IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN CONVERTING MUZZLE-LOADING FIRE- D.
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Wilson, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN CONVERTING MUZZLE-LOADING FIRE-
D.
"
Sealed the 24th February 1865, and dated the 1st September 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Wilson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
September 1864.
I, THOMAS WILSON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN CONVERTING MUZZLE-LOADING FIRE-
ARMS INTO BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
The improvements constituting my Invention may be readily applied to the
ordinary service rifle and to muzzle-loading guns and rifles in general, for the
purpose of converting them into breech-loading rifles and guns.
My said improvements may, however, be applied to the construction of new
breech-loading rifles and guns.
For convenience of description, I will describe my Invention as applied to
the conversion of a muzzle-loading rifle into a breech-loading rifle.
According to one of my improvements, I bore or chamber out the rear
end of the barrel of the rifle to the size required for the cartridge to be used.

page_text: I cut an opening through the top of the barrel for the introduction of the
cartridge, and I joint to the said opening a flap or plate carrying on its under
side a nearly cylindrical block or closer for closing the breech firmly during
discharge. I make the said block or closer by preference of steel. I make
the joint on which the flap turns in the following manner:-I take out the
breech pin, and cut away the lump and nipple hole, and I fix on the barrel
at the rear of the back sight a ring or band of metal, having a lump or pro-
jection on one side. The said ring or band may be fixed on the barrel, either
by means of a screw pin, or it may be shrunk thereon, that is, put on in a
heated state, and made to fix itself by contracting on cooling. At the extreme
rear of the barrel a second ring or band is secured. This ring has a lump or
projection on one side large enough to fill up the.space occupied by the old
lump, and has on its other side a lump large enough to form part of the flap
joint. A pin is passed through a hole in the flap and the two joint lumps
described, and the hinging of the flap with the barrel thus completed. As
the flap is raised or lowered the chamber of the barrel is opened or
closed.
In new breech loaders I prefer to form the lumps or ears for carrying the
flap and block solid with the barrel. Instead of the ring or band being
secured on the rear of the barrel to form the ear or joint for the-steel block
or closer, a new breech pin or screw may be screwed into the barrel, having
the requisite lump or projection to form the ear or joint. Previous to
screwing in the new breech pin I shorten the end of the barrel about three-
eighths of an inch. Instead of the breech pin or bands or rings described, a
tube or thin cylinder of iron or steel may be screwed on the breech of the
barrel. The said tube extends along the breech to the rear of the back sight
and has lumps on its outside to form the hinges or joints for the steel block or
closer to work upon, and also a lump to fill up the space in the stock occupied
by the old lump. The rear of the tube may be made to guide or carry the
coiled spring and hammer or other contrivance for striking or igniting the
cartridge. The thin tube has an opening at the top, which corresponds with
the opening in the breech of the barrel, and allows the steel block or closer to
pass freely in and out of the chamber.
The cartridges used with this fire-arm are such as carry their own means
of ignition, and are known by the name of self-igniting cartridges, and the
means of igniting the said cartridges constitutes another of my improvements,
and is as follows:-I form or drill a hole through the axis of the steel block or
closer, and in a line with the bore or axis of the barrel. I cut an oblique slot
or opening through or along the side of the said block or closer, and through

page_text: nearly its whole length; I fit into the said slot or opening a sliding plate or
striker capable of sliding easily in the said slot. The said plate or striker is
enlarged at its top, and so shaped as to receive and transmit the blow of the
lianimer to the cartridge. The front and lower edge of the sliding plate or
striker terminates in a pin or point, so that on the hammer striking the upper
part or head of the sliding plate, the said pin or point is driven into or against
the ignition in the centre of the cartridge, and ignites it, and thus discharges
the rifle..
I
Instead of the last-described arrangement for igniting the cartridge, the
following arrangement may be adopted :-I drill a hole in the steel block or
closer, excentric to the bore of the barrel, and in a line with the hammer.
fit in the said hole a steel pin or striker, the forward end of which terminates
in a plate or crank bent down in a line with the axis of the gun. The rear of
the pin protrudes through the block or closer, and on being struck by the
hammer its forward or cranked end is driven into the cartridge and ignites it.
Or I fit a dovetail slide on the edge or side of the steel block or closer in a
line with the hammer and parallel to the axis of the barrel. The forward end
of the slide is connected with a steel pin or point, which is driven against the
cartridge by the slide when the said slide is struck by the hammer. Or I form
in the axis of the steel block a narrow longitudinal slot or opening, the bottom
of which is in a line with the axis of the barrel, and the upper edge in a line
with the hammer of the rifle. A steel plate is fitted in the said slot, and is
provided with a protruding head for the hammer to strike against. The
forward lower edge or end of the said plate is provided with a suitable point for
striking the cartridge.
When it is intended to use with the gun cartridges of the kind called
percussion rim cartridges, in which the ignition is contained in the rim instead
of the centre, the arrangements for igniting the cartridges are modified, so as
to cause the striker to strike the rim of the said cartridges.. But in igniting
percussion rim cartridges, I prefer to use a simple pin or striker, working in
a hole in the hammer side of the steel block, and so formed at its head or
rear end as to be struck by the hammer on falling, and-thereby made to strike
and ignite the cartridge. I extract the exploded cartridge case by a hook or
sliding bolt, which works in a slot, formed in the side or bottom of the rear of
the barrel. The hook part of the bolt fits accurately in the mouth or shoulder
of the chamber and is forced into its place by a coiled spring acting against its
stem, so that it is only necessary to pull the bolt by its thumb-piece and draw
out the cartidge case, when on releasing the bolt the spring forces the hook
into its place and a new cartridge may be inserted. -

page_text: The ignition of the cartridge may also be effected in the following manner :-
I fit the steel pin or striker in the axis of the steel block or closer, and drive
up the pin and ignite the cartridge by a sliding bolt or hammer working in
the head of the stock at the rear of the barrel. The said sliding bolt is
connected with the ordinary hammer by a strap or other connection, and drives
up the steel pin and ignites the cartridge on the fall of the said hammer. I
also work the sliding bolt for igniting the cartridge in the following manner :-
I remove the old lock and bammer and substitute a double crank or forked
lever; this forked lever or double crank works on pivots or centres on either
side of the head of the stock. The strap attached to the sliding bolt or hammer
is connected to the top or cross bar of the lever, and the bolt is actuated by a
coiled or other spring acting upon it, either in the front or at the rear end of
the bolt. In drawing back the bolt by the lever, the said spring is compressed
and brought into a state of tension sufficient to drive forward the bolt when
released and discharge the gun. The sliding bolt is provided with bents and
a sear at bottom, and the bolt is disengaged by pulling the trigger in the
ordinary way. Instead of the forked lever for drawing back the bolt or
hammer, the said bolt may be pulled back by a. knob or projection formed
upon its rear end.
In this case I dispense with the strap and lever described.
Instead of making the hammer act directly on the striker, the blow of the
hammer may be received by a nearly quadrant-shaped piece of metal turning
upon a joint, and transmitted by the said piece to the striker. By this
arrangement the striker is acted upon more nearly in the line of its motion
than when struck directly by the hammer. Very nearly the same effect may
be produced by making the striker slightly curved, the hammer end of the said
striker being turned upwards, so as to receive the blow of the hammer in a
line with the axis of the end struck.
.
My Invention consists further of the following improvements in breech-
loading fire-arms. I close the breech by a sliding plug of steel, and I-make
the forward-end of the plug separate from the body of the plug, and screw
the, said forward end into or on the said body by a long screw on the shank of
the said forward end of the plug.
The object of this arrangement is to allow the forward end of the plug to be
partially unscrewed, and thus lengthen the plug when the gun is to be loaded
at the muzzle.
I form a slightly taper shoulder about three-eighths of an
inch up the chamber of the gun, so that the end of the plug when lengthened
for. muzzle-loading fits accurately and firmly against the said shoulder, and
prevents all escape of gas without the use of a wad. When the gun is loaded
from the breech, the space between the end of the plug and the shoulder in

