IMPROVE- MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International Patent
Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
pf Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."-A communication from abroad by
Samuel Norris, of Springfield, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Sealed the 12th May 1868, and dated the 18th November 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
ithe Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th November 1867.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS;" a communication, to be as
follows:-
These improvements relate, first, to the construction of fire-arms whose
breech is closed by a cylindrical block or bolt which slides and turns in its
chamber, and through which extends a pin or rod for exploding the cartridges.
The said improvements consist chiefly in the novel construction of the said
block or bolt, in the construction and arrangement of the devices for extracting
or removing the shells of the exploded cartridges from the charge chamber, in
i

page_text: the peculiar formation of the end of the said chamber, and in the combination
with the same of the said bolt and extracting devices. The barrel and
stock may be of any desired construction, and the said barrel is securely
The
attached to the metal shoe in which the breech chamber is formed.
breech block or bolt is fitted to slide endwise, and also to turn freely in the
said chamber, and is provided with a handle at its rear end whereby it is
adjusted to open or close the breech. The said block is also formed or
provided with a stop or projection which when the breech is closed lies in
front of a shoulder on the side of the breech chamber and keeps the block
closely and solidly against the end of the charge chamber. The forward end
of the said bolt is preferably made slightly concave, so that its central portion
does not touch that portion of the surface of the cartridge immediately in
contact with the fulminate, whereby the danger of accidentally igniting the
same is diminished. The striking pin is fitted to slide freely through the
central perforation of the breech block or bolt; the rear end of the said pin
lies in contact with the free end of the mainspring, whose other end is
attached to the outer extremity of the handle of the breech block. When the
piece is cocked the said spring is drawn back by means of an inclined or cam
surface on the head of the spring, which surface acts on a catch fixed or
formed on an elastic bar. The said bar and catch are drawn down to release
the mainspring in firing the piece by means of a trigger of ordinary construction,
which is arranged in connection with levers pivoted to the elastic bar. A
light spiral spring is placed in the central perforation of the block to keep
the firing pin in contact with the mainspring. The extractor is attached by a
screw or other suitable fastening to the breech block, which is formed with a
The latter is formed and
groove or recess to receive the said extractor.
fitted into its recess in such a manner as to lie flush with the exterior of the
block and turn freely with the same in its chamber. The said extractor is
preferably formed of steel, and its shank or tongue must be sufficiently elastic
to allow the required freedom to its hook or claw. The said hook is bevelled
or chamferred in such a manner that it will pass freely forward over the rim
of the cartridge, but will catch and draw the same from the charge chambe
when the block is drawn away from the said chamber. In order that the
extractor may not interfere with the movements of the breech block when
the same is turned in its chamber in opening and closing the breech, a portion
of the end of the charge chamber is chamferred or bevelled away in such a manne
that the hook or claw of the extractor when forced over the rim of the cartridg
can turn freely with the block or bolt. A short groove or channel in the
breech chamber is provided to allow the required play to the shank of the

page_text: extractor when the hook or claw passes over the rim of the cartridge. An
ejecting lever may be provided for throwing the cartridge shells from the
breech chamber as they are drawn back by the extractor. The said lever is
pivoted below the breech chamber, and is formed with a long and short arm.
The latter projects into a groove in the sliding bolt, and a shoulder at the end of
the said groove strikes the said short arm when the block is drawn back, causing
the long arm to fly up and throw out the cartridge shell. This ejecting device
may however be dispensed with, and the empty cases thrown out by hand, or by
turning the piece slightly over, or by other convenient means. To open the
breech the handle of the block or bolt is first turned upward in line with a
longitudinal guide way at the top of the breech chamber; the said block is then
drawn back till its stop comes against the shoulder on the said chamber, the
cartridge being extracted the means already set forth. A fresh cartridge being
then placed in the breech chamber the block is again adjusted with its stop in
front of the shoulder, and the mainspring by the action of its cam surface on the
movable stop being at the same time drawn back the piece is ready for firing.
The said improvements also relate to modifications of the arm known as
the "Chassepot" gun, which is described in the Specification of an Invention
for which Letters Patent have been granted to Clinton Edgcumbe Brooman,
bearing date the 7th day of September, A.D. 1866, No. 2304.
The chief object of this part of my Invention is to adapt the said gun to
the firing of metallic cartridges. I prefer to fit a bush or lining in the end of
the barrel, in which bush I form a new chamber to receive the said cartridges.
I retain the original breech block or bolt, the spiral mainspring, trigger, and
I
other parts of the said gun unaltered, except as herein-after set forth.
remove the needle which explodes the cartridges, and substitute for the same
a firing pin which is secured to the holder or rod originally employed, the said
holder and rod being left unaltered. I dispense with the needle guide which
in the said "Chassepot" gun is attached to the forward end of the breech
the
block, and also with the expanding india-rubber gas check fitted upon
said guide. I attach to the said block an extracting device similar in all
respects to that herein-before described, and I also chamfer or bevel the end
of the bush to receive the hook or claw of the said extractor, and allow the
same to turn freely over the rim of the cartridge. If desired the bush or
lining may be extended to lie flush with the forward end of the aperture in
the top of the breech chamber, the breech block being reduced in length
to a corresponding extent. The said block as originally formed is provided
with a groove or channel which slides over the point of a screw projecting
through the side of the breech shoe. This screw stops the block by coming

page_text: in contact with a shoulder at the end of the said groove. I find it desirable
to shorten the distance to which the breech block is drawn back in opening
the breech, and for this purpose I ll up the end of the said groove or place
a stop therein at the proper distance to arrest the said block when the forward
end of the same is flush with the shoulder which forms the stop for the block
when the breech is closed. It may be found desirable to form a small recess
at the rear end of the breech 'chamber of either of the arms herein described
to allow the extractor to pass freely and facilitate the entrance of the breech
block into its chamber. The aperture in the forward end of the said block
in which the metal needle guide is originally placed is now fitted with a bush
which is formed with a central perforation to allow the firing pin to slide
through the same. This altered or modified arm may also be provided with
my improved ejecting device if desired.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 12th May 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of
Her reign, did, 'for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence that I, the said
William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said William Robert Lake, '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 BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors
or 'administrators, by 'an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their bands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,

page_text: g
the chamber a¹ is formed to receive the block bwhich is fitted to slide endwise
and also to turn freely in the said chamber. The block b is provided with
the handle c, whereby it is adjusted to open or close the breech. The said
block is also formed or provided with the stop d, which is so arranged that
when the breech is closed, as shown in Figure 1, it lies in front of the
shoulder on the side of the breech chamber a¹ and keeps the block b closely
and solidly against the end of the charge chamber A¹. The striking pin f is
fitted to slide freely through the central perforation of the block b. The rear
end of the said pin lies in contact with the free end of the mainspring g which
I sometimes construct
is attached to the outer extremity of the handle c.
the handle c with a groove, as shown in Figure 3°, to receive the spring 9 which
lies between the flanges 9*. These flanges form guards to keep dirt.or foreign
substances from getting between the handle and spring. When the piece
is cocked the said spring is drawn back, as shown in Figure 1, by its inclined
or cam surface g¹ acting on the catch h¹ which is fixed or formed on the
elastic bar h and is drawn down in firing the piece by means of the trigger i
and levers j, k. The light spiral spring e¹ serves only to keep the pin fin
contact with the mainspring 9. The longitudinal groove 6* is formed to
allow the block to pass over the catch h². To provide against the possibility
of the accidental discharge of the piece before the breech is properly closed
the rear end of the block b is recessed or otherwise provided with a shoulder
or ridge 6. This shoulder is formed and arranged to lie under the projection *
of the catch h¹, Figure 2, and keeps the said catch from being drawn down,
except when the breech is secured. The shoulder b does not interfere with
the turning of the block b, the recessed portion of the block being extended,
as shown in Figure 3º, from the longitudinal groove 6* to the channel or
aperture 6. The said channel or aperture is formed through the shoulder 6 at
that part of the block b that lies adjacent to the catch h¹ when the said block
When the block b is
is properly adjusted to close the breech; as in Figure 2.
in this position the catch h¹ is free from the shoulder 6, and by pulling the
trigger the said catch is drawn down through the channel 6 and releases the
spring 9, which flies forward and explodes the cartridge in the charge
chamber A¹. This arrangement renders it impossible to explode the cartridges
till the piece is properly adjusted for firing, as the spring 9 cannot act till the
catch his drawn down, and the said catch cannot be thus drawn down until
the bolt or block 6 is turned with the recess 63 exactly opposite the catch h
and the bolt cannot be thus adjusted without closing and securing the breech
If found desirable the shoulder 6 and the corresponding surface of the catch h
may be made rectangular instead of being bevelled, as shown in the Drawings

