IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING FIRE ARMS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Rigby, of 24, Suffolk Street, Dublin, and Thomas
Bissell, of 75 and 77, Cranham Road, Rotherhithe, in the County of Surrey,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING FIRE ARMS,"
Sealed the 5th September 1879, and dated the 21st March 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Rigby and Thomas
Bissell at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st March
1879.
JOHN RIGBY, of 24, Suffolk Street, Dublin, and THOMAS BISSELL, of 75 and 77,
Cranham Road, Rotherhithe, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH
LOADING FIRE ARMS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in breech loading fire arms.
Our Invention relates to the class of guns in which the barrels and the breech
piece are connected together by a hinge or joint beneath the barrels, and the breech
is opened for insertion of the cartridge by dropping down the barrels or the stock. .
In such guns, in order to secure the closing of the breech, the top rib between
the barrels is frequently made to project in rear of them, and when the barrels are
closed this projection (which commonly has an enlarged head or end) fits into a
corresponding recess in the breech piece. To keep the projection down in its place
bolts have been applied to hold it in a variety of ways; turning bolts have been
used, and so also have vertical and horizontal bolts. The strain upon these bolts is
very severe, and as even a small amount of yielding is injurious, the bolts do not
efficiently serve the purpose for which they are applied unless they are very effec-
tually supported and cannot in the least degree bend or yield to the strain. The
surfaces in contact of the bolt and projection must also be of adequate dimensions.
We meet these requirements by the application of a vertically moving bolt which is
supported throughout the entire depth of the projection by the metal forming the
front of the cavity into which the projection is received and which bolt is so far
drawn down in unlocking the gun that the projection does not require to be tapered
or inclined on the part facing the bolt to admit of the projection leaving. its
recess.

page_text: The bolt may be round and pass up through a slot formed through the projection,
and which slot also admits through it the portion of the breech piece by which the
bolt when shot is supported, or the top of the bolt may be forked or divided into
two studs either round or square, so far separated that the neck of the projection
lies between them. When this bolt is shot the studs rise in front of the head of
the projection completely filling the space between the head and the part of the
breech piece supporting the bolt, and so the barrels are firmly held against the
breech piece until the bolt is withdrawn. We connect the vertical bolt with the
horizontal bolt usually placed under the barrels by a cranked lever working on a
pin in the breech piece in such a manner that when one bolt is forced back the
other is drawn down and the barrels released. In some cases a convenient position
for the pivot of the cranked lever is at the back of the action.
We sometimes form rack teeth on the horizontal bolt to engage with corresponding
teeth on one arm of the cranked lever, and we cause the horizontal bolt when shot
to support the vertical bolt.
With a locking lever lying on the top of the stock and moving about an horizontal
axis, it is convenient to work each bolt by an arm of the locking lever.
Or the cranked lever may be provided with a third arm and be worked by a
screw and nut in connection with a turn lever on the top of the stock.
When it is desired to use the ordinary double bite Lefaucheux lever beneath the
barrels for locking them one arm of the cranked lever is attached to a slide and
link, the other end of which is connected with the double bite lever.
In guns which have a top locking lever and a horizontal transverse bolt working
through a hole in the projection from the top rib between the barrels we work the
bolt by means of a small intermediate lever, one end of which is pivotted to the top
lever and the other enters the slot in the bolt. Between these points a pin fixed
in the breech piece passes through a slot in the small intermediate lever. By this
arrangement the leverage requisite to start the bolt or force it home is increased
without diminishing its range. In order to cock and bolt the locks of such guns
automatically in the act of opening or closing the breech we employ a sliding piece
working along side of the usual horizontal sliding bolt, and in the same slot hole
with it. We make the forward lump on the underside of the barrel into which the
sliding bolt locks with two studs or projections, one on each side of the barrel lump.
When the breech is opened these studs give motion to a rocking piece which lies in
the bed of the breech piece behind the hinge, which rocking piece then comes in
contact with the foremost end of the sliding piece and forces it back, and its hinder
end then pushes back the hammers and cocks the locks. We also use the rocker in
a Lefaucheux action in conjunction with a sliding piece working in guide passages
above the lever hole.
Sometimes for the purpose of raising the hammers to full cock when the gun is
opened, we arrange the cross pin to turn in the body, moving with the barrels. We
then fix on the cross pin two cams and these give motion to a slide passing back to
the hammers. We sometimes construct the lever by which the breech is locked in
such a way that after it has drawn back the bolt and released the barrels a projec-
tion on it tilts up the breech ends and so facilitates greatly their movement, the
extraction of the fired cartridges and cocking of the locks.
