IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan-Brown, of the Firm of Brandon
and Morgan-Brown, Engineers and Patent Agents, of 38, South-
ampton Buildings, London, and 13; Ruc Gaillon, Paris, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS." -A com-
munication from abroad by Benjamin Burkley Hotchkiss, of 13,
Rue Gaillon, Paris, Engineer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Morgan-Brown
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 28th August 1874.
I, WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN; of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-
Brown, Engineers and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings,
London, and 13, Rue Gaillon, Paris, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS,"
to be as follows:-

page_text: My first improvement has reference to the manner of attaching the
firing pin to the hammer and consists in uniting these two parts directly
without the intervention of a nut or any other detached part; for this
purpose the pin is provided with a screw thread at its outer extremity
which enters a similar thread tapped in the rear end of the hammer,
and it is also provided with a shoulder at the part where it meets the
front end of the hammer to limit its penetration into the same; or I
replace the screw by splitting down, say one inch, the end of the pin
in the rear end of the hammer, such split halves protruding through
to a small extent and being provided with a head or shoulder that
fits against the rear face of the hammer in which case the split end
acting as a spring maintains the pin in the hammer whilst it can at
any time be withdrawn from the same by pressing the two halves suffi-
ciently together for the heads to pass through the hole in the hammer.
In order to prevent the said firing pin turning on its axis I form a flat
on its forward end which rests on a similar flat surface provided in
the hole made in the front end of the bolt, or for the same purpose I
form the usual extractor with an inner branch, the upper face of which
'is circular and sets in the hole made in the bolt, whilst its lower face is
flat for the purpose stated.
My second improvement has reference to a novel means of preventing
the bolt and its accompanying parts from being withdrawn from the
gun, and consists in placing a screw under the trigger guard, the point
of which enters the stock opposite the trigger and prevents the latter
being depressed sufficiently for the bolt to pass over the sear; when it
is desired to withdraw the bolt and its accompanying parts from the
gun it is sufficient to unscrew slightly the said screw.
My third improvement has reference to mechanism for cocking the
gun by the action of withdrawing the bolt for opening the same, and
consists in providing the inner extremity of the hammer with two cams,
and the outer extremity of the bolt with two corresponding cam cavities
or vice versa, in such a manner that the rotary motion of the bolt, and
preferably also a portion of its rectilinear motion pushes back the
hammer to the required extent for cocking the gun.
My fourth improvement has reference to placing the gun on half cock
by the rotation of the bolt when the gun is being opened, and consists
in dividing the cam cavities mentioned under the third head of my In-
vention with a shoulder situated about half-way, so that the bolt can

page_text: be arrested at about one-half of its rotation and in such position the
gun cannot be fired.
My fifth improvement has reference to locking the gun when the
same is armed for firing, and consists in the first place in constructing
the trigger so that by pressure- exerted on it contrarily to the usual
direction, the sear can be slightly raised, and then the hammer provided
with a nick for that purpose enters on a slight projection provided on
the rear upper face of the sear, and in the second place in providing
also the trigger with a rectangular arm having a small stud on its
upper extremity which enters (when the trigger is pushed back as above
stated) an aperature made in the bolt which is thus prevented from
rotating.
My sixth improvement has reference to the ejection of the empty
shell or of the unfired cartridge, and consists in ejecting either of them
whilst they are being withdrawn from the barrel by the extractor, for
this purpose this latter also acts as a spring laterally against the flange
of the cartridge; and when the cartridge or shell is entirely withdrawn
from the barrel, the said elastic action of the extractor against one side
of the cartridge head conjointly with the friction of the cartridge head
against the opposite face of the chamber ejects or throws it out of the
chamber through an opening made for that purpose in the latter.
My seventh improvement has reference to preventing the nose piece
adapted in front of the bolt from participating in the rotary motion of
the latter whilst it is compelled to follow its rectilinear motion, and
consists on fixing on the nose piece a stud which enters a corresponding
cavity in the bar of the bolt, the said cavity being shut on one of its
sides and open on the other during the rectilinear motion of the bolt; on
closing the arm the nose piece is pushed forward by the said arrange-
ment, and during its rotary motion, which is at the same time progressive,
the extractor which is attached to the nose piece has entered its groove
in the chamber, and thus while it prevents the nose piece from rotating
it allows of the bolt's progressive motion being imparted to it, during
which time the stud is no longer engaged in its cavity.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Morgan-Brown in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th November 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 13, Rue
Gaillon, Paris, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eight day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Morgan-Brown, Her special
licence that I, the said William Morgan-Brown, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Morgan-Brown,
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 "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," (a communication to me from abroad by
Benjamin Burkley Hotchkiss, of 13, Rue Gaillon, Paris, Engineer,) upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Morgan-Brown,
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 William Morgan-Brown, 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, that is to say :-
In order that my improvements be clearly understood I will proceed
to describe the same conjointly with the twelve Figures of the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings, in which Figure 1 is a partial elevation in
section of a gun cocked, serving to illustrate my first, second, fifth, and

