IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE- ARMS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Michael Henry, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-
ARMS." A communication from abroad by Pierre Joseph Jarre, of 33,
Boulevard Saint Martin, Paris, France.
Sealed the 23rd November 1861, and dated the 10th June 1861.
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION left by the said Michael Henry at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th June 1861.
I, MICHAEL HENRY, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN FIRE-ARMS," communicated to me from abroad by Pierre Joseph Jarre, of
33, Boulevard Saint Martin, Paris, France, to be as follows:-
The principal object of this Invention is to obtain repeated discharges from
fire-arms in a rapid and regular manner. For this purpose, instead of the
charges being held in a breech which is a fixture to and inseparable from the
arm, I employ a moveable and separable breech or breech-piece, supplied with
a number of cartridges or charges, which breech or piece can be readily
inserted into and taken out of the arm, and when therein is capable of being

page_text: propelled or moved in a direction across the arm in a right line at a right
angle or other convenient angle to the barrel, in such manner as to present its
cartridges or charges in succession to the barrel in order to be discharged, so
that by having at hand a number of such breeches supplied or charged before-
band, and inserting fresh or full ones as fast as each becomes exhausted, the
aran can be fired a number of times with rapidity and precision. The arm can
be so constructed that the trigger may act on the cock and also on the moveable
breech, so that by moving the trigger the arm will be cocked and the breech
propelled to present a fresh cartridge or charge to the barrel. In the arrange-
ment preferred, to the exact details of which I do not confine myself, the
trigger or its body or blade is toothed, forming a toothed segment and working
into a rack capable of to-and-fro motion in a guide way within the arm, and
carrying a finger, tooth, or piece, which when the rack is moved in one direction
acts on the heel of the cock; the rack also carries a tongue, spring, or driving
piece for acting on inclined notches on the moveable breech, and thus
propelling the latter, so that when the trigger is operated the gun is cocked
and the breech shifted sufficiently to bring a fresh cartridge to the barrel and
under the cock. When the trigger is released to the action of its spring, the
cock is set free from the piece on the rack and (the mainspring being suitably
arranged) the cock comes down and effects the discharge. I prefer to use a
cock that shall not project from the arm, but come level with the sight when
cocked, and also to form it with a rounded heel or part at back receiving a
roller for working more easily. I generally form the moveable breech of an
oblong block, bar, or frame, in which are a row of tubular holes, chambers, or
spaces to receive the cartridges or charges coned at the discharge end and
closed in by a moveable plate, the breech being formed with inclined notches
for the driving piece to act on, and with guide pieces. The breech preferably
-travels-through-a-slotted-breech case-or-chamber screwed to the barrel, and
furnished for effecting the joint between breech and barrel with a collar
(adjustable by screws) formed with projections contrived to allow the gases
to escape and prevent the barrel over heating, but preclude them from passing
into the space behind; the lock and rack action may be held in a chamber with
extended plates for the stock to fit into, and to which, and to the barrel
support, the guard may be attached.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters l'atent, filed
by the said Michael Henry in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th December 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MICHAEL
HENRY, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agent, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Michael Henry, Her special licence that I, the said Michael
Henry, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Michael Henry, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times 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 FIRE-ARMS," con:municated to me from abroad by
Pierre Joseph Jarre, of 33, Boulevard Saint Martin, Paris, France, upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Michael Henry, my execu-
tors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 Michael Henry, 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, as communicated to me, reference being had to
the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say :-
The principal object of this Invention is to obtain repeated discharges from
fire-arms in a rapid and regular manner. For this purpose, instead of the
charges being held in a breech which is a fixture to and inseparable from the
arm, a moveable and separable breech or breech-piece is employed, supplied
with a number of cartridges or charges, which brecch or piece can be readily.

