IMPROVEMENTS IN REPEATING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the Firm of Hughes
and Son, Patent Agents, 128, Chancery Lane, London, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REPEATING FIRE-ARMS."--A communication from
abroad by 'Oliver Fisher Winchester, of New Haven; United States of
'America.
Sealed the 22nd February 1867, and dated the 29th August 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas Hughes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 29th August 1866.
I, EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent
Agents, 128, Chancery Lane, London, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REPEATING FIRE-ARMS," a communication
to me from abroad by Oliver Fisher Winchester, of New Haven, United
States of America, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in repeating fire-arms, in which
several metallic cartridges are placed in a tube or magazine beneath the
barrel of the arm, and carried therefrom to the barrel by the movement of the
trigger guard. I will first describe the construction of the operative parts of
the arm.

page_text: On the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is a side view, Fig. 2 a top view,
Fig. 8 a sectional side view, Fig: 4 a longitudinal central section, Fig. 5 a
section of the frame through the mortice D looking to the rear; Fig. 6, a
section of the carrier block; Fig. 7, an under side view, the parts in position
as seen in Fig. 4; Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11, the different modifications for
charging the magazine; Figs. 12, 18, 14, and 15, a different arrangement
for retracting the cartridge.
A is the barrel of any known construction; B, the frame, to the forward
end of which the barrel is secured; and to the rear end a wooden stock C. In
the frame B, and directly in the rear of the barrel, is formed a chamber or
mortice D, in which is placed a carrier block E, the office of which is to
receive a cartridge from the magazine and raise it for insertion into the
barrel, also to throw the discharged shell from the arm after it has been
withdrawn from the barrel, and for this purpose the said carrier block E is
constructed with a chamber E³ (see Fig. 6) to receive the cartridge from
the magazine, and it is moved up within the chamber or mortice D to present
the cartridge to the barrel for insertion, and down when the cartridge has
been removed from the carrier to the barrel, and is thus moved by means of
the lever F, one end of which lies within the carrier block E, the other hung to
the pivot G; H is a lever serving both as a trigger guard and as an instrument
by which the several mechanical parts of the arm are made to operate, it is
hung to the pivot G, upon which both the levers F and I may be freely
moved. By moving the lever H from the position denoted in Fig. 3
to that denoted in Figure 4 a shoulder a, formed upon the lever II, strikes
a corresponding shoulder 6 upon the lever F, raising the said lever and
carrier block E, as denoted in Fig. 4; by returning the said lever II the
upper arm I of the lever H strikes another shoulder c on the said lever F,
and returns the lever F with the carrier block E to the position denoted
in Fig. 8. L, the breech pin, is hollow of cylindrical form, through which
passes a piston M, the rear end of the said pin L is formed as seen in
Figs. 3 and 4, so as to attach upon either side to a pivot d a link N of a
toggle joint, as denoted in broken lines Fig. 2. The other links P of
the toggle are hinged to the frame by a pivot e, and the two links hinged
together at f; the upper arm 1 of the lever H extends up between the two
toggle joints, and through the said arm I a pin g passes, extending out upon
either side so as to enter a slot or groove h upon the inside of the links P,
so that as the lever H is moved as from the position in Fig. 3 to that in
Fig. 4, the pin g will act to close the toggle and draw back the breech pin L,
which moves freely back and forth in the frame B, as denoted in Fig. 4, and

