IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Solmons Benson, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Merchant, and Johann Von der Poppenburg, of Birming-
ham aforesaid, Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Solmons and Johann
Von der Poppenburg at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 22nd December 1866.
We, JOHN SOLMONS BENSON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Merchant, and JOHANN VON DER POPPENBURG, of Birmingham aforesaid,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
Our Invention consists of the arrangements or combinations herein-after
described of the parts of breech-loading fire-arms of the kind called needle guns,
that is, guns in which a sliding hammer is employed to actuate the needle by
which the cartridge is discharged.
In constructing a needle gun according to our Invention we close the breech
end of the barrel by means of a plug or closer sliding in the shoe or prolonged

page_text: breech chamber. The said sliding plug is hollow, and in the rear end thereof
is a tubular slide capable of partial rotation therein, the said tubular slide
carrying the sliding hammer of the gun; to this hammer the needle by
which the cartridge is discharged is affixed, the said hammer being actuated
by a coiled spring at its back. The plug or closer is provided with a cover
which slides upon the top edges of the shoe or breech chamber. Jointed to the
front end of the said sliding plug is a lever or hinged cover, which hinged cover
constitutes the handle by which the plug is moved and also serves to fix the said
plug in its place. Near the jointed end of the hinged cover is a cross piece, the
outer ends of which when the plug has been pushed home and the hinged cover
shut down pass through holes in the fixed cover of the plug, and enter slots in
the said plug and also slots in the sides of the shoe or breech chamber. The
plug is thus securely fastened in its place. The closing plug and tubular slide
have longitudinal slots in their bottoms, in which slots an arm, passing through
the bottom of the breech shoe and actuated by the trigger, works. The end of
the tubular slide outside the shoe is provided with a handle by which it can
be moved longitudinally and also through a portion of a circle. The said
handle of the tubular slide is provided with a fastening bolt or stud, which
stud by a partial rotation of the tubular slide can be engaged with or disengaged
from an under cut shoulder made in the head or handle of the hinged cover
described.
The action of the gun is as follows:-After the gun has been discharged
the tubular slide containing the sliding hammer, needle, and spring is turned
aside so as to liberate it from the head of the hinged cover; the said tubular
slide is then drawn back in the closing plug to its full extent; the hinged
cover is next raised so as to remove its cross piece from the slots in the said
closing plug and sides of the shoe, and the closing plug is drawn back by the
said hinged cover so as to open the breech chamber for the introduction of a
'cartridge into the barrel; the cartridge having been introduced the closing
plug is pushed forward so as to close the breech chamber, and the binged
cover is shut down; the tubular slide is finally pushed forward into the
closing plug and fastened to the head of the hinged cover. On pushing home
the tubular slide the sliding hammer within it is arrested by coming against
'the arm projecting through the bottom of the shoe, and the spring behind the
said hammer is compressed between the said hammer and end of the tubular
slide, and the gun is ready to be discharged. On pulling the trigger the arm
described is liberated from the sliding hammer which is driven forward, and
the needle carried by it projected into the. cartridge in the breech of the

page_text: barrel and the gun discharged. Instead of placing the sliding hammer,
needle, and spring in a tubular slide the said parts may be placed in the
hollow of the closing plug, and in place of a long needle a short pin or striker
may be placed in the front of the closing plug, which pin or striker is driven
forward by the discharge of the sliding hammer.
When we use paper or linen cartridges, or cartridge withouts metallic caps,.
we prevent the escape of gas at the junction of the closing plug with the
barrel in the following way:-We place in the mouth of the barrel a short
tube or ring, the said tube or ring projecting a short distance into the shoe
or breech chamber, a small space being left between the said tube or ring
and the inner side of the barrel. In the front end of the closing plug we
place a similar tube or ring but of slightly larger diameter. When the
sliding plug is pushed home the tube or ring at its front slides over or upon
that in the mouth of the barrel, and thus forms a tight joint and prevents the
escape of gas on discharge. When we employ metallic cartridges, or cartridges.
the cases of which require to be extracted from the barrel, we arrange the
extracting mechanism in the following manner-Underneath the barrel and
shoe of the gun are two bearings carrying a horizontal rod; on the said rod a
spring or elastic arm slides,. a coiled spring pressing the said arm towards the
muzzle end of the gun. The upper free end of this arm carries à book or
extractor which works in a longitudinal slot in the bottom of the shoe; the said
extractor in its normal position occupying a recess at the mouth of the barrel.