page_text: seventh improvements; Figure 2, a partial plan of the gun, the bolt
being withdrawn serving to illustrate my sixth improvement; Figure 3,
a similar elevation to Figure 1, serving to illustrate my first, fifth, and
seventh improvements.
Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7, two longitudinal elevations and two cross
sections of the hammer and part of the bolt, serving to illustrate my
third improvement.
Figures 8, 9, and 10, two longitudinal elevation and one cross section
of the hammer and part of the bolt, serving to illustrate my fourth
improvement.
Figure 11, a longitudinal elevation of nose piece and extractor in
section, and Figure 12, a cross section through A, A, Figure 1, serving
to illustrate my seventh improvement.
First Improvement, Figures 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 10.-My first improve-
ment has reference to the manner of attaching the firing pin to the
hammer, and consists in two different manners of uniting these
two parts directly; in the first case the firing pin a is provided
at its outer extremity with a screw thread which enters a similar
thread tapped in the rear end of the hammer b, and it is also
provided with a shoulder c at the part where it meets the front end of
the hammer to limit its penetration into the same; in the second casc
I replace the screw thread by splitting down, say one inch, the end of
the pin a in the rear of the hammer b, such split halves protruding
through to a small extent, and being provided each with a head or
shoulder d that fits against the rear face of the hammer, in which case.
the said split ends act as springs and maintain the pin in the hammer by:
means of the shoulders d whilst it can at any time be withdrawn from;
the hammer by pressing the two split ends sufficiently together for the
heads or shoulders d to pass through the hole in the hammer, and in
order to prevent the said firing pin in the former of these two cases from
turning on its axis I form a flat e'on its forward end which rests on a
similar flat surface provided in the hole made in the front end of the
bolt f, or in the nose piece when I make use of the latter piece, or pre-
ferably for the same purpose I make use of the extractor by forming it:
with a double branch h, Figures 11 and 12, which enters the nose piece:
g, the under branch being flat on its under surface, and circular on its
upper surface to fit the diameter of the hole in which it is inserted; the

page_text: said extractor is adapted on and in the nose piece by slightly springing
up its hooked extremity i. By this system it will also be remarked that
the hammer is composed of one single piece.
-
Second Improvement, Figure 1. My second improvement has
reference to preventing the bolt and its accompanying parts from being
withdrawn from the gun and consists in adapting a screw ; under
the trigger guard w, the point of which prevents the trigger from
being depressed sufficiently for the bolt f to pass over the seer o;
when it is desired to withdraw the bolt and its accompanying parts
from the gun it is merely necessary to unscrew slightly the said
screw j.
Third Improvement, Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7.-My third improve-
ment has reference to mechanism for working the gun by the action
of withdrawing the bolt for the purpose of opening the arm, and
consists in providing the inner extremity of the hammer 6 with two
cams k, k, and the outer extremity of the bolt with two corresponding
cam cavities 1, 1, (see Figures 4 and 5,) and vice versa, as shown in
Figures 6 and 7. By this arrangement of parts the requisite rotary
motion imparted to the bolt for opening the gun and preferably also
a portion of its rectilinear motion pushes back the hammer to the
required extent for cocking the gun.
Fourth Improvement, Figures 8, 9, and 10.-My fourth improve-
ment has reference to placing the gun on half-cock by the rotation of
the bolt when the gun is being opened, and consists in dividing the
cam cavities 1, 1, mentioned under the third head of my Invention,
with a shoulder m situated above half-way, so that the bolt can be
arrested at about one-half of its rotation, and in such position the gun
cannot be fired.
Fifth Improvement, Figure 3.-My fifth improvement has reference
to locking the gun when the same is cocked for firing, and consists
in the first place in constructing the trigger n so that by pressure
exerted on it contrarily to the usual direction the sear o is slightly
raised, and at that moment the hammer 6 provided with a nick p
made for that purpose in its inner face enters on a slight projection q
provided on the rear upper face of the sear; and in the second place
in providing also the trigger n with a rectangular arm n² carrying

