Improvements in and relating to Breech-loading Small-arms.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 16th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 28th Dec., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Breech-loading Small-arms.
I, OLIVER HORTON of No. 11 Royal Exchange Square Glasgow, Fishing Tackle
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference in the first instance to the strengthening of the breech
pieces of breechloading fire arms, and secondly, to the mechanism of the locks.
In boring the barrels of breechloading Fire arms for the reception of the cartridges,
the front part of the bore becomes thinner, and consequently weaker than other parts
of the barrel; to rectify which, and with a view to ensure to the barrel equal thickness
and strength throughout I provide a strengthening sleeve or collar of suitable thick-
ness having a feinale screw thread formed at its rear end. The barrel which is turned
or otherwise shaped to accurately fit said sleeve or collar, and which has a male
thread formed upon its end, inserted from the front into the sleeve or collar, and
screwed therein when it may, if desired be soldered, brazed, or otherwise fixed to
prevent the possibility of the unscrewing or separation of the barrel from the sleeve or
collar aforesaid.
In building up a double barrel gun it is usual to connect the barrels together by
means of a rib disposed longitudinally from the breech to the muzzle. In the method
however which I adopt. of screwing the barrels into sleeves or collars in the manner
above described, a top rib is not necessary, but I substitute in lieu thereof a short
top rib extending forwards from the breech and tapering downwards to a point
terminating in a position coincident with the fore part of the stock.
Referring to the second head or feature of my invention relating to the lock
mechanism in which the hammer is brought to the position of full cock" by the
rebound of the mainspring, I dispose said mainspring loosely in a recess formed within
the chamber in such a manner that whilst free vertical movement shall be ensured all
longitudinal, horizontal and lateral movement is prevented. At the extremity of the
lower limb of said mainspring is a hook which engages with a slot or recess formed
in the lower part of the hammer, and by the tension of which spring the hammer upon
being released from a catch is caused to strike against a pin employed for exploding
the percussion cap of the cartridge. . At a short distance above the pivoting point of
the hammer is formed a projecting nose piece against the under surface of which
presses the upper limb of the mainspring. The extremity of the nose piece above
mentioned is either slotted to form a fork, or a portion thereof may be cut away on
one side to allow of the passage therethrough or the passing by the side thereof or the
riding over said nose piece of the rear end of a suitable compressor. Said compressor,
which is disposed and free to move within a recess in the chamber, is provided at its
front end with a projection extending diagonally upwards and which passes through
a slot formed in the stock. When this projection is depressed by the closing of the
gun the compressor travels down an inclined plane rearwards, the rear end riding
over and depressing the upper limb of the main spring, thus diverting the tension of
the spring from the upper to the lower limb. After having released the hammer the
tension is again diverted from the lower to the upper limb, which latter upon
opening the gun, presses forward the compressor and simultaneously forces the
hammer to the position of "full cock."
From the foregoing it will be observed that the compressor and main spring,
although capable of free movement, are not pivoted, and therefore the wear and tear
s very materially reduced increasing the efficiency of the mechanism.
1211
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Breech-loading Small-arms.
I, OLIVER HORTON, of No. 11, Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow Fishing Tackle
Manufacturer, 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 for its object improvements in the mechanism of the locks of
breech-loading small-arms, and relates to that class of small-arms known as drop
down guns.
In order that my invention may be thoroughly understood I have appended the
accompanying sheets of drawings.
In these drawings similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a section through part of the breech end of a small-arm, constructed
in accordance with my invention, the gun being closed and the lock in the fired
condition.
Fig. 2 is a section through the small-arm, similar to Fig. 1, but showing the gun
opened and the lock in a cocked condition.
Fig. 3 is a section through the small-arm, similar to Figs. 1 and 2, but showing the
gun closed and the lock cocked and ready for firing.
Figs. 4 are a plan and an elevation of the mainspring of the lock.
Figs. 5 to 9 illustrate a modified arrangement of lock in which a different form of
compressor, hereinafter referred to, is used.
Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are similar views to and correspond to Figs. 1, 2 and 3
respectively.
Fig. is an elevation of the fore-end iron of the gun showing the form of cam or
projection thereon for moving the compressor in the modified arrangement of lock,
and Fig. 9 is a plan of the said compressor.
