IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Astley Paston Price, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS."
A communication from abroad by Pierre Alexis Adolphe Laffiteau and Louis
Henri Riéger, both of Paris, in the Republic of France.
Sealed the 3rd September 1878, and dated the 22nd March 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Astley Paston Price at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd March 1878.
ASTLEY PASTON PRICE, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS." A communication from abroad by Pierre Alexis
Adolphe Laffiteau and Louis Henri Riéger, both of Paris, in the Republic of
France.
This Invention relates to what are known as drop-down guns, in which the
breech is exposed for the introduction of the cartridge by the barrel or barrels
turning upon a centre. Heretofore in guns of this description the breech has been
usually connected to the barrel by means of a hinged joint, through which a pin is
passed; this arrangement is liable to the defect that the pin wears out rapidly, so
that the gun requires frequent repairs. In other guns the hinge joint is modified,
and the connection of the breech with the barrel is effected by nicans of a projection
entering a socket; but in order to take the gun to pieces for the purpose of cleaning
and oiling it it is necessary to remove the part on which the joint is forined.
The improvements in fire-arms, which form the subject of this Invention, consist
in the employment of a socket or knuckle joint for connecting the breech to the
barrel, which arrangement has the advantage of limiting the arc described by the
barrels, and in the peculiar construction of the frog, which enables the breech to be
readily separated from the barrel without detaching any of the parts.
In carrying out this Invention the breech piece terminates in a round centre
piece or pivot engaging in a socket formed in a projection provided on the barrel,
and which is sunk or embedded in the wood of the stock. The projection is cut
away for the reception of an oscillating lever suspended upon a centre when the

page_text: barrels are elevated; this lever is hold in position by a flat spring fixed at one end,
and bearing at its opposite end upon a stop catch.
The front part of the lever forms the upper. part of the socket, in which the
round centre piece or pivot works.
The socket or knuckle joint herein-before described enables the barrels to be
turned down for the purpose of loading, but it is necessary to limit the arc which
they describe. For this purpose the end of the lever is provided with a projection
which engages in a notch formed in the centre piece or pivot, somewhat larger than
is requisite to contain it, the said projection acting as a stop, so that the arc described
by the barrels when it is desired to load the gun is limited to the exact length
required.
In order to separate the barrels from the breech it is sufficient to press with the
finger upon one end of the lever; the spring then liberates the catch, and slipping
over a curve provided at this part forces the lever to remain elevated. Under these
conditions the centre piece or pivot, when the barrels are dropped, is sufficiently
free to admit of the breech being readily separated from the barrels, and the necessity
for taking off any of the parts for the purpose of cleaning and oiling the gun is
entirely obviated.
Another part of the Invention relates to the cartridge extractor, and consists of
the following improved arrangement of the same:-A projection is provided under-
neath the barrels, which enters a corresponding recess formed in the breech piece.
On each side of this projection there are attached two arms capable of oscillating on
a centre, and which likewise enter the recess in the breech piece, the sides of which
are formed of the same shape as the arms. These arms are provided with prolon-
gations, which are connected to the end of the stem of the extractor proper.
When the barrels are dropped down certain surfaces 'on the interior of the recess
are brought into contact with other surfaces formed on the arms, causing the latter
to move upon their centre, and force out the cartridge extractor. When the barrels
are raised the reverse effect is producod; the arms are retracted, drawing with them
the stem of the cartridge extractor by means of the prolongations.
This arrangement may be modified by dispensing with one of the arms; the
remaining single arm is then located in a recess formed in the centre of the pro-
jection which carries it, and the prolongation engages in a slot formed in the end of
the stem of the cartridge extractor.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Astley Paston Price in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th
September 1878.
ASTLEY PASTON PRICE, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS." A communication from abroad by
Pierre Alexis Adolphe Laffiteau and Louis Henri Riéger, both of Paris, in the
Republic of France.
The said Invention relates to what are known as drop-down guns, in which the
breech is exposed for the introduction of the cartridge by the barrel or barrels
turning upon a centre. Heretofore in guns of this description the breech has been
usually connected to the barrel by means of a hinge joint, through which a pin is
passed. This arrangement is liable to the defect that the pin wears out rapidly, so
that the gun requires frequent repairs. In other guns the hinge joint is modified,
and the connection of the breech with the barrel is effected by means of a projection
entering a socket, but in order to take the gun to pieces for the purpose of
cleaning and oiling it is necessary to remove the part on which the joint is
formed.
The improvements in fire-arms, which form the subject of the said Invention,
consist in the employment of a socket or knuckle joint for connecting the breech to
the barrel, which arrangement has the advantage of limiting the are described
by the barrels, and in the peculiar construction of the said joint, which enables
the breech to be readily separated from the barrel without detaching any of the
parts.
The said Invention also embraces improvements in the cartridge extractor, as
herein-after described.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now proceeḍ
more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the several
Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a sectional elevation of a gun
with the improvements forming the subject of the said Invention applied thereto,
the gun being represented with the barrels in their closed position:
Figure 2 is an elevation shewing the breech opon, and Figure 3 is an end view
of the barrels at their junction with the breech.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate an improved construction of gun lock, which may be
advantageously employed in fire-arms of this description, but to which no claim is
made as forming any part of the said Invention.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the breech piece A terminates in a round centre
piece or pivot B, engaging in a socket C formed in a projection D provided on the
barrel. Figure 1 shows the mode in which this piece D is connected to, the barrel.
It will be observed that it is so arranged as to be completely embedded in the wood
of the stock. The projection D is cut away in a peculiar manner for the reception
of a lever E suspended upon a centre o, and capable of assuming the position shewn
in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2. When the barrels are elevated the lever E is
held in position by a flat spring F fixed at G at one end, and bearing at its opposite
end upon a stop catch a, as shewn in Figure 1.
The front portion of the lever E forms the lower part of the socket C in which
the round centre piece or pivot B works.
The socket or knuckle joint herein-before described enables the barrels to be
turned down for the purpose of loading, and as it is necessary to limit the arc which
they describe, the end of the lever E is provided with a projection H, which engages
in a notch 'I formed in the centre piece or pivot B somewhat larger than is requisite
to contain it. It will be seen by reference to Figures 1 and 2 that in consequence

