IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Smiles, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Gun Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 17th May 1870, and dated the 18th December 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Smiles at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th December 1869.
I, JAMES SMILES, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
My Invention has reference to breech-loading fire-arms of the kind
called bolt guns, that is, guns in which the breech is opened for charging.
and closed for discharging by means of a cylindrical hollow bolt or plug
capable of sliding and partly rotating in the breech end of the barrel,
the pin or striker for discharging the gun being carried by a sliding

page_text: cylindrical sleeve or tubular collar, the fore end of which sleeve works
upon the rear part of the bolt or plug, which is of less diameter than
the fore part.
My Invention consists, firstly, of the following arrangement or com-
bination of parts for withdrawing the pin or striker of the said guns into
a safe position on the unlocking of the bolt or plug for reloading the
gun. At that part of the rear of the bolt or plug where the portion of
less diameter sets in I make a cam-shaped recess or opening, and on the
front end of the sliding sleeve a similar shaped projection is made.
When the bolt or plug has been locked for firing the cam-shaped recess
in the bolt or plug is brought into a line with the projection on the
sleeve, and on the advance of the sleeve to carry forward the pin or
striker to discharge the gun the projection on the said sleeve enters the
cam-shaped recess in the bolt, and the said bolt and sleeve are engaged
together. On turning the bolt through a portion of a rotation to unlock
it one edge of the cam-shaped recess in the said bolt acting against the
inclined edge on the cam-shaped projection on the sleeve forces back the
said sleeve, and thereby withdraws the pin or striker carried by it into a
position of safety; that is, within the plug or bolt. The plug or bolt can
now be moved backwards to open the breech, the said plug pushing
before it the sliding sleeve. The parts described for withdrawing the pin
or striker into a safe position on the unlocking of the bolt may be
reversed, that is, cam-shaped projection may be made on the bolt, and
the cam-shaped recess in the sleeve with the same effect. Instead of
a cam-shaped projection a pin or stud on the bolt may be made to act
against an incline in the sleeve or the reverse.
My Invention consists, secondly, of the following arrangement or
combination of parts for preventing the accidental discharge of the
gun. The under side of the sliding sleeve herein-before described
is furnished with the usual rib, in which are made the half-cock and
full-cock bents for the sear to engage in to hold the discharging mecha-
nism at half-cock or full-cock. In that part of the rib at which the
half-cock bent is situated I make a slot, the said slot also passing
through the sleeve. In this slot I place a safety catch, consisting of a
small lever, the outer end of which when the said catch or lever is in its
normal position projects in front of the half-cock bent. At the rear end
of that part of the plug or bolt which is of less diameter I make an
ópening of a size proper for the inner end of the safety catch or lever to

page_text: enter. On pushing home and locking the plug or bolt after the intro-
duction of a cartridge into the barrel the sleeve is left behind, and the
gun is cocked by the sear engaging in the full-cock bent. In order to
prevent the accidental discharge of the gun the sleeve is put at half-
cock. In effecting this the nose of the sear acts upon the inclined outer
end of the safety catch or lever and raises its inner end, which entering
the opening or recess in the reduced part of the bolt (which has been
brought opposite the said inner end of the catch by the locking of the
bolt) temporarily locks or fastens the sleeve and bolt together, and
prevents the rotation of the bolt. The sleeve, and consequently the
discharging mechanism cannot therefore advance to discharge the gun,
and great safety in the gun is thus ensured. To discharge the gun it is
only necessary to pull back the sleeve so as to engage the sear with the
full-cock bent. The upper end of the safety catch on being thus relieved
from the action of the scar passes out of the recess in the plug and
releases the sleeve, which can now advance to discharge the gun.
My Invention consists, thirdly, in the use of a screw nut at the rear
end of the pin or striker for securing the said pin or striker to the sleeve
in addition to the cross pin ordinarily employed for that purpose. A
thread is cut on the rear end of the pin or striker upon which the nut
screws, a recess being made in the closed end of the sleeve for the nut to
lie in flush with the said closed end.
My Invention consists, fourthly, of the following arrangement of
parts for permitting of the ready escape of the gas through the closing
bolt or plug in case imperfect cartridges are fired, that is, cartridges
which allow of the passage of gas through the base. When such
cartridges are fired the back action of the gas upon the pin or striker
forces the said pin or striker violently back and injures the mechanism
of the gun. The object of this part of my Invention is to remedy
wholly or mainly this defect. I effect this by making near the front
end of the closing bolt or plug a gas vent or hole, and making near the
front end of the pin or striker a collar which works accurately in the
hollow of the bolt or plug. When the pin or striker is advanced to
discharge the gun the said collar covers the said gas vent or hole.
When, however, an imperfect cartridge is fired the gas from the said
cartridge entering the plug or bolt through the hole in which the pin or
sta iker works forces back the collar of the pin or striker, and thereby
uncovers the gas vent in the plug, through which the gas rapidly

