IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMB
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Soper, of No. 23, Friar Street, Reading,
in the County of Berks, Gun Manufacturer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMB."
Sealed the 28th May 1869, and dated the 30th November 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Soper at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th November 1868.
I, WILLIAM SOPER, of No. 23, Friar Street, Reading, in the County
of Berks, Gun Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as
follows:-
The said improvements consist chiefly in the peculiar combination of
parts, whereby the opening of the breech, the cocking of the piece, and
the extracting of the empty cartridge shells are simultaneously effected
by one movement of the hand without changing the position of the
piece. The breech is closed by a block which is hinged or pivotted at
one side of the rear of the barrel, and which is raised and turned
laterally on its pivot to open the breech. The said block is perforated

page_text: centrally to receive the firing pin which extends through the block with
its ends in the proper position for receiving the blow of the cock or hammer,
and transmitting the same to the cartridge. The said cock is arranged
in combination with a tumbler and lever in such a manner that the
tumbler and lever always move together, while the cock which is drawn
back by the tumbler in cocking the piece will remain in that position
when the tumbler is moved in the opposite direction. This capability of
disengagement from the cock or hammer is necessary to allow the
tumbler to be so connected with the breech block that the breech may
be opened and the cock or hammer thrown back to full or half cock
simultaneously, and that the breech may be then closed without moving
the cock. The hammer is acted upon by an ordinary bent or V-shaped
mainspring connected with the hammer by a swivel. The extractor is
provided with a hook or claw which is formed and arranged to catch
under the rim of the cartridge in the charge chamber. The said
extractor is attached to a bar which is fitted to slide longitudinally at
the bottom of the breech chamber. This bar through an intermediate
lever is connected with the hammer, and is operated thereby in the
proper direction when the hammer is cocked and released. The trigger
is arranged below the stock in the ordinary manner and is constructed
to take into notches which are preferably formed on the hammer itself
instead of upon a separate tumbler. The breech piece or shoe is a
strong metal piece which is screwed or otherwise securely united to the
barrel, and is attached to the stock by a screw passing through the tail of
the shoe into the lock and trigger plate. A recess is formed through this
shoe at the rear of the barrel to receive the breech block, which is
pivotted between two ears formed on the side of the shoe. To secure
the joint pin or pivot of the block in these ears or jaws I form the said
pin with a small lateral projection, and in the rear surface of the jaw I
fit a screw with an eccentric head. By a half turn of the screw the
head is adjusted over or away from the projection on the pin, thereby
securing or releasing the same. The rear shoulder of the recess forms
an abutment or recoil surface for the breech block. The face of the said
block which lies in contact with the cartridges is channeled or grooved
in such a manner as to permit the escape in a vertically forward direction
of any gas arising from the bursting of the rim of the cartridge. The
edge of the block is also grooved for the same purpose. The said block
is connected to the loose tumbler by a connecting rod.
formed with an elongated eye or slot which is inserted in a recess in the
The said rod is

