IMPROVE- MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, PROJECTILES, AND CARTRIDGES, AND IN TOOLS OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PROJECTILES
Year: 1863

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Wilson at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 14th December
1863.
I, THOMAS WILSON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, PROJECTILES, AND CARTRIDGES, AND IN TOOLS
OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PROJECTILES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists, firstly, of the following improvements in that class
of breech-loading fire-arms described in the Specification of Letters Patent
granted to me, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, No. 1318, in which said
Specification a sliding plug is made to open and close the breech end of the
barrel, the said plug being retained firmly in its place by a flat bolt or cotter
passed transversely through a slot or opening in the said plug, and abutting
against shoulders formed in the breech end of the barrel.
The improvements constituting the first part of my Invention are as
follows-I connect the locking bolt or cotter to the under side of a lever
jointed to the breech end of the barrel, as described in the Specification before
referred to, the said bolt or cotter in this case having a vertical motion
instead of a horizontal motion. The sliding plug is attached to the ever

page_text: carrying the bolt or cotter by a leaf plate or cover, one end of which is jointed
to a projection on the top of the plug and the other end to the said lever. The
lever to which the bolt is connected is provided with a thumb-plate, by
which the said lever is raised. The bottom of the bolt is inclined, the
lowest end being nearest the butt end of the stock, and when the bolt is
in its place in the breech end the back bears against shoulders made in the
barrel. By raising the lever carrying the bolt the said bolt is lifted from
the breech end, and the sliding plug is at the same time withdrawn from
the end of the barrel, leaving the said barrel open for the introduction of
the charge.
My Invention consists, secondly, of the following improvements in con-
structing and working the sliding plugs of breech-loading fire-arms having
fixed barrels I make in the sliding plug by which the breech end of the
barrel is opened and closed a longitudinal slot, in which said slot I fit a steel
tongue or bar, one end of which tongue or bar is jointed to the forward end of
the sliding plug, the other end being free to move up or down in the slot or
opening in the breech end. The lower edge of the tongue or bar has a
projection which, when the sliding plug closes the end of the barrel, enters a
slot in the bottom of the breech end of the barrel, the end of the said projec-
tion bearing firmly against a shoulder formed at the rear of the said slot, and
thus sustaining the plug firmly in its place during discharge. A lever or
cover is hinged to the rear of the breech end; to this lever the steel tongue
or bar is jointed at or near its middle. By raising or lowering the said lever
or cover by a thumb-plate at its free end the steel tongue is raised or lowered
and the sliding plug worked backwards or forwards in the breech end, and the
said breech end thereby opened closed.
My Invention consist, thirdly, of the following improvements in con-
structing or arranging the breech ends of such breech-loading fire-arms as
have fixed barrels and are provided with plugs for opening and closing the
breech ends I elongate the breech end of the barrel some three or four
inches and cut an opening in the elongated part, through which opening the
plug and parts connected to it herein-after described can be passed into and
lifted out of the breech end and the cartridge or charge introduced into the
barrel. On the top of the breech end of the barrel a flat plate or lever is
jointed, the joint being situated a short distance in front of the opening in the
said breech end. This plate or lever when shut down closes the opening in
the breech end. On the under side of the said plate or lever two circular eyes
or bearings are formed, through which eyes the plug by which the breech end
of the barrel is opened and closed is passed and supported. The rear part of

