IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Tranter, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Gun Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-
Sealed the 18th September 1863, and dated the 27th July 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Tranter at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th
July 1863.
I, WILLIAM TRANTER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING AND OTHER REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in the several combinations of parts herein-after
described.
The first part of my Invention consists in the adaptation and application to
such fire-arms of a plunger for forcing out the empty cartridge case, such
plunger being worked by a lever having its fulcrum on the upper part of the
frame, the plunger being thereby retained in its position when not required
for use.
The second part of my Invention consists in forming the shield at the back
of the revolving chamber with a hole for the insertion of the cartridge in tho

page_text: chamber, which hole is closed, after loading, by means of a stud fixed on a
plate working on a pin screwed into the frame, the plate being retained in its
position by means of a click or otherwise.
The third part of my Invention consists in forming the butt cap with two
segmental projections, or with two or more studs, for the purpose of fixing the
stocks to the handles of revolving pistols, such projections or studs being
driven into the ends of the stocks.
And the last part of my Invention consists in adapting and applying to the
front part of the cock or hammer a spring click working in combination with
the lever for retaining the revolving chamber as required, which lever is
formed with a projection in front of the cock capable of being acted on by the
said click.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Tranter in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th January 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
TRANTER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun Maker, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, IIer heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Tranter, Her special license that I, the said William Trantor,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
William Tranter, 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
BREECH-LOADING AND OTHER REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Tranter, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the samo 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 1, tho said William Tranter, do hereby declare the
nature of my 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, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention of Improvements in Breech-loading and other Revolving
Fire-arms" consists in the several combination of parts herein-after described.
The first part of my Invention consists in the adaptation and application to
such fire-arms of a plunger for forcing out the empty cartridge case, such
plunger being worked by a lever having its fulcrum on the upper part of the
frame, the plunger being thereby retained in its position when not required
for use.
The second part of my Invention consists in forming the shield at the back
of the revolving chamber, with a hole for the insertion of the cartridge in the
chamber, which hole is closed, after loading, by means of a stud fixed on a
plate working on a pin screwed into the frame, the plate being retained in its
position by means of a click or otherwise.
The third part of my Invention consists in forming the butt cap with two
segmental projections, or with two or more studs, for the purpose of fixing the
stocks to the handles of revolving pistols, such projections or studs being driven
into the ends of the stocks.
And the last part of my Invention consists in adapting and applying to the
front part of the cock or hammer a spring click working in combination with
the lever for retaining the revolving chamber as required, which lever is
formed with a projection in front of the cock capable of being acted on by
the said click.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, I will proceed to
describe more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed by the
aid of the accompanying Drawings, in which are represented the parts of fire-
arms above referred to.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
In Fig. 1, A is the plunger for unloading or for forcing out empty cartridge
cases; this plunger is connected by a swivel B to the lever C, having its
fulcrum in the upper part of the frame at D. The lever C is fixed in the
position represented in the figure by its outer end, having a cavity formed on
its inner side, such cavity fitting on to a stud fixed in the barrel of the fire-
arm, the lever having sufficient elasticity to admit of its being sprung on to the
fixed stud; and the lever is moved into the position shewn by dotted lines,
when it is required to unload or to force out an empty cartridge case from one
of the loading chambers, by which means the plunger A will be driven forward

page_text: as required. The swivel B may be dispensed with if preferred, by forming a
slot in the end of the plunger for an arm of the lever C to work in. In the
same Figure, E is the cover for the shield F at the back of the revolving
chamber, such cover consisting of a plate working on a pin or pivot G screwed
into the frame. The shield F has a holo affording access to the loading
chamber, which hole is closed, after loading, by the entrance into it of a
corresponding projection on the inner face of the plate or cover E. This plate-
or cover is retained in the closed position (as represented) by means of a click
at the lower end, or otherwise.
Figures 2, 3, and 4, represent my improved form of butt cap. Fig. 2
showing the same formed with two segmental projections II, H; Fig. 3
shewing the same formed with two studs, and Fig. 4 being a transverse section
of the cap. The stocks are inserted and held at one end by the frame of the
pistol, and they are held at the butt end by the projections or studs on the
cap, which are driven into the wood or caused to enter suitable cavities
previously formed therein.
In Fig. 5 is represented the last part of my Invention, consisting of a spring
click in the front part of the cock or hammer, acting in combination with the
lever I for stopping the revolving chamber. When the cock or bammer is
first raised (into the position shewn by dotted lines) n shoulder on the spring
click K is caused to act on the hooked end of the lever I, and by lifting that
end of the lever to remove the stud on the opposite end thereof out of the
notch of the revolving chamber and release the same. As, however, the cock
or hammer is further raised, the shoulder of the spring click is removed from
the hooked ond of the lever I, which lever is thus free to be acted upon by its
spring, so as to carry the stud on its end into the next notch on the revolving
chamber, which is thereby held as required.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I claim as of my
Juvention is,-
First, the plunger worked by a levor as described for unloading or for forcing
out empty cartridge cases.
Secondly, the shield with a hole in it for the purpose of affording access to
cach loading chamber combined with a cover working on a pivot fixed in the
frame, such cover having a projection on its inner face adapted to close the
bole of the shield, as herein-before described.
Thirdly, the mode described of forming butt caps, either with segmental
projections or studs for the purpose of entering the wood at the end of the
stocks, and thereby fastening them securely.

page_text: And, lastly, the spring click in the front part of the cock or hammer com-
bined with the lever for retaining the revolving chamber, such spring click
being caused, by the rising of the cock or hammer, to act on the said lever, so
as to withdraw the stud on the lever from the notch of the chamber and allow
it to enter another notch in the manner described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Tranter, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Twenty-seventh day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
> Witness,
WILLIAM SPENCE,
50, Chancery Lane,
Patent Agent.
WILLIAM TRANTER. (L.s.)