IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Rochester Pape, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
in the County of the same Town, Gun Manufacturer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Rochester Pape at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 3rd September, 1867, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROCHESTER PAPE, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in the County of the same Town,
Gun Manufacturer, send greeting.
. WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto
me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for
the same, and have made solemn Declaration that I am. the true and first
Inventor thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Rochester Pape, do hereby
declare that the following Complete. Specification, under my hand and seal,.
fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following statement. (that
is to say):-
My Invention relates to breech-loading fire-arms, more particularly to
that class of arm commonly denominated." drop. down" guns, and consists,
first, of an improved "action" and cartridge extractor, by which action the
empty cartridge, case after the piece has been. fired is drawn out by the act of

page_text: opening the breech, instead of being pushed out in the ordinary way. For
effecting this improvement I cut out a portion of the notch or rebate at the
extreme end of the open breech of the barrel, into which notch or rebate the
metal flange which projects round the rear end of the cartridge fits; into the
space thus formed I fit a similarly notched or rebated filling piece, and this
filling piece I cause to slide backwards by the act of opening the breech, and
thus cause it to extract or withdraw the cartridge from or partly out of the
barrel. This motion of the filling piece is effected by forming it with a
flanged knob or beaded tongue which works in a groove cut vertically in the
false breech or abutment to receive it. The filling piece is caused to slide in
a direction parallel with the axis of the barrel by means of guide rods which
are fixed to the said filling pieces and traverse cylindrical holes in the
barrels. The said filling pieces also have the effect of giving a true vertical
motion to the barrel as it rises and falls upon its drop down axis, and insures
a greater certainty of the locking action of the wedge.
My Invention further consists of an improved form of locking down wedge
by which the wear is compensated. For effecting this improvement I cause
the lever which actuates the locking wedge to move forward instead of
backward in the ordinary way, and mount the wedge upon a vertical spindle,
upon which it adjusts itself as required. And in order to make the locking
wedge self-acting I fit a spring thereto which closes the wedge when the
barrel is shut down. For effecting the locking and unlocking of the barrels I
bore out a cavity from the under surface of the body just in front of the
trigger guard, such cavity extending vertically nearly through the centre of
the body, but leaving the face of body flush, into this cavity a pin, spindle, or
shaft is set which carries one or two curvilinear wedges which project from
the spindle or shaft through the face of the body, one or two apertures being
cut in the face of the body for that purpose; this centre shaft revolves from
left to right, giving a rotary motion to the one or two wedges as the case may
be; a spring in the action gives a continuous pressure upon the centre shaft,
and causes the wedge or wedges to bind down the barrels to the body, and
compensates for the wear on the slot surface or on the wedge itself; the
wedge thickens as it advances further into the slot or slots, and thus will
continue to supply the wear on the slot. The wedges revolve upon the shaft
and are worked by the lever, and thus preserve the same amount of leverage
to draw down the barrels after the gun or rifle has been worn for years.
Another improvement of my said Invention consists in fitting an anvil or
striker to the cock; this anvil is actuated by the motion of the cock as it is
drawn back by hand or driven forward by the lock mainspring.

page_text: The accompanying Drawing is intended to illustrate the improvements
above described, to which Drawing the following explanation applies.
EXPLANATION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one of my improved guns, the breech
open and cartridge extractor drawn out; Fig. 2 is a back view of the open
breech end of the barrels, and shews the cartridge extractor and actuating
knob or bead; Fig. 3 shews the end of the false breech and groove in which
the bead of the tongue works; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the improved
locking wedge and spring detached; Fig. 5 shews a side elevation of the
cartridge extractor also detached. The following detailed reference applies to
each of these Figures.
a is the filling piece let into the recess cut out at the breech end of the
barrels; a¹, the rebates therein which receive the cartridge flange; b, the
beaded tongue; c, the groove in the false breech or abutment in which the
bead of the tongue works; d & d¹, guide rods; d, a notch cut out of the main
rod d', into which notch a spring is fitted for forcing the extractor home;
e, the shaft or spindle of the improved locking down lever; f, the wedge;
g, the compensating screw; h, the self-acting spring.
Fig. 6 is a side view of the improved anvil. i steel anvil drawing back by
raising hammer to half cock, and driven forward by the fall of the cock
upon it.
Fig. 7 shews the form of plunger or striker. k, a notch which takes or
hooks into the anvil at A; 1, the point of the plunger which strikes upon the
cartridge cap through the aperture m, m, Fig. 3.
I claim the extractor, compensating, locking down wedge, and the striker
without springs, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Rochester Pape, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of September, A.D. 1867.
WILLIAM ROCHESTER PAPE. (L.S.)