IMPROVE- MENTS IN REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS."-A communication from abroad by
Thomas Jefferson Vail, of Hartford, County of Hartford, and State of
Connecticut, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th
September 1863.
I; WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
The nature of this Invention consists, firstly, in the employment in com-
bination with a cylinder frame opening by a movement on a hinge joint
arranged in front of and below the axis of the cylinder, and with an axis pin
secured to the barrel of a spring latch, so constructed and applied as to serve
the two purposes of connecting and locking the barrel with the upper part of.
the frame, and of securing the rotating cylinder upon the axis pin when the
barrel is disconnected from the upper part of the frame. With reference to
locking the barrel to the upper part of the frame, I make the barrel with a
tail piece extending rearwards, to which the spring latch above mentioned is
fitted, the rear end of said latch is provided with indentations or holes for

page_text: receiving suitable projections on the upper part of the back of the frame, and
so connecting the barrel with that part of the frame that it may be easily
disconnected by pressing up the rear end of the spring latch. To secure the
rotating cylinder to the axis piu when the barrel is disconnected I make a
shoulder on the under side of the latch deep enough to lap over the rear end of
the cylinder, and sufficient to retain the latter in position on its axis pin what-
ever may be the position of the barrel.
The Invention consists, secondly, in so constructing the spring latch and the
hammer that when the hammer is down it aids in securing the spring latch in
its connection with the frame, and so aids in securely locking the barrel to the
upper part of the frame. For this purpose there is an opening made in the
rear end of the spring latch through which the hammer strikes to fire the
charges, on opposite sides of which opening there are recessed shoulders to
receive catches of hooked form on the hammer, so that when the hammer is
down it may assist in locking or fastening the spring latch and with it the
barrel in connection with the frame. Or instead of the hammer being made
with catches or hooks and the spring latch being furnished with shoulders as
described, the hammer may have its nose tapered in a downward direction,
the spring latch have a corresponding downward taper, the nose of the
hammer fitting snugly in the taper opening when down, will lock the spring
latch with the same result as is produced by the catches and recessed shoulders
above described.'
The Invention consists, thirdly, in so constructing the axis pin and applying
the same in combination with the barrel or frame of the arm, that while
remaining attached to the barrel or frame it may be employed to expel from
the chambers of the cylinder the cartridge cases or shells or other matter
which may remain therein after firing the arm. For this purpose said axis
pin is made of nearly the same diameter as the chambers, and on the cylinder
being removed from its axis pin, the latter is introduced into said chambers
and so forces out the discharged shells or cartridge cases, the barrel to which
said axis is rigidly attached serving as a hand hold in this operation.
The Invention consists, fourthly, in a certain mode of applying a detachable
recoil plate in combination with the spring, which keeps the revolving dog or paw
to its work, whereby the said plate, while allowing the dog to work through it, i
made to aid the spring in excluding from the lock any gases escaping at th
rear of the cylinder in firing, which result may be attained by arranging th
spring behind the recoil plate and in front of that part of the frame supporting
said plate.
The Invention consists, fifthly, in applying what may be termed a dog o

page_text: pawl in connection with the tumbler of the hammer or lock, and in combination
with the locking lever for the purpose of unlocking the rotating cylinder just
before the hammer is required to commence acting upon it to produce its
revolution, whereby the locking lever is prevented from being unlocked or
interfered with during the fall of the hammer in firing.
The Invention consists, finally, in an improved construction of and mode of
applying the hammer pin, and of securing the cap plate of the lock, whereby
provision is made for opening the lock without disturbing the hammer pin or
displacing any of the parts of the lock. For this purpose the pin is furnished
with screw threads of different diameters with a central cylindrical part on
which the hammer is mounted; this screw takes into the right side of the
frame, the cap or movable side plate of the lock being on the left side, and
secured by a nut taking on to the smaller screw end of the hammer pin, which
remains a fixture. In this manner the cap plate can be removed without
disturbing the pin, and so opening the lock.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
March 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
İ,
CLARK, of 58, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent; send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of September, in the year of our
Lord thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reigu, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Clark, Her special licence that I, the said William Clark,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Clark, 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 REVOLVING
FIRE-ARMS;" a com" to me from abroad by Thomas Jefferson Vail, of Hartford,
County of. Hartford, and State of Connecticut, United States of America,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Clark, my
executors. or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,