page_text: inserted into and taken out of the arm, and when therein is capable of being
propelled or moved in a horizontal direction across the arm, in a right line at
a right angle to the barrel, in such manner that such breech or breech.piece
may present its cartridges or charges in succession to the barrel, in order to be
discharged, so that by having at hand a number of such breeches supplied or
charged beforehand, and inserting fresh or full ones as fast as each becomes
exhausted, the arm can be fired off a number of times with rapidity and
precision. The arm can be so constructed that the trigger may act on the
cock and also on the moveable brecch, so that by moving the trigger the arm
will be cocked, and the breech propelled to present a fresh cartridge or charge
to the barrel. In the arrangement preferred by me for carrying the Invention
into effect, the trigger or rather its body or blade is toothed, forming a toothed
segment, and working into a rack capable of to-and-fro motion in a guide way
within the arm, and carrying a finger, tooth, or piece, which when the rack is
moved in one direction acts on the heel of the cock. The rack also carries a
tongue, spring, or driving piece for acting on inclined notches in the moveable
breech, and thus propelling the latter, so that when the trigger is operated the
gun
is cocked and the breech shifted sufficiently to bring a fresh cartridge to
the barrel and under the cock. When the trigger is released to the action of
its spring, the cock is set free from the piece on the rack, and (the mainspring
being suitably arranged for the purpose) the cock comes down and effects the
discharge. It is preferred to use a cock that shall not project from the arm,
but shall come level with the sight when cocked, and it is also preferred to
form it with a rounded heel or part at back for receiving a roller, in order that
it shall work more easily. The moveable breech is generally formed of an
oblong block, bar, or frame, in which are a row of tubular holes, chambers, or
spaces to receive the cartridges or charges, such holes, chambers, or spaces
-being-coned-at--the discharge-end,-and-closed-in by a moveable plate; the
breech is formed with inclined notches for the driving piece to act on, and is
also formed with guide pieces. The breech preferably travels through a slotted
breech case or chamber, which is screwed to the barrel, and is furnished (for
the purpose of effecting the "joint "between breech and barrel) with a collar
adjustable by screws, and formed with projections contrived to allow the gases
to escape and prevent the barrel from overheating, and at the same time
precluding the gases from passing into the space behind. The lock and rack
action may be held in a chamber with extended plates for the stock to fit into,
and to which, and to the barrel support, the guard may be attached.
I now proceed more particularly to describe the best mode known to me for

page_text: carrying the Invention into effect with reference to the accompanying Drawings,
in which the improvements are represented by way of example as applied to a
fowling piece..
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the gun; Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, views
of the moveable or separable breech or breech-piece Z, Figures 2 and 4 being
views of opposite sides thereof; Figure 3 view of its back end, and Figure 5 of
its front end or end intended to come nearest the barrel when the breech is
inserted in the gun, and Figure 6 is a transverse section; Figures 7 and 8
views of the collar r; Figure 9 end view of the breech case or guide chamber p;
Figures 10, 11 and 12, views of the rack b.
The lock consists of three principal portions, namely, the trigger a, the
rack b, and the hammer or cock c.
The trigger a works on a pivot or centre 62, and is toothed at its upper
part or blade so as to form a toothed segment as shown, the teeth of which
gear into the teeth of the rack b; this rack consists of a toothed plate fixed on
a bar or plate which is free to slide or travel to and fro in a guide groove d.
This rack b effects two objects, namely, it works the hammer or cock c, and
it also at the same time gradually propels the breech Z, so as to cause it to
present a fresh cartridge to the barrel after each discharge successively until its
whole contents are exhausted; e is a finger, tooth, or projection fixed to the top
of the rack b; f is a spring for keeping the tooth e raised; g is a tongue
spring or driving piece also attached to the top of the rack b, and intended as
herein-after explained to engage in and move the breech. The projection e
is so situated that when the rack moves forward in its travel this piece e is
brought in contact with the heel or tail f¹ of the cock c, thereby acting on the
cock so as to raise it and cock the gun. When the cock is thus raised it is
prevented from falling down again and striking the cartridge untimely, by
means of the spring m wbich retains it in a raised or cocked position until it
(the cock) is set free and allowed to descend by the release of the trigger as
afterwards explained. When the gun is cocked, the cock c comes on a level
with the sight instead of presenting a projection which might interfere with
the due accuracy of aim.
Above the part f', the cock is formed at back with a rounded or curved
part where a small friction roller works, thereby easing the action of the cock,
The cock rack, trigger, and mainspring are fitted in a box, chamber, or lock
case n, the ends of which are formed with extensions or plates to which the
stock o is screwed, being fitted into and between the plates to avoid projecting
parts thereat.
At the opposite or front end of the chamber n is a guide piece