page_text: escapes. The said pin or striker is thus relieved wholly or mainly from
the back action of the gas, and the gun is consequently uninjured by
such back action.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Smiles in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 10th June 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
SMILES, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun Maker, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the
thirty-third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said James Smiles, Her special licence
that I, the said James Smiles, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said James Smiles, 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 James Smiles, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 James Smiles, 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 has reference to breech-loading fire-arms of the kind
called bolt guns, that is, guns in which the breech is opened for charging
and closed for discharging by means of a cylindrical hollow bolt or plug

page_text: capable of sliding and partly rotating in the breech end of the barrel,
the pin or striker for discharging the gun being carried by a sliding
cylindrical sleeve or tubular collar, the fore end of which sleeve or collar
works upon the rear part of the bolt or plug, which is of less diameter
than the fore part.
My Invention consists, firstly, of the following arrangement or
combination of parts for withdrawing the pin or striker of the said guns
into a safe position on the unlocking of the bolt or plug for reloading the
gun. At that part of the rear of the bolt or plug where the portion of
less diameter sets in I make a cam-shaped recess or opening, and on the
front end of the sliding sleeve a similar shaped projection is made.
When the bolt or-plug has been locked for firing the cam-shaped recess
in the bolt or plug is brought into a line with the projection on the
sleeve, and on the advance of the sleeve to carry forward the pin or
striker to discharge the gun the projection on the said sleeve enters the
cam-shaped recess in the bolt, and the said bolt and sleeve are engaged
together. On turning the bolt through a portion of a rotation to unlock
it one edge of the cam-shaped recess in the said bolt acting against the
inclined edge of the cam-shaped projection on the sleeve forces back the
said sleeve, and thereby withdraws the pin or striker carried by it into a
position of safety, that is, within the plug or bolt. The plug or bolt can
now be moved backwards to open the breech, the said plug pushing
before it the sliding sleeve. The parts described for withdrawing the pin
or striker into a safe position on the unlocking of the bolt may be
reversed, that is, the cam-shaped projection may be made on the bolt
Or the
and the cam-shaped recess in the sleeve with the same effect.
rib of the plug or bolt may be made to act upon the projection on the
sleeve. Instead of a cam-shaped projection a pin or stud on the bolt
may be made to act against an incline in the sleeve or the reverse.
My Invention consists, secondly, of the following arrangement or
combination of parts for preventing the accidental discharge of the gun.
The under side of the sliding sleeve herein-before described is furnished
with the usual rib, in which are made the half-cock and full-cock bents
for the sear to engage in to hold the discharging mechanism at half-cock
or full-cock. In that part of the rib at which the half-cock bent is
situated I make a slot, the said slot also passing through the sleeve. In
this slot I place a safety catch consisting of a small lever, the outer end
of which when the said catch or lever is in its normal position projects

