IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1858

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frederick Bernhard Busse at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd
November 1858.-A communication from Mr. Theodor Knauth, of
Leipsic.
I, FREDERICK BERNHARD BUSSE, of Carlton Terrace, Sydenham Park, in the
County of Kent, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
The barrel of the arm is pivotted to the stock with a screw or bolt, which
passes through a slot in a loop projecting from the under side of the barrel;
this slot allows the barrel a slight longitudinal movement, at the same time
that it oscillates a short distance vertically around the bolt. The breech-piece
has a hole in its centre, and through this hole passes a pin by which the
percussion cap in the cartridge is exploded. Attached to the breech-piece is a
hollow conical thimble, which fits into a corresponding recess in the lower end
of the barrel. When the barrel is in position for firing, this thimble is forced
into the recess, the inner edge of which is turned down, so as to form a thin
ring or cylinder that may expand against the thinner surface of the thimble by
the force of the explosion, this forming a tight joint and preventing the escape
gas. In the upper part of a tumbler, which is mounted on the hammer
spindle, is formed a notch, which receives a pivot attached to the pin or needle
bar; this bar, with the pin or needle, slides in a hollow guide bar, which is
attached at one end to the breech-piece, and is slit lengthwise to accommodate
the end of the tumbler. The rear end of the needle bar has also a slit in it,
to accommodate the end of the tumbler, and a pivot passes through the needle
bar across the slit, and fits in the notch in the tumbler. Thus, as the tumbler
is thrown forward by the main spring when the trigger is pulled, it drives the
needle bar in its guide bar in a line coincident with the axis of the barrel.
of

page_text: The arrangement by which the rear end of the barrel is raised for the purpose
of loading, and by which it is returned to its place and there secured, and by
which the gun is cocked will now be described:-The trigger guard is pivotted
on the under side of the gun, and serves as a lever, and is moved laterally on
its pivot. To the end of this lever is attached a pin, which passes up through
the stock beneath the barrel, and secures at its end a disc or head. On the
upper side of this disc rises an excentric cam, and near to it is a pivot, which
stands up in the slot of the flat bar which slides in a suitable recess in the
stock beneath the barrel. The rear end of this bar passes through a suitable
opening in the breech-piece, and is bent up at right angles. When the lever
or trigger guard is swung forwards, the disc is turned round, and the pivot
forces back the flat bar, the bent portion of which presses against the front
edge of the hammer tumbler, thereby forcing it back against the resistance of
the main spring, and cocking the gun. As the movement of the lever or
trigger guard is continued a little farther, a cam strikes against the corner of
the notch of the barrel, and thus forces the barrel forward off from the
thimble. When thus pushed forward, the weight of the muzzle overbalances
that of the breech, and throws the barrel into the position ready for loading:
When the cartridge has been inserted in the rear end of the barrel, and the
trigger guard is brought into its place, the outer end of the flat bar strikes
against a projection on the loop, and raises the muzzle of the barrel, and
brings the breech down into the stock. When the trigger guard or lever is
closed up to the stock, it is held in place by a stop attached to the stock,
which fits into a notch near the end of the lever, and then the gun is ready
for firing.
Although the needle is intended to explode the cartridge by striking a
percussion cap which is inserted into the conical ball of the cartridge, it is
important to provide further means of explosion by the addition of a common
nipple. This nipple may be used to great advantage in the following
instances:-1st, if the cap of the cartridge should miss it would be a loss
of time to take the cartridge out again, a cap may be set on the nipple and
the gun fired. 2nd, in cases of want of prepared ammunition with caps
inserted in the balls, round balls and common ammunition may be used.
3rd, if any injury to the pin system should ever occur, the gun by the pro-
vision of the nipple will never cease to be a useful gun.