IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Prince, of the Office for Patents, No. 4,
Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross, in the County of Middlesex, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS." -A com-
munication from abroad by Samuel Norris, residing at Springfield,
Massachusets, in the United States of America.
Sealed the 20th March 1866, and dated the 25th September 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Prince at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th September 1865.
I, ALEXANDER PRINCE, of the Office for Patents, No. 4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," a
communication to me from abroad by Samuel Norris, residing at Springfield,
Massachusets, in the United States of America, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of that class of
fire-árms known as single breech-loaders wherein metallic cartridges are used.
I propose to apply to the breech of the gun a recoil block, which is hinged or
jointed to the top of the barrel by means of a pin and socket piece in such
manner that it may be raised and lowered out of and into the cavity of the
breech. When the recoil block; which acts as a breech plug, is raised up, the
rear end of the bore of the barrel is exposed, whereby the cartridge may be

page_text: inserted, and when the plug is lowered down into position the cartridge is
forced forward, the plug completely filling up the space between the end of
the cartridge and the breech pin, by reason of the block being bevilled at the
fore end so as to fit into the bevilled rear end of the bore, thus forming a dove-
tail joint and preventing the plug from being lifted out at the end, even though
the pin of the joint should be removed. The recoil block is also further secured
in position at the rear end by means of a cam actuated by a short lever at the
side of the block, the cam fitting into a recess cut in the breech pin to receive
it, thus the block is completely fastened to withstand the recoil of the discharge.
The axis or shaft on which the cam is turned is formed after the manner of a
crank, in order that it may be free to pass over the side of the barrel. To the
recoil block there is attached a segment of a toothed rack or pinion, the teeth
of which gear into similar teeth of a rack at the side of the block, to which
rack is attached the cartridge shell puller for the purpose of withdrawing the
metallic cartridge case after the discharge in order to insert another.
"This operation is effected as follows:-The hammer being cocked the block is
raised by turning the lever up, thus releasing the rear end of the block, and a
notch being cut on the side of the block acts on a spring tooth in connection
with the rack, and carries it forward, so that the pinion teeth are brought into
gear with the rack, and thus draw back the cartridge shell puller, which fits
behind the rim of the cartridge shell, and moving back carries the shell with it.
The block being raised further, the last tooth of the pinion of course slips out
of gear and escapes from the rack, and a small helical spring concealed in the
stock in front of the rack instantly restores the rack and shell puller to their
original position. This spring also actuates a small vertical stud or studs, working
in a slot or opening cut in the lower part of the cavity of the breech containing
the recoil plug by a horizontal cam motion, spring, or other equivalent, the
object being to throw the shell of the cartridge out of the breech at the
moment it is withdrawn by the rack; the stud springing upwards and jerking the
shell out. When the block is fully raised so as to expose the rear end of the
bore, a cartridge is to be inserted in the breech. Now it is not necessary
that the cartridge should be pressed up entirely to its true position for dis-
charge, because the fore end of the recoil plug must force the cartridge forward,
even if the rim of the cartridge should be half an inch in the rear of its
proper position. As the bevilled end of the plug comes down it pushes
forward the cartridge and locks itself securely in the breech. The lever is
then to be turned down, thus bringing the cam into the recess in the breech
pin and securing the recoil block from motion during the discharge. Should the
lever by any chance not be turned down, no danger can arise, because it is