page_text: in front of the half-cock bent. At the rear end of that part of the plug
or bolt which is of less diameter I make an opening of a size proper for
the inner end of the safety catch or lever to enter. On pushing home
and locking the plug or bolt after the introduction of a cartridge into
the barrel the sleeve is left behind, and the gun is cocked by the sear
engaging in the full-cock bent. In order to prevent the accidental
discharge of the gun the sleeve is put at half-cock. In effecting this
the nose of the sear acts upon the inclined outer end of the safety catch
or lever and raises its inner end, which entering the opening or recess
in the reduced part of the bolt (which has been brought opposite the
said inner end of the catch by the locking of the bolt) temporarily locks
or fastens the sleeve and bolt together, and prevents the rotation of the
bolt. The sleeve, and consequently the discharging mechanism, cannot
therefore advance to discharge the gun, and great safety in the gun is
thus insured. To discharge the gun it is only necessary to pull back
the sleeve so as to engage the sear with the full-cock bent. The upper
end of the safety catch on being thus relieved from the action of the sear
passes out of the recess in the plug and releases the sleeve, which can
now advance to discharge the gun.
My Invention consists, thirdly, in the use of a screw nut at the rear
end of the pin or striker for securing the said pin or striker to the sleeve
in place of or in addition to the cross pin ordinarily employed for that
purpose. A thread is cut on the rear end of the pin or striker upon
which the nut screws, a recess being made in the closed end of the sleeve
for the nut to lie in flush with the said closed end.
My Invention consists, fourthly, of the following arrangement of parts
for permitting of the ready escape of the gas through the closing bolt or
plug in case imperfect cartridges are fired, that is, cartridges which
allow of the passage of gas through the base. When such cartridges are
fired the back action of the gas upon the pin or striker forces the said pin
or striker violently back and injures the mechanism of the gun. The
object of this part of my Invention is to remedy wholly or mainly this
defect. I effect this by making near the front end of the closing bolt or
plug a gas vent or hole. When the pin or striker is advanced to
discharge the gun the guide collar on the pin or striker covers the said
gas vent or hole. When, however, an imperfect cartridge is fired the
gas from the said cartridge entering the plug or bolt through the hole in
which the pin or striker works forces back the collar of the pin or

page_text: striker, and thereby uncovers the gas vent in the plug, through which
the gas rapidly escapes. The said pin or striker is thus relieved wholly
or mainly from the back action of the gas, and the gun is consequently
uninjured by such back action.
Having explained the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to
describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawings, the manner in
which the same is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in plan the breech end of a breech-loading bolt
gun containing my improvements, the parts of the gun being in position
for discharge; and Figure 2 represents the same after discharge and
before the handle of the closing plug or bolt of the gun is raised to
unlock the said plug or bolt; Figure 3 represents in side elevation, and
Figure 4 in longitudinal section the plug or bolt and sleeve of the gun
detached; Figure 5 represents a plan of the under side of the sleeve
separately; Figure 6 represents a plan of the upper side of the said
sleeve; and Figure 7, a side elevation of the same; Figure 8 represents
a plan of the upper side and side elevation of the plug or bolt separately;
Figures 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 represent modifications of my improve-
ments for withdrawing the pin or striker into a position of safety. The
other Figures represent parts of the gun as herein-after described. The
same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several Figures
of the Drawings.
Before proceeding to describe my improvements I will briefly explain
the parts of the gun and its action.
a is the barrel, and b, 62, is the tubular plug or bolt by which the
breech end is opened and closed, the said bolt being capable of sliding
and partly rotating in the open breech chamber or shoe c of the gun.
On the larger part 6 of the plug or bolt is a rib d, to which the handle d³
by which the plug is operated is affixed. The said rib d on moving the
plug to open or close the breech works in the longitudinal opening in
the rear of the breech chamber c, and the rear end of the said rib when
the plug has been pushed home and the handle d³ turned down, as seen
in Figures 1 and 2, bears against the shoulder c³ of the breech chamber
or shoe c, and securely locks the plug or bolt in its place for firing..
When the handle d³ is lifted into a vertical position the rib d escapes.
from the shoulder c³, and the gun may be opened by sliding the plug to.
the rear end of the shoe or breech chamber c. e is a sliding sleeve
working upon the smaller part. 62 of the bolt b, b. On the under side of.

