IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING. FIRE-ARMS. AND CARTRIDGES THEREFOR
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isaac Morris Milbank, of Greenfield Hill, in the
State of Connecticut, United States of America, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING. FIRE-ARMS. AND CARTRIDGES
THEREFOR
"
Sealed the 13th February 1872, and dated the 30th August 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Isaac Morris Mil,
bank at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 30th August 1871.
I, ISAAC MORRIS MILBANK, of Greenfield. Hill, in the State of Con-
3necticut, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND
CARTRIDGES THEREFOR;" to be as follows:-
The breech-loading fire-arm is made with a sliding breech block
moved in the "housing" at the rear of the barrel, the said housing
being open at the side for inserting or withdrawing the cartridge. The
breech block is connected with a tube containing the hammer and
its actuating spring. The breech block is moved by a handle at the

page_text: side, and the said handle is part of a lever that swings down against
a recoil shield to hold the block when the piece is fired. The lever
acts upon a swinging retractor that grasps the flange of the cartridge,
the said retractor being easily detachable from the breech block, and
the said lever also moves a safety pin that prevents the blow of the
hammer reaching the cartridge except when the said lever is in position
for sustaining the explosion. The hammer is held back by a trigger
pin, between which and the trigger is a sear, and the trigger is blocked
to prevent-accidental discharge by a safety trigger that has to be moved
before the main. trigger can be pulled. The forward end of the breech
block has a spring ejector to throw out the cartridge case. Within the
barrel is a chamber to receive the cartridge, and the edges of the rifling
grooves extend partially into this chamber in the form of feathers or
ribs, the other portions of the rifling, being cut away at an inclination;
this rifling gives a reliable rotation to the ball or its case in-starting.
r
The cartridge employed is adapted to the aforesaid arm, and the
improvements therein consist in a means for strengthening the bottom
of the metallic case by a base secured to the outside of the sheet.
metal case and projecting to form the flange of such case:;_or_in_
instances where the base is inserted within the case the flange is made
with a ring soldered or otherwise fastened around the rear portion
of the cylindrical case. By this construction I am able to make the
cartridge case of sheet zinc because the folded flange heretofore used is
dispensed with..
The cartridge case is sometimes made with a paper cylinder attached
to the base, in which case I employ. silicate of soda or soluble glass to
attach the parts together and render the cartridge case waterproof; the
base in this case may be made of metal or paper and the paper cylinder
attached thereto by said silicate of soda.
The fulminate is made of nitrate of mercury or other detonating
material mixed in a plastic state with powdered glass, sand, or similar
material, and pressed into the cavity in the priming tube or cartridge
case provided for it, so that the mass will be self-sustaining and form
its own resistance to the blow of the hammer and render a metallic or
other ordinary anvil unnecessary, and this fulminating material will be
very effective as it will all be driven into the powder and ensure a
complete and rapid explosion. To facilitate the explosion I sometimes
make the head of the fulminate tube a deep conical recess, so that the.
1, .

page_text: :
fulminate is in the form of a ring between the two thicknesses,. and
the hammer has a conical end that does not touch the bottom of the
conical recess. but explodes the fulminate by lateral pressure against
the sides of the tube. The ball employed is enclosed in a wooden sabot-
saturated. with tallow or other lubricating material and is taper at its
forward end, the sabot fits around the same, and a wooden base or wad
is placed between the powder and the ball and sabot, and thereby the
three will move together in the barrel. A groove around the sabot.
contains lubricating material and passes into the cartridge case so as to
exclude moisture. In the powder space of the cartridge there is a wad
dividing the powder space into two sections; the powder in the rear
chamber drives the wad and forward charge of powder along and a
projection in the cartridge case tears or bends the edge of the wad
.sufficiently to allow the fire to pass to the forward section of the powder
, and explode the same. In this manner the force exerted on the ball is
. increased gradually and an acceleration of the projectile effected..
I
..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said. Isaac Morris Milbank in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 23rd February 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ISAAC
MORRIS MILBANK, of Greenfield Hill, in the State of Connecticut,
United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto mic, the said Isaac Morris Milbank, Her special licence,
that I; the said Isaac Morris Milbank, my executors, administrators,
"and assigns, or such others as I, the said Isaac Morris Milbank, 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 " IM-
PROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING. FIRE-ARMS AND CARTRIDGES THEREFOR," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Isaac Morris Milbank,
.

