charge chamber. The continued descent of the block a
beyond the position at which it opens the breech causes the incline near the bottom
of the block to strike the tail or heel . of the extractor lever and by a sudden
jerking motion to eject the started cartridge case from the charge chamber as
illustrated in Figure 2, where the block is represented in its fully lowered position
and the cartridge case ejected. As the block takes the lowered position Figure 2
for ejecting the cartridge case the spring . bearing on the boss or bush of the
arms d. e. is further compressed and after the hand has been removed from the
hand lever c. the spring causes the block to be slightly raised beyond the position
represented in Figure 2. so as to release the extractor lever and permit it to take
its normal position in the mouth of the charge chamber for the introduction of the
fresh cartridge. Thus the depression of the hand lever c opens the breech cocks
the hammer extracts and ejects the empty cartridge case and puts the safety
apparatus into action.
In order to reload the gun, the fresh cartridge is introduced into the charge
chamber and the hand lever c. is raised into the position indicated in Figure 1:
The sliding block a thereby ascends and closes the breech leaving the hammer & in
its cocked position and locked, and the gun is ready for discharge excepting that
the safety apparatus has to be thrown out of action.
This is effected by turning the safety axis n by means of its external thumb
plate n². from its vertical to its horizontal position so as to unlock the sear 2³.
On pressing the trigger i, the sear 2 is disengaged from the tumbler f and the
hammer his shot forward by its compressed main spring hs and the nose end of
the hammer operates the striker in the sliding block a and discharges the gun, the
several parts now having the positions represented in Figure 1. The momentum
given by the main spring h³, carries the hammer & beyond the point to which the
said spring expands and at the same time compresses the light coiled spring 7, at
the rear end of the hammer and the return of the hammer to the position represented
in Figure 1, after the discharge of the gun, is effected by the said light spring h?.
This slightly back motion of the hammer-h withdraws its nose end sufficiently far
to permit of the descent of the sliding block a on the next loading of the gun.
Having now described the nature of our invention and the manner in which the
same is to be performed we wish it to be understood that We claim as our
Invention of "Improvements in sliding block breech loading small arms:
"
First. The combination with sliding block breech loading small arms, of the

page_text: sliding hammer described and illustrated, working in a tubular case, in the butt of
the gun and actuated by a strong helical or coiled spring, the several parts being
constructed and working substantially as herein before described and illustrated in
the accompanying Drawings, also the adaptation to the rear end of the said
sliding hammer of a light coiled spring for withdrawing the nose end from the
sliding block after the discharge of the gun as described and illustrated.
Secondly. The combination or arrangement of the arm & link g and tumbler f,
for cocking the sliding hammer by the depression of the hand lever of the gun, the
said arm being also used for raising and lowering the sliding block substantially
as described and illustrated.
Thirdly. The improvements in safety apparatus herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, that is to say, the adaptation to sliding
block breech loading small arms of the safety axis n. n². and automatically putting
the said safety axis into its locking position by the descent of the sliding block to
open the breech, the several parts being arranged and operating substantially as
described and illustrated.
In witness whereof I the said John Rigby have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Eleventh day of September in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness
WM. MO KENZIE
47 Grosvenor Road
Rathmines
Clerk
JOHN RIGBY. (L.S.)