CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1862

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Marc Antoine François Mennons
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th March 1862.-A communication from Salloum Dahdah (of
Lebanon, in Syria), residing at St. Maur (Dept. de la Seine), France.
I, MARC ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the British and Foreign Patent
Offices, 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," (a communication,) to be as follows:-
The Invention communicated to me consists in an improved combination
of, charging and discharging mechanism, for breech-loading fire-arms, the
object of which is to permit of enlarging the calibre and multiplying the
repetitions without undue increase of volume and weight while reducing
the escapes and risk of accidental explosion inherent to revolvers and similar
arms as at present constructed.
Figure 1 of the annexed Drawing represents the principal details of the
improved mechanism opened for the reception of the charge; Figure 2 repre-
sents the position of the same at the moment of the discharge; Figure 3 is a
plan of the same through the line x, x; Figure 4 is a cross section of the
cartridge magazine. In all these Figures the corresponding parts are indi-
cated by the same letters of reference.
A is the action chamber of the arm screwing into a barrel of ordinary con-
struction, and forming part of the metallic setting B, B, B, to which is
adjusted the stock C. .D is a port opening cut through the side of the

page_text: barrel setting behind the chamber A, to the size and form of the cartridge
employed; E, E', are two oblong apertures cut through the centre of the
barrel setting above and below, and corresponding with the stop bar F, which
forms part of the cock G; H, H, is a piston through which is pierced a
similar aperture I, I, also corresponding with the stop bar F. In the fore
extremity of this piston is pierced a curved passage J communicating when
the mechanism is closed with the cap pillar K, and terminated by a tubular
cartridge piercer L. M is a metallic bridle articulated by one end to the
head of the cock G and by the other to the horizontal connecting rod N, the
free extremity of which is in its turn articulated to the back of the piston H.
Between the points O and P a longitudinal groove is cut through the stock
and mountings to serve as slide way for the connecting rod in its to-and-fro
motion. Qis the cartridge magazine, seen apart in the cross section, Figure 4.
This magazine, constructed on the same principle as the well known percussion
cap primer, is composed of a metallic cylinder R, R, partitioned internally to
form a spiral canal, and fitted with a steel spring coiled in a barrel S, on which
is mounted an extending lever T. The cylinder is closed by the discs V, W,
one of which is moveable at will for the introduction or withdrawal of the
cartridges X. The latter are ranged side by side in the spiral canal, the
mouth of which corresponds with the port D of the barrel setting when
the magazine is secured in position by the clasp U, as seen in Figures 1, 2, 3.
Y, Z, indicate the position of the lockwork, which, if so desired, may be con-
structed to raise the hammer by the trigger pull, as in ordinary repeating
arms.
The caps may be supplied to the pillar K either by the hand or by a
primer of any convenient description mounted on the barrel setting. On
cocking the arm constructed as above the piston H is drawn back by the,
bridle M and connecting rod N to the position shewn in Figure 1, leaving
the apertures D, E, and E¹ completely open. At this moment the cartridge X¹
nearest the mouth of the magazine canal is forced by the action of the coiled
spring on the lever T to pass through the port D into the barrel setting, its
place being at once occupied by the second cartridge X3 of the same range.
On pulling the trigger, the cock G in its down stroke carries forward the
piston, which in its turn forces the cartridge into the action chamber A. At
this point the apertures I, E, and E¹ of the piston and settings correspond
exactly with each other, and are traversed together by the stop bar F, by
which the piston is keyed firmly into the position shewn in Figure 2, thus
forming the breech piece of the arm. Simultaneously with the completion of
the transit of the stop bar the face of the cock strikes the cap on the pillar K,

page_text: and ignites the charge of the cartridge already pierced by the tubular point L
during its passage from the entry port to the action chamber. On re-cocking
the arm, the second cartridge (X2) of the magazine passing through the port
under the continued tension of the coiled spring takes up the first position of
the one just discharged, and the further series of movements, above described,
is repeated until the supply of ammunition is exhausted.
If so desired, the cartridge magazine, above described, may be replaced by
other analogous arrangements, such, for instance, as a conical recipient
adjusted to and rising vertically or obliquely from the side port through which
the cartridges fall by their own weight after each shot. Or, again, by a par-
titioned cylinder revolving on an arbor below the barrel setting, and so
arranged as to present the cartridges successively to the piston through a
cavity formed underneath in front of the trigger guard. The general con-
struction of the arm may also be varied according to the calibre, weight, and
number of shots required.