IMPROVEMENTS IN RIFLES AND PROJECTILES.
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Westley Richards, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RIFLES AND PROJECTILES.'
Sealed the 14th January 1862, and dated the 21st August 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Westley Richards at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st August 1861
I, WESTLEY RICHARDS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, do
hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RIFLES AND
PROJECTILES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in rifles and projectiles. In
constructing breech-loading rifles (more especially although not exclusively
double rifles) I form the stock in two parts, and hinge or joint the parts at
a point a few inches in advance of the breech ends of the barrels as is common
in some breech-loading fowling pieces. The front portion of the stock carries
the barrels (if two are used) which although connected are not fixed to it, being
capable of sliding freely a short distance. The butt portion of the stock has
a plate fixed to it with projections or plungers upon it, which, when the piece
is made ready for firing, enter and close the breech ends of the barrels; this
portion of the stock also carries immediately behind thejoint before mentioned
a vertical axis, which at its upper end terminates in a cam immediately under
the barrels, and on the lower end of the axis is a lever by which it can be

page_text: turned. On the under side of the barrels is a projection which, when the
barrels are brought up into a position for firing, comes just behind the cam,
and then by turning the handle on the axis of the cam the barrels are forced
back, the plungers on the breech plate entering the barrels and carrying
forward the cartridges (which in loading the piece have previously been placed
in the ends of the barrels) into their proper positions in the barrels.
In constructing projectiles made in one piece of soft metal and suitable for
breech-loading fire-arms, I form the body of the projectile cylindrical and of
such a diameter that it will just enter freely the bore of the piece, allowance
being made for the thickness of the paperwith which the projectile is enveloped
when making it up into a cartridge. The projectile is by preference made
without a hollow at its base though it may, if desired, be hollow at that end.
A short length of the projectile at the rear end is made of somewhat larger
diameter than the bore of the piece so that it will not enter the same. This
enlargement in loading a breech-loading fire-arm stops the cartridge when
it comes to the end of the chamber made to receive it at the breech end of
the barrel, thus preventing its being pushed too far forward. This enlarged
portion when forced forward by the explosion takes the rifling of the barrel
so completely as not to allow any escape or windage, and at the same time it
ensures the rotation of the projectile as it leaves the barrel. The enlargement
of the diameter at the rear end is made to extend no further along the projec-
tile than is necessary to compel the projectile to take the proper spin or
rotation as it passes through and out of the barrel. By thus forming a
projectile a very large proportion of its length will be made to correspond with
the bore of the piece, and such part will simply lay therein without becoming
grooved, the portion which is at the rear end, and of larger diameter alone
becoming grooved. This arrangement is superior to that usually adopted in
breech-loading rifles where the projectile is of a like diameter nearlyfrom end
to end, and lays almost entirely in an enlarged chamber of a length nearly
equal to the projectile, so that the projectile when forced through the barrel
by the discharge becomes grooved nearly the whole of its length, an operation
in which much of the effective force of the powder is expended. When making
light projectiles for muzzle-loading fire-arms, then the short length of the
projectile, which is of a larger diameter than the other parts, is formed to
correspond with the rifling of the barrel. It should be stated that projectiles
with projecting parallel rings or ridges have been before made in such manner
as to receive lubricating material between the ridges. In constructing the
sight of rifles, I employ a flap or leaf hinged as is usual to a bed on which
is a spring to keep the flap in its position either when firing or when down.

