IMPROVE- MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN CARTRIDGES AND PROJECTILES, A PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS ALSO APPLICABLE FOR CONVERTING MUZZLE- LOADING FIRE-ARMS INTO BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James MacNaughton, of the City and County of
Edinburgh, North Britain, Gun Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN CARTRIDGES AND PROJECTILES,
A PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS ALSO APPLICABLE FOR CONVERTING MUZZLE-
LOADING FIRE-ARMS INTO BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 11th October 1867, and dated the 5th July 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James MacNaughton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th July 1867.
I, JAMES MACNAUGHTON, of the City and County of Edinburgh, North
Britain, Gun Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN CARTRIDGES AND PRO-
JECTILES, A PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS APPLICABLE FOR CONVERTING MUZZLE-
LOADING FIRE-ARMS INTO BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows, that is
to say:
This said Invention has reference mainly to a new or improved construction
or form and arrangement of the parts at the breech of double and single
barrelled fowling pieces, guns, rifles, or other "small fire-arins" which the
A

page_text: Petitioner believes is a more simple and efficient mechanical arrangement for
making such fire-arms "breech-loading," and especially applicable also for the
conversion of muzzle-loading fire-arms into breech-loading fire-arms of the
same class, and when so constructed will be more easily and quickly loaded,
and more safe in their use in firing, with less wear and friction than such guns
have been as heretofore constructed; and, further in improvements in cartridges
and projectiles which will give the projectiles the screw or spiral action on their
axes in their flight through the air when fired from a smooth bored gun, and
give the advantages obtained by rifling the guns without the expense of doing so.
That part of this said Invention referring to breech-loading fire-arms when
applied to a double-barrelled gun (or to a single-barrelled gun when desired)
consists in giving both a vertical swivel motion and longitudinal sliding motion
to the barrels upon the bed of the body on which they slide and to which they are
attached for this purpose by a joint formed on its extreme forward end, by
preference lengthened out to or near to the point where the wood part of the
stock ends, and a round joint pin passed through a short slotted joint hole in
the "lump" fixed on the under side of the barrel forming the centre link or
binge of the joint attaching the barrels to the body, the round pin having a
slot and small pin attachment to one side of the joint on the body to allow of
its lateral motion for mounting and dismounting the barrels to and from the
body and stock. The under side of this sliding and swivel joint being flat and
parallel to the slotted joint in the "lump," and to the bed of the body on which
the barrels rest allows the barrels to be freely moved back and forward by
a duplex cam working within a slot below the breech end of the barrels formed
up through the front part of the trigger plate and corresponding part of the
stock and body upon a strong pin joint near the upper part of the cam and
centre of the slot in the upper part of the body, and having a simple
actuating hand lever projecting down from the lower part of the cam in front
of the bow of the trigger guard, round the front and under part of which it is
made to fit or lie and be disposed in the same manner as 'has been done with
the levers of other kinds of locking mechanism, but clasped in this case when
the barrels are locked by a bevelled notch or "under cut"
groove on the
side or edge of the finger piece of the lever which is rounded off and projects
laterally from the side of guard, where the notch takes over the edge. of the
guard, sharpened at this part for the purpose by the natural spring of the
guard which holds the lever when "pressed home," and the lever may have
a vertical knob or raised rounded part at the end, instead of or in addition to
the lateral finger piece before-named for the fingers to catch on in actuating it;
into which said slot in the body a strong and rather long locking "lump"