page_text: of this projection H acting as a stop, the arc described by the barrels when it is
desired to load the gun is limited to the exact length required.
In order to separate the barrels from the breech it is simply necessary to press
with the finger upon one end J of the lever E; the spring F then liberates the
catel a, and slipping over a curved surface a, b, allows the lever E to remain elevated
in the position shewn in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2. Under these conditions
the centre piece or pivot B, when the barrels are dropped, is sufficiently free to
admit of the breech being readily separated or disengaged from the barrels. There
is thus no necessity for taking off any of the parts.
Another part of the said Invention relates to the cartridge extractor, and consists
of the following improved arrangement of the same:-A projection C¹ is provided
underneath the barrels, which enters a corresponding opening formed in the breech
piece. At opposite sides of this projection there is attached one of the two arms K,
capable of turning on a centro c, and which enter recesses in the sides of the
opening in the breech piece, the sides L of these recesses being formed of the same
shape as the arms K. These arms are provided with prolongations d, which are
connected to the end of the stem e of a cartridge extractor M.
When the barrels are dropped down, surfaces m, n, on the interior of the recesses
are brought into contact with surfaces p, q, formed on the arms K, causing the latter
to move upon their centre c, and force out the cartridge extractor.
When the
barrels are raised the reverse effect is produced; the arms K are retracted, drawing
with them the stem e of the cartridge extractor by means of the prolongations &,
the extractor being thus restored to its position without being acted upon by the
surfaces N, P, of the breech block, in lieu of by the action of such surfaces, as in
the ordinary arrangement.
This arrangement may be modified by dispensing with one of the arms K. The
remaining single arm is then located in a recess formed in the centre of the pro-
jection which carries it, and the prolongation d engages in a slot formed in the end
of the stem e of the cartridge extractor.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a peculiar construction of gun lock, which may be
advantageously employed in conjunction with the improvements herein-before
described.
According to the ordinary mode of constructing gun locks the striker or hammer
is actuated by a single effort or sudden jerk of the spring, that is to say, the striker
or hammer after striking recoils to a certain extent, thereby causing the spring to
expend part of its force ineffectually, and at the same time the gun is liable to miss
fire if the force exerted by the spring is not sufficiently powerful.
In the arrangement illustrated in the Drawing the sudden jerk of the spring is
dispensed with, and the striker or hammer is pressed by the spring until it reaches
the end of its stroke. The whole of the power of the spring is thus utilised, and
missing fire rendered impossible.
The hammer is shown in the position after striking in Figure 4, and at half-cock
in Figure 5. R is the lock plate; S, the spring; T, the boss carrying the hammer U;
V is the sear.
The Drawing is sufficient to explain the manner in which the parts are mounted
.without further description. It should however be observed that one great
advantage of this construction of lock consists in the facility with which it may be
taken to pieces with the aid of a screwdriver only, while in the case of locks as
heretofore constructed a spring cramp is indispensable for this operation. Moreover
the lock is simple in construction, and occupies but a small space. If desired it
may be rendered visible by covering it with a piece of glass, as in the case of watch
movements.
No claim is made to the construction of lock illustrated by Figures 4 and 5 as
forming any part of the said Invention.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said In-
vention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect,

page_text: I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is, the improvements in the mode of jointing the breech and barrel
or barrels, and in the mode of actuating the cartridge extractor, substantially as
berein-before described, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Astley Paston Price, have to this my Specifi-
cation set my hand and seal, the Sixteenth day of September, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
ASTLEY PASTON PRICE. (L.S.)