FIRE ARMS AND THEIR CARRIAGES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thorsten Nordenfelt of 1 St. Swithin's Lane in the
City of London for an Invention of
FIRE ARMS AND THEIR CARRIAGES,"
"
IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thorsten Nordenfelt at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th December 1881.
THORSTEN NORDENFELT of 1 St. Swithin's Lane in the City of London
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECHI-LOADING FIRE ARMS AND THEIR CARRIAGES"
The chief objects of these improvements in breech loading fire arms and more
especially in single barrel guns are to make the mechanism specially strong to
make it safer so that the gun cannot be discharged before the breech is closed,
either by accidentally touching the trigger or by the breakage of any part of the
firing needle head and also to increase the rapidity of fire by supplying cartridges
for the mechanism out of a self acting magazine.
The chief part of the mechanism consists of a large bolt inserted into the hollow
behind the powder chamber and which is provided with a screw, the quarter
segments of which are cut off so that when the bolt is inserted a quarter turn of 90°
will close the breech safely
Within this bolt is the firing pin propelled by a spiral spring, and with a catch
formed by the head on its rear end.
The cocking arrangement consists of a ring around the breech bolt with two
helix shaped grooves into which both ends of a square bar work; this bar goes
through an oblong hole in the breech bolt, thus allowing a forward and backward
motion when moved by the helix shaped grooves-the object of the backward
notion being to compress the spiral spring. In the middle of the bar is a hole
which guides the firing pin and a shoulder is formed on the firing pin behind the
bar for the bar to act upon-The ring is kept in position by means of a shoulder
and when the breech bolt is turned into the screw threads the helix shaped grooves
in the ring force the square bar forward and leaves room for the stroke of the
firing pin.

page_text: The automatic trigger is fixed on the breech box and consists of a bar put in
action by means of a spring; in the breech bolt is the corresponding groove which
contains the firing pin catch and the spring of the trigger bar is released as soon
as the trigger bar comes over this groove, when the spring forces the opposite end'
of the trigger bar against the firing pin catch and releases this catch, thus allowing
the spiral spring to strike the firing pin against the procussion cap-When this
trigger bar goes into the groove in the breech bolt it also acts as a catch which makes
it impossible for the breech bolt to unscrew in consequence of the pressure of the
powder at the explosion; When I turn up the bolt handle a stud on this handle
again raises the bar before the bolt commences to unscrew out of the threads―The
feed case is placed above the mechanism and allows one cartridge at a time into the
mechanism in front of the bolt-This is done by means of a feeder somewhat like
an ordinary conical valve, which is put in motion during the last interval of the
stroke by means of a lever with a pin, which pin is moved by a diagonal groove on
the cocking arrangement.
The action of the mechanism is thus as follows.-
The feed case being filled with cartridges and a fired cartridge case being still in
the chamber of the barrel the handle of the breech bolt is turned about a quarter
of a circle;
At the commencement there is a short dead motion during which a wedge
shaped stud on the handle forces the trigger bar out of the groove in the breech
-bolt-thus-releasing-the-bolt-and-permitting_it_to_move_by_continuing to turn the
handle to about 90°-During this movement the spring extractors fasten on to the
breech bolt, slide along its rim and loosen the cartridge case to the extent
corresponding to about a quarter of the pitch of the thread; the spiral firing pin
is at the same time compressed by the square bar until the firing pin is caught by
the catch and kept there by the spring on the firing pin catch; this compression
being caused by the movement of the square bar along the helix shaped grooves in
the cocking ring-the breech bolt handle is then drawn straight backwards until it
is stopped by the first thread abutting against a pin on the feeder lever-When
the bolt is thus moved backward the extractors pull back the fired cartridge case
until it falls out through the hole which is widened to let through the rim of the
cartridge case.
"
When the breech bolt is nearly in its rearward position the pin at the rear end
of the feeder lever, which has hitherto moved in a groove on the cocking ring is
turned to the one side by this groove being continued diagonally; the other end of
the feeder lever has thereby caused the feeder to let a fresh loaded cartridge into
the mechanism, at the same time as the fired cartridge case falls out, and the
weight of the fresh cartridge thus helps to throw out the empty cartridge case
The breech bolt is now moved forward again by the handle and pushes before it
the fresh cartridge into the barrel, this forward motion being continued as far as it
will go, until it is stopped by the first thread on the breech bolt striking against
the breech box in a line with the foremost threaded groove in the breech box-
When the bolt does not go any further forward the bolt handle is again turned
about a quarter of a circle when all the threads on the bolt enter corresponding
grooves in the breech box-As the bolt handle is turned the square cocking bar
is forced forward as previously described, by the helix shaped groove in cocking
ring so as to leave room for the stroke.