page_text: also works or slides, and guides the breech ends of the barrels and locks them
fast down to the body by a locking catch or bolt formed on the under back
end of the "lump," with a slight wedge or tightening mechanical action into.
or under the solid back end of the slot, or a notch, formed there for the
purpose. This actuating cam is embraced within a recess formed in the centre
of the breech-locking "lump," the back edge surface of which and that of:
the cam draws back the barrels and locks their breech open ends and
cartridges hard up against the vertical back abutting face of the body or
"action" as the band lever is brought back to its clasped position against the
guard by the right hand of the operator through or by the backward curvi-
linear wedge or cam mechanical action of these surfaces, and by the portion
near their top, which being nearly at right angles to the horizontal line of.
motion and strain in firing, as the cam slips into the locked position when
the lever is clasped any strain capable of being brought upon the cam in
firing or otherwise only tends to tighten or clasp the lever more firmly in its:
locked position against the trigger guard. This backward traverse of the bar-
rels, by the said action of the back cam surfaces and breech "locking lump,".
also effects the locking of the barrels to the fore part of the body by a pro-
jection formed on the under back end of a fore-locking "lump" fixed on the
under side of the barrels, sliding and taking into a slot and notch at its back
end in the centre of the body, a little behind the slotted and swivelling joint,.
so that the simple action of the drawing back the hand lever of the cam to the
guard effects the drawing back and locking of the ends of the barrels and car-
tridges hard up against the back "false breech" or abutting face of the "body"
so as to make a close joint at the breech, and at the same time make a strong,
simple, and efficient double lock-fast joiut of the barrels to the sole or bed of
the body, that is, at the extreme back and front of the body as described.
The simple unclasping of the hand lever of the cam from the guard by the knob
provided for the purpose, and pushing it forward, causes the second or front cam
surface of the duplex locking and unlocking cam, which is by preference formed
of an excentric or curvilinear wedge cam surface increasing forward and down--
wards from the joint, acting on a hollow cam surface of the same shape or nearly
coinciding with it, on the front inner edge of the recess formed in the breech-
locking "lump," which presses forward the barrels and disengages the two
locking catches of the two locking "lumps" from the notches in the back ends
of their sliding slots. At this time the gun is carried loosely in the hollow of.
the left hand a short distance in front of the cam lever, which hangs down free
without inconvenience when the barrels are slackened forward by the cam as:
described. In this position the mere slacking of the fingers of the left hand.

page_text: وو
off the top of the barrels allows them to be turned on their swivel and sliding
joint by the weight of the barrels in front of the fulcrum, and by the pressure
of a small spring upon the under side of the fore locking "lump" attached to
the body behind the swivel joint, which raises the breech ends of the barrels
high enough to admit of withdrawing the spent or empty cases of the cartridges
and inserting fresh charged and loaded ones at the extreme open breech ends
of the barrels over the top of the "false breech or " abutting crown or
head of "body," a notch on the under side of the slotted swivel "lump"
some little distance back from the front end in this position when quite
forward allows the barrels to tilt up, and forms a stop to the hinge or joint to
retain them at the proper height for loading, while at the same time the front
of the notch carried forward over the upper front edge or end of the slot in
which the fore joint "lump" works catches on it and prevents the barrels
from being pushed backward until they are flat down upon the body. The
spent cartridge cases having been previously slackened back a short distance
by a duplex segmental extractor plate at the open back ends between the
barrels, having a square stem attached to it, with its angles by preference in a
vertical and horizontal position sliding in a groove through the upper part of
the "breech-locking lump" so far much of a usual construction, but by these
improvements having the free end pressing against the upper part of a short
angular and wedge acting lever fulcrumed on the lower edge of the front end
of the breech-locking "lump," so that as the barrels are forced forward by the
cam lever the wedge lever comes in contact with the front end of the slot in
the body in which the breech "lump" slides, so as to press it up against the
end of the spindle of the cartridge extractor and cause its segmental parts to
catch and press the two cartridge cases out or back automatically as the
barrels are pressed forward. When it is requisite to work the extractor so as
to withdraw a case or cartridge by hand without the lateral motion of the
barrels or turning of the cam lever, this is simply done by the fingers of the
left hand drawing down the barrels sharply into their seat on the body, which
causes the short angled lever to come vertically down against the end of the
slot in the body at the breech, which is rounded off for the purpose, and
together with the angle of the lever forms a wedge mechanical action which
forces out the cartridge case simply and instantaneously by the left hand, while
the right is free and ready to take hold of the empty case to remove it the
moment the left hand has again released the barrels. The barrels when so
loaded at the breech are brought down to bear on the body by the fingers of
the left hand, and the cam lever pulled back and clasped on the guard by the
right hand, as before described, when the piece is all ready for "cocking" and

