IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Tranter, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Gunmaker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FIRE-ARMS:"
Sealed the 8th April 1870, and dated the 9th December 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Tranter at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th December 1869.
I, WILLIAM TRANTER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Gunmaker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
My Invention has reference in the first place to improvements in
breech-loading guns with a block hinged at the back and falling at the
front end, and consists in the improvements herein-after stated.
The breech box is formed with a curved rib on each side for the
purpose of giving it additional strength, and to admit of the stock being
formed in one piece with facility. The said falling block is or may be
formed with a projection at its front end to prevent the block from being

page_text: raised too high when acted upon by the guard. It has or may have
likewise another projection formed near the front part of it for the
purpose of fixing it in the required position by means of the guard for
firing. A hole is likewise formed in the said block in the direction of
its length, and a slot is cut in a portion of its length for the purpose of
enabling the striking pin to work therein. The guard may be made to
work either in the breech box or the trigger plate, or in both, and is
formed with a longer and shorter arm, the latter of which is adapted to
act against the striking pin in order to raise the striker to full or half
cock and to lower the block. A knee may be formed between the end
of the short arm and the axis of the guard for the purpose of fixing the
block by coming in contact with a projecting part thereof. The striking
pin is adapted to work in the hole of the block and has a projection on
it to work in the groove formed in the same; it has a slot or notch
formed in it to connect it with the striker.
The lock is formed with a plate to lie along the under side of the gun
and may be connected with the breech box by means of the breech pin,
the guard pin, and swivel screw, or otherwise. A slot may be formed in
the said plate for the guard to work in, and another slot for the striker,
trigger, and spring. The lock may be formed with one or two springs
with a sear and trigger or with a trigger only to serve the same purpose.
The sear or trigger is adapted to act with the striker in order to fix the
same either at full or half cock or at "bearer" or other position. The
lock may be formed to work in the breech box without the striker and
trigger being connected to the plate.
The kind of lock above described is applicable to breech-loading guns
with sliding blocks and may be fitted to work perpendicularly therein,
or it may be adapted and applied to other kinds of guns, being arranged
in various ways to suit the same. The guard may be caused to raise the
striker to either half or full cock by means of a lifter connected to it.
The extractor may be made to work in connection with the guard or
otherwise.
My Invention has reference in the second place to breech-loading
guns with sliding blocks such as those described in the Specification of
a Patent granted unto me, and bearing date 28th November 1868,
No. 3622. The curved rib and also the lock herein-before referred to
are likewise applicable to this kind of gun. The block has a projection
formed on it to prevent its being raised too high in the breech box by

page_text: the guard. The guard is formed to act against the striker previous to
drawing down the block. For this purpose the short arm of the guard
is lengthened from the part connecting it with the block so as to act
against the upper part of the striker. The guard by being loosely
connected with the block acts upon the striker first. The lock with the
striker may be fitted into the guard or frame instead of in the sliding
block.
My Invention has reference in the third place to revolver pistols such
as those described in the said Patent No. 3622, 1868. Instead however
of the rack and pinion therein described I cause the centre rod to be
acted upon by a lever either simple or excentric fixed to the barrel and
connected with the centre rod by means of a swivel. When the front
barrel is required to slide on a fixed rod instead of moving on a joint the
said rod may have a rack formed on it with a pinion to work therein
connected with the front of the frame formed solid with the barrel. The
pinion may have a bolt formed to work in connection with it to fix the
barrel.
And my
Invention has reference in the last place to guns and pistols
similar to those described in the Specification of a Patent granted to me,
and bearing date 17th August 1866, No. 2113. The catch for fixing the
barrels therein referred to is now intended to be formed with a handle to
fall in front of the guard, and the catch is so modified in shape that the
movement of the handle forwards (after the said catch has been released)
will cause the barrel to be lifted into a position for loading. The
extractor is placed and formed to work perpendicularly to the bore of
the barrel in the lump fixed on the barrel. A horizontal bearing is
formed in the frame, and the extractor is formed with a toe to act
against the said bearing in such a manner as to eject the empty case
from the barrel after firing. The extractor and frame formed in this
manner may be applied to pistols without the lever above referred to.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Tranter in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 8th June 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
5 TRANTER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gunmaker, send
greeting