page_text: block, and a pin is passed through this slot and through the sides of this
recess. The lower end of the connecting rod carries a pin which is fitted
to work freely in an elongated hole or slot in the loose tumbler. By
means of these elongated holes in the rod and tumbler the connecting rod
is allowed to move freely in a straight line, and can therefore work in a
guideway which is so closely fitted to the rod as to prevent the entrance
of sand or dust at the sides of the rod to the lock. The pin on the con-
necting rod serves to wedge up the mainspring when it is desired to
remove the hammer and other parts from the lock box. The latter is
constructed with two side plates projecting from a plate which is secured
to the under side of the stock. These side plates are bored or perforated
to receive the trunnion of the tumbler which is fitted to turn freely
therein. A square hole is formed through the said trunnion to receive
the axis or spindle of the side lever which is preferably formed solidly or
in one piece with the lever, the said lever being arranged outside the
stock at the right-hand side of the breech. The cock or hammer is
fitted to turn freely upon the trunnion of the tumbler at one side of the
same and is so formed and arranged that its nose or extremity will strike
fairly the rear end of the firing pin when the parts are properly adjusted.
The connection between the said cock and the tumbler is effected by
shoulders or projections on the cock and tumbler, which projections are
so formed and arranged that the cock is raised or forced back when the
tumbler is raised, but cannot be moved in the opposite direction by the
tumbler which can thus be turned down to close the breech while the
hammer is left at either full or half-cock, as desired. The firing pin is
arranged either longitudinally or obliquely in the block and may, if
desired, be provided with a spring to throw it backward. The said pin
is passed through a nipple screwed in the rear of the block and is formed
with a conical shoulder or valve, which in case of an escape of gas at
the breech is forced into contact with a correspondingly-formed seat on
the nipple and prevents the exit of the gas at the rear of the block. The
extractor bar slides at the top of the lock between the two side plates.
The said bar is formed with a recess or aperture to receive the nose or
extremity of the lever which connects the said bar with the cock or
hammer. This lever, which is pivotted at the bottom of the lock, is
constructed and arranged to act in combination with peculiarly-formed
portions of the cock, so that the extractor as it is drawn back starts with
a slow and powerful motion which is accelerated and finishes with a
jerk. By this peculiar motion of the extractor great force may be

page_text: exerted upon the cartridge shell in starting it from the barrel, which
force may be sometimes necessary when the shell is caused by the
explosion of the cartridge or otherwise to stick tightly in the barrel.
The shell being thus started and freed is by the accelerated movement
of the extractor jerked or thrown out of the breech. To effect this
varying motion of the extractor I form the extractor lever with a pro-
jection which is arranged in such a position as to be caught by a
projection on the cock when the same has been partially turned back in
cocking the piece. The said lever is formed with a short arm which
projects laterally from the lower part of the lever in such a position that
another projection on the cock (as the same is drawn back nearly to the
full extent) strikes the said short arm; this arm being so much nearer
its fulcrum or pivot than the projection on the other part of the lever,
the motion of the latter is necessarily accelerated. The projection of the
cock and this short arm are so formed and arranged together that the
said projection acts upon the said arm with an increasing proximity to
its fulcrum, the motion of the arm being thus accelerated to the end;
this arm lies between two jaws on the hammer, the lower one of which
permits the said arm to pass freely downward, but when the side lever is
released the said jaw strikes the arm and throws the ejector forward.
The loose tumbler which is connected to the breech block is formed
with two notches, and a small auxiliary trigger is arranged at the side
of the main trigger to take into these notches, and thereby prevent the
accidental opening of the breech and drawing back of the extractor.
The two triggers and the extractor lever are all fitted on one pin, which
passes through the side plates of the lock. At the rear of the bottom
plate is a screw which passes through the said plate into the trigger guard.
This screw holds the springs which press the triggers into the notches.
The pressure of these springs prevents the accidental removal of the pin
from the lock, but if the screw is taken out and the said springs removed
the pin may be readily withdrawn from the lock. The triggers will then
fall out, and if the mainspring is first wedged with the connecting rod
the cock and tumbler and the other parts of the lock may be removed
without the aid of any tools or implements, the trigger guard being also
released

