IMPROVEMENTS IN REPEATING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REPEATING FIRE-ARMS."-A communication from
abroad by Oliver Fisher Winchester, of New Haven, New Haven
County, State of Connecticut, United States of America.
Sealed the 15th May 1866, and dated the 19th December 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
19th December 1865.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for." IMPROVEMENTS IN REPEATING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in repeating fire-arms for which
Letters Patent were granted to me bearing date 15th day of May 1863,
No. 1223, 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, and this Invention
consists,―
First, in an improvement in the said tube or magazine whereby the
cartridges may be placed therein with greater facility and without other
objections which exist to the tube as heretofore constructed.
Secondly, in a device whereby the arm may be loaded at, the breech
in similar manner as ordinary single breech-loading fire-arms.

page_text: Thirdly, in the device for converting the fire-arm from a breech-loader
to a muzzle-loader.
Fourthly, in a device for retracting exploded shells (or cartridges if
required) from the barrel.
Fifthly, in a device for adjusting the sear so that the arm may be dis-
charged by a light or heavier pull upon the trigger, as may be required.
Before proceeding to describe the improvements I will first describe the
construction of the arm to which they are applied as illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawing, Fig. 1 of which is a longitudinal section of the fire-arm,
while Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 show sections and parts detached. A is the barrel;
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; for this purpose the said
carrier block E is constructed with a chamber E³ (see Fig. 3) 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 H may be freely moved. By moving the lever H
to the position shown in Fig. 1 from the dotted position in same Figure a
shoulder a formed upon the lever H strikes a corresponding shoulder b
formed on F, raising the said lever and carrier block E as seen. By return-
ing the said lever H the upper part I strikes another shoulder c on the
said lever F, and returns it with the carrier block E to the former position.
The breech pin L is hollow and of cylindrical form, through which passes
a piston M; the rear end of the said pin L is formed so as to attach upon
either side to a pivot d a link N of a toggle joint, the other link P of the
toggle joint is hinged to the frame by a pivot e, and the two links are
hinged together. The upper arm I of the lever H extends up between the
two toggle joints; and through the said arm I a ping 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 to the position in Fig. 1
the ping will act to, close the toggle and draw back the breech pin L

page_text: which moves freely back and forth in the frame B, and by the return
of the lever H will extend the toggle and return the breech pin L. The
raising of the carrier block E as 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. E in the carrier block
for the purpose 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 E' from the chamber E up through the
carrier block, as seen in Fig. 3. 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 rising 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.
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 will by the return of the breech 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 r above,
as seen, 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 seen,
and on being returned to the home position 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 main spring U fly back and strike the end of piston
M. To the inner end of the piston M is fixed a collar having projecting
points & upon either side, see Fig. 2; 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 z for each of the levers

page_text: F and H is secured upon the frame, the ends of which bear one upon the
lever H to retain the lever in its home position; the other upon the lever
F for the purposes more fully hereafter described. The lever H is held
in its position against the frame by means of a thumb screw 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 upon each side of the frame. In the magazine as originally con-
structed, and as shown and described in my Patent before referred to, the
magazine or tube was fixed to the barrel and a slot cut through the entire
length of the tube, through which a pin or projection from the follower
within the tube extended, by means of which the follower was drawn up to
'near the muzzle end of the said tube, where the follower with the spring
and the upper portion of the tube were turned to one side so as to 'allow
the cartridges to be inserted within the tube; then the upper portion of the
tube with the follower and spring were returned, so that the follower would
again enter the tube and force the cartridges towards the rear or lower
end of the tube into the carrier, for the purpose herein-before described.
In this construction a great objection has existed from the fact that the
open slot upon the under side of the tube would admit more or less dirt
or other substances foreign or injurious to the proper working of the
follower and spring within the magazine, and the necessary complication
in the construction of the upper part of the magazine and barrel renders
them very liable to get out of repair.
I will now proceed to describe my improvements which are intended
to overcome the before-mentioned objections.
Beneath the barrel A I place a thin metal tube A¹ extending along the
barrel and terminating in a band B¹, and secured to the barrel in any
convenient or well known manner. Within the tube A¹ I place a second
of the barrel constructed so as
That portion of the tube C¹
To
tube C³, which extends nearly the length
to enter easily and fill the outer tube A¹.
above the band B¹ I make in its external diameter the same as the outer
tube, so that when placed one within the other it presents the appearance
of a single tube extending nearly or quite the length of the barrel.
the upper or muzzle end of the said tube I fix a latch for the purpose of
holding the said tube in its proper position, which I construct as follows:
I cut the tube C¹ a little shorter than the barrel and into the end insert
a tubular plug D₁; into the said plug D¹ I fix a spindle F extending out
beyond the tube and terminating in a cap or head E¹ formed with a ledge