page_text: •
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 naturo 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.
..
6.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Isaac Morris Milbank, 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 made to the annexed
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say) :-
·
.
This Invention relates to a breech-loading fire-arm with a sliding
breech operated by a direct movement of the hand, and in which the
hammer acts upon the rear end of a central-fire cartridge. The sliding
breech block is' connected with a tube, in which is the hammer and a
spring to actuate the same; the breech block is held against the
exposion by a lever that also serves as part of the handle in moving
said breech. This lever acts upon the swinging retractor to cause it
to hold the flange of the cartridge in withdrawing said cartridge; it also
acts upon a safety pin that prevents the hammer driving the firing pin
forward except when the swinging lever is fully to its place.
In the Drawings Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the breech portion
of the fire-arm fitted with my improvements; Fig. 2 is an elevation of
the parts in place for firing; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section showing
the breech block and lever handle; Fig. 4 is a cross section of the
breech showing the front end of the breech pin and lever; Fig. 5 is a
side view, and Fig. 6 is a plan of the breech block separately, and in
the latter Figure the lever is shown in section and the connecting
device represented in a modified form; and Fig. 7 is a section of the
handle to the breech lever.
The barrel a, stock 6, and housing c for the breech mechanism are of
the usual character, except so far as being adapted to the improved
parts hereafter described. A breech block d is made to slide in the
housing c, said housing being open at the side for inserting the cartridge
and for the lever handle e that sustains said breech block against tho
explosion, and also is used to give motion to said. breech block endwise.

page_text: At the rear end of the breech block d. is a cylindrical projection
'receiving the tubular hammer case f, the two being screwed together
or connected by a bayonet lock 2, so that the case ƒ can be dis-
connected and drawn out from the rear of c when the trigger pin
is withdrawn from the longitudinal slot of the said case f, and I remark
that the ribs or grooves 24 serving to guide the breech block d near
the barrel do not extend the entire length of its movement, so that the
.breech block. can be taken out sidewisc after the hammer case ƒ has
been disconnected. The grooves may be in the housing with notches
at the points where the breech block is to be withdrawn, the ribs being
on the breech block. The lever handle e is connected with the breech
block d by passing over a gudgeon 4 projecting from its side, and 'a
screw might be employed to prevent the parts separating, but I prefer
and use a circular groove around the outer end of the gudgeon receiving
a circular rib in the hole of the lever; a section of said rib being
removed, and also a section of the rib on 4 outside said groove so that
the parts will pass each other, and the position of these is such, as
shown in Figs. 5 and 6, that the parts can be. connected or disconnected
when the lever is nearly at right angles to the breech-block, and while
the parts are out of the gun. When placed in the gun the lever.e
slides in the opening at the side of the housing c, and it is turned down
into the notch to take. the recoil of the explosion on the shield 6, and
the ribs and grooves being locked together prevent the lever separating
from the gudgeon 4. The handle & projecting from the lever e serves
to actuate the breech block and connected parts, and in order to lessen.
concussion of the hand against this handle I make use of a rubber
cylinder around said handle, such cylinder contracting into the space
provided for it in the handle and requiring no other attachment. The
catch n that is in this handle k springs into a notch in the recoil shield 6,
and this spring catch is pressed in by the hand as the lever is turned
to open the breech. Within the breech block d is the firing pin i, and
within the case f is the hammer m surrounded by the spring n¹; said
spring being connected at the rear end to the hammer and at the
forward end to the interior of the case f, so that the spring is distendeḍ
when the hammer is held by the trigger pin p and the breech is closed,
and when said pin or seer p is withdrawn the contraction of the spring
projects the hammer and by striking the firing pin i throws that against
the center of the cartridge and explodes the same. The spring n¹ might
be fitted so as to be compressed in opening the breech and expand in
.