page_text: the plug is screwed so as to have a quick motion, and takes into a screw box
or nut situated and working freely between the before-mentioned eyes or
bearings. This screw box or nut has both on its upper and lower side a rib
or projection, the upper rib working in a slot in the lever or flat plate, and the
lower rib (when the said lever or plate is shut down) taking into a slot in the
bottom of the breech end of the barrel, an opening being made in the said
bottom of the barrel in which the lower side of the screw box works. In the
forward end of the lever or cover near its joint an opening is made, which
opening when the said lever is shut down closes upon a solid projection
formed on the breech end of the barrel, the said projection forming an abut-
ment for the said lever when the breech end is closed for firing. The acting
end of the plug is conical and fits on a corresponding conical seat in the end
of the barrel when the plug is screwed up, the said plug being worked by a
handle or thumb-plate on its free end. A spring is placed between the back
eye on the lever and the screw box to press the screw box towards the
muzzle end of the gun. The lever carrying the plug and screw box having
been depressed through the opening in the breech end the plug is brought
into a line with the axis of the barrel, and by screwing home the said plug by
turning the thumb-plate on its end the conical end of the plug enters the
conical seat at the end of the barrel, and securely closes the said barrel, the
pressure on the plug by discharge being borne by the abutment, which
engages with the lever near its joint and the screw box, which bears against
shoulders, one in the said lever and the other in the bottom of the barrel.
To clear the breech end for reloading the plug is turned so as to withdraw
the conical end from the end of the barrel; the screw box is at the same time
advanced on the screw of the plug, and is liberated from the shoulders on the
bottom of the barrel and on the lever. The lever can now be turned on its
joint and the plug and other parts carried by it lifted from the breech end of
the barrel.
My Invention consists, fourthly, of the improvements herein-after described
in locking down and releasing the barrels of breech-loading fire-arms, known
as drop-down fire-arms, or fire-arms in which the barrels turn in a vertical
plane on a joint on the body, their open breech ends being fixed against the
face of a break-off on the body during discharge and lifted from the break-off
for loading. The barrels turn upon a joint in the ordinary way.
under side of the said barrels is provided with a lump or rib, which said
lump when the barrels are shut down passes through a slot or opening in
the body of the break-off. In the front edge of the lump I form a notch or
recess, into which notch or recess a locking bolt or slide is pressed by a spring
The

page_text: when the barrels are shut down. On the under side of the body of the
break off two guides or bearings are situated, in which guides or bearings the
locking bolt before referred to works. The said bolt has a slot through it
corresponding with that in the body of the break-off, the upper face of the
said slot against which the curved end of the lump acts being bevilled. On
depressing the barrels for discharge the lump on their under side passes
through the slot in the body and acts against the bevilled side of the slot in
the bolt, pressing the said bolt from the break-off until the recess or notch in
the said lump comes opposite the slot in the bolt, when the bolt springs
forward into the said recess or notch and holds the barrels firmly to the body
during discharge. The bolt is prolonged to allow it to pass under the break-
off, and is worked by a thumb-piece and lever situated in the head of
the stock. To release the bolt from the lump, the lever is pressed from the
break-off, the bolt is thereby moved towards the muzzle end of the fire-arm
and withdrawn from the lump, when the barrels can be raised for loading.
The spring which acts upon the bolt may either be made to bear against the
front of the bolt or against the lever by which it is worked. Instead of
working the bolt by a lever in the head of the stock, the said bolt may
be worked by a lover situated underneath the stock and in a line with the
trigger guard, the said lever being connected to the forward or rear end of the
bolt. These improvements may be applied to single and double barrelled
fire-arms. Instead of placing the locking bolt or slide in the body of the
break-off, it may be placed in the rib between or at the top of the barrels.
The said locking bolt in this case is made to engage in a recess in the
break-off by means of a spring, and is disengaged by means of a pin in
the break-off, being made to press the said locking bolt from out the said
recess.
My Invention consists, fifthly, of the improvements herein-after described,
in fastening down and moving the barrels of breech-loading fire-arms, in
which the barrels have a longitudinal motion to and from the break-off; I
form on the breech ends of the barrels a longitudinal rib or tongue piece.
The said tongue piece is nearly as broad as the barrels, and passes through a
slot in the break-off into the head of the stock. To the end of the said rib
or tongue piece I joint a bar or lever constructed to act as a bolt or prop, the
rear end bearing against a shoulder on the end of the rib or tongue pièce, and
the other end bearing against the back of the break-off, the said bar or lever
thus forming a stay or prop and firmly securing the barrels in the position for
discharge. The bar or lever constituting the prop or stay is connected to the
break-off through a split strap or link, one end of the said link being jointed