For the purpose of bolting the locks we apply an horizontal axis in front of the
hammer; it passes through the breech piece and can be turned round by an external
lever or finger piece attached to it by preference on the right side of the gun. On
the horizontal axis there are two stops so placed that when the gun is bolted the
fall of the hammers is intercepted by them. The bolting is automatically performed
by another projection on the axis with which the cocking slide comes in contact
when this moves back on the gun being opened, or the under locking lever itself
may be provided with a horn which in unlocking comes into contact with an
intermediate lever, and this with the projection moves the axis round. The
unbolting is performed by the external finger lever. The intermediate lever above

page_text: mentioned may be provided with an arm for giving motion to the vertical locking
bolt. The intercepting blocks or parts on the horizontal axis may be so formed that
should the trigger be pulled inadvertently without 'unbolting, the hammers may be
moved again back to full cock by a pressure on the external finger lever without the
loss of time involved in lowering the barrels. This arrangement is equally applicable
where the bolt is not, worked automatically.
In some cases we arrange a finger lever to unbolt the locks within the trigger
guard and in front of the ordinary trigger but working in the opposite direction, so
that the act of placing the finger on the trigger to discharge the gun causes the
bolting trigger to be pushed forward, and so the possibility of omitting to unbolt
before pulling the trigger is removed. This arrangement is equally applicable to
military and other breechloaders.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Rigby and Thomas Bissell in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 20th September 1879.
JOHN RIGBY, of 24, Suffolk Street, Dublin, and THOMAS BISSELL, of 75 and 77,
Cranham Road, Rotherhithe, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH
LOADING FIRE ARMS."
•
This Invention has for its object improvements in breech loading fire arms.
Our Invention relates to the class of guns in which the barrels and the breech
piece are connected together by a hinge or joint beneath the barrels, and the breech
is opened for insertion of the cartridge by dropping down the barrels or the stock.
In such guns in order to secure the closing of the breech the top rib between
the barrels is frequently made to project in rear of them, and when the barrels are
closed this projection (which commonly has an enlarged head or end) fits into a
corresponding recess in the breech piece. To keep the projection down in its place
bolts have been applied to hold it in a variety of ways; turning bolts have been
used, and so also have vertical and horizontal bolts. The strain upon these bolts
is very severe, and as even a small amount of yielding is injurious the bolts do not
efficiently serve the purpose for which they are applied unless they are very
effectually supported and cannot in the least degree bend or yield to the strain.
The surfaces in contact of the bolt and projection must also be of adequate
dimensions. We meet these requirements by the application of a bolt moving
vertically or nearly so, and which is supported throughout the entire depth of the
projection by the metal forming the front of the cavity into which the projection
is received, and which bolt is so far drawn down in unlocking the gun that the
projection does not require to be tapered or inclined on the part facing the bolt to
admit of the projection leaving its recess.
The bolt may pass up through a slot formed through the projection, and which
slot also admits through it the portion of the breech piece by which the bolt when
shot is supported; or the top of the bolt may be forked or divided into two studs,
either round or square, so far separated that the neck of the projection lies between
them. When this bolt is shot the studs rise in front of the head of the projection,
completely filling the space between the head and the part of the breech piece
supporting the bolt, and so the barrels are firmly held against the breech piece
until the bolt is withdrawn.
This part of our Invention relating to the more secure bolting of the projecting
top rib of the barrels into a recess in the breech piece is illustrated by the Figures
1, 2, and 3. Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, and Figure 2 is a plan, of parts of
a double barrelled breech loading fire arm, in which this bolting is effected in
accordance with our Invention. a, a, are the barrels, and b is the breech piece;
c is the joint by which these parts are connected, and about which the barrels move
when the breeches are opened; a¹ is the portion of the top rib between the barrels,
which projects and is received into a corresponding recess in the breech piece;
d is the rising and falling bolt for locking the projection a¹ in its place;
in this case
it is somewhat inclined to the rear, and it passes up through a hole in the pro-
jection; these however are features which may be varied; 6¹ is the portion of the
breech piece against which the bolt d slides up and down; and which supports it in
front, so that it is impossible for the bolt to yield or bend, which it might do under
the severe strain to which it is exposed were it not thus supported to its extreme
upper end. Figure 3 shews a back view, partly in section, of the breech piece b;
Figure 4 shews a plan of a gun in which the projection from the top rib of the
barrels is headed, and the bolt forked to pass up on either side of the head; but
in all essential features the arrangement is as already described; the bolt is supported
right up to the top by the parts 61, 61, of the breech piece, and when in place

page_text: entirely fills the space between the shoulders of the projection and the supporting
parts of the breech piece.
