Im- PROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING SMALL ARMS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Field Swinburn, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Gun Manufacturer, for the Invention of "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING SMALL ARMS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Field Swinburn
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 22nd June 1872.
I, JOHN FIELD SWINBURN, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Gun Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING SMALL ARMS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of the mechanical arrangements or combinations
hercin-after described for effecting the extraction of the empty cases of
cartridges from the barrels of breech-loading small arms in which the
breech is opened and closed by a hinged rising and falling block. My
Invention may however be applied to breech-loading small arms of other
kinds.

page_text: I will describe my Invention as applied to a gun with a hinged falling
block. At the bottom of the mortice in which the hinged falling block
works, and supported on the trigger plate, is a sliding bar, the rear end
of which is situated under the axis on which the hand lever turns. The
fore end of the said sliding bar is situated immediately under the open
breech end of the barrel. The forked extractor turns upon an axis
immediately over the fore end of the sliding bar, the tail or lower arm of
the extractor terminating in front of the fore end of the sliding bar. On
the sliding bar, and at a short distance from its fore end, is an incline
against which the front lower end of the falling block strikes imme-
diately after the said block has completely opened the breech.
The range of motion of the sliding bar is limited by two projections or
stops situated respectively on each side of a fixed cross pin.
The action of the parts is as follows:-After the discharge of the gun,
and when the hand lever is depressed for the purpose of opening the
breech, a shoulder on the under side of the said hand lever, and near the
joint on which it turns, comes against the rear end of the sliding bar,
and urges it forward with great force. The fore end of the sliding bar
acting upon the tail or short arm of the extractor causes the fork of the
extractor to rise from its seat and start the empty cartridge case from
the barrel. As the falling block completes its descent, it strikes against
the incline on the sliding bar, and by communicating a rapid motion to
the said sliding bar causes the extractor to complete the extraction of
the empty case of the cartridge from the barrel. After the introduction
of a fresh cartridge into the barrel, and on the raising of the hand lever,
the front end of the rising block presses the extractor to its scat. The
normal position of the sliding bar being restored by the action of the
lower arm of the extractor.
Instead of making the sliding bar, by which the extraction of the
cartridge case is effected, work on the trigger plate, the said sliding bar a
may work in a mortice in the inner side or sides of the shoe or body of
the gun. In this case the extracting hook or fork is made in one picce
with, or connected rigidly to the fore end of the sliding bar.
The advancing motion of the extractor is effected as in the arrange-
ment first described, by the fore end of the closing block, during its a
rising motion, pressing home the extractor.

page_text: •
The retiring motion of the extractor, by which motion the cartridge
case is extracted, is effected in the following manner:-Immediately
behind the heel of the falling block is a nearly vertical arm lying upon
the side of the shoe or body, and turning upon a pin or centre fixed to
the said shoe or body. The upper end of this arm bears against a pro-
jection or heel at the rear end of the sliding bar. After discharge, and on
the depressing of the hand lever, the upper part of the heel of the falling
block strikes the upper end of the said vortical arm, and communicates
to it a motion by which the cartridge case is started from its place in
the barrel. The lower end of the heel of the block afterwards striking
the said arm near its centre communicates thereto and to the sliding
bar a rapid motion, whereby the extraction of the cartridge case is
completed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Field Swinburn in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 18th December 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
FIELD SWINBURN, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by ler Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-sixth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said John Field Swinburn, Her special license that I
the said John Field Swinburn, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Field Swinburn, 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 SMALL ARMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said John Field Swinburn, 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

page_text: 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 John Field Swinburn, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention consists of the mechanical arrangements or combinations
herein-after described for effecting the extraction of the empty cases of
cartridges from the barrels of breech-loading small arms in which the
breech is opened and closed by a hinged rising and falling block. My
Invention may however be applied to breech-loading small arms of
other kinds.
I will describe my Invention as applied to a gun with a hinged falling
block. At the bottom of the mortice in which the hinged falling block
works, and supported on the trigger plate, is a rigid sliding bar, the rear
end of which is situated under the axis on which the hand lever turns.
The fore end of the said sliding bar is situated immediately under the
open breech end of the barrel. The forked extractor turns upon an axis
immediately over the fore end of the sliding bar, the tail or lower arm of
the extractor terminating in front of the fore end of the sliding bar. On
the sliding bar, and at a short distance from its fore end, is an incline
against which the front lower end of the falling block strikes imme-
diately after the said block has completely opened the breech.
The range of motion of the sliding bar is limited by two projections or
stops situated respectively on each side of a fixed cross pin.
The action of the parts is as follows:-After the discharge of the gun,
and when the hand lever is depressed for the purpose of opening the
breech, a shoulder on the under side of the said hand lever, and near the
joint on which it turns, comes against the rear end of the rigid sliding
bar, and urges it forward with great force. The fore end of the sliding
bar acting upon the tail or short arm of the extractor causes the fork of
the extractor to rise from its seat and start the empty cartridge casc
from the barrel. As the falling block completes its descent it strikes
against the incline on the sliding bar, and by communicating a rapid
motion to the said sliding bar causes the extractor to complete the