page_text: the chamber is just sufficient for the wad and base of the cartridge to lie in.
I secure the plug in its place during fire by a top plate jointed to the forward
end of the plug, and the rear end of the said top plate is made to abut against
a shoulder or shoulders formed on the top rear end of the breech or barrel,
and secure the plug during fire. The top plate is held down by a spring in
the body of the plug, and the rear of the plate terminates in a handle for
raising and lowering the plate.
The arrangement last described is applicable only to such breech-loading
fire-arms as are discharged by a percussion cap in the usual way.
My Invention consists further of the following improvements, by which
self-ignition breech-loaders may be converted into muzzle-loaders, to be fired
with loose powder in the ordinary way.
In carrying out this part of my Invention, I make a block or closer of the
kind herein-before described, and I insert in the breech or chamber of the
gun a thin copper or steel or other metal tube. The interior of the said tube
may be either smooth or rifled to suit the interior of the barrel. I drill a
communication hole through the body of the steel block or closer, the said com-
munication terminating at its forward end excentrically to the bore of the rifle.
The said forward end of the communication hole is enlarged for some distance
down the closer to allow the powder in loading to descend near the nipple.
The nipple and percussioning are situated on the rear of the block or closer,
so as to be readily reached by the hammer. The end or base of the copper or
steel tube has a hole in it to match the communication hole in the closer.
The hole in the closer through which the steel pin or striker works and ignites
the cap when loading at the breech is covered by the solid end of the copper
or steel tube, so that escape of gas is prevented at the said hole. The closer
being shut down the gun may be loaded with loose powder from the muzzle,
and fired by a percussion cap in the usual way. When loading the gun at
the breech, the nipple may be removed from the closer, and the hammer
thereby allowed to fall lower to force up the striker.
When the gun is con-
structed to fire the percussion rim cartridges at the breech, the communication
hole for muzzle-loading terminates in the axis of the bore of the gun and not
on the side, as last described.
Instead of adapting the same block or closer to fire the gun either at the
breech or at the muzzle two closers may be employed, one for muzzle-loading
and the other for breech-loading, the said closers being changed as it may be
required to load at the muzzle or breech. Instead of placing the nipple on
the rear end of the closer for firing when loading at the muzzle it may be
placed on the forward end of the closer, and the hammer be made to com-

page_text: .
municate with and discharge the percussion cap by a pin or striker working
through a hole or bearing on the side of the closer, in. which case the
communication hole need not be enlarged.
My Invention consists further of the following improvement in breech-
loading fire-arms for firing self-igniting cartridges. I chamber out the rear
of the barrel and cut an opening through the top as before described, but
instead of closing the breech by a steel block as before described, I open and
close the breech by a cylindrical bolt or slide working backwards and forwards
in the chamber. The rear of the bolt or slide works through a hole in the
extreme end of the breech or chamber, and on- being withdrawn from the
breech forces back the sliding hammer or bolt situated in the rear of the
breech, and thus half cocks the gun. After the cartridge has been introduced
into the barrel, the cylindrical bolt or slide is pushed forward and made to
close the said barrel, leaving the hammer half cocked. The sliding closer has
a solid projecting piece formed at one side of its forward end, which piece,
when the closer is pushed up to close the breech, is turned down and made to
engage with a solid shoulder or projection on the side of the chamber, and is
thus firmly held in position during discharge. The projection on the closer
serves as a handle for rotating the said closer and withdrawing it from the
.breech. I form on or attach to the front of the sliding closer a hook or
cartridge extractor, which on the withdrawal of the said closer extracts the
cartridge case of the previous charge from the breech or chamber. A fresh
cartridge is then introduced, and the breech again closed for firing. The
closer is retained in its fixed position during discharge by a spring catch or
other fastening, which is liberated on gripping the handle for closing the
chamber or breech.
My Invention consists further of the following improvements in converting
muzzle-loading service rifles into breech-loading rifles. I enlarge the bore of
the breech end of the barrel sufficiently to take a short steel tube or charge
chamber. I cut an opening through the top of the barrel and hinge the short
tube or charge chamber to the side of the said barrel in a manner similar to
that herein described with reference to the flap and closer. I form the lump or
percussioning on the rear of the steel tube or charge chamber, and ignite the
cartridge by a percussion cap in the way ordinarily practised with breech-
loaders. I make the charge chamber open at both ends, and introduce the
cartridge at the rear end of the chamber. I close the rear ends of the charge
chamber by a screw pin working in the extreme rear of the barrel. The
forward end of the said screw pin is enlarged and slightly conical, and fits
into a corresponding recess in the rear end of the charge chamber. The

page_text: forward end of the charge chamber is also conical, and takes into a corre-
sponding recess in the barrel on being forced up by the screw pin. The charge
chamber is rather shorter than the opening in the barrel in which the said
chamber lies when closed for firing, so that on unscrewing the pin or closer
the chamber is forced back towards the rear, and relieves itself from the
conical recess into which it is pressed by the screw when the breech is closed.
When free the chamber is raised by hand and the cartridge pushed in from
the rear, thus forcing out the old cartridge case, and effectually cleaning the
chamber. After the charge has been introduced the chamber is lowered into
its place, and on the pin being screwed up the gun is ready for discharge.
The charge chamber is forced from its conical recess by a coiled spring fixed
on the joint pin on which the chamber turns, and the breech screw may be
made to throw back the charge chamber at the same time or nearly the same
time as it releases the said charge chamber, and close it again on screwing up
the pin, thus expediting the operation of loading.
In all the fire-arms capable of being discharged by a percussion cap and a
striker I prefer to employ a double-faced hammer, that is, a hammer with two
faces so situated as to be respectively able to strike the percussion cap, and
the striker or a hammer with a moveable face capable of being fixed in the
position proper to strike the percussion cap, or in that proper to strike the
striker. The hammer may be arranged to work in an opening in the head of
the stock instead of at the side as is usual.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th
February 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, THOMAS
WILSON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Mechanical Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year, of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Thomas Wilson, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas
Wilson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Thomas Wilson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times