The bolt & is shown separately by the Figures 4°.
Another part of our Invention relates to the means for working the vertical or
nearly vertical bolt d. We connect this bolt with the horizontal bolt usually placed
under the barrels by a cranked lever working on a pin in the breech piece in such
a manner that when one bolt is forced back the other is drawn down and the
barrels released.
We sometimes form rack teeth on the horizontal bolt to engage with corre-
sponding teeth on one arm of the cranked lever.
This part of our Invention relating to the coupling together of the vertical bolt ď
and a horizontal locking bolt beneath the barrels is also illustrated by the Figures 1,
2, and 3; e is the horizontal bolt engaging in the usual way with the lumps a², a²,
beneath the barrels. The way in which the bolt e receives motion is by a
locking lever acting on it through an upright spindle and projecting finger, an
arrangement not in itself new for actuating the horizontal bolt. The bolt e is
shewn separately by the Figures 5; it is provided with an arm, in which is a
notch e¹. This notch receives into it the finger f¹ projecting from the lower end of
the spindle f, which at its upper end has the band locking lever g fixed upon it. The
spindle and the parts formed with it are shewn separately by the Figures 6. The
passage in which the bolt,e works is marked ex in Figure 3, and in the same
Figure is the hole into which the spindle f is inserted; f2 is a second finger
upon the spindle f; it receives the pressure of a coiled spring which is lodged in a
recess g* in the breech piece. This spring serves to return the bolt to its holding
position whenever it is set free. h is the cranked lever by which the bolts d and e
are coupled; it turns on a pin inserted into the breech piece at h¹; this lever is
represented separately by the Figures 7; h* in Figure 3 shews the recess in the
breech piece into which the lever h is received.
The two ends of the lever h enter the one into a slot at e³ in the bolt e and the
other into a slot d¹ in the bolt d. The Figures 8 shew separately a side and a back
view of the bolt d; the notch seen in the side of the bolt is simply to avoid inter-
ference with the spring in the cavity g. The coupling lever h thus compels the
bolts & and e to move simultaneously. Figure 9 shews a modification, in which the
bolt e is formed with teeth engaging with corresponding teeth on the lever h.
In some cases we impart motion from the hand locking lever to the cranked
lever h, and so to the bolts d and e.
This part of our Invention is illustrated by Figure 10. The cranked lever is here
shewn provided with a third arm, and this arm as the Drawing clearly shews is
controlled by a screw and nut in connection with a turn lever on the top of the
stock. The screw passes up through the nut upon which the locking or turn lever
or handle is fixed. The nut is held in a recess in the tang, and serves as the axis
for the turn lever. Figure 11 shews an arrangement in which the cranked lever h
takes its movement from a locking lever hinged at the top of the body, and which
is raised to withdraw the bolts. A link jointed at one end to the under side of
the locking lever, and at the other to the additional arm of the lever h, transmits
the motion.
Another part of our Invention relates to the means for actuating the vertical or
nearly vertical bolt d in arms of the Lefaucheux construction.
When it is desired to use the ordinary double bite Lefaucheux lever beneath the
barrels for locking them, a cranked lever corresponding to the lever h already
referred to is employed; its upper arm is connected with the bolt, and its lower arm
with a slide, and a link connects the slide with the double bite lever. Figures 12
and 13 illustrate this arrangement. Figure 12 is a vertical and longitudinal
section of a portion of a Lefaucheux gun; Figure 13 is a plan of the trigger plate
with the parts carried upon it, and also of the locking lever; a are the barrels ;,
b, the body; d, the upright bolt; h, the cranked lever as before. The lower end of
the lever h is received into a slot in the slide i, which is held in guides formed
.

page_text: for it upon the trigger guard. A transverse section of the slide with its guides is
seen at Figure 14. % is the Lefaucheux bolt lever, and is a link pin jointed to its
head, and also to the slide i, so that when the bolt lever is turned to unlock the
barrels on the under side the bolt d is also drawn down, and the projection a¹ at
the top from the centre rib is also released.
Another part of our Invention relates to guns which have a top locking lever
and a horizontal transverse bolt working through a hole in the projection from the
top rib between the barrels. We work the bolt by means of a small intermediate
lever, one end of which is pivotted to the top lever, and the other enters the slot
in the bolt. Between these points a pin fixed in the breech piéce passes through a
slot in the small intermediate lever. By this arrangement the leverage requisite to
start the bolt or force it home is increased without diminishing its range.
