IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH- LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND ORDNANCE, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THERE
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Craig, of 534, New Oxford Street, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-
LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND ORDNANCE, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THERE
Sealed the 3rd November 1865, and dated the 13th May 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Craig at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 13th
May 1865.
I, THOMAS CRAIG, of 534, New Oxford Street, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND ORDNANCE, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THERE-
WITH," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the details connected with the
opening and closing of the breech in rifled or smooth bored guns or pistols,
and ordnance, and in apparatus connected therewith, and has for its object
increased safety and durability, with extreme simplicity and strength of the
parts, whereby the action of loading and firing is rendered much more simple
and rapid than by any breech-loaders now in use.

page_text: The improvements consist in the breech of the barrel or barrels being cut
away longitudinally for a short distance on the upper side, or it may be done
on either side or below, so as to leave a kind of trough for the reception
laterally of a short tubular or solid breech piece or bolt, the said breech piece
or bolt being solid, and rounded off at the back end, and made to hinge upon
a joint at the back or rear end, so as to throw up and expose the breech end
of the barrel; the said breech piece can also be made to receive the charge.
In forming the hinge the hinge pin is made eccentric at the-part passing
transversely through the rear end of the barrels and bolt. The hinge pin is
made capable of being turned by means of an external handle or lever on one,
both, or either side of the gun or ordnance, or in the centre of the bolt above or
below, and when so partially turned its eccentricity when opening causes a
slight longitudinal and vertical movement to be imparted to the breech piece
or bolt. This longitudinal movement is made to securely lock the breech
piece hard up inside the barrel, where there is an annular recess, making a
tight and firm joint. This handle or lever may be made to turn down across,
with a hinged joint behind the bolt, when locked, filling up the recess. Through
this bolt longitudinally I place a striking rod or piston attached to a flat or
spiral spring when the hammer strikes it it passes out a little way in the
centre in front, and strikes a capsule in the end of the cartridge, and when
the hammer is raised the spring replaces it in its original position; a metal or.
other wad with a nipple and cap can be used with loose powder or explosive
cartridge. I also perforate the striking rod, and cap it at the rear end for
igniting the charge. To prevent accident a safety bolt attached to the breech
piece. is so arranged that by partially turning it the striking rod may be
locked or released as required. Another method is to place the lock inside the
tubular breech piece, which consists of a short striking rod, connected with the
eccentric rod, enclosed in a spiral spring within the tube, which is fitted with
a cap screwing on to its free end; the closed end of this cap has a small per-
foration in its centre, to allow the point of the rod to pass through on its way
to the cartridge or capsule, a sear with a spring and acted upon by the trigger
is placed so as to catch in a notch of the striking rod when cocked. The
operation of cocking and opening the breech piece is performed by the partial
revolution of the lever or handle of the eccentric rod, and drawing back the
striking rod till it is caught in the notch by the sear, when the breech piece is
at the same time raised, the charge then inserted, the breech piece shut down
again, and by drawing the trigger the sear is released from the notch in the
shank of the striker, which is instantly acted upon by the spring, thus effecting

page_text: the firing of the arm. A safety bolt is also attached to the breech piece and
so arranged that by partially turning it the striker may be locked or released
when required. With this Invention the ordinary nipple and pin cartridge
can be used. For the purpose of placing an extractor for withdrawing the
empty cartridge case, I cut a groove in the bottom or side of the breech
chamber and part of the circular rim of the annular recess in the barrel. The
extracting rod with the part circular rim are placed in the groove and annular
recess, and are attached by a link to the breech piece; or they may be attached
to the eccentric rod, and when opened and shut the extracting rod slides
backwards and forwards. I can also use a catch pin with part of the
annular rim attached and caught by an eye or hook in the breech piece, and
started out in a slide groove or a catch pin attached to the cartridge, and
drawn out by the eye or hook in the bolt.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Craig in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
November 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
CRAIG, of 534, New Oxford Street, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of. Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Thomas Craig, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas Craig,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Thomas Craig, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND ORDNANCE, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas
Craig, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their bands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same

page_text: 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 Thomas Craig, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to improvements connected with opening and
closing of the breech in rifled or smooth bored guns or pistols and ordnance,
and in apparatus connected therewith, and has for its object increased safety
and durability with extreme simplicity and strength of the parts, whereby the
action of loading and firing is rendered much more simple and rapid than by
any breech-loaders now in use. I cut away the breech end of the barrel or
barrels longitudinally for a short distance in the upper side, or it may be on
either side or below, so as to form a kind of trough for the reception of a
short tubular or solid breech piece or bolt, which is solid and rounded off at
the back end and hinged upon a joint at the said back or rear end so as to
throw up and expose the breech end of the barrels; this bolt can also be made
to receive the charge if desired. In forming the hinge the hinge pin is made
with an eccentric at the part passing transversely through the rear end of the
breech and bolt. The hinge pin is turned by means of an external lever
handle or lever on one, both, or either side of the gun or ordnance, or it may
be disposed in the centre of the bolt above or below, and when partially turned
on its axis the eccentric causes a slight longitudinal and subsequently a vertical
movement when opening to be imparted to the breech piece or bolt. The
longitudinal movement is made to securely lock the breech piece hard up
inside the barrel when shut, in which there is an annular recess making a
tight and firm joint. This handle or lever may be made to turn down across
with a hinged joint behind the bolt when locked filling up the recess.
Through this bolt or plug and longitudinally I place striking rod or piston,
constantly acted on by a flat or spiral spring; when the hammer strikes it it
passes out a little way in the centre in front, and strikes the capsule, in the
end of the cartridge; when the hammer is raised the spring replaces it in its
original position; a metal or other wad with a nipple and cap can be used
with loose powder or explosive cartridges. I also perforate the striking rod,
and cap at the rear end for igniting the charge. To prevent accidents a
safety bolt is attached to the breech piece, and is so arranged that by partially
a