page_text: or rim a¹ around its outer surface which sets into a notch 6¹ in the barrel.
The spindle F is sufficiently elastic to permit the head E¹ to be drawn
away from the barrel so as to take the ledge a out from the notch b¹,
which when done the inner tube may be readily withdrawn from the
outer tube. Within the said inner tube I place a follower G¹, and between
the said follower and the plug D'I place a helical spring as denoted
in red, the tendency of which is to force the follower G¹ toward
the lower end of its tube. To prevent the said follower from being
forced from its tube upon. one side of the follower I form a small
projection d, which enters a groove in the said tube, see Fig. 4, the
said groove terminating at the proper distance from the end so as to form
a shoulder against which the projection may strike as at e¹.. When it is
desired to place one or more cartridges. in the tube or magazine C¹ L
withdraw the said. tube entirely from the outer tube A¹ and insert the
cartridges, the rear end of the cartridge downwards, into the upper or open
end of the outer tube, until the said tube is filled or the requisite number
placed therein. I then return the inner tube C₁, the follower G³ in which will
strike upon the point of the ball of the last inserted cartridge, pressing the
tube C down into the outer tube; it will pass. freely over each and all the
cartridges therein,, the follower sliding up within its tube until the tube C¹
reaches its place of rest, when the ledge upon the cap E¹ will enter the
notch 6, as seen ;, the ledge extending entirely around the head will catch
and hold the tube whichever side of the tube is placed next the barrel.
The spring within the tube C¹ will force the column of cartridges down
until the first one R¹ inserted will enter the chamber E in the carrier
block E, from which position it will be carried up to the position shown
and inserted into the barrel, and the block returned to receive a second.
cartridge, as before described. When the first cartridge has been dis-
charged the shell is withdrawn, as before described; the latch m upon the
breech pin will now hold the discharged shell until the carrier block is
again raised, when the block will strike the shell, tip it up from the lip i
until the carrier is nearly up to its full height, when the spring z will fall
into a notch u on the lever F, giving a sudden movement to the carrier,
which will eject the discharged shell entirely from the arm, as shown in
Fig. 1, and thus the operation of firing may be continued until all the
cartridges within the magazine have been in their turn discharged.
The second part of this Invention relates to a mode of constructing the
arm so that it may be loaded like ordinary single breech-loading arms,
while the cartridges in the magazine are reserved for an emergency; to do

page_text: this it is necessary to arrest the movement of the lever H as soon as it has
drawn the breech pin back from the rear of the barrel, and before the
carrier block has been raised. To tbus positively arrest the movement of
the lever H at that position (as seen in Fig. 1) I place a hinged stop s¹
upon the frame, so that when turned in the dotted position the lever H
will strike the said stop at the proper time to prevent the movement of the
carrier block E, or when turned in the position shown in Fig. 1 will permit
the full movement of the lever H. By this arrest of the lever H the
carrier block is prevented from being thrown up, and thus the supply of
ammunition from the magazine is stopped. It is obvious that the supply.
of ammunition may be easily stopped in various other ways. For example,
a screw may be introduced through the frame into the magazine, so as to
enter behind the last cartridge and prevent the issue thereof from the
magazine until the screw is withdrawn, or a screw or pin may be introduced
through the side of the frame into the carrier block so as to prevent its
rise, and thereby arrest the supply of cartridges to the barrel.
The third part of this Invention relates to the use of this arm as
a muzzle loader. For this purpose I construct the steel case S³, see
Figs. 5 and 6, formed to fit the rear end of the barrel like the shell of a
metallic cartridge, placing in the rear end of the said tube a cone seat to
receive an ordinary percussion cap. The arm thus arranged may be loaded
from the muzzle in the usual manner, while the breech pin is held against
the said case; when thus loaded, (or if preferred before the loading is
commenced,) I place a percussion cap upon the cone, then cock the arm as
before described, and release the hammer, which on striking the piston M
will explode the percussion cap and ignite the powder within the arm.
In order that the latch and points on the breech pin and spindle may not
interfere with this operation I cut recesses in the flange of the said case,
as seen in Fig. 5. Thus the arm may be used to automatically insert the
cartridges taken from the magazine, or holding the cartridges in the maga-
zine in reserve may be loaded as ordinary single breech-loading arms or
as a muzzle loader, and the objections heretofore existing in the construc
tion of the magazine are fully overcome, and the first, second, and third
part of this Invention accomplished.
I will now proceed to describe a modification of the first part of this
Invention. I place a tube nearly or quite the length of the barrel beneath
the barrel, secured thereto by bands, and so as to move freely in the said
bands to or from the frame. The lower or rear end of the tube I make
thicker than the portion above for the purpose of forming a shoulder to