At the rear of and connected to the extractor is an inclined tooth or projection,
which tooth engages in a notch or depression in the closing plug of the gun.
When the closing plug is drawn back after discharge the extractor is carried
with it, the said extractor pushing before it the case of the exploded 'cartridge.
When the plug has been drawn back nearly to its full extent the tooth engaged
with the said plug is depressed by coming against a fixed stud or incline on the
bottom of the shoe, and thereby released from.the said plug. The extractor
being thus released ejects by the elasticity of its spring arm the exploded
cartridge case from the shoe or breech chamber, and returns to its place in
the barrel by the pressure of the coiled spring against the lower part of the
said spring arm. On closing the breech by pushing forward the closing plug
the latter is re-engaged with the tooth or projection of the extractor ready to
actuate the said extractor on opening the breech.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Solmons Benson and Johann Von der Poppenburg in
the Great Seal Patent Office. on the 19th June 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
SOLMONS BENSON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Merchant, and
JOHANN VON DER POPPENBURG, of Birmingham aforesaid, Mechanical
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date-the Twenty-second day of December, 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 us, the said
John Solmons Benson and Johann Von der Poppenburg, Her special licence
that we, the said John Solmons Benson and Johann Von der Poppenburg, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said John
Solmons Benson and Johann Von der Poppenburg, our 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, 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 BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said John Solmons Benson and Johann Von der Poppen-
burg, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our
or their hands and seals, or under the band and seal of one of us or them,
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 Solmons Benson on behalf of
myself and the said Johann Von der Poppenburg, 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 thereof,
that is to say :-
Our Invention consists of the arrangements or combinations, herein-after
described, of the parts of breech-loading fire-arms of the kind called needle
guns, that is, guns in which a sliding hammer is employed to actuate the
needle by which the cartridge is discharged.
In constructing a needle gun according to our Invention we close the

page_text: breech end of the barrel by means of a plug or closer sliding in the shoe or
prolonged breech chamber. The said sliding plug. is hollow, and in the rear end
thereof is a tubular slide capable of partial rotation therein, the said tubular
slide carrying the sliding hammer of the gun; to this hammer the needle by
which the cartridge is discharged is affixed, the said hammer being actuated
by a coiled spring at its back. The plug or closer is provided with a cover,
which slides upon the top edges of the shoe or breech chamber. Jointed to
the front end of the said sliding plug is a lever or hinged cover, which hinged
cover constitutes the handle by which the plug is moved, and also serves to
fix the said plug in its place. Near the jointed end of the hinged cover is a
cross piece, the outer ends of which, when the plug has been pushed home
and the hinged cover shut down, pass through holes in the fixed cover of the
plug and enter slots in the said plug, and also slots in the sides of the shoe or
breech chamber; the plug is thus securely fastened in its place. The closing
plug and tubular slide have longitudinal slots in their bottoms, in which slots
an arm, passing through the bottom of the breech shoe and actuated by the
trigger, works. The end of the tubular slide outside the shoe is provided with
a handle by which it can be moved longitudinally, and also through a portion
of a circle. The said handle of the tubular slide is provided with a fastening
bolt or stud, which stud by a partial rotation of the tubular slide can be
engaged with or disengaged from an undercut shoulder made in the head or
handle of the hinged cover described.
