IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Martin Regul Pilon, Citizen of the United States,
residing at Aguascalientes, Mexico, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN FIRE-ARMS."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Martin Regul Pilon at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declaration
on the 30th November 1863, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent
Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARTIN
REGUL PILON, Citizen of the United States, residing at Aguascalientes,
Mexico, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FIRE-ARMS," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have
made solemn Declaration that I verily believe myself to be the true and first
Inventor thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Martin Regul Pilon, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification under my hand and seal fully
describes and ascertains the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, reference being had to the Sheets of
Drawing hereunto annexed, and forming part of this Specification, and to
the figures and letters of reference placed thereon:-

page_text: My improved fire-arm is provided with a means of lessening the recoil, a
trigger set in motion by the thumb, and has a moveable or a fixed breech.
The object, utility, and advantages, of my Invention are as follows:-With
the view of lessening the hurtful effect which the detonation of a heavily
charged fire-arm exercises on the body of the marksman and the precision of
his shot, use is made in shooting matches at long ranges of arms heavier than
strictly they should be. The reason given is that the effect of the detonation
acting on a heavy mass is less sharp than if the arm used were lighter, but
an inconvenience has thus been created to remedy a defect, as the handling of
a heavy fire-arm fatigues and fetters the bearer. Struck by these faults I
undertook numerous and costly experiments, and have obtained with a fire-
arm of my Invention (in which a spring pressure is substituted for a heavy
mass) so considerable a lessening of the recoil as to be almost equivalent to
completely deadening it. The barrel of my improved fire-arm is moveable,
it is furnished with a cramp iron and axled tenon, and rests on a horizontal
plane to which it is fixed, but it has a come-and-go motion. The movement
backwards which takes place on the detonation co-operates in deadening the
recoil, the plane on which the barrel rests bears upon a box in which is fitted
a spring which is in contact with the axled tenon. When the barrel on the
explosion of the powder moves backwards by means of its tenon it presses
first on the spring, then on a bar, and therefore meets a resistance, firstly
flexible, then firm. More or less power of resistance is given to the flexible
supports or springs as may be suitable. To shoot with precision fire-arms
require a trigger which will give to a very light pressure of the forefinger, but
such triggers are apt to occasion accidents as the discharge may occur before
aim is well taken. To remedy this I have invented a trigger the combination
and position of which on the grip of the stock are such that it will give under
the pressure of the thumb instead of that of the other fingers. A strong
pressure of the thumb on the trigger as fitted by me does not tend to cause
obliquation of the line of fire either to the right or left, as is the case with
other fire-arms when the marksman has to overcome a strong resistance of
the trigger by the pressure of the forefinger. In order to avoid at the
chamber the deterioration occasioned by the friction of the pieces which
co-operate in firmly closing fire-arms loading by the breech, I have invented
a breech stopper or closer which is placed on the chamber, hermetically closes
the fire-arm, and may at pleasure be rapidly detached therefrom. This breech
closer, which may be repaired and renewed in case of wearing out without the
necessity of changing anything in the fire-arm, is beld in position behind
the chamber by a support fastened to the barrel and established above the

page_text: lower plane of the box which carries the barrel. The mechanism is so
combined that if occasion require any socket or metallic tube suitable for
charging a fire-arm may be substituted in lieu of this breech closer.
The Invention in all its parts is so combined that persons even unac-
customed to the use of fire-arms may, in a very short time, become good
marksmen.
In the Drawings, Figure 1, (Sheet 1), represents a complete gun; and
Figure 2 the same in plan. A the stock, the but end and grip of which take
the form usual to fowling pieces and rifles. It is hollowed to receive the
box. The part invented to overcome the recoil is the cavity Y which is
forward and encloses the spring B, on which presses the tenon of the barrel
when the discharge takes place, this spring B sits on an inflexible support.
The box Z (Sheet 2) is a straight band of metal bent vertically at C to form
two planes, the upper one forming plate D which supports the barrel. This
plane D has an opening or slit of about an inch or more in length by of an
inch or more in breadth to receive the tenon of the barrel; the other plane F
has ledges or flanges, low forwards and higher at the back, and in its centre
it has a slit of about an inch in length by of an inch in breadth. In the
cavity formed by the ledges the plane F carries, first, a spindle which is the
key; secondly, a spring in which passes the spindle; thirdly, the trigger;
fourthly, the breech and battery bearer; fiftbly, the percussioning or battery.
The part F has a hole in the elbow to receive the end of the spindle, and
another one at the back ledge by which the spindle enters. On this ledge is
soldered the catch M, which receives the stock of the spindle, which clings to
it to secure it to the barrel. On one side of the box a lever N is placed to
cause the barrel to pivot. To hide the trigger I fix on the box a guard G
which has an opening to allow the stock or head of the spindle to pass when
the spindle is to move. A plate H placed above F hides the whole of the
mechanism. The box is fitted in the stock by means of a heel at the back
end by one or more screws placed near the centre, and a semicircular band
fitted at the front end, two holes are left in the front of the plate for the
introduction and screwing of a pin which comes on the tenon of the barrel.
It serves to secure the barrel on the box when it pivots, and to fix the box
to the stock.
The trigger. The trigger L is placed at the back on the upper face of
the grip so as to act under the pressure of the thumb and not of the fore
finger as in other fire-arms in which it is always placed beneath or on the
lower face.
..
The barrel. The barrel O has a tenon E furnished with two spindles.

