AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROV IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING OR REPEATING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Hall, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Gun Maker, and John Crofts, of the same place,
Foreman, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said John Hall and John
Crofts at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition and Declaration, on the 7th March 1853, pursuant to
the 9th section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
We, JOHN HALL, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun
Maker, and JOHN CROFTS, of the same place, Foreman, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS
IN REVOLVING OR REPEATING FIRE-ARMS," and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, to be as follows (that is to say):
Our Invention consists in a method of simplyfying the action of
revolving or repeating fire-arms, and at the same time diminishing
the chance of either of the barrels or chambers missing fire. This will
be more readily understood on reference to the drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked, thereon, similar letters
denoting similar parts.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1, is an elevation of that portion of a pistol to which the
improvements are applicable.
2, a cross section of the barrel.
"
"
3, an under view, with part of the detail in section.
"
4, a longitudinal section.
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99
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5, transverse ditto, through the flange.
6, 7, 8, and 9, detailed views of the respective parts consti-
tuting our improvements.
10, a view of the stop catch.
We now proceed to describe the Invention, which can be adapted
either to fire-arms in which the barrels are caused to turn, or to those
having a single barrel, in which the chambers containing the charge are
made to revolve. The drawings shew the improvements applied to the
former of these descriptions of fire-arms.
On the breech end of the barrels is formed the projecting ring or
flange A, having the notches B, cut in its periphery, in number equal
to the barrels, and on the body is pinned or screwed the spring catch C,
with the butt D, on the end. In using this weapon, it is necessary to
have both hands free, as on discharging one barrel the series will require
turning with the left hand; in this respect differing from the revolving
arms at present in use, the barrels or chambers of which are caused to
revolve by the action of either. the trigger or cock. When a barrel
has been fired, the series being turned, the butt at the end of the catch
on the body takes into the next notch in the projecting flange at the
end of the barrel. The distance between these notches precisely regulates
the distance the barrels are to travel, and brings the next of the series
into the exact proper position for use; whilst, from the form of these
notches, the barrels cannot easily travel too far, nor is it possible to
turn them in the wrong direction; consequently, greater precision of
firing can be ensured than by the arrangement of the mechanism in
connection with the trigger or cock causing the revolution of the
barrels, and greater simplicity and cheapness is obtained. In construct-
ing single-barrel revolving fire arms, or those in which the chambers
containing the charges are made to revolve, the projecting flange or ring

page_text: is of course formed on the breech end of the series of chambers, the
spring catch on the body being the same.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, we wish it to be under-
stood that what we claim is, the notched flange on the revolving barrels
or chambers of repeating fire-arms, in connection with the spring catch
on the body, the whole acting as a stop catch, as herein-before set forth
and described.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Hall and John Crofts, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this First day of March, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
JOHN (LS.) HALL.
JOHN (L.B.) CROFTS.
JOHN (LS.) HALL.
JOHN (L.B.) CROFTS.