page_text: then impossible to discharge the arm, since the hammer in coming down will
strike on a projection formed on the lever and intervening between the hammer
and the discharging pin, which is set in a groove or bore passing through the
recoil block, and thus throw the projection against the block, so as effectually
to prevent the hammer from contact with the discharging pin in communication
with the rear of the cartridge. Again, should the lever be partly but not
completely turned down in order to secure the recoil block, the hammer in
coming down comes into frictional contact with the upper surface of the pro-
jection and forces it down, thus locking it before the hammer arrives in contact
with the discharging pin.
The advantages of these improvements are as follows:-They are operated
with great facility, it being only necessary to cock the gun to raise the recoil
block, which withdraws the shell to insert a new cartridge, to lower the block
and thus close the breech, and to discharge the arm. It is impossible for the
recoil block or breech plug to be blown open by the discharge, since it is fastened
in at both ends as described. This method of securing the plug will also lessen
danger, inasmuch as the hinge joint and pin have nothing to bear on them,
and consequently receive no strain, and the pin may even be removed altogether
without any result, the solid block being interposed between the breech pin
and the end of the cartridge. It is also impossible to fire the gun unless the
recoil block is secured as described. The cartridge is not dependent on
accurate adjustment by hand, since the breech plug will always force it to its
true position. The arrangement of parts is simple and compact and not liable
to get out of order.
The ordinary muzzle-loaders may be easily altered in compliance with this
Invention by cutting away the barrel at the breech end, and adding the recoil
plug and shell pulley, all the other parts remaining the same as at present in
use in muzzle-loaders.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander Prince in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th March 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
PRINCE, of the Office for Patents, No. 4, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross,
in the County of Middlesex, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her

page_text: '
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Alexander Prince, Her special licence that I, the said Alexander
Prince, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as the
said Alexander Prince, 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 "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," a communication to me from abroad
by Samuel Norris, resident at Springfield, Massachusetts, in the United States
of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander
Prince, 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 Alexander Prince, 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:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of that class of
fire-arms known as single breech-loaders wherein metallic cartidges are used.
I propose to apply to the breech of the gun a recoil block, which is hinged
or jointed to the top of the barrel by means of a pin and socket piece, in such
manner that it may be raised and lowered out of and into the cavity of the
breech. When the recoil block, which acts as a breech plug is raised up, the
rear end of the bore of the barrel is exposed, whereby the cartridge may be
inserted, and when the plug is lowered down into position the cartridge is
forced forward, the plug completely filling up the space between the end of
the cartridge and the breech pin by reason of the block being bevilled at
the fore end so as to fit into the bevilled rear end of the bore, thus forming
a dovetail joint and preventing the plug from being lifted out at the end even
though the pin of the joint should be removed. The recoil block is also
further secured in position at the rear end by means of a cam actuated by a
short lever at the side of the block, the cam fitting into a recess cut in the
breech pin to receive it, thus the block is completely fastened to withstand
the recoil of the discharge. The axis, or shaft on which the cam is turned
is formed after the manner of a crank, in order that it may be free to pass

page_text: over the side of the barrel. To the recoil block there is attached a segment
of a toothed rack or pinion, the teeth of which gear into similar teeth of a
rack at the inner side of the block, to which rack is attached the cartridge
shell puller for the purpose of withdrawing the metallic cartridge case after
the discharge, in order to insert another. This operation is effected as
follows: The hammer being cocked, the block is raised by turning the lever
up, thus releasing the rear end of the block, and a notch being cut on the
side of the block acts on a spring tooth in connection with the rack and
carries it forward, so that the pinion teeth are brought into gear with the
rack, and thus draw back the cartridge shell puller, which fits behind the rim
of the cartridge shell, and moving back carries the shell with it. The block
being raised further, the last tooth of the pinion of course slips out of genr
and escapes from the rack, and a small helical spring, concealed in the stock
in front of the rack instantly restores the rack and shell puller to their
original position. When the block is fully raised so as to expose the rear end
of the bore a cartridge is to be inserted in the breach. Now it is not necessary
that the cartridge should be pressed up entirely to its true position for dis-
charge, because the fore end of the recoil plug must force the cartridge
forward even if the rim of the cartridge should be half an inch in the rear-
of its proper position. As the bevelled end of the plug comes down it pushes
forward the cartridge and locks itself securely in the breech; the lever is
then to be turned down, thus bringing the cam into the recess in the breech
pin and securing the recoil block from motion during the discharge. Should
the lever by any chance not be turned down no danger can arise, because it
is then impossible to discharge the arm, since the hammer in coming down
will strike on a projection formed on the lever and intervening between the
hammer and the discharging pin, which is set in a groove or bore passing
through the recoil block, and thus throw the projection against the block so
as effectually to prevent the hammer from contact with the discharging pin
in communication with the rear of the cartridge. Again, should the lever
be partly but not completely turned down in order to secure the recoil block
the hammer in coming down comes into frictional contact with the upper
surface of the projection and forces it down, thus locking it before the hammer
arrives in contact with the discharging pin.
The advantages of these improvements are as follows:-They are operated
with great facility, it being only necessary to cock the gun to raise the recoil
block, which withdraws the shell, to insert a new cartridge to lower the block
and thus close the breech, and to discharge the arm. It is impossible for
the recoil block or breech plug to be blown open by the discharge, since it

