IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH- LOADING FIRE-ARM8
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Snell, of 16, Clement's Inn, Strand, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-
LOADING FIRE-ARM8."A communication from abroad by Christopher
Minor Spencer, of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts and United
States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Snell at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declaration,
on the 20th October 1864, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent
Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
SNELL, of 16, Clement's Inn, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN.
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto
me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent
for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that the same is a com
.

page_text: munication to me from abroad by Christopher Minor Spencer, of Boston,
in the State of Massachusetts and United States of America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Snell, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification under my hand and seal fully
describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, in and by the following statement, reference
Leing had to the accompanying Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical longi-
tudinal central section of the rear portion of a breech-loading fire-arm with
my improvements attached, the parts of the piece being in the positions they
occupy when it is loaded and ready to be discharged; Fig. 2 is a similar
section, showing the breech thrown open for the discharge of the cartridge
shell and the insertion of a new cartridge; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the
combined rolling and sliding breech, separated from the gun; Fig. 4 is a
perspective view of the rear end of the stock, showing the hole in which the
inner tube of the magazine is introduced, and the arrangement for locking it
in place when inserted; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the rear portion of
the inner tube of the magazine, showing the locking plate and groove; Fig. 6
is a perspective view of the forward end of the inner tube of the magazine.
The same part is marked by the same letter of reference wherever it occurs.
This Invention relates to that class of small arms which load at the breech,
and in which a flanged metallic cartridge is employed, and applies equally
whether the cartridges are inserted singly by hand, or are introduced mecha-
nically from a magazine attached to or forming part of the piece, the same
arm being capable, without modification or adjustment, of being used either
as a self-loader or hand-loader, as may be preferred, or as circumstances may
require.
The nature of this Invention consists in so combining a rolling with a
sliding breech that both shall be actuated by the same mechanism, and that
the sliding portion serve the treble purpose of, first, receiving the cartridge,
either from the hand or magazine, and guiding and pressing it into the
chamber; second, locking the breech; and, third, forming the face of the
breech, said compound breech being operated by the upward and downward
movement of the guard lever.
It further consists in an improved arrangement and mode of operating the
lever for withdrawing the shells of the exploded cartridges from the chamber,
all substantially as herein-after described and shown.
It further consists in the use in the stock of a repeating fire-arm of a
compound double tube magazine for fulminating cartridges, and also in
improvements in the construction of the magazine, and in the mode of

page_text: insertion and locking of its inner tube, its attachments, its operation, and
the peculiar construction and operation of its plug or plunger P, all as herein-
after more particularly set forth.
The
great desideratum in a repeating fire-arm having a magazine has been
so to locate the magazine that the reverse cartridges should be protected
against all danger of explosion. This end is accomplished in the construction
of my magazine herein described in an effectual manner. The cartridges have
a double sheathing of metal strongly incased in wood, presenting as formidable
an obstacle against external force as does the barrel itself. They are believed
to be oven less liable to promature explosion from accidental causes than is
the single paper cartridge in the chamber of an ordinary gun, although the
fulminating or exploding cartridges which I use are more liable to accidental
explosion than such paper cartridges.
To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my Invention, I will
proceed to describe its construction and operation referring to the Drawings,
whereon A marks the stock of the gun; A¹ marks the breech holder or frame,
which receives the compound breech B, C, and connects the barrel D to the
stock; the compound breech B, C, works in a parallel sided slot a, a, in the
breech frame A. The compound breech consists mainly of two parts B and
C, of which part B has a rotary motion on its centre pin b, which passes
transversely through the frame, and the part C has a sliding up-and-down
movement in a recess f,f, in the piece B, and also partakes of the rolling
movement of B, forming part of the same system with it. The piece C is
impelled upward by the spiral spring g, and it is drawn down by means of the
rod d, which after passing through a hole in the piece B is pivoted to the
guard lever E at k. This piece C, when at its highest point, as in Fig. 1,
locks the breech securely in place by passing into the upper portion of the
slot a, a.
Its front surface c, c, coming into close contact with the rear end of
the barrel forms the face of the breech. The guard lever E is connected to
the piece B by a knuckle joint e, and is pivoted to the rod d at k, a point in
rear of the pin b; by depressing the guard lever, the first effect is to draw
down the slide C out of the position shown in Fig. 1, until it descends far
enough into the recess f, f, to unlock the breech, when a continuation of the
same downward movement of the guard lever rotates the breech on its centre b,
and opens it until the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 2, when further
downward movement is stopped by the highest part of slide. C coming in
contact with the frame, as shown. When in this position the piece will receivo
a cartridge from the magazine in the stock, said cartridge being forced upward
by a plug or piston P operated by a spiral spring S, which throws it out of