page_text: to the break-off and the other, end to the bar or lever at or near the middle
thereof. By raising the fixing bar or lever from the stock by a thumb-plate
on its free end the barrels are at liberty to move, and by continuing to raise
the bar or lever it slides the barrels from the break-off and exposes their open
breech ends for charging the joint of the strap or link acting as a fulcrum
during the motion of the bar or lever. By depressing the bar or lever the
barrels are first moved back against the break-off and afterwards fixed in the
manner already described.
My Invention consists, sixthly, of the improvements herein-after described
in sliding and fixing double barrelled breech-loading fire-arms of the kind
last described. I form on the body of the break-off a fixed vertical projection
or upright, the said upright working in a slot between the barrels and pro-
jecting a short distance above the top of the said barrels. The slot or
opening between the barrels is of a length sufficient to permit the barrels to
be moved the required distance from the break-off for charging. To the top
of the said rib a flat strap or lever is connected in the manner herein-after
described, the free or rear end of the said strap having a rectangular opening
made in it, which opening when the said strap is shut down engages with two
lumps or projections, one formed on the back of the break-off and the other
on the extreme breech ends of the barrels. When the open ends of the
barrels are brought against the face of the break-off the strap shuts down
upon the projection on the said barrels and that on the break-off, and thereby
binds the said barrels firmly to the break-off. The end of the locking strap
or lever is jointed to the barrels, and the said strap or lever is connected
to the upright between the barrels by a link or lever jointed to the said
upright and to the said strap or bolt. By raising or lowering the locking
strap or lever the barrels can be made to retire from or advance against
the break-off, and thus open or close the breech ends for charging, or
discharging.
'
My Invention consists, seventhly, of the following method of constructing
and making mechanically fitting projectiles for fire-arms:- Instead of forming
the projections which engage with the grooves in the barrels on the rear end
or on the whole length of the projectile, as is usual, I form the said projec-
tions near the front or forward end of the projectile. The centre of gravity is
thereby placed more in front of the projectile, and its accurate flight more
effectually insured. I manufacture these mechanically shaped or fitting pro-
jectiles by first compressing them in dies to give the required thickness and
shape to the belt or band on the front end, and I afterwards pass, them

page_text: through a cutting die to give the said belts or bands the figure of the rifle
grooves for which they are intended.
}
The cutting die or tool is made as follows:-The said tool is tubular,
having an internal figure corresponding to the external figure to be given to
the projectile. The cutting end of the tool is made conical externally, and
the said tool is kept in repair by turning or filing away the conical end, by
which means a fresh cutting edge is produced. This cutting die or tool may
be employed for making other projectiles with projections on the rear or other
part of the said projectiles.
My improvements in projectiles consist further in making the body of iron,
and the fore end, which takes into the rifling, of lead, or of an alloy of lead
and tin. The centre of gravity is thereby thrown forward and the more
accurate flight of the projectile insured. When the projectile is a mecha-
nically fitting one, the belt with the projections herein-before described is
made of the heavier metal.
My improvements in projectiles consist further in making projectiles for
breech-loading fire-arms as follows:-I make the projectile with a conical
shoulder at its rear end. When the said projectile is placed in the barrel the
said conical shoulder bears against the ends of the lands of the rifling, and
the projectile is thereby prevented from being shaken forward.
I
My invention consists, lastly, of the following improvements in cartridges
for fire-arms-I form the cartridge case of paper in the usual manner.
then form a paper cap or end of larger diameter than the case, and fit in the
said cap a disc of sheet tin or copper having a slightly concave figure. I next
put into the said cap a disc of metal sufficiently hard to resist the blow from
the hammer of the fire-arm. In the centre of the last-mentioned disc a
cavity or recess is made which is filled with detonating powder. The cap is
then glued upon the cartridge case and the said case filled with powder and
bullet and finished in the ordinary way. The detonating powder may be
placed in the copper or tin disc of the cap or cover instead of in the hard
metal disc as described. The object of the metal plate or disc, in which
the detonating powder is placed, is to form an anvil or hard surface in
the end of the cartridge, so as to insure the ignition of the charge. Car-
tridges of the construction described are ignited by a pin or hammer from
behind striking against the detonating powder and thereby discharging the
cartridge.
My improvements in cartridges consist, further, in making cartridges for
breech-loading fire-arms as follows:-I place a disc of card or millboard in

page_text: the cartridge at the base of the bullet, the said disc being of somewhat larger
diameter than the bullet. The said disc of card or millboard bears against
the ends of the lands of the rifling and prevents the cartridge from being
shaken forward, and on discharge is driven into and wipes out the rifle
grooves.