page_text: the cock with a guard or protector to exclude sand and other foreign-
substances; this guard is also held by the screw which secures the other
parts of the lock and is released when the said screw is removed. The
lock plates, shoe, and stock are secured by a screw which is arranged
under the recess. formed at the rear of the barrel to receive the rim, of.
cartridge; this screw passes through a block which connects the side
plates of the lock and wherein the extractor bar slides. By this means
I prevent any possibility of the springing of the extractor away from the
cartridge rim.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,.
filed by the said William Soper in the Great Seal Patent Office.
on the 29th May 1869.
TO ALL TO. WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
SOPER, of No. 23, Friar Street, Reading, in the County of Berks, Guu,
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign,. did; for Herself, Her heirs and suc-.
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said William Soper, Her special
licence that I, the said William Soper, my executors, administrators,.
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Soper, 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 FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said William Soper, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Soper, do hereby declare
the nature of my 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 Drawings,
forming a part of this Specification:-
The said improvements consist chiefly in the peculiar combination of
parts, whereby the opening of the breech, the cocking of the piece, and
the extraction of the empty cartridge shell are simultaneously effected
by one movement of the hand without changing the position in which
the piece is held when being fired. The breech is closed by a block
which is hinged or pivotted at one side of the rear of the barrel, and
which is raised and turned laterally on its pivot to open the breech.
The said block is perforated centrally to receive the firing pin, which
extends through the block with its ends in the proper position for
receiving the blow of the cock or hammer, and transmitting the same
to the cartridge. The said cock is arranged in combination with a
tumbler and lever, in such a manner that the tumbler and lever always
move together, while the cock which is drawn back by the tumbler in
cocking the piece will remain in that position when the tumbler is
moved in the opposite direction. This capability of disengagement
from the cock or hammer is necessary to allow the tumbler to be so
connected with the breech-block that the breech may be opened and the
cock or hammer thrown back to full or half-cock simultaneously, and
that the breech may be then closed without moving the cock. The
hammer is acted upon by an ordinary bent or V-shaped mainspring,
connected to the hammer by a swivel. The extractor is provided with
a hook or claw, which is formed and arranged to catch under the rim
of the cartridge in the charge chamber. The said extractor is attached
to a bar which is fitted to slide longitudinally at the bottom of the
breech chamber. This bar through an intermediate lever is connected
with the hammer, and is operated thereby in the proper direction when
the hammer is cocked and released. The trigger is arranged below the
stock in the ordinary manner, and is constructed to take into notches
which are preferably formed on the hammer itself instead of upon a
separate tumbler.
Figure 1 is a plan of the breccl of a rifle constructed according to
my Invention, shewing the breech closed and the parts of the arm

page_text: adjusted for discharging the same; Figure 2 is a longitudinal central
section of the same; Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on the line A, A,
Figure 1; Figure 4 is a longitudinal section on the line B, B, Figure 1;
Figures 5, 6, and 7 are transverse sections on the lines C, C, D, D, and
E, E, Figure 2.
Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 shew the breech open; Figures 7 and 7b
shew detached portions of the said rifle.
Figure 8 illustrates a modification of a part of my improvements.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawings.
The breech piece or shoe a is a strong metal piece which by means of
the screw threads a' or otherwise is securely united to the barrel b, and
is attached to the stock c by a screw d passing through the tail a of the
shoe into the lock and trigger plate e. A recess is formed through this
shoe at the rear of the barrel b to receive the breech block f, which is
pivotted between two ears a formed on the side of the shoe. To
secure the joint pin or pivot f' of the block in these ears or jaws ³
I form the said pin with a small lateral projection f, and in the rear
surface of the jaw I fit a screw 9 with an eccentric head g'. By a half
turn of the screw g the head g¹ is adjusted over or away from the pro-
jection f on the pin f', thereby securing or releasing the same. The
rear shoulder f* of the recess, wherein the breech block f slides forms
an abutment or recoil surface for the said block. The faces of the
block which is in contact with the cartridges is chambered or grooved,
as shewn in Figure 7, in such a manner as to permit the escape in a
vertically forward direction of any gas arising from the bursting of a
cartridge at the rear. The edge of the block is also grooved at f* for
the same purpose. The block f is connected to the loose tumbler / by
a connecting rod i. The upper end of the said rod is inserted in a
recess f in the block, and I form either in the rod i or in the block an
elongated eye or slot through which and the sides of the recess f³ a
pin is passed. In the Drawing I have shown the slot j formed in
the block f, and the pin formed or fixed on the end of the rod i. The
lower end of the connecting rod i also carries a pin 2, which is fitted
to work freely in an elongated hole or slot ' in the loose tumbler h.
By means of these elongated holes or slots j and ', the rod i (thougli
connected to the tumbler and breech block which move in arcs of
circles in planes at right angles to each other) is not diverted from a
straight line when these parts are moved. I therefore arrange the said

