IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Marc Antoine François Mennons
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th March 1867.-A communication from Benjamin Stone Roberts,
Major-General United States Army, residing at No. 14, Rue Auber,
Paris, France.
I, MARC ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the Firm of Mennons and Telescheff,
Home and Foreign Patent Agents, of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, in the
County of Middlesex, and 27, Rue Laffitte, Paris, in the Empire of France, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," (a communication,) to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in an improved arrangement of breech-closing
mechanism applicable to fire-arms of all descriptions, as shewn by the accom-
panying Drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side view (right hand) of the swinging
lever, which constitutes the main element of the combination; Figure 2
represents (detached) the head of the swinging lever Fig. 1, to which it is
adjusted when in position by the circular joint C, C"; Figures 3, 4, are top
views of the same parts; Figure 5 represents the complete combination
applied to the gun with the cartridge ready for firing; Figure 6 is a left side
view of the mechanism when opened for the extraction of the spent cartridge.
In all these Figures the same parts are indicated by the same letters of
reference.

page_text: "
A is a steel lever, the front part A' of which forms a solid oblong square,
the opposite extremity A" being curved to the form of the grip of the stock B;
C is the head or face of the lever A provided with a cross axle C', by which
it is hinged into the recess C" of the square end A¹ of the lever A ; D is a
curved shoulder cut in the breech plug of the arm, and forming the fulcrum
of the lever A hollowed out for this purpose at the back of the square head A¹,
which is thus enabled to move about 10° round the centre of the curve; E is
a spring catch set in the extremity A" of the lever A, and which passing
through a slot formed in the tang of the breech plug secures the lever in
position when closed for firing; F is a slide piece adjusted in a slot cut in
the right side of the square head A'. The upper extremity of this slide
receives the blow of the hammer G, under the action of which its fore end
forces forward the firing pin F¹ set in the block C; the hammer G is bent
inwards over the breech tang so as to correspond with the head of the slide F ;
H is a curved finger piece hinged with the catch E to the rear end A" of the
lever A, and serving to free this catch when the breech is opened for the
insertion or extraction of the cartridge; the hinged pin H¹ of this arrangement
is prolonged on the right side, as seen in Fig. 3, to correspond with a shoulder
formed on the inside of the hammer G; I is a tapped collar or socket connected
with the two side plates (invisible in the Drawing); between which is enclosed
the whole of the mechanism above described; this collar is screwed to the
open rear end of the barrel threaded externally for this purpose. J is a small
bent lever set in a lateral recess formed between the collar and the barrel; this
lever works on a pivot a passing through the collar and barrel below the bore
of the latter. On the inner side of its long arm is formed a spur which lodges
in a notch cut through the side of the barrel; the short arm corresponds with a
groove cut from 6 to b¹ in the left side of the block C. It will be understood
that thus arranged the long arm of the lever J lies concealed in its recess on
the insertion of the cartridge and is covered by the flange of the latter, while
the short arm lodges in the groove b, b', of the block C. The chamber of the
arm is slightly tapered, as seen in Figs. 5, 6, to correspond with the conical
form of the cartridge K.
The operation of the arrangement above described is as follows:-By an
upward movement of the forefinger passed under the curved piece H the
catch E is set free, and the lever A is thrown up, its square head A¹ passing
into a corresponding recess cut in the stock, as seen in Figure 6. The cartridge
is then inserted, following the hollow way cut in the top of the square bead A¹
of the swinging lever A (see Fig. 3), and is driven home by the thumb. In
this position its flange covers, as above stated, the long arm of the lever J

page_text: which is thus entirely concealed in its recess. The arm is then cocked, the
hammer in its backward movement carries with it the prolongation of the
hinge pin H', thus bringing the lever A to the closed position, as seen in
Fig. 5, where it is secured by the spring catch E which passes under the
breech tang. The cartridge being discharged by the action of the firing
pin F¹ the lever A is thrown up smartly (as when charging), its square
head A' goes down, and the shoulder 6 of the piece C acting on the lower
arm of the lever J forces the upper arm from its recess, the spur of this
upper arm pressing from within on the flange of the spent cartridge jerks
it from its chamber, as seen in Figure 6, leaving the latter free for recharging.
The mechanism is reclosed by the simple action of cocking, and so on as
before.
It will be understood from the preceding description that the operation of
charging and discharging involves four movements only, viz., firstly, opening of
the chamber by the action of the forefinger on the rear end of the swinging
lever; secondly, insertion of the cartridge; thirdly, simultaneous cocking and
closing of the piere; fourthly, firing.
It is needless to add that the attachment above described may be applied
with the utmost facility to the conversion into breech-loaders of muzzle-loading
arms of every description. For this purpose it is simply necessary to cut an
opening through the barrel directly in front of the breech pin of the length and
width of the cartridge to be used. A circle is then turned centering on the
prolongation of the axis of the gun, so that the curve is the same above as
below the centre of the front of the old breech pin. On this circle is fitted
the lever A, the stock being slightly recessed beneath for the reception of the
square head A', as in the above description. The mode of inserting the firing
pin and the corresponding modifications of the hammer, the nipple, and other
details of the old arm are too obvious to require special description.