page_text: rest upon the frame, also to form a guide, which moves within a groove on
the under side of the barrel, which stops the tube from being withdrawn
farther than is necessary for the insertion of the cartridges. Within the
said tube I place a follower, and upon it a helical spring, closing the upper
end of the tube by a plug; a thin ledge around the inside of the tube at
its lower or rear end prevents the follower from being forced from the
tube by the pressure of the spring thereon. In one side of the enlarged
portion of the tube I place a spring latch, which hooks on to the frame.
To fill the tube or magazine with cartridges I release the tube from the
frame by pressing the latch down, slide the tube forward and insert the
cartridges one upon another, forcing the follower, into the tube until the
tube is filled or the requisite number placed therein. I then return the
tube or magazine to position. The spring within the tube will force the
column of cartridges down until the last one inserted will enter the chamber
in the carrier block in like manner as before described. In filling the
magazine with cartridges a notch upon the under side of the latch catches
upon the cartridge to prevent the cartridges from being accidentally
forced out, but when the latch is raised to lock upon the frame the notch
will be so far above the cartridges as to allow them to move freely over it;
should it be desirable to move the tube or magazine from the frame while
the cartridges are placed therein it would be necessary to hold the car-
tridges to move with the tube; for this purpose I place a pin through the
latch, its upper end or head serving as a button or knob, upon which to
press the latch to release the tube from the frame; the pin is of sufficient
length so that when pushed down it will stop the cartridge from being
forced out by the spring within the tube, and when removed from the
frame, and the pressure upon the latch removed, the notch will catch and
hold the cartridge as before described.
. I will now describe a further modification of the first part of this
Invention. Beneath the barrel I fix a thin metal tube, its rear end entering
the frame and secured to the barrel by bands. Upon the under side of the
said tube, and near its lower or rear end, I make an opening within the
tube; I place a follower, and close the upper end of the tube by a
plug,
and between the follower and the plug I place a helical spring, the tendency
of which is to force the follower toward the lower or rear end of its tube.
Over the said tube I place a slide or case arranged so as to move freely on
the said tube, so that when the slide or case is moved back against-the-
frame the opening upon the under side of the tube may be closed to secure
the slide in that position, and so that it may be readily moved to a forward

page_text: position. I also arrange within the case a latch pivotted to the case, one end
projecting through it, the other pressed down by a spring, so that when
the case is moved back the inner end will fall into a notch made in the
tube, and when it is desired to move the said case forward the thumb is
placed upon the projecting end of the latch and pressed down to raise the
latch from the notch of the tube; the case may then be moved forward so
as to open the tube; a second notch may also be formed in the tube, which
will receive the latch when the case has been moved sufficiently far forward.
This operation opens the tube for the insertion of cartridges; when thus
open the cartridges are inserted within the tube, pressing down the follower
until the tube is filled or the requisite number is placed therein. To hold
the cartridges thus inserted, and prevent them from being untimely forced
from the tube, I place a spring within the case arranged so that the spring
will yield as each successive cartridge passes over it, and spring up and
hook over the flange. When the tube is filled to this point there will
then remain to be filled that portion of the tube between the last cartridge
inserted and the carrier block, which space I fill with other cartridges, first
placing one within the carrier block, then as many more as the space will
admit. When this is done the case is returned to position in the act of
closing the tube; the spring will be pressed down by coming in contact
with the tube at its rear end, so as to permit the cartridges as they are
required to pass freely to the carrier block. To prevent the follower from
being forced from the tube I form a slight incline in the frame so as to
prevent the follower from passing over it, and yet so that the cartridge
will pass freely over it into the carrier block. The spring within the tube
will force the column of cartridges down until the last one inserted will
enter the chamber in the carrier block in like manner as first described.
A still further modification of the first part of this Invention is as
follows:-Beneath the barrel I fix a thin metal tube, its rear end entering
the frame, so that when the carrier block E, Fig, 1, is down it will open
directly into the chamber E³ 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. For general uses I prefer to thus encase the
tube, but it is not a necessity. Within the tube I place a follower, and
close the upper end of the tube by a plug, and between the follower and
the plug I place a helical spring as before, the tendency of which is to
force the follower toward the lower or rear end of the tube. Upon the
under side of the frame, and so as to close the mortise D, I hinge a cover
arranged with a spring catch to lock into a notch in the frame. To place

page_text: the cartridges in the tube or magazine I turn the arm upside down, open
the cover, and move the carrier block to the raised position, which move
ment opens the tube that the cartridges may be inserted. To afford free
access to the tube I cut away a portion of the carrier block, while still
retaining so much of it 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, and thus one cartridge after another iş
inserted into the tube, forcing the follower up and compressing the spring
until the requisite number have been placed therein. I then close the
cover and return the carrier block to its home position, the reaction of the
spring within the tube forcing the last-inserted cartridge into the chamber
in the carrier block, from which position it will be carried up to the highest
position, inserted into the barrel, and the block returned to receive the
second cartridge as before described.
}
It now remains to describe the fourth and fifth parts of this Invention.
Heretofore, and as shown in the construction herein-before described, a
latch upon the breech pin has been arranged so that as a cartridge was
forced into the barrel by the breech pin the said latch would hook
over the flange of the cartridge and withdraw the shell when the
breech pin was again withdrawn. This arrangement, though much
approved, may sometimes fail to retract or withdraw the shell from the
barrel; to avoid this possibility, and make the retraction or withdrawal
positive, I rigidly attach a hook to the breech pin upon either side,
formed so as to receive the flange of the cartridge, and on the frame in
the rear end of the mortice I place two guides corresponding in form to the
hooks on the breech pin, so that when the breech pin is drawn back the
hooks on the breech pin, will correspond to the guides on the frame.
When the carrier block is raised to carry the cartridge up for insertion
into the barrel the rim of the cartridge passes up through the guides on
the frame into the hooks on the breech pin. To allow the carrier block
to pass over the guides on the frame and hooks on the breech pin, it iş
necessary to form recesses in the rear end of the carrier block. After the
cartridge has thus passed to its highest position the breech pin is returned
to position, which operation will insert the cartridge into the barrel. The
piston before described I form with an annular groove around it within the
breech pin, into which through the breech pin I insert a screw pin to
prevent the withdrawal of the piston from the breech pin, and so as to
Lallow a little play to the piston. The said piston extends back through
the frame, and so as to slide freely therein to the hammer S, so that when