page_text: rod to work in a guide way k in the shoe, in which guide way the rod i
is so closely fitted as to prevent the entrance of sand or dust to the lock.
When it is desired to remove the hammer and other parts from the lock
box, it is necessary to restrain or hold back the main spring m, and for
this purpose the pins or may be advantageously used. The said
lock box is constructed with two sides plates n' projecting from a plate n,
which is secured to the under side of the stock c. These side plates
are bored or perforated to receive the trunnion h2 of the tumbler h, which
is fitted to turn freely therein. A square hole is formed through the
said trunnion to receive the axis or spindle o' of the side lever o, which
spindle is preferably formed in one piece with or solidly upon the said
lever, the latter being arranged outside the stock at the right-hand side
of the breech, as shewn in Figure 1. The cock or hammer is fitted
to turn freely upon the trunnion of the tumbler h at one side of the
same, and is so formed and arranged that when it is released from the
trigger its nose or extremity will strike fairly the rear end of the
firing pin p if the parts have been properly adjusted. The connection
between the cock or hammer and the tumbler h is effected by means
of shoulders or projections 12, h³, on the said hammer and tumbler, which
projections are so formed and arranged that the cock or hammer is
raised or forced back when the tumbler is turned back but cannot be
moved in the opposite direction by the tumbler, which may thus be
turned down with the block f to close the breech, while the hammer
is left at either full or half cock as desired.
The firing pin p is arranged either longitudinally or obliquely in the
block, I prefer to arrange the same longitudinally or in a line with
the bore of the barrel and to provide the same with a spring p', as
shewn in Figure 1, to throw it backward when the cock is raised. The
said pin is passed through a nipple q screwed in the rear of the block f
and is formed with a conical shoulder or valve p³, which in case of an
escape of gas at the breech is forced into contact with a correspondingly
formed seat on the nipple q and prevents the exit of the gas at the rear
of the block. The extractor bar slides at the top of the lock between
the two side plates n¹. The said bar is formed with a recess or aperture
to receive the nose or extremity 8' of the levers which connects the
said bar with the cock or hammer . This lever's which is pivotted
between the side plates n' at the bottom of the lock is constructed and
arranged to act in combination with peculiarly formed portions of the

page_text: cock or hammer so that the extractor r as it is drawn back starts with
a slow motion which is accelerated and finishes with a jerk. By this
peculiar motion of the extractor great force may be exerted upon the
cartridge shell in starting it from the barrel, which force is necessary
when the shell is caused by the explosion of the cartridge or otherwise
to stick tightly in the barrel. The shell being thus started and freed
is by the accelerated movement of the extractor jerked or thrown out
of the breech. To effect this varying motion of the extractor I form
the extractor lever 8 with a projection s3 which is arranged in such a
position as to be caught by a projection 4 on the cock or hammer
when the same has been partially turned back in cocking the piece.
The lever & is formed with a short arm & which projects laterally from
the lower part of the lever as shewn in Figure 3 in such a position that
another projection 1 on the cock (as the same is drawn back nearly
to the full extent) strikes the said short arm s, this arm being so much
nearer its fulcrum or pivot than the projection & on the other arm &¹
of the lever the motion of the latter is necessarily accelerated. The
projection of the cock and this short arms are so formed and arranged
together that the said projection acts upon the said arm with an
incrising proximity to its fulcrum t, the motion of the arm being thus
accelerated to the end of the same.
,, on the hammer, the lower one
pass freely downwards, but when the
the said jaw strikes the arm s, and
the proper position to again effect the extraction of a shell lying in the
charge chamber. A projection 8" on the extracting lever is formed to
come in contact with the projection on the cock or hammer, to prevent
the falling back of the extractor bar if the hammer should be let down
gently upon the firing pin when the piece is held with the muzzle
elevated. Without this means for securing the said lever some in-
convenience might be occasioned by the accidental withdrawal of the
The tumbler h which is
unexploded cartridges from the barrel.
This arm & lies between two jaws
of which permits the said arm to
exterior side lever o is released
throws the extractor forward into
connected to the breech block f as herein-before described is formed
with two notches 1, 2, and a small auxiliary trigger u is arranged at the
side of the main trigger to take into these notches and thereby prevent
the accidental opening of the breech and drawing back of the extractor.
I may also use a third trigger to, which I have shewn in Figure 8 to
render the piece perfectly secure without setting the hammer at "half-
cock." This third trigger is pivotted to the trigger guard at to' and

