IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Wirth, of the Firm of Wirth and Company,
Patent Agency, of Frankfort-on-the-Main, in the Empire of
Germany, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING
FIRE-ARMS.-A communication from August Friedrich Wilhelm
m
Timnian f Comman
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Wirth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th April 1875.
I, FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Agency,
of Frankfort-on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING
FIRE-ARMS," a communication, to be as follows:—
My new system consists of the following principal parts:-1, the
breech; 2, the lock with or without locking disc; 3, the needle;
4, spring and hammer; 5, trigger and trigger spring; 6, ejector; 7, slide
bolt, which at the same time may serve as trigger (stop pin g). The
sight, barrel, and stock may remain the same as in the ordinary system.

page_text: Figure 1 in the accompanying Drawing represents a longitudinal view
through the posterior part of a rifle constructed according to my system.
The lock 1, P, 7", is slid back, the main spring b¹ is cocked, and the
cartridge lays in the breech, but is only brought in its proper position
by closing the breech by the chamber. The chamber lays against the
slide, bolt f being retained by it in the breech.
Figure 2 represents a longitudinal section in the same direction as
Figure 1. Breech a is closed by lock 1, cartridge and cartridge ejector
d are in the position which they have to occupy at the discharging of the
rifle. Spring and hammer b is not cocked, and lays with its head
loosely against the posterior end of the needle.
Figure 3 represents the upper view of breech a which is open on the
upper side along its longitudinal part having also a lateral cut with
oblique surfaces a¹, in which part of the lock enters in shutting the
breech. Below the breech has a square opening d" in which spring
and hammer b moves (Figures 1 and 2). There is also a groove ď
passing from the cut toward the barrel to the anterior end of the breech.
In this groove lays the ejector d (Figures 1 and 2).
Figure 4 is an upper view in detail of the disc k, k³, placed on the
lock; according as this disc is turned it pushes on the projections a" in 1
sliding the lock back, thus preventing the lock coming out entirely from
the breech, or it glides through grooves over the projections a",
thus allowing to take the lock out. The disc however is not absolutely
necessary, it being possible to effect the stopping also by the slide
bolt f.
Figure 5 represents the lock 1, 1, 1, separately; it consists of one
cylinder in which needle c can loosely move to and fro. On the cylinder
is a square projection I, and on this latter a button. These three
parts form one piece, but can also be made separately and combined in
one way or another. Spring & serves for the purpose to retain the disc
k, k¹, according to its position by means of k (Figure 4) or k¹.
The needle is thinner at its two ends than in the middle; in consequence
thereof its motion is confined to the correspondingly formed groove of
the lock. At the fore part the needle is pointed in order to facilitate
the ignition. At its posterior part the lock is closed by means of a nut; 3
when this latter is screwed off the needle may be taken out from the
lock, the closure may also be effected by some other means.

page_text: The spring does not consist of a very strong spiral as hitherto, but of
a proportionally weak flat steel spring 6' with a head b. Its effects
consists therein that it throws the head against the posterior end of
pin c, thus pushing the same against the cartridge to be ignited. The
spring is cocked in sliding the lock back, the head is thus pushed down,
laying itself with the projection on its back into a corresponding pro-
jection of the trigger, by which it is then held in a proper position when
the lock is again pushed forward. If the trigger is moved backwards the
head becomes free, the spring is thrust against the needle, which then
causes the cartridge to ignite. The trigger is pushed forwards by a
small spring e', and in order that the pushing down of the head may be
easier accomplished by the lock its posterior side tapers obliquely, as
represented in Figure 2.
The ejector d (Figures 1 and 2) consists of a steel disc provided with
projectors on both sides. The anterior projection scrves for the purpose
to scize the cartridge, while the posterior part is received by a bed, the
lower part of the lock being seized and drawn along by the butt end
when slid back. The bed x is laterally cut at its posterior end so that
the projection of the ejector cannot oppose any hindrance to the lock in
turning the same when the breech is to be closed.
The slide bolt consists of a long bolt f which may be slid in a corre-
sponding groove. When pushed forward it keeps the head pushed down
by the lock in its position, preventing the same from ascending when
the trigger is drawn on. In order that the slide bolt is retained in its
position a spring g is attached to the posterior part of the shaft; this
spring possesses a small clevation at its point which enters into a corre-
sponding groove in the lower part of the bolt. This latter is constructed
in such a manner that the lock strikes against it in sliding back, being
also retained by it. The lock can therefore only then be drawn out.
completely from the breech if the bolt has been removed. In drawing
the lock out the ejector remains in the breech and enters with its posterior
projection in the cut of the breech, the lock passing over it.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Frank Wirth in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 11th October 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANK
WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Agency, of
Frankfort-on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Frank Wirth, Her special licence
that I, the said Frank Wirth, my exccutors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Frank Wirth, 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, usc, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECK-
LOADING FIRE-ARMS," a communication to me from August Friedrich
Wilhelm Timner, a person resident at Coblence, in the Empire of
Germany, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Frank
Wirth, 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 Scal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frank Wirth, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing
forming a part of this Specification :-
.
My new system consists of the following principal parts:-1, the
breech; 2, the lock with or without locking disc; 3, the needle; 4, spring
and hammer; 5, the trigger and trigger spring; 6, ejector; 7, slide