page_text: by the return of the 'lever H. will extend the toggle and return the breech
pin L, as seen in Fig. 3. The raising of the carrier block E, as before
described, occurs after the breech pin has been drawn back, and the breech
pin is returned before the return of the carrier block, passing through the
chamber Es in the carrier block for the purpose (as more fully hereafter
shown) of removing the cartridge from; the chamber. Es in the carrier block
to' the barrel, therefore in order to allow the carrier block to return, it is
necessary to cut a slot E from the chamber E up through the carrier block,
as seen in Fig. 6. This slot must be narrower than the chamber in order to
prevent the accidental removal of the cartridge in the said chamber, as also
to cause the raising of the carrier block to eject the discharged and withdrawn
shell; and that this narrow slot may pass down over the breech pin, which
is nearly the same diameter as the chamber in the carrier block, the breech
pin is reduced upon its two sides, as seen in Figs. 2 and 8. On the lower
side of the breech pin L is formed a projecting lip i, and upon the upper side
a spring, latch m; a cartridge R lying upon the carrier block, as seen in
Fig. 4; will by return of the breeeh pin. L be forced into the rear of the
barrel, the lip i entering a recess n below, and the latch m, rising and hooking
over the flange, of the cartridge; will enter a similar recess ŕ above, as seen in
Fig. 3, so that when the breech pin is withdrawn, the latch m will hold and
withdraw the cartridge or discharged shell, as the case may be. The piston M
is enlarged to form a shoulder, as denoted at a, at the rear of the,pin L,
thence extends back through the frame and so as to slide freely therein,
nto
the hammer S, so that when the pin is drawn back as before described the
said piston will force the hammer back to full cock, as denoted in Fig. 4, and
on being returned to the position denoted in Fig. 3 will leave the hammer.
held at full cock by the trigger T, which when released in the usual manner,
will by the reaction of the mainspring U fly back to the position denoted in
Fig. 8, striking the end of the-piston M. To the inner end of the piston M
is fixed a collar t, having projecting points upon either side, see Fig. 5;
the said collar t is of larger diameter than that part of the piston M to which
it is attached, and the recess made in the breech pin to receive the said collar,
is made a little deeper than the thickness of the collar, so as to allow the
piston M with the collar to move back, so that when the pin L is forced .ap
against the cartridge as before described, the projecting points at as they.
press against the cartridge will force the piston back, and thus situated when
the hammer strikes the piston M, as before described, the projecting points
will indent the metal of the cartridge sufficiently to explode the fulminate
and ignite the powder within the cartridge: A separate spring = for each of

page_text: the levers F and H is secured upon the frame, the ends of which bear, one
upon
the lever H, as seen in Fig. 8, to retain the lever in its home position,
as in Figs. 1 and 2, the other upon the lever F, see Fig. 4, for the purpose
more fully hereafter described. The lever H is held in its position against
the frame by means of a thumbscrew W, or an equivalent therefor. This
completes the general construction of that part of the arm contained within
the frame as heretofore constructed. The space in the frame where the
operative parts are placed is enclosed by a plate Ss upon each side of the
frame. Beneath the barrel I fix a thin metal tube A¹, its rear end entering
the frame so that when the carrier block E is down, as in the position seen
in Fig. 3, it will open directly into the chamber E' in the carrier block. I
secure the tube to the barrel by means of bands, and if advisable encase the
lower portion of the tube with a wood stock C, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3;
for general uses I prefer to thus encase the tube, but it is not a necessity.
Within the tube I place a follower G¹ and close the upper end of the tube
by a plug, and between the follower and the plug I place a helical spring
as denoted in red, the tendency of which is to force the follower toward the
lower or rear end of the tube, as before described. Upon the under side of
the frame, and so as to close the mortice D, I hinge a cover D, arranged with
a spring catch d¹ to lock into a notch a¹ in the frame, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4.
To place the cartridges in the tube or magazine A', turn the arm upsido
down, open the cover D³, as seen in Figs. 4 and 7, move the carrier block to
the position also seen in Fig. 4, which movement opens the tube A¹ so that
the cartridges may be inserted, as seen in said Fig. 4. To afford free access
to the tube I cut away a portion of the carrier block, as seen in Figs. 4 and 7,
yet retaining so much of the carrier block as will form a stop to retain the
cartridges after they have been placed within the tube, the rear end of the
cartridge falling down in front of the carrier block, as denoted in red Fig. 4,
and thus one cartridge after another is inserted into the tube, forcing the
follower G¹ up, and compressing the spring until the requisite number bave
been placed therein, then close the cover as seen in Figs. 1 and 3, return the
carrier block to the position also seen in Fig. 3, the reaction of the spring
within the tube will force the last inserted cartridge R into the chamber E*
in the carrier block, as seen in Fig. 8, from which position it will be carried
up to the "position in Fig. 4 and inserted into the barrel, and the block
returned to receive the second cartridge, as before described.
In Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive I illustrate a different modification of the
magazine which I will proceed to describe. Beneath the barrel A, as before
described, I place a thin metal tube A', extending along the barrel nearly its

