An Improved Apparatus for Cleaning the Chamber of Martini- Henry Rifles.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Apr., 1888
Specification Accepted, 18th May, 1888
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Cleaning the Chamber of Martini-
Henry Rifles.
I, ABRAHAM COLLEY of No. S8 Green Street, South Richmond in the Colony of
Victoria Armorer to the Government of the said Colony do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
This invention has been devised for the purpose of avoiding the necessity which at
present exists of unbreaching the Martini-Henry rifle before its chamber can be
cleaned.
It consists of a hollow sleeve or body to which is attached a suitable handle.
Through this sleeve or body and fitting a passage therethrough is a circular spindle
having a recess around one part of it to receive the end of a set screw-One end
of this spindle terminates in a tapering square to receive a crank brace by which to
impart motion to said spindle-The other end of this spindle terminates just beyond
said sleeve or body in a fork between the prongs of which a ball is connected by a
pin passing through same into the said prongs-This ball works between the two
prongs of another fork to which it is connected by two axial pins-The stem of
this fork passes through another sleeve in a lug which projects from the body of the
apparatus This stem fits into and is pinned to the socket of a socket piece which
continues for an inch or so beyond the socket-The sides of this socket piece are
slotted and its interior screw-threaded.
Referring to the drawings:-
Figure 1 shows a view of the whole apparatus, and
Figure 2 a part end view thereof.
A is the sleeve or body through which passes the spindle B having a groove B¹ to
receive the set screw A-B2 is its square tapering end-B³ is the fork at its opposite
extremity, the two prongs B of which are connected together by the pin B³-Cis the ball
through which said pin passes, D are the prongs forming the fork in which said ball
works. D' are the axle pins passing through said prongs and into said ball A² is a
lug projecting from the sleeve or body A and having a sleeve at its extremity through
which the stem of said fork D passes and enters the socket of socket piece E-E is
the slot and E the internal screw thread in said socket piece, F is the handle,

page_text: The mode of operation is as follows-
An
The falling block in the Martini-Henry rifles is first removed and a rag or other
cleaning material is then fitted into the slot E¹ and around the socket piece E-This
socket piece with its cleaning material is then placed in the chamber of the rifle to
he cleaned and the handle F of the apparatus is held say by the left hand.
ordinary crank brace is then fitted on to the square tapering end B2 of the spindle
and revolved say with the right hand-This imparts motion to the socket-piece which
can be pushed up and down in the chamber of the rifle as may be found needful
for the purpose of thoroughly cleaning it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said 1
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :
My improved apparatus for cleaning the chamber of Martini-Henry rifles consisting
essentially of a hollow body, through which passes a spindle having a universal joint
at one end, and a square taper at the other end, and with lugs, sleeve, fork and socket
piece, combined and arranged substantially as herein described and explained.
Dated this Fifth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight.
12th day
of
April 1888.
ABRAHAM COLLEY.
Abel & Imray,
Agents for the Applicants.