page_text: 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, AND IN CONVERTING MUZZLE-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
INTO BREECH-LOADING: FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Thomas Wilson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 Thomas Wilson, 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 thereof, that is to say :-.
:
The improvements constituting my Invention may be readily applied to
the. ordinary service rifle and to muzzle-loading, guns and rifles in general,
for the purpose of converting them into breech-loading rifles and guns.
My said improvements may however be applied to the construction of new
breech-loading rifles and guns.
For convenience of description, I will describe my Invention as applied
to the conversion of a muzzle-loading rifle into a breech-loading rifle.
According to one of my improvements I bore or chamber out the rear end
of the barrel of the rifle to the size required for the cartridge to be used.
I cut an opening through the top of the barrel for the introduction of the
cartridge, and I joint to the said opening a flap or plate carrying on its under
side a nearly cylindrical block or closer for closing the breech firmly during
discharge. I make the said block or closer by preference of steel. I make
the joint on which the flap turns in the following manner :-I take out the
breech or tail pin, and cut away the lump and nipple hole, and I fix on the
barrel at the rear of the back sight a ring or band of metal having a lump or
projection on one side. The said ring or band may be fixed on the barrel
either by means of a screw pin, or it may be shrunk thereon, that is, put on
in a heated state and made to fix itself by contracting on cooling. At the
extreme rear of the barrel a second ring or band is secured. This ring has a
lump or projection on one side large enough to fill up the space occupied by
the old lump, and has on its other side a lump large enough to form part of
the flap joint. A pin is passed through a hole in the flap and the two joint
lumps described and the hinging of the flap with the barrel thus completed.

page_text: As the flap is raised or lowered the chamber of the barrel is opened or
closed.
In new breech-loaders I prefer to form the lumps or ears for carrying the
flap and block, solid with the barrel. Instead of the ring or band being
secured on the rear of the barrel to form the ear or joint for the steel block
or closer, a new breech or tail pin or screw may be screwed into the barrel
having the requisite lump or projection to form the ear or joint. Previous to
screwing in the new breech or tail pin I shorten the end of the barrel about
three-eighths of an inch. Instead of the breech or tail pin or bands or rings
described, a tube or thin cylinder of iron or steel may be shrunk or screwed
on the breech of the barrel. The said tube extends along the breech to. the
rear of the back sight, and bas lumps on its outside to form the hinges or
joints for the steel block or closer to work upon, and also a lump to fill up the
space in the stock occupied by the old lump. The rear of the tube may be
made to guide or carry the coiled spring and hammer or other. contrivance
for striking or igniting the cartridge. The thin tube has an opening at the
top which corresponds with the opening in the breech of the barrel, and
allows the steel block or closer to pass freely in and out of the chamber..
The cartridges used with this fire-arm are such as carry their own means
of ignition, and are known by the name of self-igniting cartridges, and the
means of igniting the said cartridges constitutes another of my improvements,
and is as follows:-I form or drill a hole through the axis of the steel block
or closer, and in a line with the bore or axis of the barrel. I cut an oblique
slot or opening through or along the side of the said block or closer, and
through nearly its whole length; I fit into the said slot or opening a sliding
plate or striker capable of sliding easily in the said slot. The said plate or
striker is enlarged at its top, and so shaped as to receive and transmit the
blow of the hammer to the cartridge. The front and lower edge of the
sliding plate or striker terminates in a pin or point, so that on the hammer
striking the upper part or head of the sliding plate the said pin or point is
driven into or against the ignition in the centre of the cartridge and ignites
it, and thus discharges the rifle.
Instead of the last-described arrangement for igniting the cartridge, the
following arrangement may be adopted. I drill a hole in the steel block or
closer excentric to the bore of the barrel and in a line with the hammer. I
fit in the said hole a steel pin or striker, the forward end of which terminates
in a plate or crank bent down in a line with the axis of the gun. The rear
of the pin protrudes through the block or closer, and on being struck by the
hammer its forward or cranked end is driven into the cartridge and ignites

page_text: it. Or I fit a dovetail slide on the edge or side of the steel block or closer in
a line with the hammer and parallel to the axis of the barrel. The forward
end of the slide is connected with a steel pin or point which is driven against
the cartridge by the slide when the said.slide is struck by the hammer. Or I
form in the axis of the steel block a narrow longitudinal slot or opening, the
bottom of. which is in a line with the axis of the barrel and the upper edge in
a line with the hammer of the rifle. A steel plate is fitted in the said slot and
is provided with a protruding head for the hammer to strike against. The
forward lower edge or end of the said plate is provided with a suitable point
for striking the cartridge.
.
When it is intended to use with the gun cartridges of the kind called per-
cussion rim cartridges, in which the ignition is contained in the rim instead of
the centre, the, arrangements for igniting the cartridges are modified so as to
cause the striker to strike the rim of the said cartridges. But in igniting
percussion rim cartridges I prefer to use a simple pin or striker working in a
hole in the hammer side of the steel block, and so formed at its head or rear
end as to be struck by the hammer on falling, and thereby made to strike and
ignite the cartridge. I extract the exploded cartridge case by a hook or
sliding bolt which works in a slot formed in the side or bottom of the rear of
the barrel. The hook part of the bolt fits accurately in the mouth or
shoulder of the chamber, and is forced into its place by a coiled spring acting
against its stem, so that it is only necessary to pull the bolt by its thumb-piece
and draw out the cartridge case, when on releasing the bolt the spring forces
the hook into its place and a new cartridge may be inserted.
The ignition of the cartridge may also be effected in the following manner:
I fit the steel pin or striker in the axis of the steel block or closer, and
drive up the pin, and ignite the cartridge by a sliding bolt or hammer working
in the head of the stock at the rear of the barrel. The said sliding bolt is
connected with the ordinary hammer by a strap or other connection, and
drives up the steel pin and ignites the cartridge on the fall of the said hammer.
I also work the sliding bolt for igniting the cartridge in the following manner:
_ I remove the old lock and hammer and substitute a double crank or forked
lever. This forked lever or double crank works on pivots or centres on either
side of the head of the stock. The strap attached to the sliding bolt or
hammer is connected to the top or cross bar of the lever and the bolt is actu-
ated by a coiled or other spring acting upon it either in the front or at the
rear end of the bolt. In drawing back the bolt by the lever the said spring
is compressed and brought into a state of tension sufficient to drive forward
the bolt when released and discharge the gun. The sliding bolt is provided