page_text: entire length, its rear end entering the frame, so that when the carrier
block E is down, as in the position seen in Fig. 8, it will open directly into
the chamber E in the carrier block. I secure the said tube to the barrel by
means of bands or otherwise, and if advisable encase the lower portion of the
tube with a wood stock. Within the tube I place a follower G³, and close
the upper end of the tube with a plug or otherwise, and between the follower
and the plug I place a helical spring, as, denoted in, red, the tendency of
which is to force the follower toward the lower end of the tube, as before
described. Through one of the plates S³ (preferring that one upon the right-
hand side) I form, an opening, as denoted by broken lines, Fig. 8, and also
seen in sections, Figs. 10 and 11; this opening is, formed so as to communicato
through the frame directly to the chamber E in the carrier block, as seen in
Fig. 10, through this opening, and while the carrier block is down and all
parts of the arm in a state at rest insert the cartridges point first through the
said opening in the plate S into the chamber E, the second cartridge pressing
the first into the magazine, and so on each successive cartridge until the
magazine is filled, or until the requisite numbero has been inserted therein,
the follower G¹ being pressed up before the entering cartridges. In the rear
of the chamber E the frame forms a shoulder to prevent the cartridges from
being forced out through the opening in the plate S³. C³ is a cover for
closing the opening in the plate S³, is hinged thereto, as seen in Figs. &
and 11; the hinge is provided, with a spring a³, the tendency of which is to
open the cover C'; a spring catch d, see Fig. 8, secures the cover when
closed, so that by pressing upon the said catch the cover will fly open. After
the requisite number of cartridges have been placed within the magazine
close the cover, as seen in Figs. & and 11; one cartridge remains in the
carrier block, from which position, see Fig. 3, it will be carried up to the
position in Fig. 4, and inserted into the barrel, and the block returned to
receive a second cartridge, as before described. By this arrangement this arm
is adapted for cavalry uses, as when suspended from the neck of the cavalry
man, hanging upon his right side, he may with his right hand only charge his
arm even under the most difficult circumstances, or when lying across the
bridle arm the same facility for charging is presented.
In Figs. 12, 13, 14, and 15 I illustrate a different device than these
heretofore shown for withdrawing the cartridge shell from the barrel, which I
will proceed to describe. I form an annular groove a³, see Figs. 18 and 14,
upon the breech pin L, into which, I place a ring, having upon its upper
side a hook a projecting forward, so that when the carrier block is raised as
in Fig. 14, to carry the cartridge up for insertion into the barrel, as from the

page_text: position in Fig. 13 to that in Fig. 14, the rim of the cartridge comes under
and within the grasp of the said hook. After the cartridge has thus passed
up to the position denoted in Fig. 14 return the breech pin to the position
denoted in Fig. 13, which operation will insert the cartridge into the barrel,
the hook a passing into a recess in the rear of the barrel, as seen in Fig. 13.
The ring d² I make a little shorter than the groove in which it is placed for
two-reasons; first, that as the cartridge when it is raised lies upon the carrier
block upon a little inclination, as seen in Fig. 14, therefore it is necessary
that the book be a little longer than the thickness of the rim of the cartridge,
in order that the cartridge may surely enter the grasp of the hook. When
the breech pin is moved forward, as in Fig. 13, the hook and its ring are
forced back in the groove, in order that as little recess as possible may be
formed in the rear of the barrel, but when drawn out, as in Fig. 14, the hook
and ring are again forced forward, for the further reason that the cartridge is
ejected from the book much easier than if it were held closely against the
breech pin,-as hereafter shown. After the cartridge has been discharged
withdraw the breech pin as before described, the hook upon the pin surely
withdraws the shell from the barrel to the position denoted by the cartridge
in Fig. 14. When in this position the carrier block is again raised, the
block will strike the shell, the hook holding the rear end until the carrier is
nearly up to its full height, the springs will fall into a notch w, see Fig. 4,
on the lever F giving a sudden movement to the carrier, which will eject tho
discharged shell entirely from the arm, as denoted in Fig. 4, the carrier
presenting another cartridge for insertion into the barrel, and thus the
operation may be continued until all the cartridges in the magazine have been
each in their turn discharged.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th February 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD 3
THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent Agents, 123,
Chancery Lane, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her s
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,