page_text: .
the pin is drawn back, as before described, the said piston will force the
hammer S back to full cock, and on being returned to the former position
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 main spring U fly
back to the position denoted in Fig. 1, striking the end of the piston M.
In the forward end of the breech pin I may also place a second piston
constructed with two points, one above the upper and lower side projecting
through the end of the piston, so that when the cartridge rises by the
movement of the carrier the cartridge coming in contact with the lower
point will force the piston M back, and thus situated after the cartridge
has been inserted in the barrel, and the hammer released, as before
described, to strike the rear of the piston, the force of the blow will
cause the projecting points to indent the metal of the cartridge sufficiently
to explode the fulminate and ignite the powder within the cartridge.
After the cartridge has been discharged the breech pin is withdrawn as
before described, while the hooks upon the pin being unyielding will
surely withdraw the shell from the barrel.
This completes the fourth part of the Invention. For some purposes,
as for sporting or sharp-shooting, it is desirable that the hammer should be
so caught by the sear, when at full cock, as to be easily released, and that
the pressure required upon the trigger to release the hammer may be at
such times always the same, while at other times it is equally desirable that
the hammer should be strongly held. To accomplish these objects it is
necessary to construct the sear so as to catch more or less deep into the
notch of the hammer at full cock, as occasion may require.
In the fire-arm shown and described the sear and trigger are both
formed of one and the same piece, and the object is accomplished by
forming an arm upon the trigger placed upon the outside, and through
which a screw passes into the frame; a slot in the said arm allows the arm
to move freely on the said screw, so that when it is desired to nicely adjust
the sear so that it shall fall partially into the hammer the screw is turned
into the frame so that the head bearing against the arm will stop the
trigger when the sear has fallen into the hammer the distance required, or
if a stronger hold by the sear is required the screw may be withdrawn from
the frame. The arm is placed so as to come within the frame, and may be
adjusted by the screw in like manner as described for the above arrange-
ment. Thus the greatest degree of nicety in the adjustment for the
discharge of the arm is easily and simply attained.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th June 1866.
3
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer
and Patent Agent, send greeting.
'
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters.
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said William Clark, Her special licence that I, the
said William Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said William Clark, 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
Jawfully 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 REPEATING FIRE-ARMS," a communication to
me from abroad by Oliver Fisher Winchester, of New Haven, New Haven
County, State of Connecticut, United States of America, upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said William Clark, 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 thè
nature 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."
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Clark, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
O performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the three Sheets of Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon) that is
to say):-
Z
This Invention relates to improvements in the repeating fire-arms for
which Letters Patent were granted to me dated the Fifteenth day of May
1863, No. 1223, 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. And this Invention consists,

page_text: firstly, in an improvement in the said tube or magazine whereby the
cartridges may be placed therein with greater facility and without other
objections which exist in the tube as heretofore constructed. Secondly, in
a device whereby the arm may be loaded at the breech in similar manner
as ordinary single breech-loading fire-arms. Thirdly, in a device for con-
verting the arın from a breech-loader to a muzzle-loader. Fourthly, in a
device for retracting exploded shells (or cartridges if required) from the
barrels. Fifthly, in a device for adjusting the sear so that the arm may be
discharged by a light or heavier pull upon the trigger, as may be required.
Before proceeding to describe the improvements I will first describe the
construction of the arm to which these improvements are applied, as illus-
trated in the accompanying Drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view;
Figure 2 is a top view; Figure 3 is a sectional view; Figure 4 is a
longitudinal central section; Figure 5 is a section through the frame
on line looking to the rear; Figure 6 is a section of the carrier block
on the same line; Figure 7 is a section of the inner tube of the magazine;
Figure 8 is to illustrate the manner of filling the magazine with cart-
ridges; Figures 9 and 10, a device for converting the arm into a
breech-loader, which several Figures illustrate the first, second, and third
parts of this Invention; Figures 11 to 16 inclusive, a different modification
of the first part of this Invention; Figures 17 to 22 inclusive, another
modification of the first part of this Invention; Figures 23 to 29 inclusive,
a third modification of the first part of this Invention; Figures 30 to 39
inclusive, illustrate the fourth and fifth part of my Invention. Like
letters and characters in the several Figures indicate corresponding parts.
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 mortise 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 ; for this purpose the said carrier block E is con-
structed with a chamber E³ (see Figure 6) to receive the cartridge from the
magazine, and it is moved up within the chamber or mortise 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 trigger guard and as an
instrument by which the several mechanical parts of the arm are made to