page_text: .
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 per-
formed, 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 Clark, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
==
. The nature of this Invention consists, firstly, in the employment in combi-
nation with a cylinder frame opening by a movement on a binge joint arranged
in front of and below the line of the axis of the cylinder, and with an axis pin
secured to the barrel of a spring latch so constructed and applied as to serve
the two purposes of connecting and locking the barrel with the upper part of
the frame, and of securing the rotating cylinder upon the axis pin when the
barrel is disconnected from the upper part of the frame.
It consists, secondly, in so constructing the spring latch and the hammer
that when the hammer is down it aids in securing the spring latch in its con-
nection with the frame, and so aids in securely locking the barrel to the upper
part of the frame.
It consists, thirdly, in so constructing the axis pin, and applying the same
in combination with the barrel or frame of the arm, that while remaining
attached to the barrel or frame it may be employed to expel from the chambers
of the cylinder the cartridge cases or shells or other matter which may
remain therein after firing the arm.
It consists, fourthly, in a certain mode of applying a detachable recoil
plate in combination with the spring which keeps the revolving dog to its
work, whereby the said plate, while allowing the dog to work through it, is
made to aid the said spring in excluding from the lock any gases escaping at
the rear of the cylinder in firing.
It consists, fifthly, in a novel mode of applying what may be termed a "fly"
or a swinging dog in connection with the tumbler of the hammer or lock, and
in combination with the locking lever for the purpose of unlocking the rotating
cylinder, just before the hammer is required to commence acting upon it to
produce its revolution, whereby the locking lever is prevented from being
unlocked or interfered with during the fall of the hammer in firing.
It consists, finally, in an improved construction of and mode of applying the
hammer pin and of securing the cap plate of the lock, whereby. provision is

page_text: made for opening the lock without disturbing the lia.amer pin or displacing
any of the parts of the lock.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 is a side view of a pistol, constructed
according to this Invention, representing it in condition for use; Fig. 2 is a
longitudinal vertical section of the same; Fig. 3 is a side view representing
it with the cylinder frame open, and with the cylinder and the cap plate of the
lock removed; Fig. 4 is a top view corresponding with Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an
under side view of the spring latch; Fig. 6 is an edge view of the same;
Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 represent some of the details of the Invention, and
will be herein-after described. Similar letters and numbers of reference
indicate corresponding parts in the several Figures.
A is the stationary barrel, having at the bottom of its rear end a portion A'
projecting downward, and connecting by a hinge joint a with the lower portion
of the frame H, the centre of such joint being below the axis of the cylinder,
and on a line or nearly so with the lower line of the periphery of the rotating
cylinder B when the cylinder is upon the axis pin C, and the parts are in.
condition for use. From the top of the barrel a portion A³ of the rear end is
extended in a rearward direction in line with the upper portion of the barrel.
The portion A extends partly over the cylinder, and its lower face is made to
conform to the periphery of the cylinder. The upper. surface of A2, extending
partly over the rear portion of the barrel, is grooved out to form a seat for the
reception of a portion of the spring latch E, and the front portion of this seat
is countersunk to receive a circular projection C (Figs. 2, 5, and 6) on the front
part of the under side of the spring latch. The axis pin C, upon which the
cylinder rotates, is secured to the lower projecting part A¹ of the barrel, parallel
with the bore thereof, and the cylinder is bored centrally of a size to fit and
turn freely on the said pin. The frame H is of the same general form as
that of other revolving fire-arms in which the barrel is hinged to the frame in
the same manner. The construction of the spring latch E, which serves to
connect the barrel with the upper part of the frame in rear of the cylinder
and for holding the cylinder on the axis pin, may be understood by reference
to Figs. 2, 4, 5, and 6. The projection c, before mentioned, fitted to the.
countersink in the top of the barrel enables it to be very firmly secured to the
barrel by a single screw e, which passes through this part of the said latch,
and screws into a tapped hole in the barrel. From the connection of the
barrel at c to the end of the part A of the barrel the latch is formed as shown
at d, d, to occupy the groove in the upper side of the said part A³, the thick-
ness of this part of the latch being governed by the degree of movement or
spring required. At the extremity of the said part A2 of the barrel the latch