page_text: turning it the striking rod may be locked or released as required. Another
method is to place the lock inside the tubular breech piece, which consists
of a short striking rod connected with the eccentric rod enclosed in a spiral
spring within the tube, which is fitted with a cap or screw plug screwing on
to its free end; the closed end of this cap has a small perforation in its centre
to allow the point of the rod to pass through to the cartridge or capsule; a
sear with a spring and acted upon by the trigger is placed so as to catch in
a notch of the striking rod when cocked. The operation of cocking and
opening the breech piece is performed by the movement of the lever or
handle which rotates the eccentric, drawing back the striking rod till its notch
is caught by the sear; the breech piece is at the same time raised, when the
charge may be inserted. The breech piece is now shut down, and the breech
thereby closed by drawing the trigger. The sear is released from the notch in
the shank of the striker, which is instantly acted upon and driven forwards
by the spring, and thereby affecting the firing of the arm. A safety bolt is
also attached to the breech piece, and so arranged that by partially turning
it the striker or sear may be locked or released when required. With this
Invention the ordinary nipple cap and pin cartridge can be used. For the
purpose of placing an extractor for withdrawing the empty cartridge case,
I cut a groove in the bottom or side of the breech chamber and part of the
circular rim of the annular recess in the barrel. The extracting rod with the
part circular rim is placed in the groove and annular recess, and is attached
by a link to the breech piece, or may be attached to the eccentric, which
extractor when the breech is opened and shut slides backwards and forwards.
I can also use a catch pin with part of the annular rim attached, and caught
by an eye or hook in the breech piece, and started out in a slide groove on a
catch pin attached to the cartridge, and drawn out by the eye or hook in the
bolt.
The primary object to be attained in breech-loading guns are facilities for
firing shots in rapid succession, which is incompatible with other than few and
simple movements of the parts of the gun whereby the loading is effected.
With this view I have arranged the parts of my improved gun, represented in
the Drawings annexed, so that by the simple movement of the lever by the
right hand while the gun is being lowered from the shoulder (after firing
and being still held by the left hand) the breech piece is withdrawn from the
recess in the breech and raise to a position permitting the insertion of the
cartridge. The case of the previously exploded cartridge is at same time
withdrawn, and the cocking of the gun simultaneously effected. By this

page_text: means the breech is opened, the cartridge case removed, and the gun cocked
by a single and simple movement, and it remains only to introduce a new
cartridge (this is simply dropped into the recess vacated by the breech plug,
& pushed forward into the barrel), and return the said plug to its former
position, which is performed by a movement the reverse of that by which it was
withdrawn and elevated. Thus the breech is opened, the charge introduced,
and the breech closed (with the exception of dropping in the cartridge), by two
facile and simple movements, and this while the gun is still in the horizontal
position, and therefore offering the necessary facilities for rapid firing. The
cartridges used are those having metal caps with central fire, the cap having
a projecting flange which drops into a transverse notch in the extractor,
whereby it is inserted and pushed forward into the barrel by the return
movement of the breech plug; the same hold which effects the insertion and
longitudinal thrust of the cartridge into the barrel also serves for the extraction
of the cartridge case, both being consequent on the motions of the breech
plug.
'
Fig. 1 represents a side view of the breech of a gun constructed according
to my Invention; Fig. 2 a longitudinal vertical section; and Fig. 3 a plan of
the same; while Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 represent some of the parts detached.
In this gun the "action" is contained in what I term the breech plug, sepa-
rately represented in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. Fig. 4 being a side view, Fig. 5 an under
side plan, and Fig. 6 a longitudinal section; & Fig. 7 an end view of the
same; while f8 shows a plan of the cartridge extractor detached, this breech
plug a is mounted in a recess b, b, in the barrel of the gun, best seen in plan,
Fig. 3, and mounted on an axis formed by an eccentric c turning on its
own axis d in the breech. The eccentric is free to rotate to a certain extent
in the plug a by motion imparted to it by the hand lever e fixed on said
axis d; the rotation of the eccentric c from the position shown in Fig. 2 draws
the plug a backwards, and withdraws the nose thereof from a recess in the
breech end of the barrel. After performing this limited motion, which is
performed while the hand lever e moves from the horizontal to the vertical
position shown in Fig. 1, the further movement of said lever e causes
the breech plug to rise from the horizontal to the inclined position shown in
line in Fig. 1. By the rotation of the eccentric in performing the motions
aforesaid it also operates on the action of the lock by means of a clawker f
attached by a joint pin near the circumference of the eccentric; this clawker
draws back the striking bolt g until it hooks on to the sear h, by which it is
held and released by the trigger i mnch in the ordinary manner, see different