This arrangement is illustrated by Figure 15, which is a plan partly in section
of a portion of an arm of this construction; a, a, are the barrels, and a¹ the
projection from the top rib; g is the locking lever; m is the intermediate lever;
and n is the horizontal transverse bolt. One end of the lever m is received into a
notch in the bolt n, and the other end is jointed to the locking lever g; m¹is a slot
in the lever m; and m² is a fulcrum pin fixed in the body, and passing, through
the slot.
Another part of our Invention relates to cocking the locks of guns in which the
barrels are secured by means of an horizontal bolt e beneath them. In order to
cock the locks of such guns automatically in the act of opening or closing the
breech, we employ a sliding piece working along side of the usual horizontal sliding
bolt, and in the same slot hole with it. We make the forward lump on the under-
side of the barrel, into which the sliding bolt locks, with two studs or projections,
one on either side of the barrel lump. When the breech is opened these studs give
motion to a rocking piece, which lies in the bed of the breech piece behind the
hinge, which rocking piece then comes in contact with the foremost end of the
sliding piece and forces it back, and its hinder end then pushes back the hammers
and cocks the locks.
Figure 16 illustrates this part of our Invention. As in Figure 1, a, a, are the
barrels connected to the body b by the joint at c; e, the horizontal bolt actuated by
the spindle and locking lever g. For the purpose of cocking the locks, a slide o,
shewn separately by the Figures 17, is provided to work in the same hole in the
body with the bolt e. The slide is operated by the rocker p, which is inserted into
the cavity in the body, and secured by a pin inserted through it at p¹. The rocker
is also shewn separately by the Figures 18. The rocker is moved when the breech
is opened by the projections a³x, a³x, from the lump a³ upon the under side of the
barrels.
The two limbs of the rocker as will be seen embrace the lump a³, and they are
so curved and placed as to overlap the pins or projections a³× in such manner that
when the breeches are, opened the projections push the rocker back. The rocker
then in turn pushes back the slide o, and this by acting against the smaller rollers
q provided upon the hammers q cocks the piece. In the act of closing the breeches
the under side of the lump a³ comes against the tail 22 of the rocker p, and so the
rocker is brought back. One of the projections a³× is elongated and so formed, as
the Drawing shows, that in attaching the barrels to the body it will push back the
rocker, the head of which is also suitably formed. But for this arrangement there
would be difficulty in putting the gun together when the hammers have been let
down. We also use the rocker in a Lafaucheux action in conjunction with a
sliding piece working in guide passages above the lever hole.
Figure 12 illustrates this arrangement, and the parts are lettered in accordance
with the foregoing description.
Another part of our Invention relates to bolting the locks to prevent accidental
discharge.
For the purpose of bolting the locks we apply an horizontal axis in front of the
hammer; it passes through the breech piece, and can be turned round by an

page_text: external lever or finger piece attached to it, by preference on the right side of the
gun. On the horizontal axis there are two stops so placed that when the gun is
bolted the fall of the hammers is intercepted by them. The bolting is automatically
performed by another projection on the axis, with which the cocking slide comes in
contact when this moves back on the gun being opened; or the under locking lever
itself may be provided with a horn, which in unlocking comes into contact with an
intermediate lever, and this with the projection, thereby moving the axis round.
The unbolting is performed by the external finger lever. The intermediate lever
above mentioned may be provided with an arm for giving motion to the vertical
locking bolt.
Figure 19 is a longitudinal section, and Figure 20 a transverse section of an
arm illustrating this part of our Invention, and provided, with a bolt or intercepter
to prevent accidental the discharge of the piece. The barrels a, body b, and
bolts d and e are lettered as in Figure 1; q, q, are the hammers, and s is the hori-
zontal axis carrying the stops or intercepters 8', 81, on to which the hammers fall
when the triggers are pulled, unless the axis s has been previously turned into such
a position as to move the intercepters out of the way. This axis, with the inter-
cepters, is shewn separately by the Figures 21; s² is a small handle or finger piece
on the right end of the axis 8. When this handle is raised to the position in which
it is drawn in Figures 19 and 20, the gun is ready for firing, but when it is
depressed to the position of the dotted line 8*, in Figure 19, the intercepters stand
in the way of the hammers; t is an underlocking lever turning upon a pin t¹; it
has a horn t engaging as shown with the horizontal bolt e, and withdrawing it when
the lever tis depressed. The horn t² acts also on the intermediate lever u, and by this
means depresses the vertical bolt d. The lever u has an arm u³, which, as the bolt d
is drawn down comes against the fingers on the axis s, and turns it in such
manner as to bring the intercepters into position to prevent the full fall of the
hammers, and after the breeches are closed the hande & has to be raised by hand
before the piece can be fired.