page_text: The bed also carries inclined flauges as is usual to support the flap in an
inclined position when firing at comparatively short ranges. The bed to which
the flap is jointed is usually soldered to the barrel, but, according to my Inven-
tion, I fix on the barrel a base plate with guides on it, in which the bed with
the flap slides transversely. Immediately under the bed, and carried in bearings
in the base plate, is an axis capable of turning freely; but not of sliding in its
bearings; on the central portion of the axis a screw thread is cut, and this works
with a nut formed on the under side of the bed, and contained in a recess in
the bed plate so that by turning the axis by means of a key, or otherwise, the
bed and the flap may be traversed transversely of the barrel, by which an
adjustment for wind is attained.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Westley Richards in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st February 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WESTLEY
RICHARDS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Westley Richards, Her special licence that I, the said Westley
Richards, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Westley Richards, iny executors, administrators, or 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN RIFLES AND PROJECTILES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
thesaid Westley Richards, 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
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 Westley Richards, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in rifles and projectiles. I
constructing breech-loading rifles (more especially although not exclusively
double rifles) I form the stock in two parts, and hinge or joint the parts at a
point a few inches in advance of the breech ends of the barrels, as is common
in somebreech-loadingfowling pieces. The frontportion of the stockcarriesthe
barrels (if two are used) which, although connected, are not fixed to it, being
capable of sliding freely a short distance. The butt portion of the stock has a
plate fixed to it with projections or plungers upon it, which, when the piece is
made ready for firing, enter and close the breech ends of the bari els; this por-
tion of the stock also carries immediately behind the joint before inentioned a
vertical axis, which at its upper end-terminates in a cam immediately under
the barrels, and on the lower end of the axis is a lever by which it can be
turned. On the under side of the barrels is a projection, which, when the
barrels are brought up into a position for firing, comies just behind the cau,
and then by turning the handle on the axis of the cam, the barrels are forced
back, the plungers on the breech plate entering the barrels and carrying
forward the cartridges (which in loading the piece have previously been placed
in the ends of the barrels) into their proper positions in the barrels.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a double-barrelled rifle constructed
according to my Invention. a is the butt end or portion of the stock, which
is fitted in the usual manner with locks and parts connected therewith; and b
is the portion of the stock which carries the barrels, and is jointed to the
part a; at the front of the part a of the stock is a breech plate or piece c, the
details of which are shewn separately at Figure 2; this plate has two recesses
c¹ formed in it to receive the rings d¹, which project from the breech ends of
the barrels d (the barrels are shewn separately at Figure 3). c2, c², are brass
plungers fixed to the breech plate, and which enter the ends of the barrels; at
the extremity of the piece ca fork c³ is formed which receives between its
prongs a projection d² on the under side of the barrels; this projection is of a
hook form, and passes over a pin or axis e, which is screwed into the prongs
of the fork c3; this pin serves as a joint to connect together the two parts of
the stock, and for the barrels to turn upon, in order that their breech ends
may
be tilted up for loading. The front portion of the stock is connected to
the barrels by a key f, which passes through a loop d³ on the under side of the
barrels; this loop is made of such a length that the barrels may be able to
slide on the stock as far as is required without being stopped by the key. The
fore part of the stock is shewn in detail at Figures 4; it will be seen that the

page_text: eye through which the pin e passes is made in two parts; the part b is fixed,
whilst the part 6 turns on a centre at *, and is fitted with a spring, which
tends to throw it upwards into the position shown by the dotted lines in
Figures 4; this is to allow the piece being secured to the piece a without
removing the pin or axis e. When the parts are fitted together, the barrels
keep the part 6 in the position shewn by the full lines. On the under side of
the barrels are other projections d4, do; these are for the purpose of acting with
the cam g, to slide the barrels to and fro on the stock. The cam g is fitted
into a recess into the plate or piece c, and its axis passes out through the bottom
of the same, and receives a handle h, by which it can be turned round through
a quarter circle; the handle h is so formed, as is shewn, as to lay close under
the trigger guard when in one position, namely, when the breeches are closed
for firing.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-When the piece is to be loaded
the handle is turned so as to project out at right angles from the side of the
rifle; this causes the slot g¹ in the cam g to act on the projection d4 and slide
the barrels forward on the stock; this clears the barrels from the plungers c²,
and also brings the interior surface of the hook d² to bear on the pin or axis e;
the barrels then tip on this axis until they are stopped by the form of the joint,
the breech ends of the barrels being thus raised, cartridges suitable for a
breech-loading rifle are placed in them, and the barrels are lifted up into their
position for firing them, the handle h is again turned, and the curved portions
g and g2 of the can acting on the projections d4 and d5 draw the barrels back
in a position for firing; the rings d' entering the recesses c¹, and the plungers
c2 entering the barrel.
d¹
In constructing projectiles made in one piece of soft metal and suitable for
breech-loading fire-arms, I form the body of the projectile cylindrical, and of
such a diameter that it will just enter the bore of the piece, allowance being
made for the thickness of the paper with which the projectile is enveloped
when making it up into a cartridge. The projectile is by preference made
without a hollow at its base, though it may, if desired, be hollow at that end.
A short length of the projectile at the rear end is made of somewhat larger
diameter than the bore of the piece, so that it will not enter the same. This
enlargement in loading a breech-loading fire-arm stops the cartridge when it
comes to the end of the chamber made to receive it at the breech end of the
barrel, thus preventing its being pushed too far forward. This enlarged
portion, when forced forward by the explosion, takes the rifling of the barrel
so completely, as not to allow any escape or windage, and at the same time it
ensures the rotation of the projectile as it leaves the barrel. The enlargement