page_text: projecting the hammer. A mortice is made through the firing pin i,
and in this is a cross safety pin that is made as an incline on the
end, and there is a cavity in the side of the lever e in line with this
safety pin when the breech d and lever e are properly in place, so that
the firing pin can be thrown forward by the hammer, and the inclines 5
will force the safety pin partly into such cavity, but if the lever e is
not properly turned then the cavity not coinciding with the pin the.
inner surface of the lever will keep the safety pin projècteil into the
firing pin, so that the hammer will not project said firing pin, hence
the cartridge will not be exploded if the parts are not in proper position 1
for resisting the concussion. The shape of this safety pin may vary
as a neck turned upon the firing pin and a safety pin with a concave
notch may enter this neck, the safety pin being operated by the lever ė
as before, or a notched turning pin operated by the lever e might be
employed in place of the sliding pin.
=
case.
% In order to draw out the cartridge I make use of the retractor u that
is hook shape at the end and catches over the flange of the cartridge
_ The breech block is morticed out so that this retractor and its
axis made in one piece may be slipped edgewise into place or removed
in the same manner for cleaning or otherwise, thereby simplifying the 2
parts and avoiding risk of loss of small screws or pins in cleaning the
gun, but a separate pin might be used if preferred for the retractor i
Upon the inner face of the lever e at the end contiguous to the said
retractor a small incline u', see Fig. 4, serves to press down the hook
of the retractor and make it hold the cartridge while being drawn out; 2
this incline is operative upon the retractor just as the lever e is swung
up to draw back the breech block and cartridge shell, and a spring
ejector s made as a slight spiral spring inserted in a hole at the front
of the breech-block throws out the empty case just as its forward end
clears the rear end of the barrel. The projection on the lever e 3
taking against the shoulder v³ upon the housing c serves to start the
cartridge case and parts when the handle is thrown up in drawing back
the breech at the same time that the hook of the retractor is held firmly
to the flange of the cartridge case. The trigger pin p is placed in a
cylinder w that is screwed upon the inner portion of the trigger guard w',
and a seer or lever w³ interposed between the pin p and trigger 10³ serves
to communicate motion from the latter to draw down the trigger pin p
against the action of the spring 2 and liberate the hammer 'm, so that

page_text: •
it can be projected by its spring n¹. The safety trigger is. formed of a
slide 14 around the cylinder w. with a projecting end 15 to be operated
by the finger and a block 16 to intervene behind the trigger to and
prevent the trigger being pulled and the arm fired, except when the
safety trigger block 16. is pressed up out of the way. The spring 17
around the cylinder w presses this safety trigger down to place when not
otherwise acted upon. The rear end of the rifling in the barrel is made
in such a manner as not to scrape the lead of the ball, but to compress
the same and also to produce a firm hold of the rifling on the ball at
the commencement of the movement and thereby ensure the rotation
of the ball.
Instead of tapering the forward end of the chamber of the barrel.
where the rifling ends as usual I simply taper the rib portion of the
rifling as shown at 18, and leave the edges of the rifling in the form
of projecting chisel-shaped points or odges in order that these may
score the ball or its case as soon as it commences to move and before
the compression of the ball or its case takes place in entering the
smaller part of the barrel, thereby the ball will be effectually rotated by
the rifling; this construction of rifling also allows the ball or its sabot
to be pressed into place with ease. The hammer and firing pin might
be made in one piece if the safety pin acted against a sloping shoulder
instead of passing through a mortice. It is to be understood that when
the breech block, spring case, and parts are drawn back the trigger
pin p holds the hammer, and as the breech block is forced forward the
hammer spring is strained, thereby the hammer has the same extent
of motion. as the breech, and when the breech is closed the rear end of
the hammer projecting slightly shows that the parts are in place. The
hole in which the retractor works may be slightly elongated to allow
of an end movement to the retractor to accomodate the position of the
flange of the cartridge. The hammer m may be made, as shown in
the section Fig. 74, with a longer rear end, and hence there will be less
movement given to the same, and to the hammer is a sliding headed
rod m that can be grasped in the fingers and the hammer drawn back
and cocked by hand. In a state of rest with the hammer forward its
rear end will be slightly within the cylinder f, so that the cartidge
could not be exploded by a blow upon m³, and this rod and head m² can
be drawn back sufficiently to give the necessary space for grasping the
same to cock the piece. A aafety notch may also be made in the firing.
"