page_text: the said sleeve is a rib h containing the full-cock bent f and half-cock
bent g. By the sear of the gun engaging in the bent g the gun is held
at half-cock, and by the sear engaging in the bent f the gun is held at
full-cock. Fixed to the said sleeve e, and passing through the tubular
bolt or plug b, 63, is the pin or striker i for discharging the cartridge, the
said pin or striker being forced home by the coiled spring k. The
sleeve e is prevented from rotating with the bolt by the rib / on. its
upper side working in the longitudinal slot in the breech shoe c.
I will now proceed to describe my improvements for withdrawing the
pin or striker i into a safe position on the unlocking of the plug or
bolt 6, 63, for reloading the gun. The front end of the rib on the
top of the sleeve e is formed into a cam-shaped projection . The said
cam-shaped projection is situated beyond the front end of the sleeve,
and when the gun has been discharged the said projection projects over
the larger part 6 of the plug or bolt, as seen in Figure 2. When it is
wished to open the breech to reload the gun the handle is raised into
a vertical position so as to lift the rib & from the shoulder c* and release
the plug b, b. In doing this the flat part of the rib d bears against
the cam-shaped projection on the sliding sleeve e, and forces back the
said sleeve, and thereby withdraws the pin or striker i carried by the
said sleeve into a position of safety or within the plug or bolt. The
position of the parts after the handle ds has been raised and the plug
partly rotated to unlock the said. plug is represented in Figures 3 and 4.
When the plug has been unlocked the rib d of the plug bears against
the cam-shaped projection of the sleeve, and the said rib d is brought
opposite the slot in the breech shoe c. The plug may now be moved
backwards to open the breech, the plug pushing before it the sliding
sleeve e. After introducing a fresh cartridge into the barrel a the plug or
bolt 6, 63, is pushed home to close the breech and the handle d³ is turned
down for locking the said plug or bolt. On pushing home the plug or
bolt the gun is cocked in the usual manner, that is, by the sear of the gun
engaging with the full-cock bent f of the sleeve e, thus arresting the
sliding motion of the said sleeve e, and causing the coiled spring k to be
compressed, and the pin or striker i cocked. In Figure 1 the sleeve is
represented in its arrested position, and the gun ready to be discharged.
After the discharge of the gun the sleeve occupies the position repre-
sented in Figure 2. Instead of the cam-shaped projection on the
sleeve being acted upon by the front end of the rib d of the plug,

page_text: the arrangement of parts represented in Figures 9, 10, and 12 may be
used; Figures 9 and 10 representing the sleeve separately, and Figure 12
the plug or bolt separately. In this arrangement I make a cam-shaped
recess or opening 63 at that part of the bolt or plug 6 where the portion
of less diameter sets in, and on the front end of the sliding sleeve e I
make a similar shaped projection e. When the bolt or plug b, b², has
been locked for firing the recess 63 in the bolt is brought into a line
with the projection on the sleeve e, and on the advance of the said
sleeve to carry forward the pin or striker i to discharge the gun the
projection e enters the recess &³, and the said sleeve and bolt are locked
or engaged together. On lifting the handle d³ to unlock the plug the
inclined edge of the cam-shaped recess in the bolt bacting against
the inclined edge of the cam-shaped projection e' on the sleeve forces
back the said sleeve and thereby withdraws the pin or striker i into the
plug so as to be in a safe position should the plug be accidently driven
against the cartridge in the barrel a. Or the position of the parts de-
scribed may be reversed, as illustrated in Figures 11 and 13; Figure 11
representing the sleeve separately, and Figure 13 the plug or bolt
separately. In this arrangement the projection marked d' is made on
the plug b, and the recess marked e³ is made on the sleeve e. Or instead
of the cam-shaped projection in the several arrangements described a
pin or stud on the bolt may be made to act against an incline in the
sleeve or the reverse.
I will now proceed to describe my improvements for preventing the
accidental discharge of the gun.
This part of my Invention will be best understood by referring to the
separate views of the plug and sleeve represented in Figures 3, 5, 14, 15,
16, and 17. In that part of the rib / of the sleeve e at which the half-
cock bent g is situated is a slot m, the said slot also passing through the
sleeve. In this slot is a safety catch n consisting of a small levér, the
outer end of which when the catch or lever is in its normal position
projects in front of the half-cock bent g, as seen in Figures 3 and 5.
At the rear of the part of the plug or bolt is a slot or opening p of a
size proper for the inner end of the safety catch or lever n to enter.
This slot or opening p is so situated in the plug that it only comes
opposite the safety catch n when the said plug has been pushed home
and locked in its place by the turning down of the handle d³. On
pushing home and locking the plug or bolt 6, 63, after the introduction of