page_text: firing in the usual manner. A small cover or shutter is attached by a pin to
a curved slot close round the periphery of the cam or excentric surface,
which forces the barrels forward so as to cover the open part of the slot
in the front of the guard plate, where the cam lever works out through it,
either hinged to the front end of the slot or made to slide in grooves at the
edges for the purpose, which makes all neat and clean and prevents all dust
from getting into the acting cam surfaces. A round sliding stein may also be
used attached to the extractor plate, which in this case may be lengthened.so
as to have a second or short pin attached to it at the upper part working in a
hole in the solid metal between the barrels at the breech, which will prevent
the segmental plate from turning when out. And when these improvements
are applied to single-barrelled guns, rifles, or other such small fire-arms a thin
flat stem may be used sliding in the breech-lock "lump" in each case attached
below the centre of the barrel, this stem being fixed to a small segmental
extractor plate at the under circumference of the open breech end of the barrel.
These improvements in breech-loading guns are applicable for the use of
nearly all kinds of cartridges and projectiles used for breech-loading fire-arms
generally, and particularly so for the stiff paper cartridges of the central firing.
class fired by the usual oblique or direct and spring striking pistou passed
through the crown or head of the body or action, or to those fired by the.
vertical striking piston or plug within the cartridge itself, both of which
are much used, as well as for the use of cartridges and projectiles formed iu
the new or improved manner herein-after to be described in accordance with
this Invention.
The practical gun maker will at once see the alterations necessary to convert
muzzle-loading fire-arms into breech-loading fire-arms in accordance with these
improvements, which must necessarily vary according to the particular form of
fire-arms to be converted. The main or essential alterations however may be
mentioned, which are few, and could be done at less expense than that of any
of the breech-loading guns which the Petitioner is aware of, as the stocks and
their locks or "actions" generally would all suit with the following inexpensive
alterations, namely, the removal of the old body and break off and breech
or breeches in the case of a double-barralled gun, the boring out of the
chambers at the breech to receive the cartridges, hard soldering the rear
locking "lump," and soft soldering the fore locking and joint "lumps" to the
under side of the barrels, and fitting extractor to them'; also attaching to the
barrels a new body in one long piece or in two pieces, as thought most suitable,
and fitted to the old stock in place of the old "break off," and extending out
to the frout of the stock occupying the place of the old rod hole, having the

page_text: new cam lever for traversing and locking the barrels jointed thereto, all as
herein-before described.
The new or improved features of that part of this said Invention referring
to cartridges and projectiles consists essentially in forming a conical rifled
hole right through the axis of elongated projectiles, bullets, or shot, having
two or more spiral rifled grooves formed on the inner surface of the conical
hole, the very small hole being at the point or fore end, and the large end at
the base or back end of the projectile, which may be made of any of the
usual forms at present in use, such as conoidal, sphero-conoidal, or cylindrical
with flat head as desired. The projectiles so constructed are either made up
into cartridges and inserted therewith into the gun at the breech or muzzle,
or as is done in muzzle-loading inserted separtely after the main charge of
powder has been introduced, and the whole then rammed home; in either
case a small portion of paper or wadding is inserted in the inside of the small
end of the rifled hole, and the remainder of the hole filled to the very base
with powder, and having a thin covering of paper or other thin colfin,
diaphrgm, or wadding laid over it, or between it and the main charge, for
retaining the powder within the projectile; but this division for retaining the
powder within the projectile must be permeable by the fire of the explosion
of the main charge of powder so as to burn it instantaneously through and
explode the powder or charge within the projectile, which explosion would
expand its shell or sides so as to fill the bore of the barrel and blow out the
wadding at the point, when the force of the fire or exploded gases passing out
along the grooves and feathers of the conoidal hole would cause the projectile
to revolve in a spiral direction in the same manner as if the gun barrel had
been rifled.
These cartridges and projectiles so constructed are suitable for breech-loading
fire-arms, as described under the first part of this said Invention, or to others
of the breech-loading or muzzle-loading class as usually constructed, and
also to heavy ordnance.
'
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James MacNaughton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st January 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
MACNAUGHTON, of the City and: County of Edinburgh, North Britain, Gun
Maker, send greeting..

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of
Her reign did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said James MacNaughton, Her special licence that I, the said James
MacNaughton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said James MacNaughton, 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 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 "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN CARTRIDGES AND PROJECTILES,
A PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS ALSO APPLICABLE FOR CONVERTING MUZZLE-
LOADING FIRE-ARMS INTO BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said James MacNaughton, 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 the 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 James MacNaughton, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet
of Drawings, and to the several illustrative figures, letters, and numerals
marked thereon, the same reference letters and numerals indicating the same
or corresponding parts in all the Figures, all of which I have hereunto appended
for the purpose of showing the best modifications and means I am at present
aware of for practically performing or putting my said Invention into practice,
that is to say:-
My said Invention has reference mainly to a new or improved construction
or form and arrangement of the parts at the breech of double and single
barrelled fowling pieces, guns, rifles, or other "small fire-arms" which I
believe is a more simple and efficient mechanical arrangement for making
such "fire-arms" breech-loading "and especially applicable also for the
conversion of muzzle-loading fire-arms into breech-loading fire-arms of the
same class, and when so constructed will be more easily and quickly loaded
and more safe in their use in firing with less wear and friction than such