page_text: extraction of the empty case of the cartridge from the barrel. After the
introduction of a fresh cartridge into the barrel, and on the raising of
the hand lever, the front end of the rising block presses the extractor to
its scat, the normal position of the sliding bar being restored by the
action of the lower arm of the extractor.
Instead of making the sliding bar, by which the extraction of the
cartridge case is effected, work on the trigger plate, the said sliding bar
may work in a mortice in the inner side or sides of the shoe or body of
the gun. In this case the extracting hook or fork is made in one piece
with, or connected rigidly, to the fore end of the sliding bar.
The advancing motion of the extractor is effected as in the arrange-
ment first described, by the fore end of the closing block during its
rising motion pressing home the extractor.
The retiring motion of the extractor, by which motion the cartridge
case is extracted, is effected in the following manner :-Immediately
behind the heel of the falling block is a nearly vertical arm lying upon
the side of the shoe or body, and turning upon a pin or centre fixed to
the said shoe or body. The upper end of this arm bears against a pro-
jection or heel at the rear end of the sliding bar. After discharge, and
on the depressing of the hand lever, the upper part of the heel of the
falling block strikes the upper end of the said vertical arm, and com-
municates to it a motion by which the cartridge case is started from its
place in the barrel. The lower end of the heel of the block afterwards
striking the said arm near its centre, communicates thereto and to the
sliding bar a rapid motion, whereby the extraction of the cartridge case
is completed.
Having explained the nature of my Invention, I will describe with
reference to the accompanying Drawings the manner in which the same
is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation and Figure 2 in longitudinal
vertical section the breech end of a falling block gun containing my
extracting mechanism, the parts of the gun being represented in the
positions which they respectively occupy when the gun is ready for
discharge. Figure 3 represents in side elevation and in plan the trigger
guard carrying portion of the extracting mechanism, and Figures 4
and 5 represent detached portions of the extracting mechanism. The same
letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

page_text: In order that the extracting mechanism of the gun may be the better
understood I will briefly describe the parts of the gun and their
action.
a is the breech body or shoe in a mortice, in which the falling block b
works, the said block turning on the binge or centre at c; dis the
striker or striking pin working in the block; b, the rear end of the said
striking pin, being acted upon by the hammer to discharge the
gun; e, e³, is the hand lever turning on the same centre ƒ as the
hammer h, the said hand lever operating the block b, cocking the
hammer h, and withdrawing the striking pin d; h is the tumbler of the
hammer; h, the bents in which the sear i takes; ³ is the trigger; lis
the trigger plate; and is the trigger guard; f is an arm or indicator
on the axis of the hammer, which is also used for cocking the hammer.
To reload the gun after discharge the long arm of the hand lever is
depressed; the block is thereby lowered, and the breech opened, the
hammer cocked, and held in its cocked position, and the case of the
exploded cartridge extracted from the barrel by the mechanism herein-
after described, constituting part of my Invention. After the
introduction of a fresh cartridge into the barrel the long arm e² of the
hand lever is raised into the position represented, and the gun is again
ready for discharge.
I will now describe my improvements in extracting the empty cases
of the cartridges from the barrel of the gun. k is a rigid sliding bar or
frame supported on the trigger plate . This rigid sliding bar or frame
is represented in combination with the trigger plate in Figure 3, and
detached therefrom in Figure 4. The rear end of the sliding bar or
frame is situated under the axis f, on which the hand lever e, e,
turns, and the fore end of the said sliding bar or frame is situated
immediately under the open breech end of the barrel; 7, 7, is the
forked extractor shown detached in Figure 5. The said extractor 1, 1³,
turns upon an axis m immediately over the fore end of the sliding
bar or frame k, the tail or lower arm of the extractor terminating in
front of the fore part of the sliding bar or frame k (see Figure 2). On
the said sliding bar or frame k, and at a short distance from its fore end,
is an incline k*, against which the front lower end of the falling
block b strikes immediately after the said block has completely opened
the breech. The sliding bar or frame k is held down by a fixed cross
pin situated between the projections 8, s.

