Im- PROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, PART OF SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER FIRE-ARMS."
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Johann Heinrich August Bleckmann, of Solingen,
in the Kingdom of Prussia, Merchant, for the Invention of "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, PART OF SUCH IMPROVEMENTS
BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER FIRE-ARMS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Johann Heinrich August
Bleckmann at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 21st April 1869.
I, JOHANN HEINRICH AUGUST BLECKMANN, of Solingen, in the
Kingdom of Prussia, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, PART OF
SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER FIRE-ARMS," to be as
follows:-
The breech of breech-loading arms according to my Invention is
opened and closed by a piece worked by a lever or handle attached to its
axis and at the side of the arm, instead of being actuated by trigger or
guard. This closure or closing piece comes against the chamber of the

page_text: barrel when closing the breech, and it moves on an axis placed vertically
and above the axis of the barrel; its front comes below the level of the
muzzle when the breech is opened.
The closure may be held in place when the arm is fired by various
arrangements, for instance, by a pin worked by a lever on the axis of
the hammer, so that when the hammer is moved the pin is pushed
forward into the breech closer, and holds it when the arm is fired, and
comes out of it in order to release it when the hammer is raised. The
striker may pass through the breech closer.
In another arrangement the pin passes through the sides of the breech
box and enters the breech closer when struck by the hammer, so that
it also serves as a striker by actuating another pin which acts on the
cartridge. When the hammer is raised a spring pushes back the pin so
as to release the breech closer. In one arrangement a spring for holding
the breech closer in position is placed under the breech chamber; in
another the spring is outside the breech chamber, one part being held
by a nut, and the other causing a pin or screw to pass through the
sides of the breech chamber into a hole in the breech closer, and
hold it in its closing position. By working the lever this pin is with-
drawn from the hole and slides into another hole, so as to keep the
breech closer in its opening position. The spring, however, may be
otherwise placed and arranged.
In another arrangement by pushing the breech closer down the
hammer is pushed back until caught by a notch of the trigger or sear,
thus cocking the arm when the breech closer returns to its place, and
when the trigger is pulled the hammer strikes the striker. The breech
closer may be held in place and released by a pin or an extension of the
trigger. To prevent the arm from being accidentally discharged a stud
or stop passes through the guard or trigger working in a slot therein.
On a rod which passes through the hammer arrangements or lock of the
arm is a plate controlled by a screw, and there is also a regulating
spring. When the plate enters a notch of the trigger it holds it and
prevents the arm from being accidentally discharged.
These arrangements may be applied to various descriptions of fire-
arms, whether constructed according to the preceding portions of my
Invention or otherwise.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Johann Heinrich August Bleckmann in the Great
Scal Patent Office on the 21st October 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHANN
HEINRICH AUGUST BLECKMANN, of Solingen, in the Kingdom of Prussia,
Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Johann Heinrich August Bleckmann,
Her special licence that I, the said Johann Heinrich August Bleckmann,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Johann Heinrich August Bleckmann, 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 Ircland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREIC1-LOADING FIRE-ARMS,
PART OF SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER FIRE-ARMS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Johann Heinrich August
Bleckmann, 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 Johann Heinrich August Bleckmann,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thercof, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say :-
The breech of breech-loading fire-arms constructed according to my
Invention is opened and closed by a piece worked by a lever or handle
attached to the axis of the said piece, and placed at the side of the fire-
arm instead of being actuated by the trigger or by a lever at or imme-

page_text: diately near the trigger guard. This closure or closing piece comes
against the chamber of the barrel when closing the breech, and it moves
on an axis placed in a line or direction at right angles to the direction of
the axis of the barrel; its front edge comes below the level of the
muzzle when the breech is opened..
The closure may be held in place when the arm is fired by various.
arrangements, for instance, by a pin worked by a lever on the axis of the
hammer, so that when the hammer is moved the pin is pushed forward
into the breech closer and holds it when the arm is fired, and comes out
of it in order to release it when the hammer is raised. The striker may
pass through the breech closer.
In another arrangement the pin passes through the sides of the breech
box and enters the breech closer when struck by the hammer, so that it
also serves as a striker by actuating another pin which acts on the
cartridge. When the hammer is raised a spring pushes back the pin so
as to release the breech closer. In one arrangement a spring for holding
the breech closer in position is placed under the breech chamber; in
another the spring is outside the breech chamber, one part being held by
a nut, and the other causing a pin or screwed pin to pass through the
sides of the breech chamber into a hole in the breech closer, and hold it in
its closing position. By working the lever this pin is withdrawn from
the hole and slides into another hole, so as to keep the breech closer in
its opening position. The spring however may be otherwise placed and
arranged.
In another arrangement by pushing the breech closer down the
hammer is pushed back until caught by a notch of the trigger or
sear, thus cocking the arm when the breech closer returns to its place,
and when the trigger is pulled the hammer strikes the striker. The
breech closer may be held in place and released by a pin on an extension
of the trigger. To prevent the arm from being accidently discharged
a stud or stop passes through the trigger guard or trigger plate working
in a slot therein. Round a rod which passes through the hammer
arrangements or the lock of the arm is a plate controlled by a screw;
there is also a regulating spring. When the plate enters a notch of the
trigger it holds it and prevents the gun from being accidently discharged.
These arrangements may be applied to various descriptions of fire-
arms, whether constructed according to the preceding portions of my
Invention or otherwise.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
The accompanying Drawings represent a gun constructed according
to my Invention.
Figure 1 is a side view, chiefly in section; Figure 2 is a plan, and
Figure 3 a side view of a similar arrangement. The same letters in all
the Figures refer to similar parts. a is the end of the stock, to which is
screwed the breech box 6; c is an aperture formed in the box b, in which
the breech closing piece or closure e is fitted and actuated; e is the
breech closing piece, shewn closed in Figure 1 and open in Figure 3; it
works on an axis d. When it is opened a cartridge f can be inserted
into the breech of the barrel. The axis d is above the line of the central
longitudinal hypothetical axis of the barrel, and it lies in a direction at
right angles to such axis or axial line. The breech closing piece or
closure e is actuated by a lever or lever handle g mounted on the axis d
of such breech closing piece e, and held in place by the nut h. The
axis d and the lever or handle g may be formed in one piece. The axis
is square in the parts thereof which pass through the breech closer e,
and the lever g is cylindrical in the parts at which it passes through the
breech box. It is held in place on the opposite side by a nut p, which
may be unscrewed to allow of the axis being withdrawn in order to
remove this portion of the works for repair or otherwise. The handle g
is at the side of the arm as shewn,
The following arrangement assists in keeping the breech closer in place
when the gun is discharged. i is a rod or pin fitted in the breech box and
actuated by a lever k attached to the axis of the hammer or cock (in the
interior of the lock). When the hammer is moved this pin is pushed
forward and enters the breech closer when the gun is fired, and it moves
out of and free from the breech closer when the hammer is raised, so as to
allow the breech closer e to be depressed in order to re-open the barrel.
The hammer drops on the striker, which passes through the breech closer in
order to attain and fire the explosive compound contained in the cartridge.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 2 and 3 the breech closer e is
held in place by a pin i, which passes through the sides of the breech
box and enters the breech closer when struck by the hammer, and at the
same time it acts as a striker or as a driver of the striker, for it works the
striker proper k, which acts upon the explosive compound in the cartridge
and ignites the same. When the hammer is raised a spiral spring