page_text: is formed with a shoulder 6 on the under side to abut at the end of the
part A, and the thicker portion of the latch in rear of this shoulder has its
under side made concave like the under side of A to conform to the periphery
of the cylinder 1. At a proper point further back there is formed on the
under side of the latch another shoulder k, which is deep enough to lap over
the rear end of the cylinder sufficiently to retain the latter in its proper place
upon the axis pin C, whether the barrel and frame are in the relative posi-
tions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or in that shown in Fig. 3.
At a proper
distance back from the shoulder k the latch is provided in its under side
with indentations or holes 9, 9, to receive suitable projections f, f, on the
upper part of the back of the frame for the purpose of connecting the barrel
with that part of the frame in such manner that it may be easily disconnected
by pressing up the rear end of the spring latch. In the rear end of the spring
latch there is an opening h through which the hammer G strikes to fire the
charges in the chambers of the cylinder. On opposite sides of this opening h
there are recessed shoulders i, i, to receive catches or hook-like formations j
on the hammer, so that when the hammer is down it may assist in locking or
fastening the spring latch in its connection with the frame, the latch being
only capable of being released from its connection with the frame by a
directly upward movement, and the movement of the hammer from that
position being more backward than upward. Instead of the hammer being
made with catches or hook formations j, and the spring latch being made with
shoulders i, i, as described, the hammer may have its' nose tapered in a down-
ward direction, and the opening in the spring latch may be made with a
corresponding downward taper, and the nose of the hammer fitting snugly in
this taper opening when the hammer is down will lock the spring latch with
the same result as is produced by the catches j and recessed shoulders i, i;
m is a stop screw to regulate the motion of the spring latch and protect it
from injury in use. One advantage of the spring latch constructed and
applied as above described, consists in its forming a very secure connection
between the upper part of the barrel and the back of the frame and recoil
shield at the time of firing, and yet affords the necessary facility for turning
down the barrel, as shown in Fig. 3, to bring the cylinder to a position for
loading at the rear ends of the chambers with what is known as fixed
ammunition, that is to say, cartridges having metallic cases containing their
own fulminate priming, or to permit the removal of the cylinder from the arm
for any purpose; and another advantage is that when the barrel has been
disconnected from the upper part of the frame, the said latch still retains the
cylinder on the axis pin until it is desired to remove it, when it is only

page_text: necessary to press up the rear end of the said latch far enough for the
shoulder to clear the rear end of the cylinder. This last-mentioned feature
is of great importance in a cavalry arm. The rotary cylinder B is similar tọ
those in use in fire-arms constructed for loading at the rear of the chambers
with fixed, ammunition, except that the axis or centre hole is made so nearly
like the calibre of the chambers that the axis pin C which fits the said hole
may be employed to expel from the chambers the discharged shells of the
fixed ammuniton, or any matter that may remain within them after firing the
arm, and for that purpose the projecting or outer end of the pin is finished off
square or with a sharp.or nearly sharp edge or shoulder all around it. To
expel the shells and other matter from the cylinder by this means it iş
removed from the axis pin, which is afterwards pushed into its chamber by
taking hold of the barrel to which the said pin is rigidly attached, the barrel
serving for a handle in this operation. The hammer G is similar to those in
use except in its being provided with the catches or hook formations j, or
having its nose tapering downward, as herein-before described. The recoil
plate D, which is of about the same diameter as the rotating cylinder and
attached to the frame H in rear thereof, is made separately from the frame,
and has projections d², d³, on its back fitting to the sides of the frame to
which it is secured by a screw 18. It has an opening or slot u through which
the dog for revolving the cylinder works. This dog is carried by the
tumbler of the hammer and operates upon a ratchet on the rear of the
cylinder in the usual manner. The face or front of the said plate is finished
flat and smooth. The said plate is made separately from the frame and
detachable for two reasons, one of which is that a harder metal may be used
for it than for the frame, and a better finish and more perfect working of the
adjacent and associated parts may be obtained, and the other is that it affords
greater facility for the protection of the lock from gases escaping at the rear
of the cylinder by permitting the spring t which presses the dog q forward
against the ratchet to be arranged behind the recoil plate, and in front of the
portion of the frame which supports the said plate, as illustrated in Figures 7,
8, and 9, of which Fig. 7 is a vertical section parallel with the length of the
arm of the recoil plate, and the portion of the frame in rear of it; Fig. 8 is a
transverse section of the frame taken immediately in rear of the recoil plate,
and Fig. 9 is a back view of the recoil plate. This spring t works in a slot u¹
in the frame H, through which the dog 9 also works, the said slot being of
the same width as the slots u in the recoil plate, and the dog and the spring
fitting as snugly in the slots u and u¹ as is consistent with their proper freedom
of operation. The upper part of the slot u¹ is made of a form to serve as