The locking lever t has also a horn t³, which operates during the unbolting
operation, to raise the hammers to full cock by acting against the projections q'.
The same horn also in relocking pushes back the bolt e, and operating on the
arm u² of the lever u raises the bolt d; Figure 22 is a plan of part of the bolt e.
Figure 12 illustrates the arrangement in which a cocking slide effects the auto-
matic locking. The cocking slide o, at the same time that it forces back the
hammers, acts also on the finger 83 (which is somewhat differently formed from
that seen in Figure 19), and brings the intercepters into position. In this arrange-
ment also the triggers are bolted by means of a slide on the trigger plate carrying
a pin v working in guide slots v² over the top of the triggers.
The finger s3 moves the slide v to push it back by coming into contact with the
slide at vs; the pin v' is thus brought into position to prevent the triggers working.
In unbolting by means of the handle 8, the spindle is turned until the finger 83
comes against the slide at v, and moves it back. The intercepters may in this
arrangement be dispensed with.
Another part of our Invention is also illustrated by Figure 19. This consists in
so forming the bolts d and e that the bolt e, when shot, supports the bolt d, and so
adds to the firmness of the top lock.
Another part of our Invention relates to the means for unbolting the locks. We
arrange a finger lever to unbolt the locks within the trigger guard, and in front of
the ordinary trigger, but working in the opposite direction, so that the act of placing
the finger on the trigger to discharge the gun causes the bolting trigger to be pushed
forward, and so the possibility of omitting to unbolt before pulling the trigger is
removed. This arrangement is equally applicable to military and other breach-
loaders; it is illustrated by the Figure 16. The slide o, at the same time that it
forces back the hammers, acts upon a horizontal bolt w centrally placed between
them. The bolt w carries pins w¹, which when the bolt is pushed back restrain
the triggers in the way already described in respect to the pins v' in Figure 12.
,

page_text: The fore end of the bolt w is slotted to receive the head of the small lever x, which
is carried upon a pin at x¹, and has teeth at its lower end, with which teeth other
similar teeth on the trigger like instrument y gear. This bolt trigger y can turn
upon the pin y¹, and when the bolt w is forced back by the act of opening the
breeches the bolt trigger assumes the position in which it is indicated in the
Drawing. The finger then cannot be passed around the front lock trigger z until
the bolt trigger y displaced and moved forward in such manner as to unbolt the
triggers. Thus, without appreciable loss of time, the unbolting is effected at the
moment of firing.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, we would have it understood that we claim,—
First. Our improvement illustrated especially by the Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 4a,
and relating to the bolt d for securing the projection from the top rib between
the barrels.
Second. Our improvement illustrated especially by the Figures 1, 2, 3, 10, 11,
and 12, and consisting in coupling together of an horizontal bolt e and a vertical
or nearly vertical bolt d by means of a cranked lever h.
Third. Our improvement illustrated by the Figures 11 and 12, and consisting in
working the said bolts d and e by causing the movement of the locking lever to be
communicated to the cranked lever h, and through it to the bolts & and e.
Fourth. Our improvement illustrated by the Figures 12, 13, and 14, and relating
to guns with the Lefaucheux locking bolt, and consisting in connecting the Lefau-
cheux bolt by a link with a cranked lever operating the vertical or nearly vertical
bolt d.
Fifth. Our improvement illustrated by Figure 15, and consisting in working the
horizontal transvere bolt n from the locking lever by means of the intermediate
slotted lever m.
Sixth. Our improvement illustrated by Figures 12, 16, 17, and 18, and consisting
in effecting the cocking the locks on opening the breech by projections on the barrel
lump operating on a rocker p and slide o.
Seventh. Our improvement illustrated by Figures 16, 17, and 18, and consisting
in arranging the slide o to work in the same slot in the body which contains the
bolt e.
Eighth. Our improvement illustrated by Figures 12, 19, 20, and 21, and con-
sisting in the horizontal spindle s carrying intercepters s¹ automatically brought
into action when the breeches are opened to prevent accidental discharge.
Ninth. Our improvement illustrated by Figure 19, and consisting in causing
the horizontal bolt e when home to block and support the vertical or nearly
vertical bolt d.
Tenth. Our improvement illustrated by Figure 16, and consisting in unbolting
the locks by means of the trigger like instrument 3, which has to be displaced before
the finger can be applied to the trigger z.
Eleventh. Our improvements, substantially as described and as shewn by the
Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Bissell, on behalf of myself and the
said John Rigby, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day
of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy nine.