page_text: the magazine into the position shown by H, in red lines in Fig. 2 (its rear
end or base resting against the point of the succeeding cartridge, or of the
plug P, and its forward end being held between the tongue m and the pro-
jection r, and so that as the guard lever is raised the cartridge will be carried
forward by the radial face c of the slide C, and pressed into the chamber of
the piece. When the cartridge is completely inserted in the chamber, the
face c of the slide C is in line and in contact with the rear end of the barrel,
and in such a position with reference to the upper part of the slot a, a, that
it rises in obedience to the impulse of the spring g, thus locking the breech,
closing the barrel, and forming the face of the breech. By reason of the
connection between the slide C and the trigger guard E, the upward move-
ment of the slide draws the guard up into close contact with the stock, as
shown in Fig. 1, and for the same reason if the spring should fail to perform
its duty, the slide C might be raised by the guard lever. When the piece is
to be loaded by hand, the guard lever is raised till the upper angle of the
slide C touches the tongue m, when the lever G can be pushed forward by a
touch of the finger, so that it will be in advance of the flange of the cartridge,
and in the proper position to withdraw the shell when the guard lever is
depressed. There is a groove n in the top of the slide C, in which is received
and guided the free end of the forked tongue m, which is pressed downward
upon the breech by the operation of spring p. There are also projections r
on the circular part of piece B, which enter a corresponding recess in the
free end of tongue m. This tongue serves a double purpose, it assists in
guiding the cartridge from the magazine into the chamber, preventing it from
falling out or being thrown out at the upper opening of the slot a, a,in any posi-
tion of the piece, and it guides the shell of the exploded cartridge as it is retracted
from the chamber, so as to insure its being thrown out at the top of the slot,
and prevents it falling backward toward the magazine and becoming entangled
in the breech. The projections 7, r¹, (Fig. 3), on the circular part of piece B,
assist in controlling the movements of the cartridge as it passes from the
magazine to the breech. The forward projection prevents the cartridge from
being pressed too far forward by the spring in the magazine, and the rearward
one raises and supports the cartridge in a line with the bore of the barrel,
thus ensuring its entering the chamber without jamming. When the breech
is closed, the point of the forward cartridge in the magazine rests in a notch
or recess K cut in the piece B to receive it, the object of said recess being
to prevent the ball from being pushed forward upon the periphery of the
piece B, so as to become wedged into the space above that piece and obstruct
the operation of the breech.