The action of the gun is as follows:-After the gun has been discharged
the tubular slide containing the sliding hammer, needle, and spring is turned
aside so as to liberate it from the head of the hinged cover; the said tubular
slide is then drawn back in the closing plug to its full extent; the hinged
cover is next raised so as to remove its cross piece from the slots in the said
closing plug and sides of the shoe and the closing plug is drawn back by the
said hinged cover so as to open the breech chamber for the introduction of a
cartridge into the barrel; the cartridge having been introduced the closing
plug is pushed forward so as to close the breech chamber, and the hinged
cover is shut down; the tubular slide is finally pushed forward into the
closing plug and fastened to the head of the hinged cover. On pushing home
the tubular slide the sliding hammer within it is arrested by coming against
the arm projecting through the bottom of the shoe, and the spring behind the
said hammer is compressed between the said hammer and end of the tubular
slide, and the gun is ready to be discharged. On pulling the trigger the arm
described is liberated from the sliding hammer, which is drawn forward, and

page_text: the needle carried by it is projected into the cartridge in the breech of the
barrel and the gun discharged. Instead of placing the sliding hammer, needle,
and spring in a tubular slide the said parts may be placed in the hollow of the
closing plug, and in place of a long needle a short pin or striker may be placed
in the front of the closing plug, which pin or striker is driven forward by the
discharge of the sliding hammer.
When we use paper or linen cartridges, or cartridges without metallic caps,
we prevent the escape of gas at the junction of the closing plug with the
barrel in the following way:-We place in the mouth of the barrel a short
tube or ring, the said tube or ring projecting a short distance into the shoe or
breech chamber, a small space being left between the said tube or ring and
the inner side of the barrel. In the front end of the closing plug we place a
similar tube or ring, but of slightly larger diameter. When the sliding plug
is pushed home the tube or ring at its front slides over or upon that in the
mouth of the barrel, and thus forms a tight joint and prevents the escape of
gas on discharge. When we employ metallic cartridges, or cartridges the
cases of which require to be extracted from the barrel, we extract and eject
the exploded cases by an extractor and ejector connected with the closing plug,
as herein-after explained.
Having explained the nature of our Invention we will proceed to describe,
with reference to the accompanying Drawings, the manner in which the same
is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in longitudinal vertical section the breech end of a
breech-loading percussion gun constructed according to our Invention, the
parts of the gun being in position for discharge; Figure 2 represents the same
with the breech open for the introduction of a cartridge into the barrel;
Figure 8 is a plan.of Figure 2; Figure 4 represents a side elevation of the
closing plug and fixing lever, and parts connected with them, and Figure 5
is a plan of the under side of the same; Figure 6 is an elevation of the front
end of the plug and lever, and Figure 7 is an elevation of the rear end of the
same; Figure 8 is a cross section of the plug and fixing lever, and Figure 9
represents the cartridge case extractor and ejector separately. The same
letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figure 1 to 9, both inclusive.
a is the barrel, and 6 is the breech chamber or shoe, the said chamber b
being open at its rear end and top. In the said chamber 6 the plug or close
c, c³, slides. The greater part of the sliding plug is hollow or tubular, the
front solid end marked having an opening in its axis, as represented. The
rear end of the plug c, c³, is closed by the screw cap or disc c³. In the hollow

page_text: of the plug c, ³, is a sliding hammer d, the said hainmer being actuated by a
coiled spring e at its back, the closing cap or disc c³ serving as the abutment
for the said spring e. The hammer d has at its back a rod d³ working through
the end of the plug, the extreme end of the said rod being provided with a
knob or head d. At the front of the hammer is a pin or striker d* by which
the cartridge is discharged, the said pin or striker working in the opening in
the solid front end c² of the plug. The plug or closer c, d, is provided with a
cover c, which slides upon the top edges of the breech chamber b. Jointed at f*
to the front end of the said sliding plug c, c, is a lever or hinged cover f, which
hinged cover constitutes the handle by which the plug is moved, and also serves to
fix the said plug in its place for discharge. Near the jointed end of the hinged
cover f is a cross piece 9, 9, the outer ends of which when the plug has been
pushed home and the hinged cover shut down, as represented in Figure 1, pass
through openings h in the fixed cover c and plug c², and enter slots * in the
sides of the breech chamber b, and thus securely fix the plug in its place. The
shape of the cross piece 9, 9, is best seen in Figure 8. The cross piece g, g,
is not rigidly fixed to the under side of the hinged cover f, but is capable of a
little play upon the cover in order to provide for the curvilinear motion of the
said binged cover; the said cross piece is connected to the cover f by being
placed loosely upon the hook g³ of the cover; the separation of the cross piece
from the hook being prevented by the engagement of the lower ends of the
cross piece with the openings h. The under side of the tubular plug has a
longitudinal slot made in it, in which slot a sliding arm m passing through
the bottom of the breech chamber 6, and actuated by the trigger n, n², works.