page_text: These spindles press on the lower face of the plate D and prevent the barrel
rebounding on the explosion, the tenon is placed against the spring B (Fig. 1;
Sheet 1), which is lodged in a hollow in the stock on which it presses when
the arm is fired. At the breech end of the barrel is a vertical hook R,
(Sheet 2), pierced with a hole, this hook enters the hammer bearer and
breech to fasten on and receives in its hole the end of the spindle which fixes
the barrel.
The spindle or key.-The spindle I (Sheet 1) which traverses the lower
plane of the box in its entire length is bent at one end to form stock or
handle, it serves to fix the barrel to the breech and battery bearer and to
the box.
The breech. The breech S is formed of a disc and a cylinder of less
diameter joined together, so that the cylindrical part enters the barrel, and
the disc presses on the edge; it may be screwed to the barrel or be moveable.
When it is moveable it is the support T placed on the breech and battery
bearer which secures it in the barrel. This breech has a tail piece V, (see
Sheet 2,) furnished with a ball M, a washer or rod, this rod is pierced with
four holes communicating perpendicularly with the principal hole which is
that of the nipple. When the breech is in position in the barrel the rod V
furnished with its ball becomes sunk in the powder when the fire-arm is
loaded. The purpose of the rod and sphere is to cause the disc of the breech
to adhere more firmly to the barrel at the moment of explosion, as the sphere
should be treated as would be a small projectile by the force of the explosion
which tends to drive everything out of the barrel. The purpose of the four
holes of the rod V is to prevent a great escape of flame by the nipple, these
four holes perpendicular to the fifth, which is the hole of the nipple, estab-
lishing an equilibrium with it when the gas of the powder exercises its
pressure in the barrel. Before the inflammation of the powder these five
holes are full of dust, after the inflammation this powder changed into gas in
the centre formed by the sides and the rod of the breech presses as aforesaid.
When the breech is fixed and screwed to the barrel its ball or sphere
becoming useless is suppressed.
The breech and battery bearer is a thick iron plate which rests on the
ledges or flanges of the box, and which has ridge T, tenon C, and heel D' (see
Sheet 2). It is perforated in every direction in front to admit the cramp
iron of the barrel on the ridge, to permit the hammer to act on the priming,
at the tenon and heel to give passage to the spindle, and on the lateral sides
for a slide. It receives by a box annexed to it in an opening left towards its
centre the pieces which form the percussioning or battery. This breech and

page_text: battery bearer is so arranged as to slide on the box without. however
separating therefrom, for which reason it is held by a groove or a bolt which
unites it to the box by the lateral sides or by the tenon C. Its other tenon
ridge or support T raised on the upper part serves to maintain in the barrel
all breeches, sockets, or loaders used for making the discharge. This tenon,
crest, or support, carries a small hammer A which strikes on the priming,
when it is itself struck by the cock. This breech and battery bearer receives
the shock of the barrel and presses on the box by the aid of its heel D¹ forged
at the lower back part. This heel is perforated for the passage of the spindle.
The lower tenon C' fits in the slit in the plane F of the box, it is perforated
by the passage of the spindle, and it may carry screwed to its base the main
spring of the battery and a bolt.
The battery or percussioning N is composed of the cock W, (Sheets 1 and
2), having the cuts or notches P, U, which constitute the nut it carries at its
lower part, a balance chain or bridle F' which attaches it to the main
horizontal spring D' placed beneath the box. The trigger is a steel rod laid
beneath a straight spring, the end of this rod forming wedge engages itself in
the notches of the nut so as to relax the main spring by a tumbler pressure
received from below upwards. In this it differs from the mechanism of other
fire-arms in which the pressure is made from front to rear. When suitable
in double-barrelled guns my improved battery Figure 3, (Sheet 2,) may be
used; this battery is provided with a large rolled spring N on an axle O',
which has a fixed fulcrum (square or rectangular) P'. On the rolled spring
is soldered a plate R' on which is screwed the cock and nut.
The trigger
of this battery is identical with that of the other. Further, when suitable, the
ordinary battery with spiral spring may be modified to work with the thumb
trigger.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the means by
which I carry it into practical effect, I desire it to be understood that I do
not confine myself to the precise details herein given and illustrated on the
annexed Sheet of Drawing as such may be modified without departure from
my Invention, and that I claim,-
Firstly, the stock with cavity for spring.
Secondly, the box vertically elbowed to form the upper and lower planes,
and the openings left.
Thirdly, the position and combination of the thumb trigger.
Fourthly, the barrel furnished with cramp iron, tenon, and spindles, and the
arrangement by which at the moment of detonation it flies backwards, and
only stops when the resistance opposed to it becoines inflexible.

page_text: Seventhly, the breech and battery bearer.
Eighthly, the battery or percussioning with bridle or balance.
And lastly, the battery or percussioning with rolled main spring, the whole
substantially as herein-before described and illustrated on the annexed Sheet
of Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Martin Regul Pilon have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
M. REGUL PILON. (L.S.)