page_text: breech case or chamber p, through which the breech travels and by which it
is guided as it works through. This breech case p, is screw threaded at the
front end where the barrel screws into it; a collar or ring r, shewn
detached in Figures 7 and 8, is fixed on this breech case at the front end
to retain in due contact the breech end of the barrel and the discharge
ends of the spaces x in the breech Z; the collar is so arranged as to afford
means of escape for the gas generated by the explosion of the powder, so
that the gun may be discharged a considerable number of times without
overheating the barrel. Figure 9 shews the collar r as fixed to the breech
case, to which it is attached by screws s, when the friction of the breech
against the surface of the collar wears it away sufficiently to affect the
closeness of the parts, they may be brought together again by adjusting the
screws s accordingly; w, w, are two projections on the collar r which afford an
escape for the gases produced by the discharge, but prevent those gases from
passing into the adjoining chamber. The box or lock plate n, breech case p..
and barrel are screwed together; t is the trigger guard, of which one end
is fixed to the lock plate n, and the other to the "fore part" or support v, v.
Z, Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, is the separable breech; it is of the form of a
rectangular block in which are bored or hollowed out a number of tubular
spaces or lioles a, a, each of which is intended to receive a cartridge; these
holes are cylindrical for the main portion of their length, but at the front ends
or the ends which come next the barrel they are coned, that is narrow off
gradually in the shape of a frustum of a cone, so that the ball gets forced
through them as it passes into the barrel, thereby rendering its flight more
accurate. At the back end of the breech Z is a moveable plate or cover y,
jointed to it by a pin y', on which it turns and so opens and closes that end
of the block or breech-piece Z. When this cover is open it uncovers the
-end-of-the-spaces, which can then be charged with their respective cartridges.
When these are all in, the cover is closed and secured by a bolt c¹, attached
to one side of the breech Z; a', a', are slanting notches cut on one side of the
breech Z, these notches are for the spring or driving piece g (on the rack 6),
to engage in (when the breech Z is introduced into the gun), and whereby
it is moved forward through the breech case one notch at a time to present
its cartridges to the barrel. are notches on the opposite side of the breech-
piece Z, which act as guide pieces to it in its travel; these notches b¹
engage at a part of the gun under the space into which the cock drops
when down (and out of which it moves when raised), so that when the
trigger is actuated and the cock raised, as afterwards explained, the breech-

page_text: '
piece Z, is kept duly guided by this arrangement. The breech Z is inserted
into and moved through the fire-arm in a horizontal direction; d', 'd', are
the wire pins attached to the cartridges (and projecting from the breech. Z;
when the cartridges are in it) against which the cock strikes when it comes
down.
The action is as follows:-When the breech Z is inserted in the guide
chamber or case p; and the trigger is pulled, the teeth on the trigger gear
into those on the rack b, and thereby move the rack forward in its guide way,
causing the tooth e to act on the part f¹ of.the cock c, thereby raising the cock
and cocking the gun, the cock being retained in this raised position by the
spring m; at the same time the tongue or spring g engages in the notches or
teeth a' on the breech Z, and moves it forward one tooth. so as to bring a
cartridge to the breech end of the barrel ready to be discharged. When the
gun is to be fired the trigger is released to the action of its spring, which
restores the trigger to its previous position, thereby disengaging the tooth e
from the tail f' of the cock so as to set the cock free, the mainspring acting on
the cock brings it down on the pin d of the cartridge, causing it to explode the
powder and discharge the gun. The trigger can then be again actuated as before,
whereupon the breech Z will in like manner, be moved forward another notch
as before so as to present its next cartridge to the barrel ready to be discharged
by the release of the trigger and descent of the cock as before, and so on till
all the cartridges are spent, when the first exhausted breech Z can be with-
drawn from the gun, and another and similar charged breech inserted. By
these means the gun is cocked every time the trigger is pulled, so that it
may be fired off twenty times in a minute, taking care to have at hand a
number of the separable breeches Z ready charged.
The same arrangement may be applied in like manner to pistols and other
fire-arms.
"
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same may be performed, I declare that when I herein-before and herein-
after use in this Specification the expression " separable as applied to the
breech or breech-piece, I mean a breech or breech-piece that is not a fixture
to the fire-arm, but can be inserted into and taken out of it as required, so that
by having a number of such breeches at hand ready charged, the arm can.
be repeatedly and rapidly charged. And I declare that I claim,―
First, the employment in fire-arms of a separable breech or breech-piece
(for receiving and presenting the charges or cartridges), such breech being
inserted into the arm in a horizontal direction and at right angles to the

page_text: barrel, and also being horizontal and at right angles to the barrel while
remaining and acting in the arm, the construction of the arm being such that
by an action of or dependant on the trigger the said breech shall be propelled
in a straight horizontal line so that it shall present to the cock and barrel its
charges or cartridges in consecutive order.
Second, the arrangement and combination of parts constituting the improved
construction of fire-arm according to the mode preferred by me for carrying the
Invention into effect, as herein-before described and represented in the accom-
panying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Michael Henry, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of December, in the year One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
S. E. A. NEWSOME.
M. HENRY. (L.S.)