The lower forked end of the sliding arm m is jointed at m³ to the short
arm n² of the trigger, and the upper end of the said arm m is made to project
through the breech chamber 6 and into the slot in the plug by the action of
the trigger n, n³, in the manner represented in Figures 1 and 2. By pulling
the trigger arm n towards the butt end of the gun the sliding arm m may be
depressed below the bottom of the breech chamber b.
The action of the gun is as follows:-After the gun has been discharged
the hinged cover f is raised by its handle f³ so as to remove the cross piece
9, g, from the slots i, i, in the sides of the breech chamber, and the closing
plug c, c, is then drawn back by means of the said hinged cover into the
position represented in Figures 2 and 3; the breech of the barrel is thereby
opened, and a fresh cartridge may be introduced. After the introduction of
the cartridge the closing plug c, c³, is pushed forward by the hinged cover f,
and the said hinged cover is shut down, its cross piece 9, 9, entering the side

page_text: be
slots i, i, and fixing the plug in its place for discharge. On pushing home
the plug c, c, the sliding hammer d is arrested by coming against the upper
end of the sliding trigger arm m projecting into the plug, and the spring e
behind the said hammer is compressed between the said hammer and the
closing cap or abutment of the plug, the several parts of the gun occupying
the respective positions represented in Figure 1; the gun is now ready for
discharge, the act of closing the breech cocking the sliding hammer. On
pulling the trigger n the arm m is depressed, liberating the sliding hammer d,
which hammer is driven forward by the compressed spring e, and the pin or
striker -d* carried by it is projected through the tubular plug into the
cartridge in the breech of the barrel; the striker thereby ignites the cartridge
and discharges the gun. On removing the finger from the trigger n the
arm m is again raised into the plug, the said arm being temporarily depressed
by the inclined side of the hammer d when the plug is withdrawn for re-charging
the gun. The whole of the sliding plug c, c³, and parts carried by it may
readily removed from the breech chamber 6 for cleaning or repair by depressing
the arm m by the action of the trigger and raising the hinged cover f, and
drawing the said plug backwards by the said cover. The cases of the exploded
cartridges are removed from the barrel a, and ejected from the breech chamber b;
on drawing back the plug c, c³, by means of the combined extractor and
ejector marked p, q, (shewn separately in Figure 9, working in the under side
of the front end of the said plug; the said extractor and ejecter consists of a
cross plate p having a groove or depression in. it to receive the rim or flange
of the cartridge. The said plate p is of a nearly semicircular figure, and is
carried by the stem q, the said stem being capable of sliding in the plug,
and also capable of some. play in a vertical direction in the plug; the outer
sides of the stem are inclined, and work in the dovetail groover (see Figure 7)
in the plug; the motion of the extractor is limited by the inclined head of
'the pins on the plug working in the slot in the stem.q, the rear end of
the stem q is bevilled, and in the front face of the sliding arm m of the trigger
a notch or recess is made of a shape proper to receive the said bevilled end
of the stem q. The rim or flange of the cartridge being placed in the depres-
sion in the plate p when the plug c, c, is in the-position represented in Figures
'2 and 3, the said plug is pushed home, and the cartridge carried to its place in
the barrel. When the plug c, c, is:drawn back: after the discharge of the gun
the case of the exploded cartridge is carried with it; the extractor plate p
being nearly in-contact with the end of the plug. When however the plug
has been drawn back nearly to its full extent the rear end of the stem g of

page_text: the extractor strikes against and engages with the upper end of the trigger
arm m; the motion of the extractor being thus arrested the plug moves
without it, the pin s sliding in the groove or slot q³, and the plate p is thereby
removed from the end of the plug. By the sudden arresting of the motion
of the extractor and its engaging with the arm m the free end of the said
extractor is jerked or has an upward motion given to it, as represented in
Figures 2 and 3, and the exploded cartridge case is thereby ejected from the
breech chamber b. On advancing the plug after inserting the flange of a fresh
cartridge in the groove of the extractor plate p the pin s pushes the extractor
to its place in the mouth of the barrel as illustrated in Figure 1.