page_text: operate; it is hung to the pivot G, upon which both the levers F and H
may be freely moved. By moving the lever H from the position denoted
in Figure 3 to that denoted in Figure 4, a shoulder a formed upon the
lever H strikes a corresponding shoulder / upon the lever F, raising the
said lever and carrier block E, as denoted in Figure 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 Figure 3; 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 Figures 3 and 4, so as to attach upon either
side to a pivot da link N of a toggle joint, as denoted in broken lines,
Figure 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 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 Figure 3 to that in Figure 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 Figure 4, and by the return of the
lever H will extend the toggle and return the breech pin L, as seen in
Figure 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 herein-after shown), of removing
the cartridge from the chamber E³ in the carrier block to the barrel, there-
fore in order to allow the carrier block to return it is necessary to cut a
slot Es from the chamber E² up through the carrier block, as seen in
Figure 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 with-
drawn 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 Figures 2 and 3., 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 Figure 4, will by the return of the breech 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
above, as seen in Figure 3, so that when the breech pin is withdrawn the

page_text: 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 Figure 4, and on being returned to the position
denoted in Figure 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
main spring U fly back to the position denoted in Figure 3, 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 Figure 5; the said
collar tis 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 sepa-
rate spring z for each of the levers F and H is secured upon the frame,
the ends of which bear one upon the lever H, as seen in Figure 3, to retain
the lever in its home position, as in Figures 1 and 3, the other upon the
lever F, see Figure 4, for the purposes more fully hereafter described.
The lever H is held in its position against the frame by means of a thumb
screw 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 S³ upon each side of the frame.
.
In the magazine as originally constructed, and as shown and described
in the Patent of May 15th 1863, before referred to, the magazine or tube
was fixed to the barrel, and a slot cut through the entire length of the
tube, through which a pin or projection from the follower within the
tube extended, by means of which the follower was drawn up to
near the muzzle end of the said tube, where the follower with the spring
and the upper portion of the tube, were turned to one side, so as to allow
the cartridges to be inserted within the tube, then the upper portion of
the tube with the follower and spring were returned, so that the follower
would again enter the tube and force the cartridges towards the rear or

page_text: lower end of the tube into the carrier for the purpose herein-before de-
scribed. In this construction a great objection has existed from the fact:
that the open slot upon the under side of the tube would admit more or
less dirt or other substances foreign and injurious to the proper working of
the follower and spring within the magazine, and the necessary compli-
cation in the construction of the upper part of the magazine and barrel
renders them very liable to get out of repair.
.
I will now proceed to describe improvements which are intended to.
overcome the before-mentioned objections.
Beneath the barrel A I place a thin metal tube A', extending along the
barrel and terminating in a band B¹, and secured to the barrel in any con-
venient or well-known manner. Within the tube A' I place a second
tube C', which extends nearly the length of the barrel, constructed so as
to enter easily and fill the outer tube A¹. That portion of the tube C¹
above the band B₁ I make in its external diameter the same as the outer.
tube, so that when placed one within the other it presents the appearance
of a single tube extending nearly or quite the length of the barrel. To
the upper or muzzle end of the said tube I fix a latch for the purpose of
holding the said tube in its proper position, which I construct as follows::
-I cut the tube O' a little shorter than the barrel, and into the end insert.
a tubular plug D¹; into the said plug D¹ I fix a spindle F¹, seen in Figure 3,*
extending out beyond the tube and terminating in a cap or head E¹ formed
with a ledge or rim a¹ around its outer surface, which sets into a notch b¹.
in the barrel. The spindle F is sufficiently elastic to permit the liead E¹.
to be drawn away from the barrel so as to take the ledge a¹ out from the:
notch 6', which when done the inner tube may be readily withdrawn from
the outer tube. Within the said inner tube I place a follower G¹, and
between the said follower and the plug D¹ I place a helical spring as
denoted in red, the tendency of which is to force the follower G¹ towards
the lower end of its tube. To prevent the said follower from being forced
from its tube up on one side of the follower I form a small projection D¹,
which enters a groove r¹ in the said tube, see Figure 4, the said groove
terminating at the proper distance from the end so as to form a shoulder
When it is
against which the projection d may strike as at e', Figure 4.
desired to place one or more cartridges in the tube or magazine C¹ I with-
draw the said tube entirely from the outer tube A¹, and insert the cart-
ridges the rear end of the cartridge downwards, as seen in Figure 8, into:
the upper or open end of the outer tube until the said tube is filled or the
requisite number placed therein. I then return the inner tube C¹, the.
:
:

page_text: follower G¹ in which will strike upon the point of the ball of the last
inserted cartridge, pressing the tube C¹ down into the outer tube ;. it will
pass freely over each and all the cartridges therein, the follower sliding up
within its tube until the tube C¹ reaches its place of rest, when the ledge
upon the cap E will enter the notch b', seen in Figure 3. The ledge
extending entirely around the head will catch and hold the tube whichever
side of the tube is placed next the barrel. The spring within the tube C¹
will force the column of cartridges down until the first one R inserted will
enter the chamber E³, in the carrier block E, see Figure 3, from which
position it will be carried up to the position shown in Figure 4, and inserted
into the barrel, and the block returned to receive a second cartridge
as before described. When the first cartridge has been discharged, as in
Figure 3, the shell is withdrawn as before described; the latch m upon the
breech pin will hold the discharged shell until the carrier block is again
raised, when the block will strike the shell, tip it up from the lip i until
the carrier is nearly up to its full height, when the spring z will fall into a
notch à on the lever F, giving a sudden movement to the carrier, which
will eject the discharged shell entirely from the arm, as denoted in Figure 4,
and thus the operation of firing may be continued until all the cartridges
within the magazine have been each in their turn discharged. In practice
it is found advisable that the arm should be constructed so that it may be.
loaded like ordinary single breech-loading arms, while the cartridges in the.
magazine are reserved for an emergency; to do this it is necessary to
arrest the movement of the lever H as soon as it has drawn the breech
pin back from the rear of the barrel and before the carrier block has been
raised. To thus positively arrest the movement of the lever H at that
position (which is as denoted in red, Figure 4) I place a hinged stop S¹ upon
the frame, so that when turned in the position denoted in Figures 1 and 3
the lever H will strike the said stop at the proper time to prevent the
movement of the carrier block E, or when turned, as in the position denoted
in Figure 4, will permit the full movement of the lever H. By this arrest
of the lever H the carrier block is prevented from being thrown up, and
thus the supply of ammunition from the magazine is stopped. It is obvious
that the supply of ammunition may be easily stopped in various other way's;
for example, a screw. may be introduced through the frame into the
magazine so as to enter behind the last cartridge and prevent the issue
thereof from the magazine until the screw is withdrawn; or a screw or
pin may be introduced through the side of the frame into the carrier block
so as to prevent its rise and thereby. arrest the supply of cartridges to the:

page_text: barrel. It is sometimes desirable to use this arm as a muzzle-loader; for
this purpose I construct a steel case S*, as denoted in Figures 9. and 10,
formed to fit the rear end of the barrel like the shell of a metallic cartridge,
placing in the rear end of the said tube a cone seat to receive an ordinary
percussion cap. The arm thus arranged may be loaded from the muzzle
in the usual manner, while the breech pin is held against the said ease ;-
when thus loaded, or, if preferred, before the loading is commenced,) I
place a percussion cap upon the cone, then cock the arm as before described,
and release the hammer, which, on striking the piston M, will explode the
percussion cap and ignite the powder within the arm. In order that the
latch and points on the breech pin and spindle may not interfere with this.
operation I cut recesses in the flange of the said case, as seen in Figures
9 and 10. Thus the arm may be used to automatically insert the cartridges
taken from the magazine, or, holding the cartridges in the magazine in
reserve, may be loaded as ordinary single breech-loading arms, or as a
muzzle loader, and the objections heretofore existing in the construction of
the magazine are fully overcome, and the first, second, and third parts of
this Invention accomplished.
I will now proceed to describe a different modification of the first part
of this Invention, as illustrated in Figures 11 to 16 inclusive. A³ is a tube
nearly or quite the length of the barrel, to be placed beneath the barrel as
seen in Figures 11, 12, and 13, secured to the barrel by bands B³, B, and
so as to move freely in the said bands to or from the frame, as from the
position in Figure 12 to that in Figure 13. The lower or rear end of the
tube I make thicker than the portion above for the purpose of forming a
shoulder a³ to rest upon the frame; also to form a guide c³, which moves
within a groove d* on the under side of the barrel, which stops the tube
from being withdrawn farther than is necessary for the insertion of cartridges,
see Figure 13. Within the said tube As I place a follower G³, and upon it
a helical spring denoted in red, closing the upper end of the tube by a
plug D'; a thin ledge around the inside of the tube at its lower or rear end
prevents the follower from being forced from the tube by the pressure of
the spring thereon. In one side of the enlarged portion of the tube 1 place
a spring latch E, which hooks on to the frame as denoted.in Figures 11
and 16. To fill the tube or magazine A³ with cartridges. I release the
tube from the frame by pressing the latch down as denoted in. Figure 15,
slide the tube forward as-denoted in Figure 13, and insert the cartridges
one upon another as in Figure 14, forcing the follower into the tube .until
the tube is filled or the requisite number placed therein. I then return the