page_text: the said Edward Thomas Hughes, IIer special licence that I, the said Edward
Thomas Hughes, my, executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, 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 REPEATING FIRE-ARMS," a communication to me from abroad
by Oliver Fisher Winchester, of New Haven, United States of America, upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, 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 per-
formed, 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 Edward Thomas Hughes, 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. (that is to say) :-
..This Invention relates to improvements in repeating fire-ȧrms, in which
several metallic cartridges are placed in a tube or magazine beneath the
barrel of the arm, and carried therefrom to the barrel by the movement of the
trigger guard. I will first describe the construction of the operative parts of
the arm....
On the accompanying Drawings Fig. I is a side-view, Fig. 2 is a top
view, Fig. 8 a.sectional side view, Fig. 4 a longitudinal central section, Fig..5
a section of the frame through the mortice D looking to the rear; .Fig. 6, a
section of the carrier block; Fig. 7, an under side view of the parts in position
as seen in Fig. 4; Figs. 8, 9, 10, & 11, the different modifications for charging
the magazine; Figs. 12, 13, 14, and 15, a different arrangement for retracting
the cartridge.
A is the barrel of any known .construction; B, the frame, to the forward
end of which the-barrel is secured, and to the rear end a wooden stock C.+ In
the frame B, and directly in the rear of the barrel, is formed a chamber..or
mortice D, in which is placed. a carrier block E, the office of, which is to
receive a cartridge from the magazine and raise it for. insertion into.the barrel,
also to throw the discharged shell from the arm after it has been, withdrawn
from the barrel; and for. this purpose the said carrier block E is constructed

page_text: with a chamber E³ (see Fig. 6) to receive the cartridge from the magazine,
and it is moved up within the chamber or mortice D to present the cartridge
to the barrel for insertion, and down when the cartridge has been removed from
the carrier to the barrel, and is thus moved by means of the lever F, one end
of which lies within the carrier block E, the other hung to the pivot G. His
a lever serving both as a trigger guard and as an instrument by which the
several mechanical parts of the arm are made to operate; it is hung to the
pivot G, upon which both the levers F & H may be freely moved. By moving
the lever H from the position denoted in Fig. 3 to that denoted in Fig. 4 a
shoulder a formed upon the lever H strikes a corresponding shoulder b
upon the lever F, raising the said lever and carrier block E, as denoted in
Fig. 4; by returning the said lever H the upper arm I of the lever H strikes
another shoulder c on the said lever F, and returns the lever F with the carrier
block E to the position denoted in Fig. 3. L, the breech pin, is hollow of cylin
drical form, through which passes a piston M; the rear end of the said pin L is
formed as seen in Figs. 3 & 4, so as to attach upon either side to a pivot dā
link N of a toggle joint, as denoted in broken lines Fig. 2. The other links
P of the toggle are hinged to the frame by a pivot e, and the two links
hinged together at f; the upper arm I of the lever I extends up between the
two toggle joints, and through the said arms I a pin g passes, extending out
upon either side so as to enter a slot or groove upon the inside of the links
h
P, so that as the lever H is moved, as from the position in Fig. 3 to that in
Fig. 4, the pin g will act to close the toggle and draw back the breech pin L,
which moves freely back and forth in the frame B, as denoted in Fig. 4, and by
the return of the lever I will extend the toggle and return the breech pin L,
as seen in Fig. 3. The raising of the carrier block E, as before described,
occurs after the breech pin has been drawn back, and the breech pin is returned
before the return of the carrier block, passing through the chamber E³ in the
carrier block for the purpose (as more fully hereafter shewn) of removing
the cartridge from the chamber E in the carrier block to the barrel, therefore
in order to allow the carrier block to return, it is necessary to cut a slot E³
from the chamber E' up through the carrier block, as seen in Fig. 6. This
slot must be narrower than the chamber in order to prevent the accidental
removal of the cartridge in the said chamber, as also to cause the raising of
the carrier block to eject the discharged and withdrawn shell, and that this
narrow slot may pass down over the breech pin, which is nearly the same
diameter as the chamber in the carrier block, the breech pin is reduced upon
its two sides, as seen in Figs. 2 & 3.
is formed a projecting lip i, and upon
On the lower side of the breech pin L
the upper side a spring latch m, a car-