The turning movement of the bolt is continued until the groove in the breech
bolt, which contains the firing pin, comes underneath the trigger bar, when this
bar is forced down into the groove by its spring, and releases the firing pin catch so
as to enable spiral firing spring to drive the firing pin against the percussion cap
and thus fire the cartridge.
In the case of guns which are so light that there can be a question of moving
them quickly from one position to another I make the carriage out of plates or bars
of iron or steel soine what similar to the trail of an ordinary field carriage: that is
I put one plate on each side as support to the trunnion, bearings, and I bring these

page_text: plates far enough rearwards to get the requisite support to prevent a gun making
the carriage jump when the gun is fired-At the rear end of these plates I put an
axle or two taps, at the end of which I put two small rollers or wheels which when
the carriage is down in position are elevated only just above the ground.
Near the trunnion bearings I continue the plates upwards or I fix ono bar on
each side upwards with handles at the upper end of them. When the carriage is
down so that the gun is in firing position these bars thus reach far enough out
of the gun to enable me when I wish to move the gun to take hold of the
upper ends of these bars, and by pulling them rearwards with my hands I lift
the gun and carriage off its bed and on to the rollers or wheels until the bars
come nearly into a horizontal position and the gun itself into nearly a vertical
position when the carriage can be used as a kind of trolly on the rollers or wheels
above mentioned, and which I can pull about quickly from one situation to
another by means of the bars which then act in the same way as the arms of a
trolly.
When I again want to fire the gun I put my foot against the axle or rear of
the carriage and drop it down on the ground or on the deck until the bars
again become nearly vertical-When the gun is again in firing position in
dropping down the carriage in this manner I can let the foremost part of the
carriage, which would form a ring, drop on to the pin which would be fixed in
the deck or in the ground, and which would when I fire hold the carriage steady
and prevent it from being run back by the recoil.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thorsten Nordenfelt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th June 1882.
THORSTEN NORDENFELT of 1 St. Swithin's Lane in the City of London
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECHI LOADING FIRE ARMS AND THEIR CARRIAGES"
The chief objects of these improvements in breech loading fire arms and more
especially in single barrel guns are to make the mechanism specially strong, to
make it safer, so that the gun cannot be discharged before the breech is closed,
either by accidentally touching the trigger or by the breakage of any part of the
firing needle head and also to increase the rapidity of fire by supplying cartridges
for the mechanism out of a self acting magazine. The chief part of the mechanism
consists of a large bolt inserted into the hollow behind the powder chamber and
which is provided with a screw, the quarter segments of which are cut off so
that when the bolt is inserted a-quarter turn of 90° will close the breech
safely.
Within this bolt is the firing pin propelled by a spiral spring and with a catch
formed by the head on its rear end.
The cocking arrangement consists of a ring around the breech bolt with two helix
shaped grooves into which both ends of a square bar work; this bar goes through
an oblong hole in the breech bolt, thus allowing a forward and backward motion
when moved by the helix shaped grooves,-the object of the backward motion
being to compress the spiral spring. In the middle of the bar is a hole which
guides the firing pin and a shoulder is formed on the firing pin behind the bar for
the bar to act upon. The ring is kept in position by means of a shoulder and when
the breech bolt is turned into the screw threads the helix shaped grooves in the
ring force the square bar forward and leaves room for the stroke of the firing pin.
The automatic trigger is fixed on the breech box and consists of a bar put in
action by means of a spring; in the breech bolt is the corresponding groove which
contains the firing pin catch, and the spring of the trigger bar is released as soon
as the trigger bar comes over this groove, when the spring forces the opposite end
of the trigger bar against the firing pin catch and releases this catch, thus allowing
the spiral spring to strike the firing pin against the percussion cap. When this
trigger bar goes into the groove in the breech bolt it also acts as a catch which
makes it impossible for the breech bolt to unscrew in consequence of the pressure of
the powder at the explosion. When I turn up the bolt handle a stud on this
handle again raises the bar before the bolt comiences to unscrew out of the threads.