page_text: a cartridge into the barrel a the sleeve e is left behind and the gun is
cocked by the sear 9 (see Figure 16) engaging in the full-cock bent f
In order to prevent the accidental discharge of the gun the sleeve e is
put at half-cock, that is, the said sleeve is disengaged from the sear q
and allowed to advance until the said scar enters the half-cock bent g.
In effecting this the nose of the sear 7 acts upon the inclined outer end
of the safety catch or lever n and raises its inner end, which entering
the opening or recess p in the part 6 of the bolt (which has been
brought opposite the said inner end of the catch by the locking of the
bolt) temporarily locks or fastens the sleeve e and bolt b, 63, together
and prevents the rotation of the bolt. The sleeve e and pin or striker i
carried by it cannot therefore advance to discharge the gun, and great
safety in the gun is thus ensured. When it is wished to discharge the
gun the sleeve e is pulled back until the sear q engages with the full-
cock bent f. The upper end of the safety catch or lever n on being
relieved from the action of the sear 9 passes out of the recess p in the
plug band releases the sleeve, which can now advance to discharge
the gun. Instead of causing the safety catch or lever to be put into
action by the engaging of the sear with the half-cock bent the said
safety catch or lever may be raised by a projecting shoulder or stud on
the bottom of the breech shoc, the said shoulder acting against a pro-
jection on the under side of the safety catch or lever. In this arrange-
ment it is desirable to deepen the groove in the shoe in which the
projecting shoulder or stud is placed, or to prolong the recess or groove
or grooves in the end of the part 6 of the bolt.
I will now proceed to describe my improvement for securing the pin
or striker i to the sleeve e. The said pin or striker is ordinarily secured
to the sleeve e by the cross pin r.
According to my improvement I use a screw nut 8 (shown separately
in Figure 18) in place of or in addition to the said cross pin r, the said
nut & screwing upon the screw on the rear end of the pin or striker i,
as represented. A recess is made in the closed end of the sleeve e, into
which the nut & takes, the said nut lying flush with the closed end of the
sleeve, as best seen in Figures 4 and 16.
I will now proceed to describe my improvements for permitting of
the escape of gas through the closing bolt or plug in case imperfect
cartridges are fired.

page_text: This part of my Invention will be best understood by referring to the
longitudinal section, Figure 4, and the longitudinal and transverse
sections of the bolt represented separately in Figures 19 and 20.. - Near
the front end of the bolt b is a gas vent or hole t; and near the front
end of the pin or striker is a collar u, the said collar working
accurately in the hollow of the bolt or plug b. When the pin or striker i
is advanced to discharge the gun as herein-before described the said
collar covers the gas vent or hole t, but when an imperfect cartridge
is fired the gas from the said imperfect cartridge entering the hollow of
the plug 6 through the hole in which the acting end of the pin or
striker i works forces back the said collar, and thereby uncovers the gas
vent or hole t, through which hole the gas rapidly escapes. In
Figures 1 and 2 the position of the gas vent or hole when the plug
is locked is readily seen. The pin or striker i is by this means wholly
or mainly relieved from the back action of the gas and the gun is
consequently uninjured by such back action.
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 fire-arms of the kind called bolt guns,―
Firstly. The arrangements or combinations of parts substantially as
herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings
for withdrawing the pin or striker of the said guns into a safe .position
on the unlocking of the bolt or plug for reloading the gun.
Secondly. Preventing the accidental discharge of the said guns by
means of a safety catch or lever applied to the sliding sleeve and being
made to lock or engage the sleeve and bolt or plug together, substan-1
tially as herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
Thirdly. The use of a screw nut at the rear of the pin or striker for
securing the said pin or striker to the sliding sleeve in place of or in
addition to the ordinary cross pin, substantially as herein-before described
and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Lastly. The arrangement or combination of parts substantially as
herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings

page_text: for permitting of the ready escape of the gas through the closing bolt
or plug in case imperfect cartridges are fired.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Smiles, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Second day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
JAMES SMILES. (L.S.)