page_text: The action of the extracting mechanism is as follows:-After the
discharge of the gun, and when the hand lever e, e, is depressed for the
purpose of opening the breech, a shoulder at e³ on the under side of the
said hand lever, and near the joint pin fon which it turns, comes against
the rear end of the sliding bar or frame k, and urges it forward with
great force. The fore end of the sliding bar or frame k acting upon the
tail or short arm r of the extractor r, r², causes the extractor to turn on
its pin or centre m, and the forked end 2 to rise from its seat and start
the empty cartridge case from the barrel. As the falling block b com-
pletes its descent the part b strikes against the incline k' on the sliding
bar or frame k, and by communicating a rapid motion to the said sliding
bar or frame causes the extractor to complete the extraction of the
empty case of the cartridge, and eject it from the barrel. On loosing
the hand lever e, e², the spring a raises the block 6 into the position
proper to guide the cartridge into the barrel in the process of loading.
After the introduction of a fresh cartridge into the barrel, and on the
raising of the hand lever e, e², the normal position of the sliding bar or
frame is restored.
In order to increase the power of the extractor on its first motion to
start the empty cartridge case from the barrel the centre m of the
extracting lever r, r, may be raised, so as to equalize the length of the
arms of the extracting lever. The rigid sliding bar or frame k be
employed to actuate an extractor having a shifting or changing fulcrum,
as well as an extractor having the fixed fulcrum m, Figures 1 and 2.
may
The application of the said rigid sliding bar or frame to an extractor
having a changing fulcrum is illustrated in Figure 6, where r, 72, is the
extractor, having two centres, marked respectively u, v, the lower arm r
of the extractor being furnished with a slot 78 which works upon the
fixed centre v. The extractor when turning on the centre u has arms of
nearly equal length, and when turning on the centre the extracting or
Од
upper arm is about double as long as the lower or driving arm r.
depressing the hand lever e, e², to open the breech, the sliding bar or
frame kacts upon the tail or lower arm r of the extractor in the manner
herein-before described, the said extractor turning on the centre u and
starting the empty cartridge case from the barrel with great power. As
the extractor moves on its centre u the tail » moves towards the barrel
and brings the top of the slot ³ on to the centre v.
the sliding bar or frame & continues the extractor r, 12,
As the motion of
now turns on the

page_text: centre and completes the further withdrawing of the cartridge case,
the complete extraction and ejection of the cartridge case being effected,
as herein-before described, by the part 6 of the falling block striking the
incline * on the sliding bar or frame k.
The incline * on the sliding bar or frame k may be dispensed with
both in the last-described arrangement and in that in which the ex-
tractor has a fixed fulcrum, the rigid sliding bar or frame in this case
being acted upon by the hand lever alone to cause it to operate upon the
extractor, to start and fully extract and eject the empty case of the
cartridge, and the rigid sliding bar or frame may be applied to a com-
pound extracting lever or to a single extracting lever.
Figures 6A, 6B, and 6°, represent a compound extractor and parts
thereof, to be operated by the rigid sliding bar or frame k. In this
arrangement I employ in conjunction with the extracting lever r, 1³,
which operates directly on the cartridge case, a secondary lever at the
back thereof (sce Figure 6) for acting upon the extracting lever r, r²,
so as to cause the latter to act with great force on its first motion to
start the empty cartridge case. In this arrangement the lower arm ♬ of
the extracting lever r, re, is forked or has an opening in its middle
(see Figure 6), and the fore end of the rigid sliding bar or frame /
(which is without an incline on its face) has a corresponding central
projection (see Figure 6³). When the sliding bar or frame k is first
moved by the depression of the hand lever e, e², the projection at the
fore end of the sliding bar or frame k passes through the opening in
the short arm of the extracting lever r, ², without affecting the said
lever 1, 1, and acting upon the lower arm of the secondary lever 1ª turns
the latter on its joint and causes its short upper arm to operate upon the
long upper arm of the extracting lever 1, ³, and start the empty case
from the barrel with great force. On the further motion of the sliding
bar or frame k the side parts 1, 1, of its fore end now strike the
parts,, of the extracting lever 1, 7, moving the said lever further on
its fixed centre m so as to cause it to fully extract and eject the cartridge
case from the barrel.
Where a greater range of motion is required in the extractor than can
conveniently be obtained by the action of the hand lever on the sliding bar
or frame k, the said sliding bar or frame may be provided with an inclinc
similar to the incline & Figures 2 and 6, which said .incline is struck by