In this mechanism the hammer is brought to the position of "full cock by the
rebound of the mainspring, the cocking action being obtained by opening the guns or
raising the breech-end of the barrels by turning them on the transverse pin which
usually obtains in drop down small-arms.
I dispose the mainspring A loosely in a recess B formed within the chamber C, in
such a manner that whilst free vertical movement shall be ensured, all longitudinal,
horizontal and lateral movement will be prevented. The extremity of the lower limb
of the mainspring A engages with a projection D formed on the lower part of the
hammer E. By the tension of the lower limb of the mainspring A, the hammer E
upon being released from the catch or sear is caused to strike against a pin G
employed for exploding the percussion cap of the cartridge. The pin is shown in
dotted lines. At a short distance above the pivotting point of the hammer E is
formed a projecting nose piece H, against the under surface of which presses the
upper limb of the mainspring A. The projecting nose-piece H must be of such a
size or formed of such a shape as not to interfere with the action of the compressor I.
The compressor 1, which is disposed and free to move within a
recess in the
chamber C, is provided, in the arrangement shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, with a
projection extending diagonally upwards and which passes through a slot J formed
in the stock K. When the projection is depressed by the closing of the gun the
compressor travels down the inclined plane L, the rear end is riding over and
depressing the upper limb of the main spring A, thus diverting the tension of the
spring from the upper to the lower limb, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 3.
After the hammer has been released the tension is again diverted from the lower to
the upper limb of the mainspring A, and the upper limb, upon the gun being opened,
presses forwards or upwards the compressor I and simultaneously forces the
hammer E to the position of "full cock," as will be understood by reference to
Figs. 1 and 2 respectively. The top of the rear end of the compressor I also bears
against or travels over an inclined plane M. By this arrangement of the two inclined

page_text: planes L and M the compressor I is guided and a correct motion is ensured to the
same. The compressor I may be provided at its front and rear ends i and i, with
rollers which would bear on the inclined planes L and M instead of the compressor
itself resting on the same.
The hammer E is retained in the cocked position by means of the sear F, engaging
in the bent N of the hammer, and the sear is released therefrom by the trigger, but
as the latter does not differ from those ordinarily used, it is not shown in the accom-
panying drawings.
The hammer E is cut away, as shown by the shading on the drawings, to allow the
upper limb of the mainspring A to travel therein and come in contact with the nose
piece H of the hammer, and thus cock the gun, as already described. The part of the
extremity of the upper limb of the mainspring A which effects the cocking is indicated
by the letter a, the other part of the extremity being cut away to allow of the proper
action of the mainspring.
In the arrangement illustrated by Figs. 5 to 9 the compressor is of a modified
form, and consists of two arms O and P. The front end of the largest arm O bears
against a cam or projection Q formed on the fore-end iron R of the gun, and the
rear end of the arm O is jointed to the smaller arm P, which smaller arm P is
pivotted to the solid metal of the gun. Upon the pin S, joining the two arms 0
and P, is mounted a roller T, which bears against the upper limb of the mainspring A.
The action of the last described compressor is exactly the same as that of the
compressor I, the projection or cam Q on the fore-end iron R being so shaped as to
allow of this action taking place.
The lock mechanism could be further modified if desired by making the front
end of a compressor like that last described to bear against the inclined plane L, the
rear end of the arm being jointed to the pivotted smaller arm P.
A still further modification of the lock mechanism would be to make the front end
of a compressor like I bear against the projection or cam Q on the fore-end iron R,
and the rear end of the compressor against the inclined plane M.
In the above description in referring to the various parts I have used the singular
number but as this invention is intended to be used in a double barrel gun the various
parts will be in duplicate.
I wish it to be understood that I do not consider as part of my invention the
construction of screwed sleeves and screwed barrels and the arrangement of top
rib described in my Provisional Specification as constituting the first part of my
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
or guns
First. The improved lock mechanism for drop down small arms
substantially as described herein and illustrated by Figs. 1 to 4 of the accompanying
drawings.
or guns
Second. The improved lock mechanism for drop down small arms
substantially as described herein and illustrated by Figs. 4 to 8 of the accompanying
drawings.
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.