page_text: tube or magazine to the position denoted in Figures 11, 12, and 16. The
spring within the tube A³ will force the column of cartridges down until
the last one R inserted will enter the chamber E in the carrier block E in
like manner as before described. In filling the magazine with cartridges a
notch upon the under side of the latch catches upon the cartridges as
seen in Figure 14, to prevent the cartridges from being accidentally forced
out, but when the latch is raised to lock upon the frame, as seen in Figure
16, the notch will be so far above the cartridges as to allow them to move
freely over it. Should it be desirable to move the tube or magazine from
the frame while the cartridges are placed therein it would be necessary to
hold the cartridges to move with the tube; for this purpose I place a pin
through the latch E, its upper end or head serving as a button or knob
upon which to press the latch to release the tube from the frame; the pin
22 is of sufficient length so that when pressed down as in Figure 15 it will
stop the cartridge from being forced out by the spring within the tube, and
when removed from the frame, and the pressure upon the latch removed,
the notch fwill catch and hold the cartridge as before described.
In Figures 17 to 22 inclusive I illustrate another modification of the first
part of this Invention, which I will now proceed to describe. Beneath the
barrel I fix a thin metal tube A³, its rear end entering the frame as seen in
Figures 18 and 19, and secured to the barrel by bands B³, B³. Upon the
under side of the said tube, and near its lower or rear end, I make an
opening C, as seen in Figures 19 & 20. Within the tube I place a
follower G³, and close the upper end of the tube by a plug D³, and be-
tween 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 its tube; over the said tube I place a slide or case E' arranged so
as to move freely on the said tube, so that when the slide or case Ę is
moved back against the frame, as in Figures 17 and 18, the opening upon
the under side of the tube may be closed; to secure the slide in that
position, and so that it may be readily moved forward, as in the position
seen in Figures 19 and 20, I arrange within the case a latch n² pivoted to
the case at m², one end A projecting through the case, as seen in Figures
21 and 22, the other pressed down by a spring S³, so that when the case is
moved back, as in Figures 17 and 18, the inner end will fall into a notch
made in the tube, as seen in Figures 21 and 22, and when it is desired to
move the said case forward, as from the position in Figure 17 to that in
Figure 19, I place the thumb upon the projecting end of the latch and press
down to raise the latch from the notch of the tube, then the case may be
.

page_text: moved forward so as to open the tube, as seen in Figures 19 and 20; a
second notch n³, see Figure 21, may be formed in the tube, which will
receive the latch when the case has been moved sufficiently far forward.
This operation opens the tube for the insertion of cartridges; when thus
open I insert the cartridges within the tube, as seen in Figure 19, pressing
down the follower until the tube is filled or the requisite number is placed
therein. To hold the cartridges thus inserted, and prevent them from
being untimely forced from the tube, I place a spring S within the case,
see Figures 19 and 22, arranged so that the spring will yield as each suc-;
cessive cartridge passes over it and spring up, as seen in Figure 19, and
hook over the flange. When the tube is filled to this point there will
then remain to be filled that portion of the tube between the last.
cartridge inserted and the carrier block, which space I fill with other.
cartridges, first placing one within the carrier block, as seen in Figure 3,
then as many more as the space will admit. When this is done return
the case to the position denoted in Figure 17 in the act of closing the tube i.
the spring S³ will be pressed down by coming in contact with the tube at
its rear end so as to permit the cartridges, as they are required, to pass
freely to the carrier block. To prevent the follower from being forced
from the tube I form a slight incline in the frame so as to prevent the
follower from passing over it, and yet so that the cartridges will pass freely
over it into the carrier block. The spring within the tube A will force
the column of cartridges down until the fast one R inserted will enter the
chamber E' in the carrier block in like manner as first described.
In Figures 23 to 29 inclusive I illustrate a still different modification of
the first part of this Invention, which I will now proceed to describe.
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
Figure 25, it will open directly into the chamber E³ in the carrier block. I
secure the tube to the barrel by means of bands B, B, and if advisable
encase the lower portion of the tube with a wood, stock C, as seen in
Figure 23. For general uses I prefer to thus encase the tube, but it is not a
necessity. Within the tube I place a follower G, and close the upper end
of the tube by a plug.D., 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 towards the lower or rear end of the tube. Upon the under side
of the frame, and so as to close the mortise D, I hinge a cover D' arranged:
with a spring catch to lock into a notch in the frame, as seen in
Figure 25. To place the cartridges in the tube or magazine.A. I turn the

page_text: arm upside down open the cover d', as seen in Figure 26, move the carrier
block to the position also seen in Figure 26, which movement opens the
tube A' so that the cartridges may be inserted, as seen in said Figure 26.
To afford free access to the tube I cut away a portion of the carrier block,
as seen in Figures 25, 26, and 29, 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, Figure 26, and thus one cartridge
after another is inserted into the tube, forcing the follower Go up and com-
pressing spring until the requisite number have been placed therein. I then
close the cover as at Figure 25, return the carrier block to the position also
seen in Figure 25; 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 Figure 25, from which position it will be carried up to the position in
Figure 26, and inserted into the barrel, and the block returned to receive
the second cartridge, as before described.
It now remains to describe the fourth and fifth parts of this Invention, as
illustrated in Figures 30 to 36 inclusive. Heretofore, and as shown in the
construction herein-before described, a latch upon the breech pin has been
arranged so that as a cartridge was forced into the barrel by the breech pin,
the said latch would hook over the flange of the cartridge and withdraw
the shell when the breech pin was again withdrawn. This arrangement,
though much approved, may sometimes fail to retract or withdraw the shell
from the barrel. To avoid this possibility, and make the retraction or with-
drawal positive, I rigidly attach to the breech pin L upon either side a
hook a³, see Figures 30, 31, and 33, formed so as to receive the flange of the
cartridge, and on the frame in the rear end of the mortice I place guides
d³, d³, corresponding in form to the hooks a³, a³, on the breech pin, so that
when the breech pin is drawn back, as seen in Figure 35, the hooks on
the breech pin will correspond to the guides on the frame. When the
carrier block is raised, as in Figure 32, to carry the cartridge up for
insertion into the barrel, as from the position in Figure 31 to Figure 32, or
Figure 33 to Figure 34, the rim of the cartridge passes up through the
guides on the frame into the hooks on the breech pin, as seen in Figure 34.
To allow the carrier block to pass over the guides on the frame and hooks
on the breech pin, it is necessary to form recesses in the rear end of the
carrier block, as seen in Figure 36. After the cartridge has thus passed
up to the position denoted in Figures 32 and 34 I return the breech pin
to the position denoted in Figures 30 and 31, which operation will insert