The feed case is placed above the mechanism and allows one cartridge at a time
into the mechanism in front of the bolt. This is done by means of a feeder some-
what like an ordinary conical valve which is put in motion during the last interval
of the stroke by means of a lever with a pin, which pin is moved by a diagonal
groove on the cocking arrangement.
The action of the mechanism is thus as follows:-
The feed case being filled with cartridges and a fired cartridge case being still in
the chamber of the barrel the handle of the breech bolt is turned about a quarter
of a circle; at the commencement there is a short dead motion during which a
wedge shaped stud on the handle forces the trigger bar out of the groove in the
breech bolt thus releasing the bolt and permitting it to move by continuing to turn
the handle to about 90°. During this movement the spring extractors fasten on to
the breech bolt, slide along its rim and loosen the cartridge case to the extent

page_text: corresponding to about a quarter of the pitch of the thread; the spiral firing pin is
at the same time compressed by the square bar until the firing pin is caught by
the catch, and kept there by the spring on the firing pin catch, this compression
being caused by the movement of the square bar along the helix shaped grooves in
the cocking ring, the breech bolt handle is then drawn straight backwards until it
is stopped by the first thread abutting against a pin on the feeder lever. When
the bolt is thus moved backward the extractors pull back the fired cartridge caso
until it falls out through the hole which is widened to let through the rim of the
cartridge case. When the breech bolt is nearly in its rearward position the pin at
the rear end of the feeder lever, which has hitherto moved in a groove on the cocking
ring is turned to the one side by this groove being continued diagonally, the other
end of the feeder lever has thereby caused the feeder to let a fresh loaded cartridge
into the mechanism, at the same time as the fired cartridge case falls out, and the
weight of the fresh cartridge thus helps to throw out the empty cartridge case.
The breech bolt is now moved forward again by the bandle and pushes before it.
the fresh cartridge into the barrel, this forward motion being continued as far as it
will go, until it is stopped by the first thread on the breech bolt striking against
the breech box in a line with the foremost threaded groove in the breech box.
When the bolt does not go any further forward the bolt handle is again turned
about a quarter of a circle when all the threads on the bolt enter corresponding
grooves in the breech box. As the bolt handle is turned the square cocking bar is
forced forward, as previously described, by the helix shaped groove in cocking
ring so as to leave room for the stroke.
The turning movement of the bolt is continued until the groove in the breech
bolt, which contains the firing pin, comes underneath the trigger bar when this
bar is forced down into the groove by its spring, and releases the firing pin catch
so as to enable spiral firing spring to drive the firing pin against the percussion'
cap and thus fire the cartridge.
In the case of guns which are so light that there can be a question of moving
them quickly from one position to another I make the carriage out of plates or
bars of iron or steel somewhat similar to the trail of an ordinary field carriage;
that is I put one plate on each side as support to the trunnion bearings, and I
bring these plates far enough rearwards to get the requisite support to prevent a
gun from making the carriage jump when the gun is fired. At the rear end of
these plates I put an axle or two taps, at the end of which I put two small rollers
or wheels which when the carriage is down in position are elevated only just above
the ground.
Near the trunnions bearings I continue the plates upwards, or I fix one bar on
each side upwards with handles at the upper end of their. When the carriage is
down so that the gun is in firing position, these bars thus reach far enough out of
the gun to enable me when I wish to move the gun to take hold of the upper ends
of these bars, and by pulling them rearwards with my hands I lift the gun and
carriage off its bed and on to the rollers or wheels until the bars come nearly into
a horizontal position and the gun itself into nearly a vertical position when the
carriage can be used as a kind of trolly on the rollers or wheels above mentioned,
and which I can pull about quickly from one situation to another by means of the
bars which then act in the same way as the arms of a trolly.