page_text: guns have been as heretofore constructed; and farther, in improvements in
cartridges and projectiles which will give the projectiles the screw or spiral
action on their axes in their flight through the air when fired from a smooth
bored gun, and give the advantages obtained by rifling the guns without the
expense of doing so.
In specifying the first and main part of my said Invention, referring to
breech-loading fire-arms, I have considered it sufficient to show the Invention
as applied to a double-barrelled gun (as it will be evident to the practical
gun maker that but slight modifications in a few mere details is necessary
to make it equally applicable to a single-barrelled gun when desired).
Figure 1 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings is a full-sized side
elevation of a sufficient part of the action or motion and "breech" of a
double-barrelled gun or "fowling piece" constructed in accordance with and
illustrative of one modification of this first part of my said Invention, and
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the same taken on the irregular dotted
line 1, 1, (in Figure 4) through the axis of the left-hand barrel, and through
the "rear" and "fore lump," so as to show more particularly the construction
and arrangement of the parts, of the locking action or mechanism of the
barrels, and their position when the barrels are locked hard up to the head or
crown of the body and down upon its upper surface; while Figures 3 and 4
are transverse vertical sections corresponding to Figures 1 and 2, and taken
on the dotted lines '2, 2, and 3, 8, in these Figures; Figure 5 is a sectional
elevation of the same parts of the gun complete, corresponding to Figures 1
and 2, but showing the barrels as unlocked, freed back, and tilted up from the
body, as effected by the downward motion of the locking cam lever, and also
the position of these and other parts of the barrel locking action when the
barrels are in proper position for withdrawing the spent cartridge cases and
inserting fresh filled ones; and Figure 6 is a plan of the same corresponding
to Figure 5, but with the barrels as removed, so as to show more particularly
the construction of the locking parts in the body on a horizontal plane.
My said Invention, as particularly shown in this modification Figures 1 to
6 inclusive, consists essentially in giving both a vertical swivel motion and
longitudinal sliding motion to the barrels A upon the bed of the body B, on
which they slide, and to which they are attached for this purpose by a
joint C formed at the extreme forward end of the body B, which for this
purpose is by preference lengthened out to or near to the front or point where
the wood part of the stock 6 usually ends, and a round joint pin C¹ passed
through round holes in the sides of the joint formed by the body B and the
short slotted joint hole C in the fore "lump" D fixed on the under side of

page_text: the barrels forming the centre link or hinge of the joint C attaching the
barrels A to the body B, the round pin C₁ having the slot c and a small pin
attached to one side of the joint on the body to allow of its lateral motion for
mounting and dismounting the barrels A to and from the body B and stock b.
The under side or edge of the sliding and swivel joint C and bearing under
surfaces of the "lump" D are flat and parallel to the slotted joint C³ and to
the bed of the body B on which the barrels A rest, which allows the barrels A
to be moved freely back and forward by the duplex cam E working within
the slot F below the breech end of the barrels A formed up through the front
part of the trigger plate G and corresponding part of the stock 6 and body B
upon a strong pin joint e near the upper part of cam E and centre of the
slot F in the upper part of the body B. The cam E bas a simple actuating
hand lever E formed upon it so as to project down from its lower edge in
front of the bow of the trigger guard g, round the front and under part of
which it is made to fit or lie, and be disposed in the same manner as has been
done with levers of other kinds of locking mechanism, but clasped in this
case, when the barrels A are locked by a bevilled notch at E, or under cut
groove on the side or edge of the thumb or finger piece of the lever E¹, where
it is rounded off and projects laterally as a knob E from the side of the
lever E' and guard g. The notch E of the lever takes over the edge of the
guard g sharpened at this part for the purpose by the natural elasticity or
spring of the guard g which holds the lever when "pressed home" upon it.
When desired the lever E' may have a vertically projecting knob or raised
rounded part formed on it at the end instead of or in addition to the lateral
thumb or finger piece E³ before referred to for the fingers to catch on in
actuating it; or if preferred the cam E might be fixed by a square eye pin or
key to the axis e, which could then work out through the right-hand side of
the body B and stock b, having the hand lever E' fast on its outer end, and
either kneed so as to clasp under the guard g as described, or made nearly
straight and clasped on a spring catch at the side or edge of the stock b if
preferred. Into the slot F, in which the cam E works, a strong and rather
long locking "lump" H works or slides, so as to guide the breech ends of the
barrels A and lock them fast down to the body B by the locking catch or
bolt h formed on the under back end of the "lump" H with a slight wedge or
tightening mechanical action into or under the solid back end f of the slot F
or a notch formed there for the purpose. The actuating cam E is embraced
within a recess formed in the centre of the breech locking "lump" H, the
back edge surface H' of which, and that e¹ of the cam, draw back the barrels A
and lock their breech open ends A and cartridges a hard up against the vertical