page_text: •
bolt near its' rear end as at m³, so that if it should accidentally slide
partially back, the seer pin will pass into this notch and prevent a
premature explosion by a forward movement of the hammer.
My improved cartridge is made with especial reference to use in
breech-loading fire-arms, such as before described, and, the peculiarities
thereof consist in a means for strengthening the bottom of the metallic
case by a base secured to the outside of the sheet metal casc and pro-
jecting to form the flange of such case, as seen at 6 in Figs. 8, 9, 10,
18, 19, 20, 22, 23, and 24, or in instances where the base is inserted
within the case, or the sheet metal of the case forms the base, then 1
the flange is made with a ring c soldered or otherwise fastened around
the rear portion of the cylindrical case, as seen in Figs. 14, 15, 16,
& 17.
By this construction I am able to make the cartridge case
of sheet zinc because the folded flange heretofore used is dispensed
with.
"
'The cartridge case is sometimes made with a paper cylinder attached.
to the base, as in Fig. 10, in which case I employ silicate of soda or
soluble glass to attach the parts together and render the cartridge. casc.
waterproof; the base in this case may be made of metal or paper, and .
the
paper cylinder attached thereto by said silicate of soda.
2
The fulminate is made of nitrate of mercury or other detonating
material mixed in a plastic state with powdered glass, sand, or similar
material, and pressed into. the cavity in the priming tube or cartridge
case provided for it, so that the mass will be self-sustaining, and form
its own resistance to the blow of the hammer, and render a metallic or. 2
other ordinary anvil unnecessary, and this fulminating material will bo
very effective, as it will all be driven into the powder, and ensure a
complete and rapid explosion. Glass or sand can be used to the extent
of about one half, and shellac or other varnish may be employed.
To facilitate the explosion I sometimes make the head of the fulminate 3
tube i ȧ deep conical recess, as in Fig. 21, so that the fulminate is in the
form of a ring between the two thicknesses, and the hammer has a
conical end that does not touch the bottom of the conical recess, but
explodes the fulminate by lateral pressure against the sides of the tube.
In Figs. 8, 9, and 10 the base b is connected to the case a by spreading 3
the teats; within the conical opening in the base 6 the parts may also
be soldered.

page_text: In Figures 12 & 13 the base and case are shown, but with the base b¨
inside the case, and in Fig. 12. the ring c is soldered on the outside of the
case. This base b, Fig. 11, may be of metal soldered in; I have, how:
ever, made use of a base made in the shape of a cup with thin edges,
formed of paper pulp with a mixture or coating of silicate of soda or
soluble glass. This base when pressed into the cartridge case strengthens
the same, and supports the sheet metal against the blow of the hammer
upon the primer. This paper base has a hole in the center for the
tubular inward projection into which the primer passes. The conical
recess in the teat s is made for receiving the fulminate and glass or sand
in a plastic state, as aforesaid, and in cases where the said fulminate
material is inserted in a separate tube, as at i, in Figs. 11 & 21, then the
rear end of the cartridge case is provided for the same, as seen in Figs.
11' to 20 inclusive. The base and case, Figs. 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, & 24,
may be united together by solder as well as by bending over or rivetting
the sheet metal, as shown, and in Figs. 22, 23, 24, the primer i forms a
hollow rivet to hold or aid in holding the base to the case. The base -b
when made of comparatively thin sheet metal is to have a rim benţ
upon the same, as shown in Figs. 18 and 19, to form a flange.
Fig. 21 shows the priming tube made with the deep conical recess to
receive the fulminate, as at h, and said fulminate is exploded by the
-lateral pressure of a conical-ended hammer against the sides of the tube.
The ball employed is inclosed in a wooden sabot o, Fig. 11, saturated
with tallow or other lubricating material, and the ball is tapering.at.its
forward end, and the sabot fits around the same, as seen also in Figs.
24 and 25, and a wooden base or wad is between the powder and the
ball and sabot, thereby the three will move together in the barrel. A
grooves around the sabot contains lubricating material, and passes into
the cartridge case, so as to exclude moisture. In the powder-space of
the cartridge there is a wad u, Fig. 11, dividing. the powder space.into
two sections; the powder in the rear chamber drives the wad. and
forward charge of powder along, and a projection to in the cartridge case
tears or bends the edge of the wad u sufficient to allow the fire to pass
to the forward section of the powder and explode the same. In this
manner the force exerted on the ball is increased gradually, and an
acceleration of the projectile effected.
.
In Fig. 12 the cartridge case is made of a paper cylinder attached to
the short cylindrical base a by silicate of soda or soluble class (as in