page_text: positions, Figs. 2 and 6, of action for firing cartridges by central fire. The bolt
or hammer g is fitted in a circular recess in plug a, and pressed constantly
forwards by a spiral spring k, the striker end 1 being reduced and occupying
a small hole in the centre of the plug a, where it emerges to effect the central
firing of the cartridge. The sear his pivotted to plug a, and acted on by a
spring m, also fixed thereto, which keeps it up. The tail end of sear projects
through a slot in the lower part of the breech for the necessary contact with
the trigger i; p is the cartridge extractor, fitted in a dovetailed groove in the
bottom of recess b, in which it is free to slide longitudinally; r is the cross
groove in p to receive the lip of the metal cap in the cartridge, and whereby
it is manoeuvred (inserted and withdrawn from the barrel). The part p is
connected to the plug a by a link s jointed at the one end to p, and at the
other to a. By its connection with a the extractor p is moved back and forth
by the rising and lowering motion of the plug a. To secure the action of the
gun in the cocked position, if necessary I apply a small thumb levert on the
top of a small round rod u, (see Figs. 2 and 3); the one half of the lower end
of this rod or bolt is cut away, and which when turned in the one position
permits the striker rod to move freely, but which when turned half round
(while the striker is cocked) is received in a small recess in the side of the
striker, or both striker and sear may be locked as seen in Figs. 9 & 13, and
so fix the striker at full cock; x is a hinged tail piece, which lies on the top
at the rear end of plug enclosing the recess behind the plug, but permitting.
its freedom of action at all times.
In order to render the action of the clawker f more certain I channel out
the upper surface of the striker rod to receive the tooth of the clawker, through
the head of which I pass a small pin y; this pin is received in slots in the
cheeks between which the clawker slides, and prevents the possibility of the
clawker getting out of gear. Instead of cocking the action by the motion of
the clawker f, as herein-before described, I sometimes do so by means of a
peculiarly formed recess in one or both sides of the breech into which a pin or
pins (one on either side) of the striker g takes. This modification is repre-
sented in Figs. 9 and 10, Fig. 9 being a horizontal section of the breech,
while Fig. 10 is a vertical section of the same, but with the plug removed.
In this case the striker rod 9 has simply a cross pin j, which projects through
slots j,j, in the side of the plug a, or one pin only may be used on one side.
The projecting ends j, j, of the pin are received in recesses z, z, in the fixed
cbeeks or sides of the plug chamber. The one and smaller curve of this
cavity is described from the axis of the breech plug, while the other curved

page_text: surface is described from a different centre, and of the form represented. The
straight side of the cavity is in the line of motion of the striker g; when the
gun has been fired the pin j will be in the forward position shown dotted, but
will occupy the line position (circle) when at full cock. The action of cocking
is performed by the rising of the breech plug, which is operated as before
described; during its rise the pin, starting from its dotted position (Fig. 10)
will bear against the curved side of cavity of the larger radius, and will be
gradually brought closer to the axis of the plug a till it arrives at its highest
dotted position, or nearly so, when the catch of the striker 7 will take on to
the sear h, and will thereby be full cocked. When the plug a is lowered into
the breech chamber the pin will take the direction of the smaller curve,
and arrive at the position shown by the circle j, and be at full cock. All the
other movements and parts of the gun are the same as before described, and
need not be repeated, with the exception of the pink fixed in the back end of the
breech plug, see lateral section, Fig. 11, the point of which is projected through,
towards and received into a quadrant recess formed on the periphery of the
eccentric. The object of this is that the eccentric after a limited amount of
motion shall by its further rotation lift the plug a as and for the purpose
.before described.
Fig. 12 represents an arrangement of the breech plug a mounted on the
eccentric according to my Invention, and as before explained, but has a lock
or action separate therefrom, and like an ordinary gun, the hammer n of
which takes effect on the striker g disposed in an inclined position as shown;
the striker is brought back by a slight spring surrounding it shown dotted.
A projection or cam 1 on the boss of the hand levere takes on to a projec-
tion 2 on the bammer arm, and balf cocks it when motion is given to the lever
to lift the plug a. This gun is placed at full cock by raising the hammer
as in ordinary perenssion locks.
My improvements. are equally applicable in the construction of orduance
and pistols, which will be readily understool without reference to Drawings, the
-principle being precisely similar, but with the parts modified to suit the altered
circumstances. For these arms the powder and ball are usually introduced
into the gun separately, the plug-a may therefore be much shorter in propor-
tion to the bore than that represented in the Drawings, which is constructed
for the introduction of a ball cartridge of considerable length.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be pro-
tected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the several

page_text: arrangements and combinations of parts represented in the Drawings annexed,
in the construction of breech-loading guns, ordnance, and pistols, and in
apparatus connected therewith, all as and for the purposes herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Craig, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
THOS. CRAIG. (L.S.)