:
Instead of extracting the cases of the exploded cartridges by the arrange-
ment just described, the arrangement represented in longitudinal section in
Figures 10 and 11 may be employed, Figure 10 representing the gun ready
to be fired, and Figure 11 the same ready for the introduction of the cartridge.
The arrangement represented in Figures 10 and 11 is fitted to be used to
extract cartridge cases without rims or flanges; we make at the front end of the
sliding plug c, c³, a recess or chanıber t of a size proper to receive the flange-
less cap or end of the cartridges. Working in the plug is a rod or slide u
having a head at its front end when the cap or end of the cartridge is placed
in the chamber t the head v lies in a recess at the back of the said chamber;
the rod or slide u has also a bead or plate wat its front end. On the explo-
sion of the cartridge its metallic end or cap is expanded in the chamber t, and
on the withdrawal of the plug the exploded cartridge case is carried with it:
When the plug is nearly withdrawn to open the breech chamber 6 the plate
or head w of the rod or slide strikes against the arm m of the trigger n, n³,
and on the continued motion of the plug the slide or rod u is advanced into
the chamber t, and the cap or end of the exploded case pushed or ejected
therefrom into the breech chamber 6, from whence the exploded' case may be
removed by inverting the gun.
Figures 12 to 19 represent a needle gun constructed according to our
Invention, Figure 12 representing a longitudinal section of the gun, the parts
being in position for discharge; Figure 13 is a side elevation of the same;
Figure 14 is a longitudinal section of the same, the breech being open, and
Figure 15 is a plan of Figure 14; Figure 16-is a cross section of the tubular
slide herein-after described; Figure 17 is an end elevation of the sliding plug
and hinged cover; Figure 18 is a plan of the under side and cross section of
the, tubular slide; and Figure 19 is a separate view of the cross piece of
the hinged cover. In this arrangement of our Invention we place in the

page_text: P
hollow sliding plug c, c, a tubular slide p capable of sliding and partly rotating
therein; the said tubular slide p carrying the sliding hammer d, coiled spring e,
and needle d², by which the cartridge is discharged. The tubular slide is
guided in its motion in the plug by the end of the spring p² on the cover of
the plug working in the longitudinal slot p³ in the said slide; this slot is
expanded at its rear end for the purpose of permitting of the partial rotation
of the said slide within the plug; the closing plug c, c, and tubular slide p
have longitudinal slots 1, p, made in their under. sides, in which slots the
arm m of the trigger n, n³, works in the manner described with reference to
the percussion gun; the end of the tubular slide p is provided with a handle
or head ps, by which it can be moved longitudinally, and also through a portion
of a circle; the said handle p has on its inner side a fastening bolt or stud p6,
which stud can be engaged with or disengaged from an undercut shoulder f*
.made in the head or handle f³ of the hinged cover f, the said hinged cover f
fixing the plug c, c, in its place in the manner described with respect to the
percussion gun.