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Tranter, Her special licence
that I, the said William Tranter, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Tranter, 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 FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Tranter, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Tranter, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing here-
unto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say):
My Invention of "Improvements in Fire-arms" has reference in the
first place to improvements in breech-loading guns with a block hinged
at the back and falling at the front end, and consists in the improvements
herein-after stated.
The breech box is formed with a curved rib on each side for the
purpose of giving additional strength and to admit of the stock being
formed in one piece with facility. The said falling block is or may
be formed with a projection at its front end to prevent the block from
being raised too high when acted upon by the guard. It has or may
have likewise another projection formed near the front part of it for
the purpose of fixing it in the required position by means of the guard
for firing. A hole is likewise formed in the said block in the direction
of its length, and a slot is cut in a portion of its length for the purpose

page_text: of enabling the striking pin to work therein. The guard may be made
to work either in the breech box or the trigger plate or in both, and is
formed with a longer and shorter arm, the latter of which is adapted to
act against the striking pin in order to raise the striker to full or half-
cock and to lower the block. A knee may be formed between the end
of the short arm and the axis of the guard for the purpose of fixing
the block by coming in contact with a projecting part thereof. The
striking pin is adapted to work in the hole of the block, and has a pro-
jection on it to work in the groove formed in the same; it has a slot or
notch formed in it to connect it with the striker.
The lock is formed with a plate to lie along the under side of the gun,
and
may be connected with the breech box by means of the breech pin,
the guard pin, and swivel screw, or otherwise. A slot may be formed
in the said plate for the guard to work in, and another slot for the striker,
trigger, and spring. The lock may be formed with one or two springs
with a sear and trigger or with a trigger only to serve the same purpose.
The sear or trigger is adapted to act with the striker in order to fix the
same either at full or half-cock or at "bearer" or other position. The
lock may be formed to work in the breech box without the striker and
trigger being connected to the plate.
The kind of lock above described is applicable to breech-loading guns
with sliding blocks, and may be fitted to work perpendicularly therein,
or it may be adapted and applied to other kinds of guns being arranged,
in various ways to suit the same. The guard may be caused to raise the
striker to either half or full cock by means of a lifter connected to it.
The extractor may be made to work in connection with the guard or
otherwise.
My Invention has reference in the second place to breech-loading
guns with sliding blocks, such as those described in the Specification
of a Patent granted unto me, and bearing date Twenty-eighth November
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, No. 3622. The curved
rib and also the lock herein-before referred to are likewise applicable to
this kind of gun. The block has a projection formed on it to prevent
its being raised too high in the breech box by the guard. The guard is
formed to act against the striker previous to drawing down the block.
For this purpose the short arm of the guard is lengthened from the part
connecting it with the block so as to act against the upper part of the
striker. The guard by being loosely connected with the block acts upon

page_text: the striker first. The lock with the striker may be fitted into the guard
or frame instead of in the sliding block.
My Invention has reference in the third place to revolver pistols, such
as those described in the said Patent No. 36226. Instead, however
of the rack and pinion therein described I cause the centre rod to be
acted upon by a lever, either simple or excentric, fixed to the barrel and
connected with the centre rod by means of a swivel or a pin and slot.
When the front barrel is required to slide on a fixed rod instead of
moving on a joint the said rod may have a rack formed on it with a
pinion to work therein connected with the front of the frame formed
solid with the barrel. The pinion may have a bolt formed to work in
connection with it to fix the barrel..
And my Invention has reference in the last place to guns and pistols
similar to those described in the Specification of a Patent granted to me,
and bearing date Seventeenth August One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-six, No. 2113,
The extractor is placed and formed to work perpendicularly to the
bore of the barrel in the lump fixed on the barrel. A horizontal
bearing is formed in the frame, and the extractor is formed with a toe to.
act against the said bearing in such a manner as to eject the empty
case from the barrel after firing. The extractor and frame formed
in this manner may be applied to pistols without the lever above
referred to.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, I will proceed
to describe more particularly in what manner the same is to be
performed by reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which are
represented some of the parts above referred to.
•
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section shewing the breech part of a gun with
the lock constructed with the improvements referred to under the first
part of my Invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the
same in the line a, b, of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a similar section in the
line c, d.
A is the breech box having a curved rib A* on each side, as shewn in
Fig. 2 B is a falling block having its centre of motion at C; this
block has a projection at D to prevent it from being raised too high by
the action of the guard upon it; E is another projection formed in the