page_text: bearing, against which the spring is secured by a screw t¹ which screws into
the frame H, and whose head is countersunk thereinto so that it may be
covered by the recoil plate, as shown in Fig. 7. The slot u in the recoil plate
is thus enabled to be made shorter than the slot u³ in the frame, and the plate
is thus made to cover a portion of the latter slot, and in a measure to exclude
the gases therefrom; and the portion of the slot u¹ not so covered is closed
almost entirely by the dog 2 and spring t fitting so snugly within it. n is the
main spring, and o the stirrup connecting it with the tumbler of the hammer;
V is the trigger, and the trigger spring arranged behind it; W is the movable
cap or side plate of the lock; is the stop lever situated in a mortice in the
frame H, and secured at its forward end by. a fulcrum pin w, the other end
extending into the lock case which is formed within the frame H. On the
top of the latter or rear end of the said lever there is formed an angular
tooth y, and near the middle of its length there is provided a projection
or tooths to fit into the stop holes a, a, in the periphery of the cylinder
for the purpose of stopping and holding the cylinder when it has been
rotated to the proper position for firing. This lever is pressed upward
by a spring secured beneath it. P is the fly attached at its upper end
to one side of the tumbler of the hammer by a pivot 15 on which it swings
freely, and having attached to its inner side a stop pin 16 which enters
a recess 17 in the adjacent side of the tumbler, the width of such recess
regulating the amount of swinging movement permitted to the fly upon
the pivot 15 independently of the tumbler and hammer. The lower end
of the fly P is angular, or so shaped as to operate upon the angular tooth at
the rear end of the stop lever r and the length of the fly, and width of the
recess 17, in which its stop pin 16 works, are such, that while the hammer is
being drawn back to "full cock," the lower end of the fly shall press upon and
press forward over the angular end of the stop lever, causing the tooth s to
be withdrawn at the proper time from its place in the cylinder to permit the
dog q to come into operation on the ratchet of the cylinder, and while the
hammer descends, as in firing the arin, the motion of the fly is reversed, and
its lower end passes back over the angular end of the stop lever, without
causing the said tooth s to be wholly withdrawn from the cylinder. The
hammer pin T is best shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the latter of which is a side
view of the said pin itself, and the former a transverse section of the frame
through the said pin. The said pin is made with a head 19, a screw
thread 20 between the said head, and a plain cylindrical part 21, which fits
the eye of the hammer, and a screw thread 22 extending from the part 21 to
the point, the circumference of the bottom of the screw thread being greater

page_text: than that of the part 21, and the circumference of the top of the screw
thread 22 smaller than that of the part 21. The thread 20 screws into a
tapped hole in the right side of the frame H, the cap or movable side plate W
of the lock being on the left side, and the head 19 is countersunk into the
frame;
the pin is thus, secured rigidly within the frame of the arm inde-
pendently of the cap plate, which can be removed without disturbing the pin.
The cap plate W is fitted into a recess provided for it around the opening 23
in the frame A, and is secured in place by a nut 24, which is screwed on to
the screw thread 22 of the hammer pin and countersunk into the cap plate,
which is thereby made to constitute an additional support to the hammer pin.
In using this arm, first draw back the hammer to half cock, then holding
the arm by its stock F with one hand, take hold of the back part of the
spring latch E with the thumb and forefinger of the other hand, and lift the
spring latch, then press the barrel downwards to the position shown in
Fig. 3, when the cylinder will be in position for the introduction of fixed
ammunition, or to be easily removed from its axis pin. To remove the
cylinder from its axis pin, lift the spring latch E until the shoulder k will
allow the cylinder to pass it freely. When the cylinder is detached the axis
pin may be conveniently introduced into each of the chambers of the
cylinder, so as to expel the ammunition shells or cases, or other matter which
may remain after firing the arm, .but ordinarily the ammunition shells, after
firing, can be taken from the chambers by the fingers without removing the
cylinder.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of per- -
forming the same, I declare that what I claim, as the Invention to be protected
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the spring latch E constructed and applied to serve the two purposes
of connecting and locking the barrel to the upper part of the frame, and of
securing the cylinder on the axis pin when the barrel is disconnected from the
upper part of the frame, substantially as herein specified.
Secondly, so constructing the rear end of the spring latch and the head or
nose of the hammer, that when the hammer is down it aids in securing
the spring latch in connection with the frame, substantially as herein
specified.
Thirdly, so constructing the. axis pin, and applying the same. in com-
bination with the barrel or frame, that while remaining attached to the barrel
or frame it may be used to expel from the chamber of the cylinders the
cartridge cases or shells, or any other matter that may remain therein after
firing, substantially as herein described.

page_text: Fourthly, though I do not claim a movable recoil plate, I claim the
combination of the detachable recoil plate D and the spring t inserted in the
front of the frame, and secured by a screw t¹ covered by the said recoil plate,
'substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
Fifthly, the swinging dog P and the stop lever r applied in combination
with each other, and with the tumbler of the hammer and the cylinder, to
operate as and for the purpose herein specified..
Sixthly, the hammer pin T and-its nut 24 constructed and applied in com-
bination with the frame H and cap plate W, substantially as and for the
purpose herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
JAMES DAISH,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
W. CLARK. (L.S.)