page_text: back abutting face B¹ of the body or "action" as the band lever E¹ is brought
back and up to its clasped position against the guard g by the right hand of
the operator through or by the backward curvilinear wedge or cam mechanical
action of these surfaces H' and el. The top part of these surfaces, which
corresponds to the last acting part of their motion in locking the barrels, as
seen in Figure 2, being near the top rather above the axis e of the cam at
right angles to the horizontal line of motion and strain on the barrel and cam
in fixing and firing, as the cam E slips into the locked position when the lever
is clasped, any strain capable of being brought upon the cam E in firing or
otherwise only tends to tighten or clasp the lever E¹ more firmly in its locked
position against the trigger guard g. This backward traverse of the barrels by
the said action of the back cam surface e¹ and breech locking "lump" H' also
effects the locking of the barrel to the fore part of the body by a projection i
formed on the under back end of the fore locking "lump" I fixed on the
under side of the barrels A sliding and taking into a slot J and notch j at its
back end in the centre of the body B a little behind the slotted and swivelling
joint C, D, so that the simple action of drawing back the hand lever E¹ of the
cam E to the guard f effects the drawing back and locking of the ends A¹ of
the barrels A and cartridges a hard up against the back false breech or
abutting face B' of the body, so as to make a close joint at the breech, and at
the same time make a strong, simple, and efficient double lock-fast joint of
the barrels A to the sole or bed B of the body, that is, at the extreme back
and front of the body B, as described and shown in this position and disposition
of the parts in Figures 1 to 4. The simple unclasping of the hand lever E¹
of the cam E from the guard f by the lateral knob E³ provided for the purpose,
and pushing the lever forward causes the second or front cam surface of the
duplex locking and unlocking cam E by preference formed of an eccentric or
curvilinear wedge cam surface increasing forward and downwards from the
joint acting on the hollow cam surface H2 formed on the front inner edge of
the recess in the breech locking "lump" H of a similar shape or curve, so as
to be nearly coinciding with it, and so presses forward the barrels A and
disengages the two locking catches h and i of the two locking "lumps" H
and I from the notches f and j in the back ends of their sliding slots F and J.
At this time the gun is carried loosely in the hollow of the left hand of the
operator a short distance in front of the cam lever E', which hangs down free
without inconvenience when the barrels are slackened forward by the cam E,
as described. In this position the mere slacking of the fingers of the left.
hand off the top of the barrels A allows them to be turned on their swivel and
sliding joint and pin at C, C³, by the weight of the barrels A in front of the