page_text: a stud n² on its upper extremity, which at the same time (when
the trigger is pushed back as above stated) enters an aperture n³
made in the bolt f, which is thus prevented from rotating instead of
exerting pressure on the trigger as above stated; the desired results arc
also obtained by pushing up the protruding button » jointed to the arm
n of the trigger as shown. To release the gun it is sufficient to draw
out the hammer to the required extent for disengaging the projection q
of the sear from its nick p in the hammer; the main spring & then
brings down the trigger n to the position indicated in the Drawing ready
for firing. The partly protruding button » serves also the purpose of
preventing the bolt and its accompanying parts from being withdrawn
from the gun, for under ordinary circumstances its shoulder comes in
contact with the trigger guard before the trigger can be depressed suf-
ficiently for withdrawing the bolt, and when it is desired to withdraw
the bolt the button is pivoted (against the action of the spring s)
towards the barrel, the shoulder can then descend through the trigger
guard to the required extent for the above stated purpose; the tendency
of the spring s is to maintain the part in the position indicated in the
Drawing.
3
Sixth Improvement, Figure 2.-My sixth improvement has reference
to the ejection of the empty shell or of the unfired cartridge and
consists in ejecting cither by the action of the extractor whilst they
are withdrawn from the barrel by the said extractor. For this purpose
the extractor also acts laterally as a spring against the flange u of
the cartridge, and when the cartridge or the shell, as the case may be,
is entirely withdrawn from the barrel, the said elastic action of the
extractor against one side of the cartridge had conjointly with the
friction of the opposite side of the cartridge head against the face t
of the chamber ejects or throws it out of the chamber through an
opening made in the same for that purpose.
Seventh Improvement, Figures 1, 3, 11, and 12.-My seventh
improvement has reference to preventing the nose piece adapted in
front of the bolt from participating in the rotary motion of the latter,
whilst it is compelled to follow its rectilinear motion, and consists
in fixing on the nose piece ga stud v which enters a corresponding
cavity in the bar f¹ of the bolt, the said cavity being closed on
one of its sides v¹ and open on the other, see Figure 12. During the
rectilinear motion of the bolt on closing the gun the nose piece pro-

page_text: pelled by the bolt is prevented from rotating in the presence of the stud v
in its cavity as above stated; when this rectilinear motion is completed
and before the rotary motion is commenced the forward end of the
extractor h will have partly penetrated its cavity in the rear end of the
barrel x, and thus during the said rotary motion of the bolt, which is at
the same time progressive, the nose piece is prevented from rotating
whilst it is compelled to follow the impulsion of the bolt as regards its
rectilinear motion until the gun is completely closed, ready for firing ;
the reverse action, as will be well understood, takes place of opening
the gun. It will be remarked that by this arrangement of parts a short
groove in the end of the barrel is sufficient for the extractor instead of
the usual long groove in the chamber.
Having thus explained the nature of my improvements and the best
means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practice, I claim
as my Invention,―
Firstly. The two different arrangements and constructions of parts or
their equivalents, as described in my first improvement.
Secondly. The arrangement described in my second improvement.
Thirdly. The construction and arrangement of parts or their equiva-
lents, as above described and illustrated under the third, fourth, fifth, sixth,
and seventh heads of improvements.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgan-Brown, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Second day November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.