IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECHLOADING FIRE- ARMS.
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Rogers of Gun Department Army and Navy
Stores Ranelagh Road Pimlico in the County of Middlesex for an Invention
of TDAIRIEZLONG
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Rogers at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th August 1882.
WILLIAM ROGERS of Gun Department Army and Navy Stores, Ranelagh Road,
Pimlico in the County of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECHLOADING FIRE-
ARMS.
"
This Invention has for its object improvements in breech loading fire-arms, and
applies to the class of arins in which the barrels are provided with a hook on
their under side, which engages with a transverse horizontal pin or axis in the
body and in which the breeches are opened for loading by the movement of the
barrels about this pin or axis, the muzzles being depressed whilst the breech ends
are raised and exposed to receive the cartridges.
The fore end (or piece attached beneath the barrels to complete the joint) I form
with lugs projecting on either side or with separate cheek pieces and covering the
ends of the transverse pin or axis in the body. The body is recessed to receive
these lugs and the pin or axis is shortened by a like amount and its ends are over-
lapped by the lugs of the fore end. In the recesses formed on either side of the
body to receive the forward end of the lock plate and the main spring I cut a
groove passing beneath the main spring and into this groove a slide is received.
A passage also is formed from the lock cavity in continuation of the groove and
through this passage the slide extends as far as the joint pin. It terminates above
the joint pin in a head which the lug on the fore end or separate cheek pieces are
recessed to receive and in such manner that the movement of the fore end or barrels
in opening the breech draws the slide forward. The rear end of the slide engages
with the tumbler beneath its axis and so by the movement of the slide when
the breech opens the tumbler is raised to the cocked position. The joint pin or
axis is hollow and a pin passes through it connecting the lugs of the fore end
and aiding to keep the parts in their correct positions.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Rogers in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th February 1883.
WILLIAM ROGERS of Gun Department Army and Navy Stores Ranelagh Road
Pimlico in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING FIRE
ARMS
"
This invention has for its object improvements in breech loading fire arms and
applies to the class of arms in which the barrels are provided with a hook on their
under side which engages with a transverse horizontal pin or axis in the body and
in which the breeches are opened for loading by the movement of the barrels about
this pin or axis, the muzzles being depressed whilst the breech ends are raised and
exposed to receive the cartridges.
For the purpose of automatically placing the locks in the cocked position by
opening the gun I employ lugs or cheek pieces covering the ends of the pin or
axis about which the barrels turn.
This pin or axis is shortened and the body is recessed on either side to receive
the lugs or cheeks.
The lock cavities at the sides of the body are fitted to receive slides. The fore
end of each slide projects as far as the centre of joint pin and a tooth or projection
upon it is received into a corresponding recess on the inner side of the lug or cheek
piece on the same side of the gun. This may however be reversed, the tooth or
projection being left on the lug or cheek piece and the slide or rod slotted or
recessed to receive the stud on the cheek piece.
The rear ends of the slides are formed as hooks and engage with projections
upon the undersides of the tumblers.
The lugs or check pieces are so fitted as to move with the barrels as the gun is
opened and closed.
The slides are drawn forward in the body by the lugs when the gun is opened and
acting on the tumblers raise them until they are caught and retained by the sears.
The pin or axis about which the barrels turn may be perforated for another pin
to pass through to connect the two lugs or cheek pieces and keep them in their
places.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a portion of a breech loading
fowling piece; the piece is provided with automatic mechanism for cocking by the
Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a portion of a breech loading
fowling piece; the piece is provided with automatic mechanism for cocking by the
opening of the breech and this mechanism is arranged in accordance with my
invention.
Figure 2 is a side view and Figure 3 is an end view of the body. Figure 4 is
a plan. Figure 5 is a section on the line 1, 1, in Figure 4.
Figures 6 shew separately one of the cocking slides.
Figure 6a shows another form which may be given to the cocking slide.
Figures 7 shew separately one of the lugs or cheek pieces.
Figure 8 shews together the two lugs or cheek pieces the pin which connects
them and the two slides.
a. a. is the body. a. a. are tho recesses at its fore end to receive the lugs or
cheek pieces. a. a. are the cavities in which the slides and the fore parts of the
lock are received.

page_text: bis the hollow pin or axis about which the barrels turn, it is shorter than
usual by the amount by which the body is recessed to receive the lugs or cheek
pieces.
c. c. are the barrels they engage as usual with the pin b by means of a hook on
the under side.
d is the "fore end" fixed beneath the barrels and completing the joint.
c. e. are the lugs or cheek pieces adapted to this fore end but by preference not
fixed to it otherwise than by the pin f which however holds them so that they
move with the barrels as they fall. The pin f passes through the pin b and
through the two lugs or cheek pieces e; it has a head which retains the lug or
cheek piece at one end of the pin and at the other end the lug or cheek piece is
secured by a cross pin e¹.
g. g. are the slides for operating the tumblers. The slide shown separately in
Figure 6 engages by means of a tooth on its side with a recess in the lug e, but in
place of this the slide may be made as shewn by Figure 6a with a hook to engage
with a pin projecting on the inner side of the lug c. The slide Figure 6ª is so
formed as to be effectually guided by both the top and bottom of the recess in the
body in which the slide works. is one of the tumblers
Having thus described the nature of my said invention and the manner of
performing the same I would have it understood that I do not claim generally
mechanism whereby the tumblers are raised in the act of opening the breech but
I claim the lugs or cheek pieces e. c. operating upon slides g. g. and so lifting the
tumblers substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said William Rogers have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twelfth day of February in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
W. ROGERS (L.S.)