page_text: fulerum C and by the pressure of the small spring K upon the under side of
the fore locking "lump" I attached to the body B behind the swivel joint,
which raises the breech ends A¹ of the barrels high enough to admit of with-
drawing the spent or empty cases a of the cartridges and inserting fresh
charged and loaded ones at the extreme open breech ends A¹ of the barrels
over the top of the "false breech" or abutting crown or head B of "body,"
all as shown in this disposition of the parts in Figure 5. A notch d is formed
on the under side of the slotted swivel "lump" D some little distance back
from the front end, which in this position when the barrels are quite forward
allows them to tilt up as described. The top edges of the sides of the joint C
of the body B project in front of the pin C, and being slightly rounded or
angled for this purpose form a stop to the hinge or joint on which the under
surfaces D' of the lump D rest to retain the barrels at the proper height for
loading, as shown in this position in Figure 5, while at the same time the
part d of the notch being carried forward over the upper front edge or end
of the slot C in which the fore joint "lump" D works so as to catch the
"lump" D and prevents the barrels from being pushed backwards until they
are brought flat down upon the body B by the finger of the operator's left
hand, kept over them for that purpose at the time of loading. The spent
cartridge cases having been previously slackened back a short distance by a
duplex segmental extractor plate L at the open back ends between the barrels
having a square stem L' attached to it (by preference) with its angles in a
vertical and horizontal position sliding in a groove through the upper part of
the breech locking "lump" H, so far much of an ordinary construction; but
by these improvements having the free forward end pressing or bearing against
the upper part of the short angular and wedge-acting lever / fulcrumed on
the lower edge of the front end of the breech locking "lump" H, so that as
the barrels A are forced forward by the cam E and lever E¹ the front surface
of the wedge-acting lever comes in contact with the front end F of the
slot F in the body B in which the breech "lump" H slides, so as to press
the lever up against the end of the spindle L' of the cartridge extractor Land
cause its segmental parts to catch and press the two cartridge cases a out or
back automatically as the barrels A are pressed forward. The extractor L
may when desired extract or withdraw a case or cartridge by hand also
without the simultaneous lateral motion of the barrels or the turning of the
cam lever as described, and this is done simply by the fingers of the left hand
drawing down the barrels sharply into their seat on the body B, which causes
the short angled lever to come vertically down against the end F¹ of the
slot F, which being rounded off together with the angular position of the lever.
l

page_text: when the extractor is in forms a combined wedge and lever mechanical action
which forces out the extractor and cartridge case a simply and instantaneousl
by the action of the left hand, while the right is free and ready to take hold
of the empty case to remove it the moment the left hand has again released
the barrels. The barrels when so loaded at the breech are brought down to
bear on the body by the fingers of the left hand and the cam lever E¹ pulled
back and clasped on the guard g by the right hand, as before described, when
the piece is then all ready for "cocking" and firing in the usual manner. A
small screw is inserted from the under side of the recess in the rear
"lump "H, the point of which takes into a short groove in the free end of the
stem L of the extractor L, which prevents the extractor from coming out too
far. A small cover or shutter G¹ is attached by a pin on each side of its free
end G2 to a curved slot close round the periphery of the cam E or eccentric
surface e which forces the barrels forward so as to cover the open part of the
slot F in the front of the trigger plate G where the cam lever E¹ works out
through it, the other end of the cover G¹ being hinged to the front end of the
- slot in plate G; or otherwise it may be made to slide in dovetail grooves at
the edges of the slot for the purpose. Either mode will make all neat and
close, and prevent dust from getting into the "action" or cam surfaces. A
round sliding stem L' may also be used when desired attached to the extractor
plate L, which in this case may be lengthened upwards so as to have a second
or short pin L attached to it at the upper part, as shown in detached side
elevation in Figures 7, the short pin L' working in a hole formed in the solid
metal between the barrels at the breech, which will prevent the segmental
plate L from turning when out.
When these improvements are applied to single-barrelled guns, rifles, or
other such small fire-arms it is preferred to use a thin flat stem L³, as shown
in detached elevations in Figures 8, sliding in the breech locking "lump"
in each case attached below the centre of the barrel, this stem being fixed to
a small segmental extractor plate L at the under circumference of the open
breech end of the barrel.
The practical gun maker will at once see the alterations necessary to convert
muzzle-loading fire-arms into breech-loading fire-arms in accordance with
these improvements, which must necessarily vary according to the particular
form of fire-arms to be converted. The main or essential alterations may be
mentioned, which are few, and I believe could be done at less expense than
for that of any other breech-loading gun which I am aware of, as the stocks
and their locks and "actions" generally would all suit with the following
inexpensive alterations in each case, namely, the re:noval of the old bodies