page_text: with a bent or bents and a sear at bottom, and the bolt is disengaged by
pulling the trigger in the ordinary way. Instead of the forked lever for
drawing back the bolt or hammer, the said bolt may be pulled back by a knob
or projection formed upon its rear end. In this case I dispense with the strap
and lever described: Instead of making the hammer act directly on the
striker, the blow of the hammer may be received by a nearly quadrant-shaped
piece of metal turning upon a joint and transmitted by the said piece to the
striker. By this arrangement the striker is acted upon more nearly in
the line of its motion than when struck directly by the hammer.
My Invention consists further of the following improvements in breech-
loading fire-arms. I close the breech by a sliding plug of steel, and I make
the forward end of the plug separate from. the body of the plug, and screw
the said forward end into or on the said body by a long screw on the shank of
the said forward end of the plug.
The object of this arrangement is to allow the forward end of the plug tó
be partially unscrewed, and thus lengthen the plug when the gun is to be
loaded at the muzzle. I form a slightly taper shoulder about three-eighths
of an inch up the chamber of the gun, so that the end of the plug when
lengthened for muzzle-loading fits accurately. and firmly against the said
shoulder, and prevents all escape of gas without the use of a wad.
When the
gun
is loaded from the breech the space between the end of the plug and the
shoulder in the chamber is just sufficient for the wad and base of the cartridge
to lie in. I secure the plug in. its place during fire by a top plate jointed to
the forward end of the plug, and the rear end of the said top plate is made to
abut against a shoulder or shoulders formed on the top rear end of the breech
or barrel, and secure the plug during fire. The top plate is held down by a
spring in the body of the plug, and the rear of the plate terminates in a handle
for raising and lowering the plate. The arrangement last described is appli-
cable only to such breech-loading fire-arms as are discharged by a percussion
cap in the usual way.
My Invention consists further of the following improvements, by which self-
ignition breech-loaders may be converted into muzzle-loaders to be fired with
loose powder in the ordinary way. In carrying out this part of my Invention
I make a block or closer of the kind herein-before described, and I insert in
the breech or chamber of the gun a thin copper or steel or other metal tube.
The interior of the said tube may be either smoothed or rifled to suit the
interior of the barrel. I drill a communication hole through the body of the
steel block or closer, the said communication hole terminating at its forward
end excentrically to the bore of the rifle. The said forward end of the com-

page_text: munication hole is enlarged for some distance down the closer to allow the
powder in loading to descend near the nipple. The nipple and percussioning
are situated on the rear of the block or closer, so as to be readily, reached by
the hammer. The end or base of the copper or steel tube has a hole in it to
match the communication hole in the closer. The hole in the closer through
which the steel pin or striker works and ignites the cartridge when loading
at the breech is covered by the solid end of the copper or steel tube, so that
escape of gas is prevented at the said hole. The closer being shut down, the
gun may be loaded with loose powder from the muzzle and fired by a per-
cussion cap in the usual way. When loading the gun at the breech the
nipple may be removed from the closer, and the hammer thereby allowed to
fall lower to force up the striker. When the gun is constructed to fire the
percussion rim cartridges at the breech, the communication hole, for muzzle-
loading terminates in the axis of the bore of the gun and not on the side, as
last described. Instead of adapting the same block or closer to fire the gun
either at the breech or at the muzzle two closers may be employed, one for
muzzle-loading and the other for breech-loading, the said.closers being changed
as it may be required to load at the muzzle or breech. Instead of placing
the nipple on the rear end of the closer for firing when loading at the muzzle,
it may be placed on the forward end of the closer, and the hammer be made
to communicate with and discharge the percussion cap. by a pin or striker
working through a hole or bearing on the side of the closer, in which case
the communication hole need not be enlarged..
My Invention consists further of the following improvement in breech-
loading fire-arms for firing self-igniting cartridges. I chamber out the rear of
the barrel, and cut an opening through the top as before described, but instead
of closing the breech by a steel block as before described, I open and close
the breech by a cylindrical bolt or slide working backwards and forwards in
the chamber. The rear of the bolt or slide works through a hole in the extreme
end of the breech or chamber, and on being withdrawn from the breech forces
back the sliding hammer or bolt situated in the rear of the breech, and thus
half cocks the gun. After the cartridge has been introduced into the barrel,
the cylindrical bolt or slide is pushed forward and made to close the said
barrel, leaving the hammer half cocked. The sliding closer has a solid pro-
jecting piece formed at one side of its forward end, which piece when the
closer is pushed up to close the breech is turned down, and made to engage
with a solid shoulder or projection on the side of the chamber, and is thus
firmly held in position during discharge. The projection on the closer
serves as a handle for rotating the said closer, and withdrawing it from the

page_text: breech. I form on or attach to the front of the sliding closer a hook or
cartridge extractor, which on the withdrawal of the said closer extracts the
cartridge case of the previous charge from the breech or chamber. A fresh
cartridge is then introduced, and the breech again closed for firing. The
5 closer is retained in its fixed position during discharge by a spring catch or
other fastening, which is liberated on gripping the handle for closing the
chamber or breech.
My Invention .consists further of the following improvements in breech-
loading guns or rifles. I enlarge the bore of the breech end of the 'barrel
sufficiently to take a short steel tube or charge chamber. I cut an opening
through the top of the barrel, and hinge the short tube or charge chamber to
the side of the said barrel in a manner similar to that herein described with
reference to the flap and closer. I form the lump or percussioning on the
rear of the steel tube or charge chamber, and ignite the cartridge by a percus-
sion cap in the way ordinarily practised with breech-loaders. I make the charge
chamber open at both ends, and introduce the cartridge at the rear end of the
chamber. I close the rear end of the charge chamber by a screw pin working
in the extreme rear of the barrel. The forward end of the said screw pin is
enlarged and slightly conical, and fits into a corresponding recess in 'the rear
end of the charge chamber. The forward end of the charge chamber is also
conical, and takes into a corresponding recess in the barrel on being forced
up by the screw pin. The charge chamber is rather shorter than the opening
in the barrel in which the said chamber lies when closed for firing, so that on
unscrewing the pin or closer the chamber is forced back towards the rear,
and relieves itself from the conical recess into which it is pressed by the screw
when the breech is closed. When free the chamber is raised by hand, and
the cartridge pushed in from the rear, thus forcing out the old cartridge case,
and effectually cleaning the chamber. After the charge has been introduced,
the chamber is lowered into its place, and on the pin being screwed up the
gun is ready for discharge. The charge chamber is forced from its conical
ecess by a coiled spring fixed on the joint pin on which the chamber turns,
nd the breech screw may be made to throw back the charge chamber at the
ame time or nearly the same time as it releases the said charge chamber,
nd close it again on screwing up the pin, thus expediting the operation of
ading. In all the fire-arms capable of being discharged by a percussion
ap and a striker I prefer to employ a double-faced hammer, that is, a hammer
ith two faces so situated as to be respectively able to strike the percussion
ap and the striker, or a hammer with a moveable face capable of being fixed