page_text: The arrangement of the lever G for throwing out the cases of the exploded
cartridges is one of the peculiar features of this Invention; that lever consists
of a thin piece of metal of the shape represented pivoted at j to the piece B
(see Fig. 3), and let into a recess h, i, in the side of said piece. It is free to
vibrate on its pivot j, its motion in either direction being stopped by the walls h
and i of the recess, or by pins if preferred; the recess in the latter case being
of greater width. When the breech is closed the lever G lies in a notch cut
to receive it in the frame and barrel. It is carried into said notch by the rear
wall of the recess coming into contact with it as the breech is closed, and it
enters just far enough to allow room for the flange of the cartridge to lie
between it and the face of the slide C. As the breech is rolling back at the
commencement of its opening movement, the friction of the cartridge case
against the sides of the chamber tends to hold back the upper end of lever G,
while its lower end is rapidly carried backward by reason of its attachment
to piece B. The effect of this is that the cartridge case is but slowly forced
back at the beginning of the movement, allowing time for the tongue m to
descend to the position shown in Fig. 2; before the cartridge case is entirely
withdrawn from the chamber. When the front wall i of the recess comes in
'contact with lever G, the cartridge case is quickly and forcibly drawn out of
the chamber, and moved up along the tongue m until it is discharged at the
top of the slot a, a. In closing the breech to reload the arm, the lever G is
carried back to its original position in the notch by the flange of the loaded
cartridge, when the loading is done from the magazine. The same movement
is readily effected by hand, when from any cause that mode of loading is
resorted to.
:
The magazine and its connections are represented in Figs. 1, 4, 5, and 6,
and I will now proceed particularly to describe it, referring specially to those
Figures.
A, marks the stock of the gun; B, the receiver, or that portion of the
frame in which the breech operates; C, the compound breech; D, marks the
outer tube of the compound magazine, which has a screw thread a¹ at its
forward end, and a similar thread i at its rear end. This tube, which I prefer
to make of brass, passes longitudinally through the stock, as shown in Fig. 1,
but is not inserted on the central line of the stock, but on a line slightly
inclined to the left, and enters the receiver on that side, so as to leave ample
room on the right of its forward end for the insertion of the lock of the piece.
The forward end of tube D is screwed into the rear end of the receiver, and
its rear end receives a nut E¹, which screwing down upon a shoulder in a
recess made in the rear end of the stock makes the tube D serve as a very

page_text: efficient means of strengthening the stock, and also of securing it firmly to the
breech portion of the gun. The forward end of tube D opens into a recess K
in the piece B of the breech, against which the points of the cartridges G², G²,
in succession rest on their way to the chamber of the gun; F, marks the
inner tube of the magazine, which is made of steel, and of such size as to slip
easily into the outer tube D. The forward and open end of this tube F is
bevelled or chamfered on its inner side, in the manner shown in Fig. 4, in
view, and in section in Fig. 1. A long slot k is cut in the side of this tube,
into which a pin or button from the plug P projects, by means of which the
plug can be retracted and held back at pleasure. The plug P is impelled
forward by the force of the spiral spring S, whose fixed end is attached in the
rear or closed end of tube F; this tube has on its rear end a cap G', which
has an arm H¹, which serves in connection with other devices as a means of
locking the tube to the stock when in place. A portion of the cap G¹ (not
shown in the Drawings), is cut away to allow it to pass the catch e¹, so that
the tube F may be completely inserted before the arm H is turned to lock
the tube in place. A channel c is cut in the periphery of the cap G¹ of
tube F, as seen in Figs. 1 and 4, and this channel in certain positions of tube F
engages with a pin or catch h¹ (Figs. 1 and 4), which holds the tube F
securely in the stock. The arm H₁ of the tube F has the cavity d¹ and
groove e on its inner face; the groove receives the rounded end of a pin d²,
which projects through the metal strap I on the back of the stock, and is
attached to and impelled outward by a spring g¹ attached to that strap by
screw f¹, in the manner shown in Fig. 1. The groove guides the pin d¹ into
the recess d, where it holds the arm H, and prevents it from moving laterally
while locked. The plug P, which drives the cartridges forward, is rounded on
its front end, as shown, so that it comes in contact only with the central part
of the rear end or base of the cartridge. The points of the balls also act on
the same point of the cartridges against which they are held.
The operation of this improved magazine is as follows:-When the
magazine is to be loaded, the inner tube is unlocked and withdrawn from
the stock; the cartridges are then dropped into the tube D with the points
towards the receiver, until the requisite number is introduced; the outer
tube F is then inserted, and by reason of the chamfer on the inner side passes
readily over the cartridges, the plug P being pressed back by them till it
occupies the extreme rear of tube F; tube F is then locked by turning the
arm H until the groove c¹ engages with catch h¹, and the pin d³ passes into
recess d¹ when the arm is ready for use.
There are various advantages resulting from this method of constructing