page_text: front part of it, which by coming in contact with a portion of the guard.
causes the block to be fixed as required for firing. The short arm F of
the guard is formed with a knee, as shewn, for the purpose of fixing the
block; G is the striking pin, which is adapted to work in a longitudinal
hole made in the block for the purpose, and it has a projection H to
work in a groove formed in the block. The striking pin has a slot I
formed in it to receive the upper end of the striker J, as shewn, in order.
to form the necessary connection between them. The guard is formed
with a long and short arm and is pivotted at K in the frame and plate.
The short arm F is formed as shewn in order to act on the projection H
of the striking pin for the purpose of raising the striker to half or full
cock and lowering the block B into its required position for loading.
The striker J is formed so as to act in the groove and slot formed in the
block B and striking pin G. It is pivotted at L and is acted upon by the
long arm of the mainspring and swivel M; it is also formed with bents
or notches on its lower side in order to retain it at half or full cock as
required, and also to retain the striker in a fixed position when the
striking pin is acting on the cap of the cartridge. The trigger is
pivotted at N and is formed at each end in a manner adapted for passing
into the bents or notches of the striker. The trigger may be acted upon
by the spring, as shewn in the Drawing, or a separate spring may be
fixed so as to act on the front part of it. O is the extractor; P is
the eye for the swivel, which also serves for holding the plate in the
frame.
With reference to breech-loading guns with sliding blocks, such as
those described in the Specification of a Patent granted unto me, and
bearing date Twenty-eighth November One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-eight, No. 3622, the curved rib A* and also the lock represented in
the accompanying Drawing and herein-before described are likewise
applicable to guns with sliding blocks. Referring to Fig. 1 of the
Drawing in the Specification No. 3622 (One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-eight), the sliding block C may have a projection formed
on either side at its lower end to prevent its being raised too high
by the action of the guard. The guard is formed to act against the
striker previous to drawing down the block. For this purpose the
short arm of the guard D is lengthened from the pivot G to act against.
the front and upper part of the striker H. The thumb piece of
the striker may be dispensed with, and the upper part of the said
striker may be enclosed in the block. The sear J may be connected

page_text: with the striker in the same manner and for the same purpose as in the
lock referred to under the first head of my Invention.
Fig. 4 is a section of a revolver pistol shewing the lever for working
the centre rod referred to under the third head of my Invention. Qis
the centre rod, which is formed with a swell at its front end in which
there is also formed a slot for the excentric end of the lever R to work
in. A notch is likewise formed at right angles to the slot for the lever
pin to pass through. Another notch is formed on the opposite side for
the studs on the lever to work in for the purpose of drawing the centre
rod back to its place. The lever R is adapted to work the centre rod as
required by its being moved on the centre pin S, which is passed through
the under side of the barrel, thereby causing the excentric end of the
said lever to act on the inclined part of the slot in the centre rod...
Fig. 5 represents a similar arrangement for working the centre rod by
connecting the lever R and centre rod Q together by means of a
swivel T.
Fig. 6 is a section of a pistol shewing the application thereto of an
extractor of the kind referred to under the last head of my Invention.
Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the same. U is the horizontal bearing
formed in the frame%; V is the extractor pivotted at W having a
projecting toe X at the bottom and two projecting wings Y, Y, at the
top to be used with the fingers if required. When the pistol is opened
for the purpose of loading the toe X of the extractor V is raised and
brought in contact with the horizontal bearing U, by which means the
empty cartridge case is ejected from the pistol or gun.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I claim
as of my Invention is,―
First. The formation of the breech box with a curved rib on each side
for the purpose of strengthening the same and facilitating the fitting of
the stock.
.
Secondly. The formation of the falling block with a projection at the
front end for preventing the block from being raised too high when
acted upon by the guard.
Thirdly. The formation of the guard with a knee and a projection on
the falling block for the purpose of retaining the falling block in a fixed
position for firing.

page_text: Fourthly. The action of the guard upon the striking pin and striker
in the manner and for the purpose described.
Fifthly. The lock with a trigger or trigger and sear adapted to act
in connection with the striker in the manner and for the purpose
described.
Sixthly. The combination of the parts represented and described
under the first head of my Invention for the purpose referred to.
Seventhly. The action of the short arm of the guard on the front
part of the striker, as described with reference to the second head of my
Invention.
Eighthly. The action of the trigger or trigger and sear on the striker
adapted to guns with sliding blocks, such as that described in the
Specification of my former Patent No. 3622 (One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-eight).
Ninthly. The two methods of working the centre rod for the purpose
of extracting cartridge cases in revolving pistols, as represented and
described.
And, lastly. The adaptation and application to guns and pistols of an
extractor formed with a toe to act against the frame in the manner and
for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Tranter, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Eighth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
5 Witness,
WILLIAM SPENCE,
8, Quality Court,
Chancery Lane,
Patent Agent.
WILLIAM TRANTER. (L.s.)