page_text: in the position proper to strike the percussion cap or in that proper to strike
the striker.
Having explained the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to describe
with reference to the accompanying Drawings the manner in which the same
is to be performed.
.
Figure 1 represents in plan the breech end of an ordinary service gun or
rifle converted into a breech-loading gun or rifle according to one part of my
Invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same; and Figure 3 is an end
elevation of the same, the block or closer for opening or closing the said
breech end being omitted; Figure 4 represents in end elevation (partly in
section) the jointed block or closer situated in the breech end or chamber of
the
gun; Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical section of the said block or closer
separately; and Figure 6 is a plan of the same.. The same letters indicate
the same parts in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
I will first describe the conversion of the muzzle-loading gun into a breech-
loading gun, and afterwards describe the construction of the hinged block or
closer which I prefer to use for opening and closing the breech chamber.
a is the chamber bored out of the rear end of the barrel b, the said chamber
being of the size required for the cartridge to be used. An opening.c is cut or
made in the top of the breech chamber a for the introduction of the cartridge.
d is the block or closer hinged to one side of the chamber, the said block or
closer consisting of a flap or plate, on. the under side of which is a nearly
cylindrical lump. I make the joint upon which the flap of the block or
closer & turns. in the following manner :-I take out the tail pin and cut away
the. lump and nipple hole, and I fix on the barrel at the rear of the back
sight a ring or band of metal e, having a lump or projection on one
side. At the extreme rear of the barrel I fix a second ring or band f, having
a projection f on one side similar to that on the ring or band e.
The pro-
jections or lumps e, f, on the rings or bands e, f, form the fixed knuckles ór
joint eyes of the hinge or joint of the block or closer d. By fitting the
knuckle or eye piece d2 of the block or closer d between the knuckles or eye
pieces e, f, on the side of the barrel, and passing a pin g through the said
parts d, e, f, the hinging of the block or closer d to the barrel is completed.
The pin g screws into the knuckle e, as represented. The rings or bands e, f,
are fixed to the end of the barrel or breech chamber a by screw pins h. The
said rings or bands may, however, be shrunk thereon, that is, put on in a
heated state, and made to fix themselves by contracting on cooling. The ring
or band
has on the side opposite to that carrying the knuckle or eye f³ a

page_text: large lump or projection ƒ³ of a size sufficient to fill up the space which was
occupied by the old lump on the barrel; the said ring or band has also a tail
pin or tang f, the said parts f³ and f being made in one piece with the said
ring or band. Instead of the ring or band f a new tail pin or screw may be
5 screwed into the barrel, the said tail pin or screw having on it a lump or
projection, similar to that marked f, for forming one portion of the joint of
the block or closer. When a new tail pin or screw is used the barrel is
shortened about three-eighths of an inch. Instead of the bands or rings
described and représented for carrying the knuckles or eyes for the block or
closer to turn upon, a tube or shoe may be shrunk or screwed on to the
barrel.
a
Figure 7 represents in longitudinal section the breech end of a barrel
having a thin tube or shoe marked i, shrunk on the outside. The said tube
or shoe i extends along the breech to the rear of the back sight, and has
lumps or projections on one side for forming the knuckles or eyes, and has also
lump or projection to fill up the space which was occupied by the old lump,
the said lumps or projections being similar to those marked e, ƒª, ƒ³, in
Figures 1, 2, and 3. The said tube i has an opening at top corresponding with
the opening in the top of the breech chamber, through which the block or
closer works. The rear of the tube or shoe i has a solid end or shoulder,
and is prolonged backwards, and may be made to carry or guide the coiled
spring and hammer or other contrivance for striking or igniting the cartridge..
Figure 8 represents in side elevation the breech end of a barrel in which the
tube or shoe k is secured to the barrel by screwing on to the end of the said
barrel instead of shrinking it on the outside. The knuckles or eyes for the
joint are marked in the said Figure 8. In new breech-loaders I prefer to
form the lumps or knuckles for carrying the flap and block solid with the'
barrel.
I use with fire-arms constructed in the ways described cartridges of the
kind called self-igniting cartridges, and I ignite the said cartridges by con-
structing the block or closer by which the breech chamber is opened and closed
in the manner represented in Figures 4, 5, and 6. Blocks or closers or other
constructions may, however, be used with guns converted according to my
Invention. The block or closer d is hinged at ds to the side of the breech
chamber a, and when depressed in the said chamber completely fills it up and
closes the breech. By raising the block or closer from the chamber by the
humb plate d' the breech chamber a is opened, and the central fire cartridge
ntroduced into the barrel. On shutting down the block or closer it is fastened
n its place by a spring catch fastening engaging with the outside of the

page_text: chamber a in the manner represented in Figure 4. In the axis of the block
or closer d, and in a line with the axis of the barrel, a hole m is drilled or
made, and along the side of the block or closer, and nearly through its whole
length, an oblique slot or opening n is made, the said oblique slot n opening.
into the hole m (see Figure 4). In the said oblique slot na sliding plate or
striker o works freely. The said plate or striker is enlarged at top into a head
2, the shape of which is best seen in Figures 4 and 5. The said head p receives.
and transmits the blow of the hammer of the gun to the cartridge in the.
manner herein-after explained. The front and lower edge of the sliding plate
or striker o terminates in a pin or point q, which works in the hole m in the
axis of the plug or closer d. The sliding plate or striker o is pressed towards
the butt end of the gun, and the striking pin q kept within the opening m by
means of the coiled spring s when not acted upon by the hammer. The
motion of the plate or striker is limited on being advanced by coming
against the end of the oblique slot n and on retiring by the stop t: When the
head P of the plate or striker o is struck by the hammer of the gun the said
plate or striker is advanced in the block or closer, and the pin or point q
driven into or against the ignition in the centre of the cartridge and ignites it,
and thus discharges the gun. On raising the hammer the spring s restores
the pin and plate or striker o, p, to the positions represented. Instead of
the last described arrangement for igniting the cartridge the following arrange-.
ment may be adopted:-I drill a hole in the steel block or closer excentric to
the bore of the barrel and in a line with the hammer. I fit in the said hole a
steel pin or striker, the forward end of which terminates in a plate or crank
bent down in a line with the axis of the gun. The rear of the pin protrudes
through the block or closer, and on being struck by the hammer its forward-
or cranked end is driven into the cartridge and ignites it. Or I fit a dovetail.
slide on the edge or side of the steel block or closer in a line with the hammer
and parellel to the axis of the barrel. The forward end of the slide is con-
nected with a steel pin or point which is driven against the cartridge by-the-
slide when the said slide is struck by the hammer. Or I form in the axis of
the steel block a narrow longitudinal slot or opening, the bottom of which is
in a line with the axis of the barrel, and the upper edge in a line with the
hammer of the rifle. A steel plate is fitted in the said slot, and is provided
with a protruding head for the hammer to strike against. The forward lower
edge or end of the said plate is provided with a suitable point for striking the
cartridge.
The modifications last described being in their construction essentially the
same as the striker described with reference to Figures 4 and 5, and as I believe