page_text: the magazine, which are not.secured, so far as I am aware, in any other
breech-loading repeating fire-arm; some of these I will now proceed to
point out.
First, but for the chamfer on the inner side of the tube F it would not pass
over the cartridges in tube D, and the magazine would have to be loaded by
retracting the plug and dropping the cartridges into tube F, and then inserting
that tube into the stock, a very inconvenient method, as by the slipping of the
plug from the finger the cartridges are liable to be scattered and lost, or
thrown into the outer tube prematurely, when they would have to be taken
out for a repetition of the operation.
Second, it has been objected to the use of self-exploding cartridges, that
there was great danger of their accidental explosion; but it will be observed,
that the fulminate or explosive composition being placed in the periphery of
the flange of the cartridge, and not in the centre by the rounded form of the
plug P, it can only touch in the centre of the base of the cartridge, as shown:
in Fig. 1, and thus all danger of explosion by blows upon the butt is avoided.
The plug also being constantly pressed up against the cartridges by the spring S,
all jarring or jolting, which might cause explosion, is prevented.
Third, the security of the cartridge from accidental discharge by blows from:
without the magazine, such, as the striking of a ball, &c., is obtained, first,
from the wood of the stock surrounding the magazine, and, second, from the:
double thickness of metal provided by the tubes D and F, the frame of which
may be as thick as may be thought desirable.
Fourth, in arms which have the magazine under the barrel, the weight
supported by the hand is continually changing as the cartridges are discharged,
and the aim is consequently liable to be disturbed, owing to the length of the
leverage at which the changing weight operates. In the arm herein described,
this disadvantage is almost entirely obviated by reason of the nearness of the
weight to the shoulder.
Fifth, in arms of the former class, when they are carried by cavalry with
the muzzle downwards, the cartridges rest upon the spring, and by the jolting:
resulting from the movements of the horse are liable to be destroyed. In my
arm, on the contrary, when carried in the same position, the cartridges rest
upon a solid support, and the spring presses them down up it, and no such
liability exists.
Sixth, the reserve cartridges are much more effectually cut off from the
danger of being ignited by the flash of the discharged cartridge, in case there
should be any leakage of gas, inasmuch as they are separated from the
chamber of the gun, when the discharge occurs, by the entire thickness of the

page_text: compound breech and by the length of the ball. They are also free from any
danger arising from the heating of the barrel by repeated rapid discharges.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, what is claimed and desired
to be secured by Letters Patént is,-
First, the compound breech consisting of the pieces B and C, constructed,
operated, and operating, substantially in the manner described.
Second, the combination with the compound breech B, C, of the guard
lever G, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
Third, the lever G arranged and operated substantially as described.
Fourth, constructing repeating fire-arms with a double metallic magazine
for containing fulminating cartridges situated in the stock of the piece, and
arranged and constructed as and for the purpose described.
Fifth, employing the outer tube D of the magazine as a means of strength-
ening the stock and securing it to the receiver, substantially in the manner
set forth.
Sixth, in a double-tube magazine, chamfering the inner side of the forward
end of the tube F, in the manner and for the purpose described.
Seventh, the combination of the outer tube D with the inner tube F, and
its spring S, and plug P, substantially as set forth.
Eighth, the arrangement of the groove c and catch h for conjoint operation,
as specified.
Ninth, the combination and arrangement of the cap G', arm H¹, recess d³,
and pin d, substantially in the manner described.
Tenth, the combination of the receiver B, tube D, nut E, and stock A, in
the manner and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Snell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
זבוזים
W. SNE
(L.D.)