The action of the needle gun is as follows:-After the gun has been dis-
charged the tubular slide p is turned aside so as to liberate its pin or stud pe
from the undercut shoulder f in the bandle of the hinged cover, and bring the
said stud opposite the enlarged part f³ (see Figure 17) of the opening, through
-which the pin or stud po passes; the pin or stud pe can now pass through the
.said. opening, and the tubular slide p be drawn back in the closing plug c, c²,
.to its full extent, as represented in Figures 14 and 15; the hinged cover fis
next raised so as to liberate its cross piece g from the side openings i, i, in the
breech chamber b, and the closing plug c, c³, is then drawn back, and the
breech opened for the introduction of a fresh cartridge into the barrel a; the
cartridge having been introduced, the closing plug c, c³, is pushed forward so
as to close the breech, and the hinged cover f is shut down, and the plug
thereby fastened in its place. The tubular slide p is finally pushed forward
into the closing plug c, c³, the pin or stud po entering the opening f in the
head or handle f³ of the hinged cover f. By now giving the slide p a motion
of partial rotation its pin or stud pe is made to engage behind the undercut
shoulder f in the head of the cover f, and thus fasten the said slide to the
said cover; on pushing home the tubular slide p the sliding hammer & within
it is arrested by coming against the projecting arm m of the trigger n, n³, and
the springe is compressed between the said arm m and the abutment or
closing plate of the said slide; the gun is then ready for discharge, the parts
assuming the respective positions represented in Figures 12 and 13. On

page_text: pulling the trigger n the arm m is liberated from the sliding hammer d, which
is driven forward by the compressed spring e, and the needle d³ carried by
the said hammer is projected into the cartridge in the breech of the barrel,
and the gun discharged. In the front of the tube of the plug a small
chamber c is formed, in which a piece of compressed sponge or other porous
material saturated with oil is placed. The needle d in its passage through
this sponge takes up oil therefrom and is thereby lubricated and prevented
from corroding.
When we use paper or linen cartridges, or cartridges without metallic caps in
the needle gun described, we prevent the escape of gas at the junction of the
closing plug with the barrel in the following way :-We place in or make at the
mouth of the barrel a short tube or ring 9, the said tube or ring projecting a short
distance into the breech chamber 6, a small space being left between the said
tube y and the inner side of the barrel a (see Figure 14). In the front end
of the closing plug c, c, we place or make a similar tube or ring r, but of
slightly larger diameter. When the closing plug c, c², is pushed forward to
close the breech the tube or ring r slides over or upon the tube or ring q
at the mouth of the barrel. On the discharge of the gun the ring 9 is expanded
against the ring r, and a tight joint thus formed, and the escape of gas pre-
vented. The gun last described may be employed for discharging metallic or
percussion cartridges as well as paper or linen cartridges, commonly called
needle cartridges. In discharging percussion cartridges we substitute for the
needle da pin or striker, as in the gun first described.
The parts of the gun represented in Figures 12 to 19, which we have not
described, are similar to corresponding parts of the gun represented in Figures
1 to 9, and are marked with the same letters.
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 do
not limit ourselves to the precise details herein described and illustrated in
the Drawings, as the same may be varied without departing from the nature
of our Invention; but we claim as our Invention of improvements in breech-
loading fire-arms,―
Firstly, the arrangement or combination of parts, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 11, both inclusive, of the
accompanying Drawings, for opening and closing the breech, cocking the
sliding hammer, and discharging the gun.
Secondly, the arrangement or combination of parts, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 12 to 19, both inclusive, of the

page_text: accompanying Drawings, for opening and closing .the breech, cocking the
sliding hammer, and discharging the gun.
Thirdly, the arrangement or combination of parts, herein-before described
.and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, for fastening the sliding plug
in its place during the discharge of the gun.
Lastly, the arrangement or combinatien 'of parts herein-before described
and illustrated in Figures 12, 14, and 15, of the accompanying Drawings, for
preventing the escape of gas in needle guns or guns discharging paper or linen
cartridges.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Solmons Benson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham..
JOHN SOLMONS BENSON. (L.S.)