page_text: tridge R lying upon the carrier block, as seen in Fig. 4, will by return of the
breech pin L be forced into the rear of the barrel, the lip i entering a recess n
blow, and the latch m rising and hooking over the flange of the cartridge
will enter a similar recess r above, as seen in Fig. 3, so that when the breech
pin is withdrawn the latch m will hold and withdraw the cartridge or discharged
shell, as the case may be. The piston M'is enlarged to form a shoulder, as
denoted at s, at the rear of the pin L, thence extends back through the frame
and so as to slide freely therein to the hammer S, so that when the pin is
drawn back, as before described, the said piston will force. the hammer.
back to full cock, as denoted.in Fig. 4, and on being returned to the position
denoted in Fig. 8 will leave the hammer held at full cock by the trigger T, which
when released in the usual manner will by the reaction of the mainspring U
fly back to the position dénoted in Fig..s, striking the end of the piston M.
To the inner end of the piston M is fixed a collar t, having projecting points a.
upon either side, see Fig. 5. The said collar t is of larger diameter than that
part of the piston M to which it is attached, and the recess made in the breech.
pin to receive the said collar is made a little deeper than the thickness of the
collar, so as to allow the piston M with the collar t to move back, so that when
the pin L is forced up against the cartridge as before described the projecting
points as they press against the cartridge will force the piston back, and
thus situated when the hammer strikes the piston M as before described the
projecting points will indent the metal of the cartridge sufficiently to explode
the fulminate and ignite the powder within. the cartridge. A separate
spring for each of the levers F & H is secured upon the frame, the end of
one of which bears one upon the lever H, as seen in Fig. 3, to retain the
leaver in its home position, as in Figs. 1 & 2, the other upon the lever I, see
Fig. 4, for the purpose more fully hereafter described. The lever H is held
in its position against the frame by. means of a thumbscrew W, or an equivalent
therefor. This completes the. general construction of that part of the arm
contained within the frame as heretofore constructed. The space in the frame
where the operative parts are placed is enclosed by a plate S upon each side
of the frame. Beneath the barrel I fix a thin metal tube A', its rear end
entering the frame, so that when the carrier block E is down, as in the position
seen in Fig. 3, it will open directly into the chamber E' in the carrier block.
I secure the tube to the barrel by means of bands, and if advisable encase the
lower portion of the tube with a wood stock C³, as seen in Figs. 1 & 3; for
general use I prefer to.thus encase the tube, but it is not a necessity. Within
the tube I place a follower G₁, and close the upper end of the tube by a plag,
and between the follower and the plng I place a helical spring, as denoted in
I

page_text: red, the tendency of which is to force the follower toward the lower or rear
end of the tube, as before described. Upon the under side of the frame,
and so as to close the mortice D, I hinge a cover D³ arranged with a spring
catch d to lock into a notch a¹ in the frame, as seen in Figs. 3 & 4.
To place the cartridges in the tube or magazine A² turn the arm upside
down, open the cover' D', as seen in Figs. 4.& 7, move the carrier block to
the position also seen in. Fig. 4; which movement opens the tube A³, so that
the cartridges may be inserted as seen in said.Fig. 4. To afford free access to
the tube I cut away a portion of the carrier block, as seen in Figs. 4 & 7
yet retaining so much of the carrier block as will form a stop to retain the
cartridges after they have been placed within the tube, the rear end of
'he cartridge falling down front of the carrier block, as denoted in red, Fig. 4,
and thus one cartridge after another is inserted into the tube, forcing the
follower G¹ up and compressing the spring until the requisite number have
been placed therein, then close the cover as seen in Figs 1.& 3,-return the
carrier block to the position also seen in Fig. 3, the reaction of the spring
within the tube will force the last inserted cartridge R into the chamber E² in
the carrier block, as seen in Fig. 3, from which position it will be carried up.
to the position in Fig. 4 and inserted into the barrel, and the block returned
to receive the second cartridge as before described.
In Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive I illustrate a different modification of the maga-
zine, which I will proceed to describe. Beneath the barrel A, as before
described, I place a thin metal tube A¹, extending along the barrel nearly its
entire length, its rear end entering the frame, so that when the carrier block E
is down, as in the position seen in Fig. 3, it will op en directly into the
chamber E³ in the carrier block. I secure the said tube to the barrel by
means of bands or otherwise, and if advisable encase the lower portion of the
tube with a wood stock. Within the tube I place a follower G³ and close the
upper end of the tube with a plug or otherwise, and between the follower and
the plug I place a helical spring as denoted in red, the tendency of which is
to force the follower toward the lower end of the tube as before described.
Through one of the plates S³ (preferring that one upon the right-hand side)
I form an opening as denoted by broken lines Fig. 8, and also seen in section,
Figs. 10 & 11. This opening is formed so as to communicate through the
frame directly to the chamber E' in the carrier block, as seen in Fig. 10;
through this opening and while the carrier block is down, and all parts of the
arm in a state at rest insert the cartridges point first through the said opening
in the plate S³ into the chamber E², the second cartridge pressing the first into
the magazine, and so on each successive cartridge until the magazine is filled

