IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Rock Cooper, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Gun Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 7th May 1867, and dated the 27th February 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Rock Cooper
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
27th February 1867.
on the
I, JOSEPH ROCK COOPER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gün
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
My improvements in breech-loading fire-arms consist, firstly, in constructing
the open breech end of the barrel or entrance to the barrel in the manner
herein-after described, by which method of construction the hooked end of a
cartridge case extractor can engage with the rim of the cartridge for the
purpose of withdrawing the cartridge case after explosion without a notch or
groove being cut into the bore of the barrel. I bevil or cut away the outer
edge of the open breech end of the barrel so as to make the said open end of
the barrel of a conical figure, instead of making the said open end flat, and
in a plane at right angles to the axis of the barrel. The extreme end of the
open part of the barrel is brought by the said bevilling to nearly a sharp edge,

page_text: and when the cartridge is put in its place in the barrel its rim bears against
the said edge, but the rim of the cartridge being broader than the said edge of
the barrel it projects beyond the said edge, and there is room for the hook or
end of the cartridge case extractor to engage in front of the rim of the cartridge
between the said rim and the inclined end of the barrel. By this method of
construction the hook or end of the cartridge case extractor obtains a firm
bearing against the front of the rim of the cartridge without cutting a groove
or notch into the bore of the barrel. When the extraction of the case of the
cartridge is effected by a hook carried by a sliding plug or bolt which fastens
and unfastens by a motion of partial rotation, I bevil or incline the whole of
the open end of the barrel so that the hook of the extractor can follow the
motion of the said plug without being disengaged from the rim of the cartridge.
When the hook of the extractor has only a. sliding motion in a line parallel
to the axis of the barrel it is only necessary to bevel or incline that part of the
edge of the barrel opposite the hook or extractor. Although I prefer to give
the end of the barrel the bevilled or inclined figure described, yet I do not limit
myself thereto as other forms may be adopted with the same effect. For
example the extreme or open end of the barrel may be reduced in external
diameter for a short distance, the reduced part being of less diameter than the
rim of the cartridge. When the cartridge is introduced into its place in the
barrel there is a groove or narrow space between the rim of the cartridge and
the part of the barrel which has not been reduced in diameter, into which
space the hook of the extractor may enter so as to engage in front of the
rim of the cartridge.
My Invention consists, secondly, in the following arrangement of parts for pre-
venting the accidental discharge of central-fire breech-loading fire-arms. By the
said arrangement the needle or striker is prevented from advancing sufficiently
far to discharge the cartridge, until the plug or closer has securely closed the
breech of the barrel; the liberation of the plug effects the withdrawal of the
needle or striker. To the under side of the needle or striker I affix a pin or
projection which works through a slot in the plug or closer, and projects a
short distance below the plug or closer. In the bottom of the rear end of
the shoe or breech chamber a groove or recess is cut in which when the plug
is pushed home the said pin or projection on the needle or striker works
without obstruction, if the needle or striker is properly withdrawn into the
plug or closer. If, however, the needle or striker projects from the end of the
closer the said pin or projection comes in contact with the end of the said
groove or recess, and its motion being arrested the plug or closer advances
without it. The needle or striker is thereby withdrawn into the plug or closer

page_text: the plug or closer is fixed in its place for the discharge of the gun by giving
it a motion of partial rotation. By this motion the pin or projection on the
needle or striker is carried into a groove or recess in the side of the shoe or
breech chamber, which groove or recess is continued further towards the muzzle
of the gun than the recess in the bottom of the shoe or breech chamber; the
pin or striker is now free to move forward, and by the action of the hammer
may be made to discharge the gun. The pin or projection on the needle or
striker traverses an oblique slot in passing from the recess in the bottom of
the shoe or breech chamber to the groove or recess in its side. On giving to
the plug or closer the motion necessary to liberate it the pin or projection on
the under side of the needle or striker bears against the side of the oblique
slot in passing to the recess in the base of the shoe or breech chamber, and is
thereby withdrawn into the plug or closer.
The second part of my Invention may be modified in the following manner :--
I make the plug or closer in two parts, the front part being capable only of a
sliding motion, and the rear part being capable also of a motion of partial
rotation. The needle or striker is capable of only a sliding motion in the
front part of the plug or closer. A cam or incline in the rear part of the
plug acting on a projection on the needle or striker withdraws the said needle
or striker into the plug, when the rear end of the said plug is moved in the
direction proper to liberate it. When the rear end of the plug is moved in
the contrary direction it no longer retains the needle or striker in its with-
drawn position, but leaves it free to be struck forward by the action of the
hammer.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Rock Cooper in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 23rd August 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
ROCK COOPER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun Manufacturer,
send greeting.
. WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Joseph Rock Cooper, Her special licence that I, the said Joseph
Rock Cooper, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as

page_text: I, the said Joseph Rock Cooper, iny 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 condition (amongst
others) that 1, the said Joseph Rock Cooper, 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 Inven-
tion, 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 Joseph Rock Cooper, 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:-
My improvements in breech-loading fire-arms consist, firstly, in constructing
the open breech end of the barrel or entrance to the barrel in the manner
herein-after described; by which method of construction the hooked end of a
cartridge case extractor can engage with the rim of the cartridge for the
purpose of withdrawing the cartridge case after explosion without a notch or
I bevil or cut away the outer
groove being cut into the bore of the barrel.
edge of the open breech end of the barrel so as to make the said open end of
the barrel of a conical figure instead of making the said open end flat and in a
plane at right angles to the axis of the barrel. The extreme end of the open
part of the barrel is brought by the said bevilling to nearly a sharp edge, and
when the cartridge is put in its place in the barrel its rim bears against the
said edge, but the rim of the cartridge being broader than the said edge of the
barrel it projects beyond the said edge, and there is room for the hook or end
of the cartridge case extractor to engage in front of the rim of the cartridge
between the said rim and the inclined end of the barrel. By this method of
construction the hook or end of the cartridge case extractor obtains a firm
bearing against the front of the rim of the cartridge without cutting a groove
or notch into the bore of the barrel. When the extraction of the case
of the cartridge is effected by a hook carried by a sliding plug or bolt which
fastens and unfastens by a motion of partial rotation, I bevil or incline the whole
of the open end of the barrel, so that the hook of the extractor can follow the
motion of the said plug without being disengaged from the rim of the cartridge.
When the hook of the extractor has only a sliding motion in a line parallel to

page_text: the axis of the barrel it is only necessary to bevil or incline that part of the
edge of the barrel opposite the hook or extractor. Although I prefer to give
the end of the barrel the bevilled or inclined figure described, yet I do not
limit myself thereto, as other forms may be adopted with the same effect. For
example, the extreme or open end of the barrel may be reduced in external
diameter for a short distance, the reduced part being of less diameter than the
rim of the cartridge. When the cartridge is introduced into its place in the
barrel there is a groove or narrow space between the rim of the cartridge and
the part of the barrel which has not been reduced in diameter, into which
space the book of the extractor may enter so as to engage in front of the rim
of the cartridge.
My Invention consists, secondly, in the following arrangement of parts for
preventing the accidental discharge of central-fire breech-loading fire-arms.
By the said arrangement the needle or striker is prevented from advancing
sufficiently far to discharge the cartridge until the plug or closer has securely
closed the breech of the barrel. The liberation of the plug effects the with-
drawal of the needle or striker. To the under side of the needle or striker I
affix a pin or projection which works through a slot in the plug or closer, and
projects a short distance below the plug or closer.
In the bottom of the rear
end of the shoe or breech chamber a groove or recess is cut, in which when
the plug is pushed home the said pin or projection on the needle or striker
works without obstruction if the needle or striker is properly withdrawn into
the plug or closer. If, however, the needle or striker projects from the end of
the closer the said pin or projection comes in contact with the end of the said
groove or recess, and its motion being arrested the plug or closer advances
without it. The needle or striker is thereby withdrawn into the plug or
closer. The plug or closer is fixed in its place for the discharge of the gun
by giving it a motion of partial rotation. By this motion the pin or projection
on the needle or striker is carried into a groove or recess in the side of the
shoe or breech chamber, which groove or recess is continued further towards
the muzzle of the gun than the recess in the bottom of the shoe or breech
chamber. The pin or striker is now free to move forward, and by the action
of the hammer may be made to discharge the gun. The pin or projection on
the needle or striker traverses an oblique slot in passing from the recess in
the bottom of the shoe or breech chamber to the groove or recess in its side.
On giving to the plug or closer the motion necessary to liberate it the pin or
projection on the under side of the needle or striker bears against the side of
the oblique slot passing to the recess in the base of the shoe or breech chamber,
and is thereby withdrawn into the plug or closer.

page_text: Having explained the nature of my Invention I 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 section a breech-loading central-fire
gun containing my improvements, the parts being represented in position for
discharge; Figure 2 is a plan of the gun before the plug or closer is fastened
in its place; Figure 8 is a side elevation of the gun after it has been dis-
charged; Figure 4 is also a side elevation with the plug or closer withdrawn
and the breech open for the introduction of a cartridge into the barrel;
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section, and Figure 6 a cross section of the rear
end of the breech chamber or shoe of the gun; Figure 7 is a longitudinal
section, and Figure 8 a plan of under side of the plug or closer separately,
and Fig. 9 represents the cock or hammer of the gun separately. The same
letters of reference indicate the same parts in each Figure of the Drawings.
The plug or
of a handle f
a is the barrel, and 6 the breech chamber or shoe; c is the plug or closer
capable of sliding and partly rotating in the said chamber or shoe b. In the
axis of the plug or closer is a pin or striker d, by means of which the gun is
discharged. The return motion or withdrawal of the pin or striker d into the
plug or closer c is effected by the coiled spring e as well as s by the mechanism
constituting a portion of my Invention herein-after explained.
closer c is moved longitudinally, and partly rotated by means
fixed at its rear end. When the plug c is pushed home to close the breech
the handle is turned down into a slot h in the side of the shoe or breech
chamber. By the engaging of the said handle in the said slot the plug or
closer ċ is securely fixed in its place, a lug or projection on the under side
of the rear end of the plug at the same time engaging in a groove k in the
shoe or breech chamber opposite to the slot h in which the handle f engages.
The plug is thus supported at opposite sides of the shoe or breech chamber.
The gun is discharged by means of a quadrant-shaped hammer mm, made to
strike the end of the pin or striker d, projecting from the rear of the plug
or closer c. The outer edge of the open breech end of the barrel a is bevilled
or cut away at a³, so as to make the said open end of the barrel of a conical
figure, instead of making the said open end flat and in a plane at right angles
to the axis of the barrel, as is usual. The extreme end a³ of the open part
of the barrel a is thus brought by the said bevelling to nearly a sharp edge,
and when the cartridge is put in its place in the barrel its rim bears
against the said edge, but the said rim of the cartridge being broader than
the said edge of the barrel it projects beyond the said edge, and there is room
for the hook or end of the cartridge case extractor to engage in front of the

page_text: rim of the cartridge, that is, between the said rim and the inclined or
bevilled end a of the barrel, as best seen in Figures 2 and 3. The cartridge
case extractor consists of a flat spring or bar q having a hooked end q³, the
said extractor being screwed or otherwise fastened to the plug c.
On pushing
home the plug c after the introduction of the cartridge r into the barrel the
book of the extractor works over the rim of the cartridge r and engages
in front of it, the said hook occupying the space between the rim and the
bevilled end a of the barrel. After the gun has been discharged and on
drawing back the plug c the case of the exploded cartridge is carried with it,
and when the plug has been withdrawn nearly to its full extent the exploded
case is ejected from the chamber or shoe b by the springs, the free end of the
said spring rising through a slot in the bottom of the said chamber (see
Figure 1). When the extraction of the case of the cartridge is effected by a hook
carried by a sliding plug or closer which fastens and unfastens by a motion of
partial rotation, as in the gun represented in the Drawings, I bevil or incline
the whole of the open end a of the barrel a so that the hook of the
extractor can follow the motion of the plug without being disengaged from
the rim of the cartridge. In case the hook of the extractor has only a
sliding motion in a line parallel to the axis of the barrel that part only of the
edge of the barrel opposite the hook is bevilled or inclined. Instead of
bevilling or inclining the extreme or open end of the barrel, in the manner
represented in the Drawings, the open end of the barrel may be reduced in
external diameter for a short distance, the reduced part being of less diameter
than the rim of the cartridge. When the end of the barrel is made in this
way a groove or narrow space is left between the rim of the cartridge when.
introduced into the barrel and the part of the barrel which has not been
reduced in diameter, into which space the hook of the extractor may enter so
as to engage in front of the rim of the cartridge; other forms than those I.
have described and represented may be given to the extreme breech end of
the barrel with the same or nearly the same effect.
By constructing the open or extreme breech end of the barrel in the
manner herein-before described and represented in the Drawings the hook or
end of the cartridge case extractor obtains a firm bearing against the front
of the rim of the cartridge without cutting a groove or notch into the bore of
the barrel.
I will now proceed to describe my improvements for preventing the accidental
discharge of the gun by the needle or striker. To the under side of the needle
or striker d working in the axis of the plug or closer c I affix a pin or pro-
jection t which works through a slot 2 in the plug or closer c and projects a

page_text: short distance below the plug or closer, see Figures 7 and 8. In the bottom
of the rear end of the shoe or breech chamber b, a groove or recess u is made
(see Figures 5 and 6) in which groove u when the plug c is pushed home to
close the breech the said pin or projection t of the needle or striker & works
without obstruction if the said needle or striker d is properly withdrawn into
the plug or closer. If, however, the needle or striker d projects from the
front end of the closer the said pin or projection comes in contact with the
end u² of the groove or recess u, and its motion being arrested the plug or
closer moves without it, the projection t working in its slot 2 in the plug;
the needle or striker d is thereby withdrawn into the plug or closer. On
giving a motion of partial rotation to the plug to fix it in its place for the
discharge of the gun the pin or projection t on the needle or striker dis
carried into the groove or recess in the side of the shoe or breech chamber b,
which groove or recess vis continued further towards the muzzle of the gun
than the recess u in the bottom of the shoe or breech chamber, as illustrated
in Figure 5. In passing from the recess u in the bottom of the shoe to the
groove or recess in the side thereof the pin or projection t traverses the
oblique slot w, by which the two recesses are connected (see the cross section,
Figure 6). When the projection t is in the last-described position the said
projection is free to move forward in the recess v, and by the action of the
hammer upon the rear end d³ of the needle or striker d the latter may be
advanced to discharge the gun. On giving to the plug or closer the motion
necessary to liberate it the pin or projection t of the needle or striker bears
against the side of the oblique slot w in passing from the side recess to that
in the base of the shoe, and the needle or striker is thereby withdrawn into
the plug or closer.
By the arrangement described and represented the needle or striker is
prevented from advancing sufficiently far to discharge the cartridge until the
plug or closer has securely closed the breech of the barrel, the liberation of
the plug or closer affecting the withdrawal of the needle or striker into the
plug.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not
limit myself to the precise details herein described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings, as the same may be varied without departing from
the nature of my Invention; but I claim as my Invention,―
Firstly, the improvements herein-before described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings, in constructing the open breech ends of the barrels
or entrance to the barrels of brecch-loading fire-arms for the purpose of

page_text: extracting or withdrawing the exploded cartridge cases from the said barrels,
that is to say, bevilling, or inclining, or reducing the diameter of the outer
edge or a portion of the outer edge of the open breech end of the barrel so as
to permit the hook or end of the cartridge case extractor to engage with the
5 rim of the cartridge without cutting a groove or notch into the bore of the
barrel, substantially as described and illustrated.
Secondly, the arrangement or combination of parts, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, for preventing
the advance of the needles or strikers of breech-loading fire-arms while the
plugs or closers are unfastened, and for withdrawing the needles or strikers
into the plugs or closers on the unfastening of the plugs or closers.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Rock Cooper, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
JOSEPH ROCK COOPER. (L.S.)