page_text: the said modifications will be understood by the description of them given in
conjunction with the said Figures 4 and 5, I have not thought it necessary
to represent the said modifications in the Drawings.
The block d, together with the other blocks herein-after described as being
jointed to the side of the opening in the chamber, may be jointed to either
side of the barrel, that is, either on the lock side or on the opposite side of
the barrel. When it is intended to use with the gun cartridges of the kind
called. percussion rim cartridges, in which the ignition is contained in the rim
instead of the centre, the arrangements for igniting the cartridges are modified.
so as to cause the striker to strike the rim of the said cartridges. But in
igniting percussion rim cartridges I prefer to use a simple pin or striker
working in a hole in the hammer side of the steel block, and so formed at its
head or rear end as to be struck by the hammer on falling, and thereby made
to strike and ignite the cartridge.
Figure 9 represents in horizontal section one of my arrangements for
extracting the exploded cartridge case from the barrel. a is the hook or
sliding bolt by which the cartridge case is extracted. The said look slides on
the top edge of the opening 6 of the breech chamber c, and fits accurately in the
mouth or shoulder of the said breech chamber and in front of the place in
which the rim d² of the cartridge case d enters when placed in the barrel.
The hook or bolt a is connected through the stem a² with a finger plate a³.
The said stem is situated in the axis of the tube e, fixed on the side of the
barrel. Surrounding the said stem and between it and the tube e is a coiled
spring f, which tends to press the hook or bolt a towards the muzzle of the
gun' when the said hook is at liberty to move.
The finger plate a³ passes
through and works in a slot in the tube e. By pulling the finger plate a³
towards the breech chaníber c, the hoók or bolt a is pressed outwards, and,
acting on the riin d² of the cartridge case pushes the said case before it,
and extracts it from the-barrel. On releasing the finger plate a³, the spring f,
which has been compressed, forces back the hook or bolt a, which assumes
the position represented in the Drawing, and a new cartridge may be inserted
into the barrel. The extractor described and represented-in Figure 9 may be
situated underneath the barrel instead of on the side. In this case the thumb-
plate a³ is made of sufficient length to project through the stock, and the book
or bolt a is made to work in the slot g (indicated in dotted lines) in the
bottom of the breech chamber c.
Figure 10 represents in longitudinal vertical section another arrangement
for igniting central fire cartridges. I, -is the steel pin or striker situated
in a hole made in the axis of the block or closer.i. At the back of the

page_text: cylindrical part of the striker, and working in a tube in the head of the,
stock, is a sliding bolt or hammer. The bolt or hammer is connected by,
the strap m to the ordinary hammer of the gun. On the fall of the said
hammer n the cylindrical block or hammer is advanced against and made_to
strike the end of the pin or striker h, and drive the pointed end h into the
centre of the cartridge o, and ignite the said cartridge and discharge the gun;
On raising the hammer n the cylindrical block is drawn back, and the
pointed end h² of the striker h. withdrawn into the block or closer i by the
pressure of the coiled spring p.
Figure 11 represents in longitudinal vertical section another arrangement
for igniting central fire cartridges. In this arrangement the old lock and
hammer are removed, and the sliding block or hammer a is actuated by a
double crank or forked lever b. The arms of the said forked lever b pass on
either side the tube f and work on pivots or centres on either side the head of
the stock; one of these pivots or centres is marked 62. The outer end of the
stem a² of the block a is connected by the strap c to the cross bar 6 at the
upper end of the said forked lever b. The hammer a is pressed towards the
breech block d by the coiled spring e, .around the stem a, the said spring:
bearing at one end against the closed end of the tube f, in which the hammer a
slides, and at the other end against the rear of the said hammer. 9 is a pin
or striker of the construction.described with reference to the gun, Figure 10:
A slot h is made in the bottom of the tube f, in which the pointed end of the
sear i works, the said sear being connected with the trigger of the gun in the
ordinary way. A bent or notch k is made in the hammer a, in which-bent
the pointed end of the sear i engages when the hammer is drawn back. On
drawing back the hammer or bolt a by raising the forked lever b the spring e
is compressed, and when the bent k in the said hammer or bolt has been
brought opposite the end of the sear i, its pointed end drops into the said bent
and holds the bolt or hammer ready for discharge. On pulling the trigger
the sear is disengaged from the bent and the hammer a 'liberated and
forced by the action of the compressed spring e against the striker g, the pin gå
of the said striker being made to enter the cartridge 7 and discharge the gun.
The forked lever or crank band strap c may be dispensed with and the
hammer a pulled back preparatory to discharge by means of a knob or pro-
jection marked me in Figure 11, fixed on the rear of the stem a' of the said
hammer a.
Instead of making the hammer of the gun act directly on the striker, as in
the arrangement of my Invention represented in Figures 4, 5, and 6, the
blow of the hammer may be received by a nearly quadrant-shaped piece of

page_text: metal turning on a joint, and transmitted by the said quadrant-shaped piece
to the striker. This arrangement of my Invention is represented in Figure 12
of the Drawings, where a is the block or closer; 6, the striker working in an
opening in the said block, and c, the nearly quadrant-shaped piece of metal
jointed at to the block. On the descent of the hammer d, it strikes upon
the projecting part of the quadrant-shaped piece c, causing it to turn upon its
joint and urge forward the striker 6 into the cartridge and discharge the gun.
By this arrangement the striker is acted upon more nearly in the line of its
motion than when struck directly by the hammer.
Figure 13 represents in longitudinal vertical section the breech end of a
breech-loading gun constructed according to another part of my Invention,
and Figure 14 is a plan of the same, the parts being represented in position
for discharge. The gun, Figures 13 and 14, is only applicable for discharging
percussion caps, and may be loaded either at the breech or muzzle, as herein-
after described. a is the barrel, and 6 the breech chamber, the said breech
chamber being opened and closed by a sliding plug of steel c, ; the forward
end of the plug is made separate from the other part, the said forward end
being screwed to the body c of the plug by a long screw on the shank c' of
the end engaging in a hollow screw in the axis of the body c. By this
means the forward end c³ of the plug can be partially unscrewed and the plug
lengthened when the gun is to be loaded at the muzzle. When the plug is
lengthened in the manner described the end of the plug fits accurately against
a shoulder a at the end of the chamber 6 of the gun, and prevents all escape
of gas without the use of a wad. When the gun is loaded at the breech the
plug c, c, occupies the position represented, the space between the end of the
plug and the shoulder a² of the chamber being sufficient for the wad and base
of the cartridge to lie in. The plug c, c, is secured in its place during. fire
and moved into or out of the breech chamber 6 by a top plate d, jointed at d?
to the forward end of the plug c. The rear end of the plate d has on its
under side a block e, which, when the plate is shut down, as represented in
the Drawing, engages in a transverse slot at f in the plug c, and also abuts
against shoulders at g, g, in the sides of the breech chamber b, the metal of
the said chamber being cut away to form the said shoulders, as best seen in.
Figure 14. The plug is thus, firmly supported in its place during fire. On
raising the plated by the handle d³, the lump e is lifted from the recess of in
the plug c, c, and from the sides of the breech chamber b. The plug c, c²,
can now be drawn out of the breech chamber 6 and the said chamber made
clear for the introduction of the cartridge. After charging, the plug c, c², is
advanced by the plate d into the breech chamber, and the said plate d after.