page_text: Fig. 10), and to strengthen said base and form a flange to the case
the ring c is secured to said case by soluble glass; this ring may be
sectionally of semicircular shape.
In Fig. 13 a paper cylinder is also employed for the case, but the
base is of wood or paper pulp, and provided with a recess & for tho
primer. The paper case might be attached to the concave surface of
the basċ b:
İn Fig. 14 the cartridge case and base are in one piece of sheet metal;
the flange is formed by a ring, sectionally of circular form, setting
within a recess made by swedging the metal at the edge of the base and
sides of the case.
In Fig. 15 the outer part of this flange ring c is of circular form; the
inner part is triangular, and sets within a corresponding shaped recess
in the case a..
In Fig. 16 the inner part of this ring c is conical, and sets upon the
conical or flaring part of the casc a.
In Fig. 17 this ring c is of crescent shape, a slight bulge being formed
upon the base of the case a to keep said ring in place. The base of the
cartridge may be strengthened by wood or paper pulp within the same,
as in Figs. 11 & 13. It is preferrable that the wooden cylinder should be
made with a hole large enough to allow the ball to drop into or through
it freely, but when compressed and put into the cartridge case the ball
will be firmly held by the wooden cylinder, but after leaving the gun
the wooden cylinder will expand and drop as the ball continues its
unimpeded flight. The base of the ball may project slightly beyond the
wooden cylinder, as in Fig. 24, so as to take the first force of the
explosion and overcome its inertia, and cause the ball and cylinder
to move simultaneously, or the cylinder may be closed at the rear end,
as in Fig. 23. The cylinder of wood o is to be lubricated with graphite
or similar material, and rings of paper saturated with beeswax or wax.
and other material may be used, as at x¹, Fig. 24.
•
What I claim as my Invention, and desire to secure by Letters
Patent is,-
m1

page_text: Second. The breech lever e upon a gudgeon at the side of the breech
block, and connected thereto, substantially as set forth in combination
with the recoil shield 6, substantially, as specified...
Third. The swinging retractor u, and its pin, slipped into a notch in
the edge of the breech block in combination with the lever e, as and for
the purposes set forth.
Fourth. The safety pin r, operated by the lever e, in combination
with the firing pin i and breech block d, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth..
Fifth. The spring s inserted in the face of the breech block d, and
acting as an ejector for the purposes specified..
Sixth. The rubber cylinder 1, combined with and applied to the
handle of the breech lever e, in the manner and for the purposes
set forth.
Seventh. The lever e, made with the projection for starting the
breach and cartridge case as they are drawn back, as set forth.
Eighth. The safety trigger sliding upon the cylinder 10, in combination
with said cylinder w, trigger w³, trigger pin p, and seer 10³, as set forth.
Ninth. The rifling in the barrel made with the edges of the rifling
grooves projecting towards the ball, and the rifling ribs bevelled between
said projecting edges at the forward end of the cartridge chamber, for
the purposes specified.
Tenth. The lever e, handle f, and catch n upon said handle, con-
structed and operating as and for the purposes set forth.
Eleventh. The projection u¹ upon the lever e for operating the re-
tractor u, as set forth.
Twelfth. The rod and button m² upon the hammer for drawing the
same back, as set forth.
Thirteenth. The metallic base 6 secured to the metallic case, sub-
stantially as set forth.
Fourteenth. The fulminate material mixed with sand or glass or
similar material, and pressed in a plastic state into the primer or
fulminate space.
Fifteenth. A cartridge case made partially of paper, and rendered
waterproof and united to the other parts of the case by soluble glass
or silicate of soda.

page_text: Sixteenth. The wooden sabot for the ball, made in the manner
set forth.
Seventeenth. The wooden sabot, for the ball in combination with the
wad, for the purposes set forth.
"
:
⚫ Eighteenth. The wooden sabot surrounding the ball, and made with.a
groove for lubricating material entering inside the cartridge case...
Nineteenth. The wad dividing the powder chamber and the projection
in the cartridge case, to cause a space for the fire to pass, as set forth..
Twentieth. A zinc cartridge case with a separate base to the same, as
.set forth.
In witness whereof, I, 'the said Isaac Morris Milbank, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of January, A.D. One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
I. M. MILBANK. `(L.S.)
Witnesses,
B. B. BANKS, of Greenfield Hill, Conn.
OLIVER BURR...
do.
"