page_text: the falling block; or the fore end of the rigid sliding bar or frame k may
be forked, as illustrated in Figure 6º, so that it may successively operate
upon the single extracting lever at different distances from the centre of
the said extracting lever for the purposes before described, that is to say,
on first moving the rigid sliding bar or frame k the lower branch ľ³ of its
forked end operates upon the lower arm of the extractor at a point most
distant from its centre, thus starting the empty cartridge case with great
force, and afterwards the upper branch of the forked end of the sliding
bar or frame operates upon the extractor near its centre, and thereby
completes the extraction and ejection of the said empty cartridge case.
The extractor lever used with the forked bar, Figure 6, is without the
middle opening 14, Figure 6°, that is to say, it resembles the extractor
lever represented in Figure 5.
Where a great range of motion is required in the sliding bar or
frame k, Figure 6", the said bar may be provided with an incline similar
to that marked ', Figure 6, which said incline is struck by the
descending block.
Figure 7 represents another arrangement of my Invention, in which
the complete extraction and cjection of the empty cartridge case are
effected by the action of the falling block on a projection on the tail end
of the extractor. In this arrangement the projection on the tail end of
the extractor 1, 73, is marked 7, and the part of the block b which strikes
the said projection to complete the extraction and ejection of the
cartridge case is marked b².
The action of the sliding bark for starting the cartridge case is the
same as in the arrangements before described, and corresponding parts are
marked with the same letters of reference.
The projection * on the extractor may be substituted for the incline k*,
Figure 6, herein-before described as applicable to the sliding bar of the
arrangements represented in Figures 6ª, 6º, 6º, and 6º.
Instead of extracting the cartridge case by means of the sliding bar
or frame described and represented, a sliding bar working in a mortice
in the inner side or sides of the shoe or body of the gun may be
employed.
This arrangement of my Invention is represented in Figures 8, 9, 10,
and 11 of the Drawings; Figure 8, representing the breech end of a

page_text: gun containing the extracting mechanism; Figure 9, a horizontal
section of the breech shoe and extracting mechanism; and Figures 10
and 11, separate parts of the extracting mechanism. In this arrange-
ment the extracting hook or fork 1 is made in one piece with or rigidly
connected to the fore end of the sliding bar 2 (shown separately in
Figure 10), the said bar 2 working in a mortice or slot 4 in the inner
side of the breech shoe a, as best scen in Figure 9.
The advancing motion of the extractor, or motion towards the barrel
is effected by the introduction of the cartridge into the breech chamber
or by the fore end 6 of the closing block b, during its rising motion,
pressing home the extractor 1.
The retiring motion of the extractor, by which motion the cartridge
case is extracted, is effected in the following manner :-Immediately
behind the heel b* of the falling block b, is a nearly vertical arm 5, lying
upon the side of the shoe or body a, and turning upon a pin or centre 6
fixed to the said shoe or body. This arm 5 is shown separately in
Figure 11. The upper end of the said arm 5 bears against a projection
or heel 3 at the rear end of the sliding bar 2. After the discharge of
the gun and on the depressing of the hand lever e, e², the upper part of
the heel of the falling block b, strikes the upper end of the said
vertical arm 5, and urges it backward with sufficient force to start the
cartridge case from its place in the barrel. The lower end of the heel *
of the block afterwards striking the said arm 5 near its centre 6, com-
municates thereto, and to the sliding bar 2 a rapid motion whereby the
extraction of the cartridge case is completed.
That part of the heel of the block which gives the second blow to
the arm 5 is rounded as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 8.
Besides being applicable to block guns of the particular construction
represented in the Drawings, the several extractors herein-before
described and illustrated may be applied to other block guns.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do
not limit myself to the precise details herein described and illustrated, as
the same may be varied without departing from the nature of my
Invention, but I claim as my Invention of improvements in breech
loading small arms in which the breech is opened and closed by a hinged
falling block or similar block,-

page_text: Firstly. The combinations or arrangements of parts herein-before
described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6ª, 6³, 6º, and 6º, of
the accompanying Drawings for extracting the empty cartridge cases from
the barrels of the said small arms, that is to say, by means of a rigid
sliding bar or frame acting upon the tail or lower arm of the forked
extracting lever the said sliding bar or frame being operated by the
hand lever and falling block respectively of the gun, or by the hand
lever only, to effect the starting and complete extraction and ejection
of the empty cartridge case from the barrel whether the extractor
turn upon a fixed fulcrum or centre, or upon a changing fulcrum or
centre, and whether a single or compound extracting lever be used, sub-
stantially as described and illustrated. Also the modification of the
same herein-before described and illustrated in Figure 7 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The combination or arrangement of parts herein-before
described and illustrated in Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11 of the accompanying
Drawings for extracting the empty cartridge cases from the barrels of the
said small arms, that is to say, by means of a sliding bar working in a
mortice in the inner side or sides of the shoe or body of the and
having the extracting hook or fork at one end, the said sliding bar being
worked by a nearly vertical arm on the breech shoc or body, the said arm
being operated upon by the heel of the falling block, substantially as
described and illustrated.
gun
In witness whereof, I, the said John Field Swinburn, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of December, in
the year of our Lord Ouc thousand eight hundred and seventy-
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW,
JOHN FIELD SWINBURN. (L.S.)