page_text: the cartridge into the barrel. The piston M' I form with an annular
groove around it within the breech pin; into which, through the breech
pin, I insert a screw pin f, to prevent the withdrawal of the piston from the
breech pin, and so as to allow a little play to the piston. The said piston
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 S back to full cock, as denoted in
Figure 32, and on being returned to the position denoted in Figure 31
will leave the hammer held at full cock by the trigger T, which when
released in the usual manner will, by the re-action of the main spring U,
fly back to the position denoted in Figure 31, striking the end of the
piston M. In the forward end of the breech pin I place a second
piston M², constructed with two points x one upon the upper and lower side
projecting through the end of the piston, as seen in Figure 30, so that when
the cartridge rises by the movement of the carrier, as from the position
in Figures 31 to Fig. 32, or Figure 33 to Figure 34, the cartridge coming
in contact with the lower point will force the piston M2 back, and thus
situated, after the cartridge has been inserted in the barrel and the hammer
released as before described to strike the rear end of the piston, the force
of the blow will cause the projecting points x, x, to indent the metal or
the cartridge sufficiently to explode the fulminate and ignite the powder
within the cartridge. After the cartridge has been discharged I withdraw
the breech pin as before described, the hooks a³, a³, upon the pin being
unyielding will surely withdraw the shell from the barrel to the position
denoted by the cartridge in Figure 32. This completes the fourth part of
this Invention.
"
"
For some purposes, as for sporting as sharp shooting, it is desirable that
the hammer should be so caught by the sear when at full cock as to be
easily released, and that the pressure required upon the trigger to release
the hammer may be at such times always the same, while at other times it
is equally desirable that the hammer should be strongly held. To accom-
plish these objects it is necessary to construct the sear so as to catch more or
less deep into the notch of the hammer at full cock as occasion may require.
In the fire-arms shown and described the sear and trigger are both
formed of one and the same piece, and the object is accomplished by
forming an arm a upon the trigger, as shown in Figure 31, placed upon
the outside, and through which a screw a passes into the frame; a slot in.
the said arm a allows the arm to move freely on the said screw, so that

page_text: when it is desired to nicely adjust the sear so that it shall fall partially into
the hammer, I turn the screw a³ into the frame, so that the head bearing
against the arm a' will stop the trigger when the sear has fallen into the
hammer the distance required, or if a stronger hold by the sear is required
the screw may be withdrawn from the frame. In Figure 32 the arm a' is!
placed so as to come within the frame, and may be adjusted by the screw as
in like manner as described for the arrangement shown in Figure 31.
Thus the greatest degree of nicety in the adjustment for the discharge of
the arm is easily and simply attained.
s
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of 1
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be
protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First, the stop S¹, or its equivalent, arranged so as to arrest the supply
of ammunition from the magazine, substantially as and for the purpose,
specified.
Secondly, the shell S, constructed in the manner described, and
applied to convert the repeating breech-loading fire-arm herein described
into a muzzle-loader.
Thirdly, the combination of the guides d³, d³, with the hooks a³, a³,
upon the breech pin L, substantially in the manner and for the purpose 2
set forth.
Fourthly, making the sear adjustable, substantially in the manner and
for the purpose specified:
_ Fifthly, the combination of a double tubed magazine with the barrel,
substantially as described.
Sixthly, constructing the tube or magazine substantially in the manner
described, so that the inner tube may be removed as and for the purpose
specified.
1
2
Seventhly, I also claim constructing and arranging the tube or magazine
in combination with the barrel of the arm, so as to be operated sub-
3
stantially as and for the purpose specified in the first described modification.
Eighthly, I also claim constructing the tube or magazine substantially
as described, in combinaton with the slide or case E³, arranged to open or
close the said tube or magazine, as and for the purpose specified in the
second described modification.
Ninthly, constructing the frame in combination with the magazine so
tk. the magazine may be charged, substantially in the manner as herein
set forth in the third described modification.
3

page_text: Tenthly, the combination with the piston M¹ of the groove and screw
pin, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Eleventhly, the construction of the piston M in two parts operating
together, substantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of June, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
JAMES DAISH,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
w.
CLARK (L.B.)