page_text: bolt which at the same time may serve as trigger (stopping). The sight
barrel and stock may remain the same as in the ordinary system.
Figure 1 in the accompanying Drawing represents a longitudinal view
through the posterior part of a rifle constructed according to my system.
The lock, , ", is slid back, the main spring b¹ is cocked, and the
cartridge lays in the breech, but is only brought in its proper position
by closing the breech by the chamber. The chamber lays against the
slide bolt, being retained by it in the breech.
Figure 2 represents a longitudinal section in the same direction as
Figure 1. Breech a is closed by lock 2, cartridge and cartridge ejector d
are in the position which they have to occupy at the discharging of the
rifle. Spring and hammer b is not cocked, and lays with its head loosely
against the posterior end of the needle.
Figure 3 represents the upper view of breech a which is open on the
upper side along its longitudinal part, having also a lateral cut with
oblique surfaces a', in which part of the lock enters in shutting the
breech. Below the breech has a square opening d" in which spring and
hammer moves, Figures 1 and 2. There is also a groove d¹ passing
from the cut toward the barrel to the anterior end of the breech. In
this groove lays the ejector d (Figures 1 and 2).
Figure 4 is an upper view in detail of the disc %, k, placed on the
lock; according as this disc is turned it pushes on the projections a¹¹ in
sliding the lock back, thus preventing the lock coming out entirely from
the breech, or it glides through grooves over the projections a", thus
allowing to take the lock out. The disc however is not absolutely
necessary, it being possible to effect the stopping also by the slide
bolt f.
Figure 5 represents the lock I, 11, 111, separately; it consists of one
hollow cylinder in which needle c can loosely move to and fro; on the
cylinder is a square projection A, and on this latter a button ". These
three parts form one piece, but can also be made separately and combined
in one way or another. Spring & serves for the purpose to retain the
disc k, k³, according to is position by means of end k (Figure 4) or k³.
The needle is thinner at its two ends than in the middle, in con-
sequence thereof its motion is confined to the correspondingly formed
groove of the lock. At the fore part the needle is pointed in order to

page_text: facilitate the ignition. At its posterior part the lock is closed by means
of a nut; when this latter is screwed off the needle may be taken out
from the lock, the closure may also be effected by some other means.
"
The spring does not consist of a very strong spiral, as hitherto, but of
a proportionately weak flat steel spring with a head b. Its effect
consists therein that it throws the head against the posterior end of
pin c, thus pushing the same against the cartridge to be ignited. The
spring is cocked in sliding the lock, the head is thus pushed down,
laying itself with the projection on its back into a corresponding pro-
jection of the trigger, by which it is then held in a proper position, when
the lock is again pushed forward. If the trigger is moved backwards the
head becomes free, the spring is thrust against the needle which then
causes the cartridge to ignite. The trigger is pushed backward by a small
spring e¹, and in order that the pushing down of the head may be easily
accomplished by the lock its posterior side tapers obliquely, as repre-
sented in Figure 2.
The ejector d, Figures 1 and 2, consists of a steel disc provided
with projections on both sides. The anterior projection serves for the
purpose to sicze the cartridge while the posterior part is received by a
bed, the lower part of the lock being siezed and drawn along by the butt a
end when slid back. The bed x is laterally cut at its posterior end so
that the projection of the ejector cannot oppose any hindrance to the
lock in turning the same when the breech is to be closed.
The slide bolt consists of a long bolt f which may be slid in a corre-
sponding groove. When pushed forward it keeps the head pushed down
by the lock in its position, preventing the same from ascending when
the trigger is drawn on; in order that the slide bolt is retained in its
position a spring 9 is attached to the posterior part of the shaft; this
spring possesses a small elevation at its point which enters into a corre-
sponding groove in the lower part of the bolt. This latter is constructed
in such a manner that the lock strikes against it in sliding back, being
also retained by it. The lock can therefore only then be drawn out
completely from the breech if the bolt has been removed. In drawing
the lock out the ejector remains in the breech and enters with its
posterior projection in the cut of the breech, the lock passing over it.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to

page_text: I claim,
First. The lock described above with an oblique end in combination
with a bolt c with or without disc k.
Second. The spring in combination with the head b.
Third. The trigger e with trigger spring e¹ constructed in such a
manner that it enters into a projection of head b with a projection
attached at its anterior part, thus keeping spring b¹ in tension.
Fourth. The ejector d with its two projections, as above described and
represented in the Drawing.
Five. The slide bolt fin combination with spring 9.
Sixth. The combination of all parts above mentioned, or only of a few
with those already known for a breech-loading system.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frank Wirth, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy-
five.