page_text: and "break off," and breech or breeches in the case of a double barrelled gun;
he boreing out of the chambers at the back ends of the barrels A to receive
the cartridges a; hard soldering the "rear locking lump" H and soft
soldering the fore locking and joint "lumps "I and D to the under side of
the barrels and fitting the extractor L to them; also attaching to the
barrels a new body B in one long piece, or in two lengths or pieces, as
shown more particularly at B, in Figure 6, jointed by a strong stem and
socket with screw pin, or by other equivalent strong joint, whichever of these
modes may be considered most suitable; and, further, the lower part of the
body B below the joint pine of the cam E, as at 6 in Figure 4, may in
some cases be made stronger than shown in the Drawings, when desired and
extended down through the wood part of the stock 6 at this part to meet the
trigger plate G; bodies B so constructed essentially as herein-before described
or as modified in the manner just stated are fitted and secured to the old
stocks of ordinary guns in place of the old "break off" extending out to the.
front of the stock and occupying the place of the old ramrod hole, and having
the new cam lever E, E', for traversing and locking the barrels jointed thereto,
all as shown essentially in Figures 2, 5, and 6, by and to the trigger plate G on
the under side of the stock and the top rear tail piece B³ of the crown B' sunk
into the wood of the stock and all firmly fixed by the several screws h', and a
bevilled or dovetailed holding surface 63 at the extreme forward end or joint
of stock b and body B, or other generally equivalent means, all as herein
shown and described in referénce to the said Figures 1 to 6 inclusive.
These improvements in breech-loading guns are applicable for the use of
nearly all kinds of cartridges and projectiles used for breech-loading fire-arms
generally, and particularly so for the stiff paper cartridges of the central
firing class fired by the usual oblique or direct and spring striking piston
M'passed through the crown or head B of the body or "action," which
I prefer to be sunk for protection below the surface or top of the crown, as
shown in Figures 1, 2, and 5, or to cartridges fired by the vertical striking.
piston or plug within the cartridge itself, both of which are much used, as
well as for the use of cartridges and projectiles formed in the new or improved
manner berein-after to be described in accordance with this Invention.
Figure 9 is a partial longitudinal section and Figure 10 is a corresponding
transverse section taken on the line 4, 4, in Figure 9 of a cartridge and its
projectile complete, constructed in accordance with and illustrative of one
modification of this part of my said Invention, having reference to improve-
ments in cartridges and projectiles, and made suitable for the chambers A of
the smooth bored barrels A of the new or improved breech-loading gun

page_text: herein-before described and shown in Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings; Figures 11 and 12 are a sectional elevation and end
view respectively of the projectile as detached shown in Figure 9.
Referring to these Figures 9 to 12 inclusive, the new or improved features
of this part of my said Invention in cartridges and projectiles consist
essentially in forming a conical rifled hole O right through the longitudinal
axis of the elongated projectile P (Figures 11 and 12), which projectile
although shown of the elongated sphero-conoidal ended form may be made
of any other of the usual forms at present in use, such as elongated conoidal
or cylindrical with flat ended head when desired, and formed of lead or other
composition of metal, or of iron and steel when desired for heavy ordnance.
The conical hole O through these projectiles, bullets, or shot P have two,
three, four, or other number of spirally cut or rifled, grooves o formed on or
into the inner surface of each, four grooves and four feathers between the
grooves being that shown in this example, as seen in Figure 12, other forms
of spirally cut or rifled grooves than those shown in this Figure may also be
employed when desired. The very small hole, formed by the conical rifled
hole O at or near its apex, is left open at the point 0¹ right through the
axis from the base of the projectile, where the large end of the conical
rifled hole is formed at 02. The projectile P so formed is prepared for use
by inserting a small portion of paper or wadding into the rifled hole O, and
pushed to the front of the small end O', and by filling the remainder of the
rifled hole O full to the very base 02, either with a part of the main charge.
of powder employed below the base of the projectile or a separate portion or
charge within itself covered over with a thin layer of paper tied over the base
of the projectile 02 so as to retain and separate it from the main charge of
powder (Figure 9) or otherwise, a thin "colfin," diaphragm, or wadding
may be laid between it and the main charge for the like purpose when
desired; this division at 0 when used for retaining the powder within the
rifled hole of the projectile in either case must be permeable by the fire of
the explosion of the main charge of the powder Q so as to burn it instan-
taneously through and explode the charge within the projectile. Projectiles P,
thus constructed as seen in Figures 11 and 12, and filled with powder as
described, may be made up into cartridges in the usual manner, and of any of
the usual constructions, and inserted with these into guns at the breech or muzzle
suitable and according to the respective construction of the cartridge and gun
for which they were made to be used; or when desired the projectile P so
charged and covered at the base 02 may be inserted separately after the
cartridge or main charge of powder in muzzle-loading guns either of the,