page_text: wards shut down. and, the gun made ready for firing. In the top of the
plug ca spring his placed, the free end of which bears against the under side.
of the jointed end of the plate d and assists in holding, it in. its place when
shut down.
."
Figure 15 represents in longitudinal. vertical section a breech-loading gun,
used for. firing self-igniting cartridges, the said gun being converted into a
muzzle-loader to be fired with loose powder according to my Invention:
a is the steel block or closer of the construction described with reference to.
Figures 4, 5, and 6, but with the additions herein-after explained. In the.
breech or chamber 6 of the gun a thin copper, steel, or other metal tube c
is inserted. The interior of the said tube c may either be smooth or rifled, to
suit the interior of the barrel. In the body of the block or closer a a com-
munication hole d.is drilled excentrically to the said. block and to the bore of
the gun.
The forward end of the communication hole d is enlarged for
some distance down the block or closer, to. allow the powder in' loading at
the muzzle to descend near the nipple e, situated on the rear of the block or
closer, the, said nipple being readily reached by the hammer f. The end or
base, of the tube c has a hole in it, which opens into the communication
hole d in the closer a.. The. communication hole d in the block a is closed
when loading from the breech by the base of the cartridge used. The hole
in the closer through, which the pin or striker g works (indicated in dotted
lines) for igniting the cartridge when loading at the breech is covered by the
solid end of the tube c; as represented; so that escape of gas is prevented at
the said hole. The plug or closer a being shut down in the manner repre-
sented, the gun may be loaded with loose powder from the muzzle, and fired
by a percussion:cap placed on the nipple e. When loading at the breech;
the: tube c, as well as the nipple e, are removed; the hammer f is thereby
allowed to fall lower to act upon the striker h. In order to enable the same
hammer to act readily either on the nipple or striker h, I provide the
hammer with two faces i, k, the lower faceti striking on the percussion cap
on the nipple e, and the upper face k, when the nipple e is removed, striking
on the pin striker h. Or the face of the hammer may be made moveable by
turning on a centre, as illustrated in Figure 16, where the moveable face is
marked, and the centre on which it turns 2. The inner side of the:said
face is so shaped that when the hammer strikes the nipple e, the lower part
of the said face abuts against the hammer, and its further motion is arrested,
and when the nipple e is removed, and the face of the hammer strikes the
striker h, its upper end abuts against the hammer, as indicated in dotted
Jines, the said face thus adapting itself either to the nipple e or striker.h.

page_text: When the gun, Figure 15, is constructed to fire percussion rim cartridges at
the breech, the communication hole for muzzle-loading terminates in the
axis of the bore of the gun, and not on the side, as represented in the said
Figure 15. Instead of adapting the same block or closer to fire the gun
either at the breech or at the muzzle, two closer's may be employed, onė for
muzzle-loading and the other for breech-loading, the said closers being
changed as it may be required to load at the muzzle or breech. And
instead of placing the nipple e on the rear end of the closer for firing when
loading at the muzzle, it may be placed on the forward end of the closer,
and the hammer be made to communicate with and discharge the percussion
cap by a pin or striker working in a hole or bearing or bearings in the side
of the closer, in which case the communication hole need not be enlarged.
Figure 17 represents in vertical longitudinal section the breech end of a
breech-loading gun for firing self-igniting cartridges constructed according to
another part of my Invention. a is the breech-chamber in the rear of the
barrel b, the said chamber a having an opening at top through which the
cartridge is introduced into the barrel, and also a slot in which the handle of
the bolt slides. The said chamber is opened and closed by a cylindrical
bölt or slide d working backwards and forwards, and capable of a partial
rotation in the said chamber. In a hole in the axis of the bolt a is the pin
or striker e, and partly in the said bolt and partly behind it is the 'sliding
hammer and spring 9, by which the pin or striker e is acted upon to
ignite the cartridge h. The construction and action of 'the said parts e, f, g,
are nearly similar to corresponding parts herein-before described, and are so
fully shown in the Drawing that I do not think it necessary further to
describe them. The bolt d lias a solid projecting piece or handle d' at top;
by which it is moved and partly rotated. On withdrawing the bolt d from
the breech the banimer f is forced back, and the sear i made to enter the
bent in the said hammer, and thus cock the gun. After the cartridge has
been introduced into the barrel, the bolt d is moved forward into the position
represented, and made to close the breech, leaving the hammer f held by the
sear i ready to discharge the gun. The gun is discharged by the hammer f
acting on the pin or striker e, and the latter on the cartridge in the manner
herein-before described with respect to other guns for firing centrál fire
cartridges. The plúg d is held in position during fire by the handle d² on
the said plug; after the said plug d has been pushed up to close the breech,
the handle d² is turned down somewhat from a vertical position, and made to
engage with a solid shoulder or projection a² on the side of the breech
chamber a, and thus hold the plug d firmly during fire. To withdraw the