page_text: holds the main trigger with the arm wo and the auxiliary trigger u
with the other arm 10%. When it is desired to fire the piece the arm wo
is pressed and the triggers are simultaneously released. In this case
the notch 1 in the tumbler for the auxiliary trigger u shown in
Figure 4 is dispensed with. The main trigger is also formed with the
notch and is thus held with perfect security till the trigger w is
operated. The two triggers u, v, and the extractor levers are all fitted
on one pint which passes through the side plates n¹ of the lock. At
the rear of the bottom plate n is a screw n³, which passes through the
said plate into the trigger guard *. This screw 2 holds the springs
u', v', which press the triggers u, v, into the notches 1, 2, and 3. The
pressure of these springs prevents the accidental removal of the pin t
from the lock, but if the screw n is taken out and the springs u, »,
removed the pin t may be readily withdrawn from the lock. The
triggers u, v, will then fall out and if the mainspring m is first
wedged or secured with the connecting rod i by inserting one of
the pins thereon between the spring and the lock plate, the cock / and
tumbler and the other parts of the lock may be removed without the
aid of any tools or implements, the trigger guard being also released by
the same operation. When the firing pin p extends through the block
longitudinally, or in a line with the barrel, as shewn in the Drawings,
the cock or hammer must project up through the centre of the breech
shoe into the proper position to act on the said pin. I provide the cock
with a guard or protector x to exclude sand and other foreign substances,
this guard is also held by the screw 2, which secures the other parts
of the lock and is released when the said screw is removed. The lock
plates n', shoe a, and stock c are secured together by the screw y which
is arranged at the rear of the barrel as shewn. This screw passes
through a block 123 which connects the side plates n' of the lock, and
whercon the extractor bar r slides; by this means I prevent any
possibility of the springing of the said extractor away from the cartridge
shells when the same are to be extracted from the barrel, or being
blown away by the bursting of a cartridge.
I prefer that the barrel of my improved fire-arm should be rifled in
such a manner as to leave small ribs or "lands" projecting inside the
bore, so as to obtain the desired rotation of the projectile with the least
amount of friction thereon, and so that the said projectile may leave the
barrel with its cylindrical form but very slightly changed.

page_text: Having thus fully described my said improvements and shewn how
the same may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice,
I claim,
First. The combination of the breech block, the cock or hammer,
and the extracting devices together, and with the means for operating
the same, substantially in the manner set forth, so that the breech is
opened, the piece cocked, and the cartridge shell extracted by one
movement of the hand without changing the position of the piece.
Second. The peculiar construction and combination of the tumbler
and the cock or hammer whereby the hammer is drawn back by means
of the tumbler to the position of "full-cock" or "half-cock" and the
tumbler is allowed to return with the breech block in closing the breech
without moving the said hammer.
Third. Connecting the breech block and tumbler together by means
of the rod i and the pins and slots which allow the said block and
tumbler to move freely in their respective planes while the said rod
works in a closely fitting guide, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
Fourth. The combination of the extractor with the levers and the
cock or hammer constructed in such a manner that the said lever has
its motion accelerated from the beginning to the end of its throw
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fifth. The combination of the triggers with the tumbler and
hammer substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Soper, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
WILLIAM SOPER.
(L.S.