page_text: The extractor m is attached by a screw n or other suitable fastening to the
block b, which is formed with a groove or recess to receive the said extractor.
The latter is formed and fitted into its recess in such a manner as to lie
flush with the exterior of the block, and turn freely with the same in the
chamber a¹. The shank or tongue m¹ is elastic, and is preferably formed of
steel. The hook or claw m³ is properly formed to fit over the rim of the
cartridge, and draw the same from the chamber A¹ when the block b is
drawn away from the said chamber. In order that the extractor may not
interfere with the movements of the block 6 when the same is turned in its
chamber in opening and closing the breech a portion of the end of the
chamber A¹ is chamferred or bevelled away, as shown at Figures 3 and 4.
This bevelled portion o is so fo:med that the claw m³ when forced over the
rim of the cartridge can turn freely with the block b. The short groove or
channel p is provided to allow the required freedom to the spring m¹ when
the hook or claw m³ passes over the rim of the cartridge. The ejecting
device throws the cartridge cases from the chamber a¹ as they are drawn
9
back by the extractor m, but if desired this ejector may be dispensed with
and the empty cases thrown out by hand or by turning the piece slightly over.
A lateral extension 66 of the groove 6* is formed to allow the block b to clear
the point of the ejector in turning. To open the breech the handle c is first
turned upward in line with the guideway a³, the block 6 is then drawn back
till the stop d comes against the shoulder r, the cartridge being extracted by
the means already set forth. A fresh cartridge being then placed in the
chamber A¹ the block b is again adjusted with the stop d in front of the
shoulder e, as shown in Figure 1, and the piece is ready for firing.
In the modifications of the "Chassepot" arm illustrated in Figures 5, 6, 7,
and 8, I prefer to fit a bush A* in the end of the barrel, and form a new
chamber therein to receive the cartridges. I retain the original block or bolts,
spiral nainspring t, trigger u, and other parts of the said gun unaltered except
as I herein set forth. I remove the needle which explodes the cartridges, and
substitute for the same a firing pin f¹ which is secured to the holder vor
rod v, the said holder and rod being left unaltered. I dispense with the
needle guide, which in the said gun is attached to the forward end of the
blocks, and also with the expanding india-rubber gas check fitted upon the
said guide.
I attach to the block s an extracting device m similar in all
respects to that shown in Figures 2 and 3, and also chamfer or bevel the end
of the bush to receive the hook or claw m³ of the said extractor, and allow
the same to turn freely over the rim of the cartridge, as already described.
If desired the bush A' may be extended to lie flush with the shoulder w, the

page_text: blocks which is shortened to adapt it to the modifications shown in the
Drawings being in this case still further reduced. The blocks as originally
formed is provided with a groove or channel which slides over the point of a
stop screw projecting through the side of the breech shoe.
This screw stops
the block by coming in contact with the shoulder at the end of the said groove.
I find it desirable to shorten the distance to which the block is drawn back in
opening the breech, and for this purpose fill up the end of the said groove, or
place a stop therein at the proper distance to arrest the blocks when the forward
end of the same is flush with the shoulder D. It may be found desirable to
form a small incline at the rear end of the breech chamber of either of the
arms herein described to facilitate the entrance of the extracting device m
when the breech block is inserted into its chamber. The aperture in the
forward end of the blocks in which the metal needle guide was originally
placed is now fitted with a bush s' which is formed with a central perforation
to allow the firing pin f¹ to slide through the same.
This altered gun
may also be provided with my improved ejecting device if desired.
In Figures 9, 10, I have shown the block or bolt 6 applied to the breech
of the "Chassepot" rifle. The said bolt is in this case provided with the
handle c, stop d, striking pin f, and extractor m, as already set forth in the
description of the arm illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4. The catch h¹ and
shoulder 6º are also formed and arranged to prevent the action of the trigger
till the piece is properly adjusted for firing as already described. In this
modification of my improvements I prefer to form the trigger u¹ as shewn
in Figure 10. The said trigger is pivoted at u³ within the slot or aperture h³
of the spring bar h, and when pulled acts against the surface of the shoe at u³.
To avoid the unsightly appearance which would be presented by grooves
formed in my improved block to correspond with the position of the stop screw
in the original "Chassepot "gun I dispense with the said screw entirely and
substitute for the same the stop h* which is also secured within the slot h³ or
otherwise attached to the spring bar h. This stop projects up through the
aperture a³ into a lateral groove 6 which is extended on one side of the
longitudinal groove 6* originally formed in the block b to allow the same to
pass over the catch h³. This groove is formed in the portion of the bolt 6 which
lies on the bottom of the breech chamber when the handle c is turned up.
The said groove and the lateral extension & for allowing the bolt 6 to turn
over the stop h* are consequently never in sight in whatever position the
block 6 is adjusted. When the handle c is turned down, as shown in Figure 9,
the catch h¹ is opposite the recess b³, as already described in reference to the
same devices shown in Figures 1, 2; the trigger u being then pulled the

page_text: said catch is drawn down through the recess 63 and releases the spring 9, which
strikes the pin f and explodes the cartridge. When the trigger is released and
the block is drawn back the end or shoulder 6 of the groove b* comes in
contact with the stop h* and prevents the removal of the block 6 from its chamber
till the trigger is again depressed to bring the said stop clear of the shoulder.
If desired the stop h* may be made longer than the catch h¹, so that the trigger
has to be pulled down further than is required in firing.
Having thus fully described the said improvements as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, and shewn how the same may be conveniently
and advantageously carried into practice, I claim,-
First. The bolt 6 with the handle c and stop d constructed and operating
in the chamber a¹, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Second. Forming at the end of the charge chamber A¹ a recesso for the
purpose set forth.
Third. The extractor m attached to the bolt 6 and with its hook or claw
m fitted to turn in the chamfered or bevelled recess o formed at the end of
the chamber A¹ when pushed over the rim of a cartridge lying in the said
chamber, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The combination of the bolt 6, extractor m, and recess o, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
Fifth. The modification of parts for adapting these improvements to the
arm illustrated in Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of May, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-eight.
0
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.s.)
Witness,
THOS. N. PALMER,
Clerk to Messrs. Haseltine, Lake, & Co.
8, Southampton Buildings, W.C.