When I again want to fire the gun I put my foot against the axle or rear of the
carriage and drop it down on the ground or on the deck until the bars again
become nearly vertical. When the gun is again in firing position in dropping
down the carriage in this manner I can let the foremost part of the carriage which
would form a ring, drop on to the pin which would be fixed in the deck or in the
ground, and which would when I fire hold the carriage steady and prevent it from
being run back by the recoil.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the breech part of a gun constructed according
to my Invention. Figure 2 is a plan and Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the same
Figure 4 is an horizontal section, Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line A, B.
in Figure 1 and Figure 6 is a transverse section on the line C. D. in Figures 2
and 4.
a is the breech bolt, it is shewn separately by the Figures 7. α' α' are tho
threads of the spaced screw on its head which engage with corresponding threads
in the part of the breech behind the chamber which receives the cartridge. a² are
spring extractors upon the bolt. is a handle by means of which the bolt is
turned and moved longitudinally in working the gun. The handle b is shewn
separately by the Figures 8, it is not fast upon the bolt but is able to turn upon it
through a small are limited by stops as the Drawing indicates. The bolt a,
contains the firing pin c, represented separately at Figure 9; also a coiled spring d,
which presses the firing pin forwards, and the plug e, which enters the bolt behind
the spring and serves as an abutment. This plug is shewn separately by the
Figures 10; its head serves to retain the handle upon the bolt. f is a tube
surrounding the bolt a it is shewn separately by the Figures 11. g is a bar,
shewn separately by the Figures 12, it passes through the hole a³, in the bolt and
its ends enter the inclined grooves f. f. within the tube f.
In opening the breech, the bolt rotates-without-the-tube, causing-the-bar.g,-to.bo
forced back and the spring d, to be compressed.
Similarly in closing the breech the bar g is moved forward to the position it
occupies in Figure 1.
h is a catch which when the firing pin is forced back engages with the groove in
it at c. The catch his represented separately by the Figures 13, it is pivotted to
the bolt and lies within the slot a. The catch has a spring tail h' bearing upon
the plug e. is the automatic trigger, it is shown separately by the Figures 14
kis its spring. In preparing to open the breech the projection b' on the handle
raises the trigger k, to the position in which it is seen in Figure 4. After closing
the breech in the free movement of the handle the trigger is liberated and the
slot a in the breech bolt being opposite to it, it drops into the slot, lifts the
catch h, and the shot is fired. f is the hole in the tube by which the trigger k
passes. By entering the slot at, in the breech bolt the trigger lever renders it
impossible for the breech bolt to unscrew at the time of firing. The tube ƒ also
has a guide groove f³ upon its exterior, and into this groove one end of a lever l, is
received. The lever is represented separately by the Figures 15. It has a
stationary fulcrum at . n is the feed case for containing cartridges for the supply
of the gun. It contains a feeder or rocking valve o, which sustains the cartridges
in the feed case except when the breech is open. The feeder o is represented
separately by the Figures 10, it has projections o¹, o'; at one end between which
the end of the lever is received. In consequence of the form of the guide
groove the feeder receives a rocking movement when the bolt is drawn fully
back and it then allows a fresh cartridge to descend in front of the breech bolt
down onto the case of the cartridge last fired which, then drops away from the
extractors and falls out through the hole r.
Figure 17 is a side elevation of the gun upon its carriage. Figure 18 is a rear
elevation of the same. Figure 19 is a side elevation, with the gun raised erect
into position for travelling, Figure 20 is a plan with the gun in the same position,
as in Figures 17 and 18. a is the frame, when in action it rests on the ground in
front at a. a. where there may be a peg to retain it, and in rear at a². a². where
there are wheels, but these in this position are just off the ground. b, is a fork
which receives the trunnions of the gun c. The stem of the fork enters a socket

page_text: in which it can turn for the
by which the training is
elevating screw f works.
training of the gun. dis the hand wheel and screw
effected, it moves laterally a socket e, in which the
In some cases the arrangements for training may be
dispensed with g. g. are handles rising up from the frame a. for convenience they
are jointed at h¹, h¹.
When in the position represented by the Figures 19 and 20 the gun may be
wheeled from place to place like a wheelbarrow.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I would have it understood that I claim : —
First. The cocking apparatus of the gun, consisting of the bar g carried round
with the breech bolt, and the tube f surrounding the bolt and receiving the ends
of the bar g, in inclined grooves, substantially as described.
Second. The automatic trigger k, operating with the handle the breech bolt,.
and the catch substantially as described.
Third. The mode of operating the feeding apparatus by the lever 1, and the guide
groove substantially as described.
Fourth. My improved breech loading gun substantially as described and
represented in the annexed Drawings.
Fifth. My trolly or barrow like gun carriage in which for travelling the
gun is brought to an upright position over wheels at the rear of the carriage,
substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said Thorsten Nordenfelt have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Fifteenth day of June in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
TH. NORDENFELT (L.S.)