page_text: of the diameter at the rear end is made to extend no further along the pro-
jectile than is necessary to compel the projectile to take the proper spin or
rotation as it passes through and out of the barrel. By thus forming a pro-
jectile, a very large proportion of its length will be made to correspond with
the bore of the piece, and such part will simply lay therein without becoming
grooved, the portion which is at the rear end and of larger diameter alone
becoming grooved. This arrangement is superior to that usually adopted in
breech-loading rifles where the projectile is of a like diameter nearly from end
to end, and lays almost entirely in an enlarged chamber, of a length nearly
equal to the projectile, so that the projectile, when forced through the barrel
by the discharge, becomes grooved nearly the whole of its length, an operation
in which much of the effective force of the powder is expended when making
like projectiles for muzzle-loading fire-arms; then the short length of the
projectile, which is of a larger diameter than the other parts, is formed to
correspond with the rifling of the barrel.
It should be stated, that projectiles with projecting parallel rings or ridges
have been before made in such manner as to receive lubricating material
between the ridges.
Figures 5 and 6 shew projectiles constructed according to my Invention;
when they are used with breech-loading arms the barrel is chambered to
receive the enlarged part a at the rear of the projectile; the body b of the
projectile may be of such a size as with its paper just to fit the barrel. I have
found, however, in practice, that it is better to make it about be of an inch
larger in diameter, which ensures the more completely the fore part of the
projectile having no play within the barrel.
In constructing the sights of rifles I employ a flap or leaf hinged, as is
usual to a bed on which is a spring to keep the flap in its position either when
firing or when down. The bed also carries inclined flanges, as is usual to support
the flap in an inclined position when firingat comparatively short: ranges. The
bed to which the flap is jointed is usuallysoldered to the barrel, but according
to my Invention, I fix on the barrel a base plate with guides on it, in which
the bed with the flap slides transversely. Immediately under the bed and
carried in bearings in the base plate is an axis capable of turning freely but
not of sliding in its bearings; on the central portion of the axis a screwthread
is cut, and this works with a nut formed on the under side of the bed and con-
tained in a recess in the bed plate, so that by turning the axis by means of a
key or otherwise, the bed and the flap may be traversed transversely of the
barrel, by which an adjustment for wind is obtained.
Figure 7 is a plan; Figure S, a back view; and Figure 9, a longitudinal

page_text: section of a rifle sight, constructed according to my Invention. a is the
base plate, which is soldered on to the barrel of the piece; it is shewn
separately at Figures 10, 11, and 12, which are respectively a plan, a side
elevation, and a transverse section of the same. a¹, a', are guides for the bed;
a², a², are bearings,in which the screw b is capable of turning freely, but which
restrain it from longitudinal movement; c is the bed of the sight; it has
formed or fixed on it the flanges d, and it has jointed to it the graduated flape,
on which is the slider f; g is the spring of the flap; underneath the bed is a
transverse groove c³ for the passage of the screw b, and in the centre of this
groove is a small lump; it is tapped with a screw thread, and through it the
screw b passes, so that by turning the screw the bed and all parts connected
therewith are traversed, and thus allowance is made for wind. In order to
measure the motion of the bed, both it and the base plate are graduated, as
the Drawing shews the base plate has a degree of deviation marked on it on
cach side of the centre line, and this is divided into six parts of ten minutes
each; the bed is graduated with lines eight minutes apart, and this scale
serves as a vernier for the first, and by means of them the allowance for wind
may with great facility be made to one minute of angle.
In witness whereof, I, the said Westley Richards, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of February, in the
year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
WESTLEY RICHARDS. (L.S.)