IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE- "ARMS AND ORDNANCE
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Wilson, at the Office of the
Commissioners of, Patents, with his Petition, on the 23rd March 1866..
I, THOMAS WILSON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-
"ARMS AND ORDNANCE," to be as follows:
My Invention consists, firstly, in adapting a metal breech frame of the kind
herein-after described to the breech end of an ordinary muzzle-loading rifle
for the purpose of converting the said rifle into a breech-loading rifle. The
said breech frame contains all the mechanism for opening and closing the
breech, and in case of a self-igniting rifle for extracting or withdrawing the
exploded cartridge case from the breech chamber after the discharge of the
rifle.
In applying my Invention to an Enfield rifle to convert the said rifle into; a
breech loader I proceed as follows:-I form the breech frame to fit the upper
half of the rear end of the barrel; I hinge to the side, and by preference
the right hand or lock side of the breech frame, a closing block similar to that
described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me dated the First
day of September 1864, No. 2145, and I fit in the opposite side of the breech

page_text: frame (in case of self-igniting breech-loaders) a cartridge extractor, the
hooked end of which extractor fits into a depression in the shoulder of the
breech chamber. The rod or rear of the extractor traverses a longitudinal
groove or hole in the breech frame; and is operated by a thumb bit or plate
in its rear. The extractor is pressed into its place by a coiled spring. In
applying the breech frame to the rifle I proceed as follows:-I cut away
about three inches in length of the upper half or portion of the breech of
the barrel, commencing a little in advance of the tail pin. I then insert the
rear or projecting end of the breech frame into the remaining bore at the
extreme breach of the barrel, and by means of a screw pin passing through
the tail pin into the rear or projecting end of the breech frame I securely
fix the said breech frame to the barrel without weakening or injuring the rifle.
I form the pin or striker for discharging the said rifle on the fixed portion or
rear of the barrel and breech frame; the said pin or striker when struck by the
hammer drives forward a pin or rod working in the body of the closing block,
which said pin or rod strikes the percussion cap in the centre of the cartridge
and discharges it. Instead of hinging the closing block to the side of the
breech frame, as described, the said closing block may be hinged to the forward
end of the said breech frame.
In this modification of my Invention I secure the closing block when shut
down by means of a strong bolt taking into, the rear of the breech frame.
Instead of working the cartridge extractor by a thumb bit or plate, I prefer
.in this modification to connect it to the forward or hinged end of the closing
block, which on being raised acts as a lever against the extractor, and thereby
forces it and the exploded cartridge case from the breech or chamber. That
portion of
my Invention herein-before described may be applied to the con-
struction of new breech-loading rifles, and in constructing new breech-loading"
fire-arms, according to the herein-before described part of my Invention, I
prefer to form the parts to which the closing block and cartridge extractor are
attached solid with the barrel, and not in a separate breech frame, as previously
.described.
The already described parts of my Invention are applicable to the con-
truction of double breech-loading rifles or guns as well as single rifles or guns.
.My Invention consists further of the following improvements in self-igniting
breech-loading double guns. I construct the breech frame or break-off
separate from the barrels, and attach the said break-off permanently to the
stock. I attach the barrels to the break-off by screw pins and a cross bolt,
so that the barrels are fixed rigidly to the break-off. I hinge to the 'upper
side and rear of the barrels a breech piece or block, which fills up the space

page_text: between the barrels and the break-off, and is firmly bolted down when the
breech block is closed or lowered for firing. The breech block is raised and
lowered by a lever or handle, the action of which is made to release the bolt.
or fastening which holds down the breech block. The cartridges I use.
with my improved double guns are central-fire cartridges, and I ignite the.
.said cartridges as follows:-I fit into holes in the break-off steel rods .or.
strikers, which are driven forward by the fall of the hammers upon them.
When these rods or strikers are driven forward by the hammers they strike.
against the ends. of pins or rods in the body of the breech block, which said
pins are forced against the percussion caps in the ends of the cartridges and
discharge them. I extract the exploded cartridge cases by means of hooks
or extractors working in longitudinal grooves on the top of the barrels; I form
heads or projections on the said hooks or extractors, which said: projectionst
are acted upon by the breech block during its rising motion. The cartridge
cases are thereby started or forced partially from the breech chambers by the
act of enclosing the breech for reloading, and can be afterwards readily removed..
by hand.
My Invention consists further of the following improvements in converting
or transforming muzzle-loading into breech-loading rifles. I form. a breech
frame, and secure it to the barrel in a nearly similar manner to that previously
described, but instead of a-hinged block for closing the breech I employ a rod
or plug working longitudinally in the rear of the barrel. The said plug has:
a projection or swell along its side, and passes through á groove made in the
upper side. of the bore of the breech or barrel. When the plug- is pushed'
home for closing the breech the projection or swell on its side is turned by a.
partial rotation of the plug into a recess in the side of the opening in the
breech frame, and abuts against a shoulder on the said frame, and is: thus
supported in its place during the discharge of the rifle. I attach to the rear
of the closing plug a plate or cover, which slides backwards and forwards with
the closing plug, and opens or closes the opening in ithe breech frame. I.
attach to the said plate or cover a spring catch or hook, which said spring
catch or hook when the cover is pushed home takes on to the head of the
cartridge extractor, so that on drawing back the breech plate or cover the.
cartridge extractor is carried with it, and thereby forces the exploded cartridge
case from the barrel. When the plate or cover with the spring catch or hook.
have been withdrawn a certain distance a swell on the under-side of the spring.
catch or hook-raises the said spring catch or hook from the head of the extractor, >
which on being released is drawn back to its place by coiled springs, and thus.
leaves the exploded cartridge case in the open chamber of the breech to be:

page_text: drawn out for another charge. The breech plug or closer in this modification;
of my Invention is operated and all its required motions performed by a
bándle attached to its rear, and lying when not in use on the side of the gun.
Although I have described this modification of my Invention as applied to a,
converted rifle, I prefer to make the parts carrying the cover and extractor
solid with the barrel.
:
:
My Invention consists further of the improvements herein-after explained;
in arranging or combining the parts for opening and closing the breech ends
of breech-loading fire-arms. I make an opening at the top of the breech,
end of the barrel, through which opening the cartridge may; be introduced..
The breech is closed by a plug having a sliding motion as well as a motion of,
partialirotation. On one side of the rear end of the said plug a solid projec-,
tion or lug is made, which projection or lug, when the plug is in the position:
proper for firing lies in a "transverse recess or groove formed in the rear of
the breech, by which means the plug is sustained in its position during the,
discharge of the fire-arm.. A top plate or cover is attached to and slides;
with the plug. To guide the plug in its required sliding and rotatory motions;
I form in it a longitudinal groove or recess nearly its whole length, which ter-
minates at its rear in a cross recess or groove. The end of a screw pin or stud,
fixed in the side of the breech end of the barrel takes into the said groove and
serves as a guide to direct; the motions of the plug. By removing the pin or,
stud the plug can be liberated and may be withdrawn for the purpose of cleaning..
My Invention consists further of the following improvements in breech-
loading self-igniting fire-arms. .I cut an opening through the upper side of;
the barrel at or near its rear or breech end. I fit into the said opening a
sliding breech piece or closer. The said breech piece or closer is cylindrical.
at its rear end, and slides through the bore of the barrel at its extreme breech.;
The breech piece or closer is moved backwards and forwards by a lever
attached to the upper side of the extreme breech end of the barrel. The
breech piece or closer is connected to the lever by side straps, so that on
raising or lowering the said lever it is drawn backwards or forwards in the
breech chamber or opening. The breech piece is retained in its position
during discharge by the position of the lever and straps when the breech is.
closed. I form the cartridge extractor to work in the upper side of the
barrel, as herein-before described, and I work the said extractor by a spring
catch attached to the forward end of the breech piece or closer, the said spring:
catch engaging with the head of the extractor in a similar manner to that
herein before described. I ignite or discharge the rifle by means of a rod or.
striker passing through the body of the breech piece or closer, the said rod.or.

page_text: striker being driven forward by a rod or hammer working in a longituChal
groove or channel situated underneath the breech of the barrel, and
forced home by a coiled spring situated in the said groove or channel. The
rod or hammer is constructed with a head, which head strikes upon the striker
and drives it against the cartridge and ignites it. The rod or hammer is
forced back or drawn to half-cock by the opening of the breech, which by its
sliding action carries the said rod or hammer with it to its first bent. The
rod or hammer is drawn to second bent or full cock by a lever and thumb-
plate on the side of the gun. The rod or hammer is retained in its state of
tension by a sear, and released by a trigger in the usual way.
My Invention consists further of the following improvements in cartridges
for breech-loading fire-arms and ordnance. I make the external tube or
cartridge case of metal with a rim and anvil tube in the usual way. I after-
wards form a tube or case of paper of the required thickness, and with paper
pulp or block at one end. I then insert the said paper tube or case in the
metal case, and fix it firmly by pressure, thus forming a compound cartridgo
case, which is much stronger than a case made wholly of metal, and not so
liable to burst from the explosion. The said compound cases are not so
liable to the excessive heating of the metal part in rapid firing, as ordinary
metal cartridge cases.
My Invention consists lastly of the improvements herein-after described in
such cartridges for breech-loading fire-arms as contain the fulminate by means
of which the cartridge is discharged. My said improvements have reference
to the metal anvil or pin against which the fulminate contained in a metal
cap is struck for the purpose of discharging the cartridge. Instead of making
the anvil solid as usual I make it hollow or of a tubular form, that is,
with a small hole in its axis, through which hole the flash passes and ignites
the gunpowder when the cap is struck by the striker of the fire-arm. The
anvil may be conical at top. The said anvil is supported at the base of the
cartridge, and in its axis by means of a metal cap having an opening at bottom,
the cylindrical portion of the cap occupying the annular space between the
anvil and the said metal cup; or the anvil may be made of sheet metal bent
so as to have in cross section somewhat the form of the letter N. An anvil
of this form having a projection at its middle may be employed in the same
way as the anvil last.described.