page_text: light or heavy ordnance class, and the whole rammed home in the usual
manner. Although this improved projectile P may be used as herein described
in any of the usual modes of loading and firing guns, yet still I prefer
attaching it to the improved construction of cartridge case R containing the
main charge of powder Q, shown in Figures 9 and 10, much of the general
form and construction of cartridge used for the "Snider" rifle termed the
"Boxer cartridge," except that the case R is composed of a series of
longitudinal segmental slips r of thin brass, or it may be of other metal or
suitable substance heretofore used for the like purpose. These slips of
metal r are made to overlap each other a considerable distance circumferentially;
and all secured to the "capped" head or end base of the cartridge at R¹ by
soldering or by doubling them in with the head by great pressure in any of
the usual manners for fixing the cartridge case to its head, and fixing the
front end of these slips r forming the case R so formed and filled with the
main charge of powder Q by forcing or rolling it over or into a groove or
grooves near the base of the projectile at R2, and secured in the usual manner
by composition, or it may also be tied by a wire or cord at this part, the
whole body of the case from R' to R2 being then covered over with a roll or
two of paper in the usual manner. This construction of case R gives the
necessary security against the ingress of damp or moisture from without to
the charge within, and prevents the escape of the fire or windage from
within through the joints and along the chamber A2 of the gun, while the
force of the charge cannot jam or tighten the strips or case R within the
chamber at the breech of the gun, so as to prevent or make it difficult to
extract the cartridge, as is so much the case with the solid or circumferentially
rolled metal cases at present in use. Cases so constructed can be used
repeatedly over again by "recapping," charging, and covering them with fresh
paper all as herein-before described.
In any of the modifications herein described of my improved projectile
the explosion of the main charge Q would ignite the powder q within the
projectile P and expand its shell or sides so as to fill the smooth bore of the
barrel, and blow out the wadding at the small open end 0¹ at the point;
while the force of the fire or exploded gases passing out along the spirally.
cut grooves and feathers of the conoidal hole would cause the projectile to
revolve in a spiral direction in the same manner as if the gun barrel had been
rifled, so as to give much of the same advantages and results in firing from
a smooth-bored gun which are obtained from the use of a rifled barrel
gun...
.:

page_text: Having thus particularly described the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner of performing the same, I would have it understood that while I do
not confine or restrict myself to the precise details herein shown and described
neither do I claim to have invented every separate detail, or the mode of fixing
many of the parts together, by themselves, which I have had occasion to show
and describe, as many of these may have to some extent been heretofore used;
but what I believe to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Inven-
tion secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First, the general construction of breech-loading guns, or the construction
and arrangement of their mechanical "actions" or parts, and the application
of these improved constructions and arrangements of parts in or to the
conversion of muzzle-loading fire-arms into breech-loading fire-arms, all
substantially in the new or improved manner herein described and shown in
the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Second, the general construction and arrangement of a cam or eccentric
lever E, E', acting longitudinally and vertically for moving or for locking
and unlocking the barrels of breech-loading guns, also the use of a moving
cover for closing the slot in the trigger plate, through which the lever acts
moved by the lever E' itself, and the making of the lever to snap or catch
upon or over the trigger guard, actuated by a lateral projecting knob or
thumb piece on the point of the lever, all substantially either collectively or
individually, and for the purposes herein described and shown in the
accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
.
Third, the construction of a slotted joint at fore part of body and lump for
allowing the longitudinal sliding and vertical swivelling motion of the barrels
of breech-loading guns, and of stopping their upward motion by elongating
the joint of the body for a rest in front of the joint, all substantially in the
new or improved manner herein described and shown in the accompanying
Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Fourth, the method of working the extractor by a swivel hinged inclined
lever on the fore end of the rear "lump," either by the direct forward motion
of the barrels, or by their downward "action" on their swivelling and slotted
joint, all substantially in the new or improved manner herein described and
shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Fifth, the sinking of the striking nipples within or below the flush or
upper part of the crown or head of the body or "action" in breech-loading
guns, substantially in the new or improved manner herein described and
shown in the accompanying Drawings or any mere modification thereof.

page_text: Sixth, the construction and the use of projectiles and of cartridges essentially
in the new or improved manner herein described and shown in the
accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said James MacNaughton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of December, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-seven.
JAMES MACNAUGHTON. (L.S.)