page_text: is fastened in at both ends as described. This method of securing the plug
will also lessen danger, inasmuch as the hinge joint and pin have nothing
to bear on them, aud consequently receive no strain, and the pin may even
be removed altogether without any result, the solid block being interposed
between the breech pin and the end of the cartridge. It is also impossible
to fire the gun unless the recoil block is secured as described. The cartridge
is not dependent on accurate adjustment by hand, since the breech plug will
always force it to its true position. The arrangement of parts is simple and
compact and not liable to get out of order.
The ordinary muzzle-loaders may be easily altered in compliance with this
Invention by cutting away the barrel at the breech end and adding the recoil
plug and shell pulley, all the other parts remaining the same as at present
in use iu muzzle-loaders.
Fig. 1 of the annexed Drawings represents a side view of so much of the
gun as is necessary to shew the improvements. In lieu of the cam action
described I have substituted an equivalent, which consists of an arm or lever
a set on an axis 6 through the rear of the recoil block i; the axis has also
set on its square shaft (within a recess cut in the rear of the block) the cam k,
which enters into the cavity in the body of the arm. When the arm is
charged, and the breech plug or recoil block is closed down, the arm a is to
be turned back, so as to bring the cam k into contact with the rear of the
cavity l, so that the plug or recoil block is held in its position, and the strain
of the recoil removed from the hinge to the bearing of the cam and cavity of
the body, and to that of the recoil block and body. But if the arm should
inadvertently be omitted to be turned back the finger piece p, lying under-
neath, above, or at the side of the discharging pin and resting on the recoil
block, prevents the contact of the hammer with the pin, since the hammer
will in its descent fall against the projecting finger piece of the arm p, and
so be prevented from discharging the cartridge. When it is desired to
charge the arm the finger piece and lever are turned forward so as to release
raised from the breech.
the cam from the cavity, when the recoil plug may be
I will now describe the means of withdrawing and ejecting the cartridge shell,
see Fig. 2, which represents on a smaller scale a vertical section. In construction
it consists of a spring hammer A attached to the under side of the barrel at its
rear end, and operated by means of a cam a and a shaft 6; this cam is moved
by the arm c, which is acted upon by the slide D, which forms a part of the
cartridge shell extractor of the gun, and is moved by a pinion on the recoil
block (see Fig. 1), not shewn in this Drawing; the inner side of the plate D
is provided with a small projection coming in contact with the rim of the

page_text: cartridge, and thus withdrawing it when discharged. The slide D being
moved backwards and forwards in the operation of raising the recoil block
and extracting a shell strikes the arm c, and pressing it back turns downward
this acts on the spring A to force it downward at the front end,
and as the force is continued the cam a slips off from the end of the spring,
allowing it to fly upward. In this action the hammer g strikes the shell
forcibly, and thus throws it outward, as seen at f. The slide now flies forward
drawn by the spring h, and the arm c is returned to its first position. This
arrangement as here described is contained in a small compass entirely
within the stock of the gun, is simple and compact in its construction, positive
and effective in its results, thus embodying all that is necessary and desirable.
I do not wish to restrict its application to any particular form of gun, but
claim applying a spring hammer to throw out the cartridge shell when
operated substantially as I describe, or by any movement that will operate
the spring hammer by the slide D.
I also claim the improvements in reference to the breech plug or recoil
block, the adjustment of the cartridge, and the method of securing the arm
from accidental discharge, substantially as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Prince, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
ALEX. PRINCE. (mb.)