page_text: effects the backward action or withdrawal or disengagement of the pin
or striker k from the breech closer e, releasing the latter so that it
may be depressed in order to open the breech. m, Figure 1, is a spring
which holds the breech closer e in place; it is fitted in the under part of
the breech box and held therein by screws n. o, Figure 3, is a spring
having the same object; it is placed outside the breech box; it is held
on one side by a nut p and on the other side it forces a screw q through.
the sides of the breech box; this screw q enters a hole in the breech
closer e and thereby keeps it in its closing position, but when the lever
is pressed on to open the breech this screw is withdrawn from this hole
and slides over the side of the brecch closer till it drops into another hole
so as to hold the breech closer in the opening position into which it has
been moved by the lover, that is to say, in the position which it occu-
pies when the breech is opened for the insertion of a cartridge.
It is evident that this spring may be arranged in various manners in
order to effectuate the above object without in any way interfering with
the general character of my Invention.
Figure 4 is a front view of the arrangement applied to a gun without
a lock. The letters b, d, e, g, shew parts similar to those shown in
Figures 1 and 2. When the breech closer e is depressed the cock pis
pushed backward till stopped by the catching of the toothed plate or
scar of the trigger g in its holding notch, thereby keeping the hammer
cocked, while the breech closer returns to its closing position and shuts:
the breech so that the arm is ready to be discharged. When the
trigger is drawn the hammer of course strikes the striker r. 8 is a pin
mounted on a prolongation or projection of the trigger in order to keep
the breech closer in its proper place when the arm is being fired. This
pin is pushed forward and enters into the breech closer when the
gun is fired, and it is withdrawn therefrom when the trigger is released.
Figure 7 is a side view, and Figure 8 an opposite side view, and Figure 9:
a section of a modification of a fire-arm also constructed according to my
Invention. Here e is the breech closer, hollowed out or recessed, as shown,
in order that the cartridge may be conveniently slidden into the breech
of the barrel; d is the axis of the breech closer e; on this axis is mounted
the lever or handle g, which is placed at the side of the gun, and which
actuates the breech closer as required, depressing it in order to open the
breech and insert the cartridge, and raising it to close the breech when
the gun is to be fired; * is a nut which holds the axis d of the lever

page_text: handle in place; M* is the lock case, and m*, trigger; o*, recess for
passage of the needle or striker; q, friction rollers on the closing picce e,
working against a spring like m, Figs. 1 and 4 to ease the travel.
Figures 5 and 6 are elevations shewing my arrangement for preventing
the accidental discharge of the fire-arm. In Figure 5 the trigger is
shown closed, and in Figure 6 open. t is a stud fitted into the trigger
guard plate T, or into a bar or piece passing through the body of the
trigger guard plate T, and sliding therein in a groove or slot; u is a square
rod which passes into the lock, and round it is a plate v held in place
by an adjusting screw wo; z is a spring fitted between the lock plate
and the trigger guard plate for regulating the action of the parts of this
arrangement. When the part vis engaged in the notch y of the trigger
it holds the latter and prevents the fire-arm from being accidentally
discharged. This arrangement and combination of parts intended for pre-
venting the accidental discharge of the fire-arm may be applied to arms
other than those to which my breech-closing arrangement is employed.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be carried into effect, I declare that I claim,-
First. The employment of a closure, or piece, or block for closing the
breech of breech-loading fire-arms worked or actuated by a lever or lever
handle mounted upon or attached to the axis of such closure, or piece,
or block so that the same may be opened and closed, substantially as
described.
Second. The arrangement and combination of parts for preventing
the accidental discharge of the fire-arm, substantially as described.
Third. The general arrangement and combination of parts of the
improved fire-arm herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Johann Heinrich August Bleck-
mann, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day
of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-nine.
Witness,
JOHANN HEINRICH AUGUST BLECKMANN. (L.S.)
C. F. BLECKMANN.