Improvements in Breech Pieces for Firearms for use with Miniature Ammunition.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 16th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 20th May, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breech Pieces for Firearms for use with Miniature
Ammunition.
We, ARTHUR FREDERICK HAWKSLEY, of Dunedin House, Altrincham, in the
County of Chester, Gentleman, and RALPH JACKSON, of Mayors Road, Altrincham
aforesaid, Cycle Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved appliance or breech piece for adapting the
ordinary military rifle or other fire arms, for use with miniature ammunition, and
is designed to provide a tube for insertion in the breech to receive a cartridge of
small size, which will permit of the ordinary extractor of the rifle, operating to
extract the spent cartridge case, when the breach is opened, and will allow the
striker to operate direct upon the cartridge, so that no injury will result in any
way by its use.
The improved breech piece consists essentially of a tube of steel or other metal,
corresponding externally in diameter and shape precisely with the full sized
cartridge case constructed with an eccentric bore to throw the head of the miniature
cartridge nearer to one side of the tube than the other, and also with the flange of
the tube removed or reduced at one side to allow the flange of the miniature
cartridge to project for the purpose of engaging with the cartridge extractor.
In carrying out the invention the appliance is turned externally to accurately fit
the breech of the rifle. The bore or passage is made of precisely the same size as
the bullet of the rifle or fire arm to which it is to be applied, being thus equivalent
in size to the rifle itself.
The passage through the tube or breech piece is bored in such a way that it is
concentric with the exterior of the tube at the delivery end to deliver the bullet
straight to the rifle bore, but is eccentric at the breech end, so that the head of the
cartridge will lie nearer to one side than the other to allow the flange of the
cartridge to project. The passage may be either straight, or its sides may be some-
what curved or bent, and the passage at the delivery end may be made concentric
for any desired distance.
The tube or breech piece is preferably formed with a flange corresponding with
the flange on an ordinary cartridge, and this flange is removed or reduced at one
side to permit the flange of the miniature cartridge to extend in its place and to
engage with the extractor.
In practice the breech piece is inserted in the breech with the narrow part of the
wall towards the extractor and miniature or revolver cartridges are inserted therein
and fired in the usual way, the opening of the breech bringing the extractor
into operation to extract the spent cartridge case. The breech piece may be
extracted in the same way by turning it in the breech by means of a suitable tool
until the flange is brought opposite the extractor.
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page_text: miniature or revolver cartridges D are inserted therein and fired in the usual way,
the opening of the breech bringing the extractor into operation to extract the spent
cartridge case. The breech piece A may be extracted in the same way by turning
it in the breech by means of a suitable tool until the flange is brought opposite the
extractor.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
-
1. A breech piece for rifles or other small arms for use with miniature ammuni-
tion constructed with a bore throughout its length corresponding in size precisely
with the bore of the rifle concentric at the delivery end and eccentric at the other
end to bring the head of the miniature cartridge nearer to one side than the other
and also with the flange absent or removed at one side to permit of the flange of
the miniature cartridge projecting over the breech piece to engage with the
extractor substantially as described and shown.
2. A breech piece for rifles or other small arms constructed substantially as
described and shown in the drawings.
Dated this 7th day of April 1898.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.