page_text: plug d after discharge, the handle d² is raised somewhat beyond a vertical
position, and thereby brought opposite a slot in the upper part of the breech
chamber By then moving the handle towards the butt end of the gun, the
said handle enters the said slot, and withdraws the plug from the breech, and
at the same time cocks the hammer.f of the gun, as herein-before described.
The front of the plug d has a hook or cartridge extractor attached to it;
similar to that represented in the gun next described, so as to extract the
exploded case on the withdrawal of the said plug.
Figure 18 represents in longitudinal section, and Figure 19 in plan, a
modification of the arrangement last described adapted for discharging the
cartridge by the ordinary hammer instead of by a hammer situated in the
rear of the breech chamber. a is the breech chamber, 6 the barrel, and c
the cylindrical plug for opening and closing the breech. The said plug has
a projecting piece c. at top, which supports the plug during fire, and through
which a pin or striker d passes in an oblique direction to the axis of the
plug c; the said pin when not acted upon by the hammer is raised in the
opening in which it works, and its upper end d³ made to protrude from
the nozzle piece by a coiled spring e. The plug c has a stem at its rear,
which passes through the end of the breech chamber of the gun, and has on
its outer end a handle 9.. By means of the said handle g the plug.c can be
moved into or out of the breech chamber, and partly rotated to fix it against
or remove it by a side motion from the shoulder h on the breech chamber.
When the plug c has been raised by a slight lateral motion from the shoulder h,
its upper contracted part c comes opposite the slot i in the upper part of the
breech chamber, and by means of the handle g the said part can be moved
along the said slot, and the plug c-made to open the breech. The stem-f of
the plug c has a flattened or V shaped bottom, against .one or other side of
which bottom the free end of a spring k is made to bear and retain the plug c
in its opened or closed position. When the plug c is in the position repre-
sented the gun is ready for discharge, the discharge being effected by the
ordinary hammer of the gun striking on the protruding end d³ of the pin d,.
and. projecting its opposite end into the cartridge 1, so as to discharge it.
Attached to the bottom of the plug c is a hook or cartridge extractor,
marked m, m2, m³; the said extractor consists of a bar of metal, m, having its
ends m², m³, turned up. The said bar m is carried backwards and forwards
by the sliding of the plug c, but the said bar m does not partake of the
rotatory motion of the said plug c, but slides in the slot n in the lower part
of the chamber a. The front part or hook m² is not in contact with the
front face of the plug c, there being sufficient space between the hook m² and

page_text: e plug for the insertion of the rim of the cartridge case l. After the
lug c has been drawn back for recharging, the cartridge is inserted in
he chamber a, its rim being dropped or placed between the hook m² and
he end of the plug c. The plug c is then pushed forward, carrying thẻ.
artridge with it into the position represented in Figure 18, when the gun
3 ready for discharge. On withdrawing the plug c, the case of the exploded
artridge is withdrawn by its rim by means of the hook m².
Figure 20 represents in longitudinal vertical section, and Figure 21 in plan,
breech-loading gun or rifle constructed according to another part of my.
Invention.
a is the barrel, and 6 the breech chamber, having an opening cat top.
Hinged at d to the side of the said opening is a short steel tube or chargé cham:
ber e, in which the cartridge f is placed, the said charge chamber being open at
both ends. The hinge upon which the chargé chamber turns may be made in
the manner described with respect to Figures 1, 2, and 3. The percussioning g
is situated on the side or rear of the charge chamber e, the said percussioning
In order to introduce
communicating with the interior of the said chamber e.
the cartridge, the charge chamber e is turned upon its hinge d, and lifted from
the breech chamber. The cartridge is introduced at the rear end of the
chamber, and the said chamber then turned down into the chamber b. The
front open end of the charge chamber e is made conical and fits accurately
The other end
against a conical recess or seat a³ at the end of the barrel a:
of the charge chamber e has a conical recess made in it, the said end being
closed after the charge chamber has been lowered into the barrel by the quick
threaded screw pin h, the forward end of which is enlarged and made some-
what conical, and fits into the said conical recess. When the screw pin h is
driven home by turning the handle h², the rear end of the said breech chamber
is closed by the head of the said screw pin, and the opposite end forced up to
the conical seat a at the end of the barrel a. This sliding motion of the
charge chamber e is permitted by the knuckle d'of the said chamber having
freedom of motion upon the joint pin d². After the discharge of the gun by
the action of the hammer on the percussion cap on the nipple g the screw
pin his turned, so as to withdraw its conical head from the end of the charge
chamber. The charge chamber being liberated its forward end is forced from
the conical recess a² by the coiled spring d³ on the joint pin d³, pressing the
knuckle d towards the butt end of the gun. The charge chamber can now be
raised from the breech chamber b, and a fresh cartridge pushed in from the
rear, thus forcing out the wad and the remains of the exploded cartridge and
clearing the chamber. The charge chamber e may be raised by the percus-

page_text: sioning g'or by a thumb-plate on its side, not represented in the Drawing.
The breech screw pin h may be made to throw back the charge chamber e at
the same time or nearly the same time as it releases the said charge chamber,
and close it again on screwing up the pin, thus expediting the operation of
loading.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise
details herein described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, as the
same may be varied without departing from the nature of my Invention; but
I claim as my Invention,-
Firstly, the improvements in converting muzzle-loading fire-arms into
breech-loading fire-arms herein-before described, and illustrated in Figures 1,
2, 3, and 4 of the accompanying Drawings, that is to say, fixing a ring or band
at or near either end of the opening in the barrel at which the cartridge is
introduced, the closing block being hinged to the said rings or bands
the modification described with reference to Figure 7.
also
Secondly, the improvement in converting muzzle-loading fire-arms into
breech-loading fire-arms herein-before described, and illustrated in Figure 8
of the accompanying Drawings, that is to say, by cutting off a portion of the
barrel, and screwing on the end a tubular shoe having lumps or projections
to which the closing block is hinged.
Thirdly, the improvements in constructing the blocks or closers of breech-
loading fire-arms for discharging self-igniting cartridges herein-before de-
scribed, and illustrated in Figures 4, 5, and 6 of the accompanying Drawings,
and the modifications thereof herein-before' described.
Fourthly, the sliding cartridge case extractor described and represented in
Figure 9 of the accompanying Drawings, whether the same be fixed on the
side or underneath the barrel.
--Fifthly, the arrangement or combination of parts described and represented
in Figure 10 of the accompanying Drawings for discharging central fire breech-
loading fire-arms.
Sixthly, the arrangements or combinations of parts described and repre-
sented in Figures 11 and 12 of the accompanying Drawings for discharging
central fire breech-loading fire-arms.
Seventhly, the arrangement or combination of parts of breech-loading fire-
arms herein-before described, and illustrated in Figures 13 and 14 of the
accompanying Drawings, that is to say, supporting the closing plug during
discharge by means of shoulders formed on the sides of the opening in the
barrel, with which shoulders and a cross slot in the plug the plate jointed to
.

page_text: the plug and a transverse block on the under side of the said plate engage;
also making the front of the plug moveable for the purpose of converting the
fire-arm from a breech-loading into a muzzle-loading fire-arm.
Eightbly, the double-faced hammers described and illustrated in Figures 15
and 16 of the accompanying Drawings for discharging fire-arms when loading
either at the breech or muzzle.
Ninthly, the arrangement or combination of parts described and represented
in Figure 15 of the accompanying Drawings for converting breech-loading
into muzzle-loading fire-arms and the reverse.
Tenthly, the arrangement or combination of parts described and represented
in Figure 17 of the accompanying Drawings for discharging central fire breech-
loading fire-arms.
Eleventbly, the arrangement or combination of parts described and repre-
sented in Figures 18 and 19 of the accompanying Drawings for discharging
central fire breech-loading fire-arms.
Lastly, the arrangement or combination of parts described and represented
in Figures 20 and 21 of the accompanying Drawings for charging and opening
and closing the breech ends of breech-loading fire-arms.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Wilson, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
THOMAS WILSON. (L.S.)
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.