page_text: or until the requisite number has been inserted therein, the follower G³ being
pressed up before the entering cartridges. In the rear of the chamber E* the
frame. forms a shoulder to prevent the cartridges from being forced out
through the opening in the plate S. C³ is a cover for closing the opening
in the plate S³, is hinged thereto, as seen in Figs 8 &.11; the hinge-provided
with a spring a, the tendency of which is to open the cover C³; a spring
catch d', see Fig. 8, secures the cover when closed, so that by pressing upon
the said catch the 'cover will fly open. After the requisite number of
cartridges have been placed within the magazine close the cover, as seen in
Figs 8 & 11; one cartridge remains in the carrier block, from which position,
see Fig. 3, it will be carried up to the position in Fig. 4, and inserted into the
barrel, and the block returned to receive a second cartridge, as before described.
By this arrangement this arm is adapted for cavalry uses, as when suspended
from the neck of the cavalry man, hanging upon his right side, he may
with his right only charge his arm even under the most difficult circum-
stances, or when lying across the bridle arm the same facility for charging is
presented.
In Figs. 12, 18, 14, & 15 I illustrate a different device than these hereto-
fore shewn for withdrawing the cartridge shell from the barrel, which I will
proceed to describe. I form an annular groove a³, see Figs. 13 & 14, upon
the breech pin L, into which I place a ring d, having upon its upper side a
hook a projecting forward, so that when the carrier block is raised as in
Fig. 14, to carry the cartridge up for insertion into the barrel, as from the
position in Fig. 18 to that in Fig. 14, the rim of the cartridge.comes under
and within the grasp of the said hook. After the cartridge has thus
passed up to the position denoted in Fig. 14 return the breech pin to the
position denoted in Fig. 13, which operation will insert the cartridge into the
barrel, the hook a³ passing into a recess in the rear of the barrel, as seen in
Fig. 18. The ring d'I make a little shorter than the groove in which it is
placed for two reasons; first, that as the cartridge when it is raised lies upon
the carrier block, upon a little inclination, as seen in Fig. 14, therefore it is
necessary that the hook be a little longer than the thickness of the rim of the
cartridge, in order that the cartridge may surely enter the grasp of the hook.
When the breech pin is moved forward, as in Fig. 18, the hook and its ring
are forced back in the groove, in order that as little recess as possible may be
formed in the rear of the barrel, but when drawn out, as in Fig. 14, the hook
and ring are again forced forward, for the further reason that the cartridge is
ejected from the hook much easier than if it were held closely against the
breech pin, as hereafter shewn. After the cartridge has been discharged

page_text: withdraw the breech pin as before described, the hook upon the pin surely
withdraws the shell from the barrel to the position denoted by the cartridge in
Fig. 14.
When in this position the carrier block is again raised, the block
will strike the shell, the hook holding the rear end until the carrier is nearly
up to its full height, the spring will fall into a notch' w, see Fig. 4, on
the lever F, giving a sudden movement to the carrier, which will eject the
discharged shell entirely from the arm, as denoted in. Fig. 4, the carrier
presenting another cartridge for insertion into. the barrel, and thus the-opera-
tion may be continued until all the cartridges in the magazine have been.each
in its turn discharged.
Having therefore thus fully described these several improvements, what I
claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-
First, constructing the frame in combination with the magazine so that the
magazine may be charged substantially in the manner herein set forth.
Second, forming an opening through the frame relatively to the carrier
block and magazine and in combination therewith, so that the magazine may
bo charged through the carrier block from one side of the arm, substantially in
the manner herein described.
Third, the arrangement of the hook a³ upon the breech pin L, constructed
so as to operate substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.
Fourth, the operative mechanism-berein described in combination with either
of the modifications illustrated and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this 27th day of February. A.D. 1867: