IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH- LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN METALLIC CARTRIDGES FOR THE SAME
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Coburn Wilson, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-
LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN METALLIC CARTRIDGES FOR THE SAME."—A com-
munication from abroad by General Hiram Berdan, of New York,
U.S. A., but now residing at St. Petersburgh, in the Empire of.
Russia.
Sealed the 17th March 1871, and dated the 10th October 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Coburn
Wilson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 10th October 1870.
I, GEORGE COBURN WILSON, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for “Im-
PROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN METALLIC CARTRIDGES FOR
THE SAME," being a communication to me from abroad by General Hiram
Berdan, of New York, U. S. A., but now resident at St. Petersburgh, in
the Empire of Russia, to be as follows:-
The first part of my Invention relates to the construction of the firing
pin and the rear end of the face of the bolt. This consists substantially

page_text: in forming a cam at the head of the firing pin, upon which cam is
caused to work the rear end of an adjustable face in such manner that
the pin is drawn back when the breach is unlocked, and is prevented
from going forward until the breach is fully locked.
Another advantage incident to my improved construction of firing pin
and adjustable face is that the power of propelling and withdrawing the
said pin is transmitted in a direct plane with its centre for the reason
that the power is applied above and below the centre of the pin in
opposite directions.
The firing pin is also so constructed that its point is made separate
from its body so that it can be renewed at pleasure without its being
necessary to renew the whole pin, and by reason of the head of the
firing pin being fitted with a cam, as before explained, it is more con-
venient that the point should be made separate from the body instead of
its being permanently attached to it.
The second part of my Invention relates to the construction of the
hammer, and consists substantially in providing in the under side of the
said hammer a latch which works in a slot formed in the under side of
the bolt or breech piece, and is for the purpose of preventing the hammer
from going forward until the breech piece is fully closed. The said
latch is also designed to prevent the unlocking of the breech piece when
the hammer is at half-cock, and this result is attained by forming an
angle or an incline in the bottom of the shoe in which the said latch is
caused to slide or work, so that when the hammer is at half-cock it is
impossible to unlock the breech piece by reason of the angle or incline
in the shoe forcing the latch into the groove provided in the reer end of
the breech piece.
The third part of my Invention relates to the making or forming a
groove in the shoe round the cartridge head, which is for the purpose of
allowing free escape of gas in case the head of the cartridge should
.burst.
The fourth part of my Invention consists in reducing the breech piece
in the rear of its face, so as to allow the free escape of gas upwards
instead of its coming back under the said breech piece.
The fifth part of my Invention relates to the construction of the
cartridge, and consists substantially in forming a shoulder forward of the
.base of the cartridge case, by means of which in the forming of the
head of the cartridge case the entire strain is taken from the mouth or

page_text: muzzle of the shell, thus enabling the mouth of the shell to be soft,
which prevents much waste in tapering, firing, and reforming. The
said shoulder also forms a straight surface for the inside metal lining
or cup.
The sixth part of my Invention consists. in soldering in the inside
metal lining or cup so as to prevent the escape of gas in the reforming
of the cartridge case in case the shell should crack or split, the shell
being stiffer than the cup, and expanding away from it after leaving the
reforming die..
The seventh part of my Invention consists in reinforcing the cartridge
case by means of a metal washer forced into the base of the said cartridge
case. The said washer can either be soldered into position or the
shoulder in the shell may be closed down upon the upper bevilled surface
of the said washer by means of a punch being forced down upon it, or
the washer may be made of lead or some other soft metal which would
enable a portion of the washer to be forced into the rim of the head of
the cartridge.
The eighth part of my Invention consists in reinforcing the cartridge-
head by means of a thin metal cup and a washer. The washer may be
either behind or inside the cup, the cup being made thin so as to expand
readily to prevent the escape of gas, and the washer being thick to
prevent the cup from being ruptured by the gas forcing it into the
cavity in the rim of the head, also to prevent any lateral pressure of the
gas near the end of the barrel or rear of the chamber for the cartridge
case, which prevents the head and case from expanding and sticking in
the chamber.
The ninth part of my Invention consists in reinforcing solid cartridge
heads where the heads and cases are made of one piece of metal by
means of a cup made of thin metal to prevent the escape of gas in case
there should be cracks in the metal which forms the case or head. With
the solid head the washer is not necessary, as the metal in the centre of
the head is thick enough to prevent any lateral pressure at the rear of
the chamber which receives the cartridge case.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Coburn Wilson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 8th April 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
COBURN WILSON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-`
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said George Coburn Wilson, Her special
licence, that I, the said George Coburn Wilson, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George Coburn
Wilson, 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 BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN METALLIC CARTRIDGES FOR
THE SAME," being a communication to me from abroad by General Hiram
Berdan, of New York, U. S. A., but now resident at St. Petersburgh, in
the Empire of Russia, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said George Coburn Wilson, my executors 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 performed, 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 George Coburn Wilson, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, that is to say :-
The first part of my Invention relates to the construction of the
firing pin and the rear end of the face of the bolt. This consists sub-
stantially in forming a cam at the head of the firing pin, upon which
cam is caused to work the rear end of an adjustable face in such manner

page_text: that the pin is drawn back when the breech is unlocked, and is prevented
from going forward until the breech is fully locked.
Another advantage incident to my improved construction of firing pin
and adjustable face is that the power of propelling and withdrawing
the said pin is transmitted in a direct plane with its centre, for the
reason that the power is applied above and below the centre of the pin
in opposite directions.
The firing pin is also so constructed that its point is made separate
from its body, so that it can be renewed at pleasure without its being
necessary to renew the whole pin, and by reason of the head of the firing
pin being fitted with a cam as before explained it is more convenient
that the point should be made separate from the body instead of its being
permanently attached to it.
The second part of my Invention relates to the construction of the
hammer, and consists substantially in providing in the under side of the
said hammer a latch, which works in a slot formed in the under side of
the bolt or breech piece, and is for the purpose of preventing the hammer
from going forward until the breech piece is fully closed. The said
latch is also designed to prevent the unlocking of the breech piece when
the hammer is at half-cock, and this result is attained by forming an
angle or an incline in the bottom of the shoe in which the said latch is
caused to slide or work, so that when the hammer is at half-cock it is
impossible to unlock the breech piece by reason of the angle or incline
in the shoe forcing the latch into the groove provided in the rear end of
the breech piece
The third part of my Invention relates to the making or forming a
groove or open space in the shoe round the cartridge head, which is for
the purpose of allowing free escape of gas in case the head of the
cartridge should burst.
The fourth part of my Invention consists in reducing the breech piece
in the rear of its face, so as to allow the free escape of gas upwards,
instead of its coming back under the said breech piece.
The fifth part of my Invention relates to the construction of the
cartridge, and consists substantially in forming a shoulder forward of
the base of the cartridge case, by means of which in the forming of the
head of the cartridge case the entire strain is taken from the mouth
or muzzle of the shell, thus enabling the mouth of the shell to be soft,
which prevents much waste in tapering, firing, and reforming. The said

page_text: shoulder also forms a straight surface for the inside metal lining or
cup.
The sixth part of my Invention consists in soldering in the inside metal
lining or cup, so as to prevent the escape of gas in the reforming of the
cartridge case in case the shell should crack or split, the shell being
stiffer than the cup and expanding away from it after leaving the
reforming die.
The seventh part of my Invention consists in reinforcing the cartridge
case by means of a metal washer forced into the base of the said cartridge
case. The said washer can either be soldered into position or the
shoulder in the shell may be closed down upon the upper bevilled surface
of the said washer by means of a punch being forced down upon it, or
the washer may be made of lead, or some other soft metal, which would
enable a portion of the washer to be forced into the rim of the head of
the cartridge.
The eighth part of my Invention consists in reinforcing the cartridge
head by means of a thin metal cup and a washer.
The washer may
either be behind or inside the cup, the said cup being made thin so as to
expand readily to prevent the escape of gas, and the washer being thick
to prevent the cup from being ruptured by the gas forcing it into the
cavity in the rim of the head, also to prevent any lateral pressure of the
gas near the end of the barrel or rear of the chamber for the cartridge
case, and thereby to prevent the head and case from expanding and
sticking in the chamber.
That my Invention may be fully understood I have arranged Drawings
thereof, which I now proceed to describe.
In the said Drawings the first, second, third, and fourth parts of my
Invention are illustrated in Figs. 1 to 10, both inclusive. Similar letters
are used to indicate the same parts in all the Figures.
A is the breech receiver; B, the moveable breech piece; C, the
hammer; D, the firing pin; E, the extractor, and F, the barrel, all of
which parts together with the trigger, sear, and their accompanying
springs are arranged substantially, partly in the manner common to
breech-loaders of the sliding bolt description, and partly in accordance
with the Letters Patent granted to me for "Improvements in Fire-
arms and in Cartridges for the same," dated A.D. 1868, 9th April
No. 1200.

page_text: The first part of my present Invention relates to the firing pin
(marked D), and consists in forming the double-faced cam ɑ, as shewn
in Figs. 1, 3, and 8, at the head of the pin, upon which cam is caused
to work the rear end of the adjustable face b, as shewn in Figs. 1, 4,
5, 6, and 8. A pin c (Figs. 1 and 5) secures the adjustable face in
position, and ensures its partial revolution with the breech piece B,
while the firing pin is prevented from revolving by the pin d which
secures it to the hammer C. The act of unlocking the breech piece
causes the withdrawal and consequent sheathing of the firing pin, as
shewn in Fig. 1, where the cam of the pin is resting in the shallower of
the two notches of the adjustable face, and which said notches are clearly
shewn in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. Upon fully locking the piece, as in
Fig. 8, where the firing pin D is shewn drawn back to full-cock, the
deeper of the two notches in the adjustable face 6 is presented to the
cam a of the firing pin, which is thus allowed to protrude and ignite the
cartridge upon the trigger being pulled. The double cam face a possesses
the further advantage of ensuring the force necessary to withdraw the pin
being applied equally above and below its centre in opposite directions,
and therefore in a line parallel to its longitudinal axis. The point e of
the firing pin is made separate from its body so that it can be renewed
at pleasure without the necessity for renewing the whole pin.
The second part of my Invention relates to the hammer C, and
consists in providing a latch ƒ (Figs. 1, 7, 9, 10), hinged upon a pin
9, and working within a slot in the under side of the hammer C.
Two grooves and i, seen in elevation in Fig. 9, and in section in
If
Figs. 1 and 7, are formed in the rear end of the breech piece B.
the breech piece be either fully locked or fully unlocked one or other of
these grooves is presented to the latch, as in Fig. 7, which can then
go forward as in Fig. 1. Should the breech piece, however, be only
partially locked the latch f, and consequently the hammer C is prevented
from going forward by the intermediate solid portion j (Fig. 9) which
then presents itself to the latch. The said latch also in the following
manner prevents the unlocking of the breech piece when the hammer iş
at half-cock. An angle or incline k is formed in the bottom of the shoe
or breech securer A. When the hammer is at half-cock as in Fig. 1
the latch f rests upon the top of the angle or incline k, and must have
entered either one or other of the two grooves h, i. Thus if at the

page_text: time of placing the hammer at half-cock the breech piece were locked
it cannot now be unlocked; or if it were locked it cannot now be
locked. At full-cock as in Fig. 7 the breech piece can be either locked
or unlocked because the latch is then drawn backwards and quite
clear of the notches h, i. After the hammer is gone fully forward
the breech piece can be either locked or unlocked because the latch
then has fallen down the incline or angle k, and is therefore below and
quite clear of the grooves h, i. In Fig. 9, shews the position of the
breech piece when unlocked, and m its position when locked. The
latch is there seen in section engaged in the groove h.
The third part of my Invention consists in forming a groove or open
space n (Figs. 1, 2, and 8), in the shoe or breech receiver A around the
cartridge head o (Fig. 2), which allows the free escape of gas in case
the head of the cartridge should burst.
The fourth part of my Invention consists in reducing the diameter of ]
the breech piece B in the rear of its face, as shewn at p (Fig. 8), so as
to allow the free escape of gas upwards instead of its passage back-
wards under the said breech piece.
The fifth part of my Invention relates to the construction of the
cartridge case, and is illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12. It consists in
forming a shoulder a forward of the base 6 of the case, by means of
which in forming the head of the case the entire strain is taken from
the mouth or muzzle of the shell, thus enabling the mouth or muzzle
to be left soft, which prevents much waste in tapering, firing, and
reforming. The said shoulder also forms a straight surface for the inside
metal lining or cup c (Fig. 12).
Fig. 12 also illustrates the sixth part of my Invention, which consists
in soldering in the metal lining or cup c.
The seventh part of my Invention consists in reinforcing the cartridge
case by means of a metal washer d (Fig. 11) which may be either
soldered in position or may be held by the forcing down of the shoulder a
upon the bevelled face of the washer d. Or the washer may be made of
some soft metal, which would enable a portion of it as at e (Fig. 11)
to be forced into the cavity in the rim of the cartridge case.
2
3
The eighth part of my Invention consists in reinforcing the cartridge 3
case by means of a thin metal cup f and washer 9 (Figs. 13 and 14).

page_text: The washer may be either behind the cup as in Fig. 13 or inside the
cup as in Fig. 14.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the
manner in which the same is or may be performed, I desire it to be
understood that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, substantially,―
First. The improved construction of the firing pin and the rear end
of the adjustable face of the bolt, and the general arrangement of the
same parts as already described in the first part of my Invention and
illustrated in the Drawings there referred to. I also desire to claim
under this head of my Invention the making of the point of the firing
pin separate from its body so that it can be renewed at pleasure without
its being necessary to renew the whole pin.
Second. The improved construction of the hammer and latch, and
the other several improvements and combination of parts incidental
thereto herein-before described under the second part of my Invention
and illustrated in the Drawings there referred to.
Third. Forming a groove or open space in the shoe or breech receiver
around the cartridge head, as herein-before described under the third part
of my Invention, and illustrated in the Drawings there referred to.
Fourth. Reducing the diameter of the breech piece in the rear of its
face in order to allow the free escape of gas upwards as herein-before
described and illustrated.
Fifth. Forming a shoulder forward of the base of the cartridge case
as herein-before described and illustrated under this head of my
Invention.
Sixth. Soldering in the inside metal lining or cup as herein-before
described and illustrated under this head of my Invention.
Seventh. Reinforcing the cartridge case by means of a metal washer
which may be either soldered in position or may be held in position by
the forcing down of the shoulder upon the bevilled surface of the
washer; or the said washer may be made of some soft metal which
would enable a portion of it to be forced into the cavity in the rim of
the cartridge case as herein-before described and illustrated.

page_text: Eighth. Reinforcing the cartridge case by means of a thin metal cup
and a washer in the manner herein-before described and illustrated under
this head of my Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Coburn Wilson, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
tuis neat of my
In witness whereof, I, the said George Coburn Wilson, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
Witness,
G. R. HOLLAND,
Patent Office,
Birmingham..
GEORGE C. WILSON. (L.S.)

page_text: En the Matter of Letters Patent granted to GEORGE COBURN
WILSON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN
METALLIC CARTRIDGES FOR THE SAME," bearing date the Tenth day
of October, One thousand eight hundred and seventy, and
Numbered 2675.-A communication from abroad by General
Hiram Berdan, of New York, U.S.A., but then residing at St.
Petersburgh, in the Empire of Russia.
DISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION proposed to
be entered by the said Hiram Berdan as Assignee of the said Letters
Patent, pursuant to the Statutes in that case made and provided.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HIRAM
BERDAN, now residing at Berlin, in the Empire of Germany, send
greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters Patent
under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, bearing date the Tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy, granted unto the said George
Coburn Wilson, his executors, administrators, and assigns, the sole
privilege to make, use, exercise, and vend, the Invention entitled "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND IN METALLIC CARTRIDGES FOR
THE SAME," within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, during the term of fourteen
years thence next ensuing :
And whereas in pursuance of a condition in the said Letters Patent
contained the said George Coburn Wilson did by a Specification under
his hand and seal, bearing date the Eighth day of April, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-one, and duly filed, describe, and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention and in what manner it was to be
performed:
And whereas the said Letters Patent were applied for on behalf of
me, the said Hiram Berdan, and have been duly assigned to, and are
now vested in me, the said Hiram Berdan :
And whereas since the filing of the said Specification, I, the said
Hiram Berdan, have ascertained that the claims as made under the said
Letters Patent are too wide, and in some cases claim what may not be
new, and I am therefore desirous of amending the said Specification, and
I do hereby amend the same by disclaiming and striking out from the
said Specification certain parts of the title of the said Invention, and of
the said Specification, and claiming clauses, and of altering the same in
manner following (that is to say) :—
From the title of the said Invention I disclaim and omit the words
"and in metallic cartridges for the same," and in the first paragraph
thereof, after the word statement, I insert the words "reference being
had to the disclaiming clause which precedes the clauses containing the
claims." I strike out of the said Specification all that part of the
description commencing with the words "The second part down to and
including the words "the breech piece," occurring in the Queen's
Printers' copy of the said Specification, published at the Great Seal
Patent Office in One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in page 5
from line 14 to line 25. Referring to line 26 of the same page I alter

page_text: the word "third," there occurring, into "second"; and in line 30 of
the same page I alter the word " fourth," there occurring, into "third."
In the same page, and in page 6 of such copy of the Specification, I
strike out all that part of the description commencing with the words
"The fifth part," occurring in line 33 of page 5 to and including the
words "in the chamber," in line 24 of page 6. In page 6 I strike out
the word " third," occurring in line 27, and I alter the word "fourth,"
occurring in the same line, to "third." In line 28 of the same page I
strike out the words "to 10 both," there occurring, and insert instead
thereof the words "2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8, all.” In pages 7 and 8 of such.
copy of the Specification I strike out all that part of the description
commencing with the words "the second part,"occurring in line 22 of
page 7, to and including the words " groove h," in line 10 of page 8..
In line 11 of page 8 I alter the word "third," there occurring, into
"second," and in line 15 of the same page I alter the word "fourth,"
there occurring, into "third.". In pages 8 and 9 of such copy I strike
out all that part of the description commencing with the words "The
fifth part," occurring in line 18 of page 8, to and including the words
Fig. 14," in line 2 of page 9. In page 9 I strike out the last part of
the first claiming clause from the words " I also desire" down to the
words "whole pin" inclusive, and also all that claiming clause com-
mencing with the word "second," occurring in line 14, to and including
"
and 19
the words "referred to," in line 17. In lines 18 of this page I alter
respectively
A
A
the words " third," there occurring into " second," and in line 21
of this page I alter the word "Fourth,” there occurring, into "Third."
In the same page, and also in page 10, I strike out all those
claiming clauses commencing with the word "Fifth," occurring in
line 24 of page 9, to and including the word "Invention," in line 3 of
page 10.
And the said Specification when so disclaimed, amended, and altered,.
will, in its material parts, read as follows:-
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Coburn Wilson, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the disclaiming.
clause which precedes the clauses containing the claims, that is to
sav

page_text: The first part of my Invention relates to the construction of the firing
pin and the rear end of the face of the bolt. This consists substantially
in forming a cam at the head of the firing pin, upon which cam is
caused to work the rear end of an adjustable face in such manner that
the pin is drawn back when the breech is unlocked, and is prevented
from going forward until the breech is fully locked.
Another advantage incident to my improved construction of firing
pin and adjustable face is, that the power of propelling and withdrawing
the said pin is transmitted in a direct plane with its centre, for the
reason that the power is applied above and below the centre of the pin
in opposite directions. The firing pin is also so constructed that its point
is made separate from its body, so that it can be renewed at pleasure
without its being necessary to renew the whole pin, and by reason of the
head of the firing pin being fitted with a cam as before explained, it is
more convenient that the point should be made separate from the body
instead of its being permanently attached to it.
The second part of my Invention relates to the making or forming
a groove or open space in the shoe round the cartridge head which is for
the purpose of allowing free escape of gas in case the head of the
cartridge should burst.
The third part of my Invention consists in reducing the breech piece
in the rear of its face, so as to allow the free escape of gas upwards
instead of its coming back under the said breech piece.
That my Invention may be fully understood I have arranged Drawings
thereof, which I now proceed to describe.
Similar
In the said Drawings the first, second, and third parts of my Inven-
tion are illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8, all inclusive.
letters are used to indicate the same parts in all the Figures.
A is the breech receiver; B, the moveable breech piece; C, the hammer;
D, the firing pin; E, the extractor; and F, the barrel; all of which
parts, together with the trigger, sear, and their accompanying springs, are
arranged substantially partly in the manner common to breech loaders
of the sliding bolt description, and partly in accordance with the Letters
Patent granted to me for Improvements in Fire-arms and in
Cartridges for the same," dated A.D., One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-eight, 9th April, No. 1200.
66

page_text: The first part of my present Invention relates to the firing pin (marked
D), and consists in forming the double faced cam a, as shewn in Figs. 1, 3,
and 8, at the head of the pin, upon which cam is caused to work the
rear end of the adjustable face b, as shewn in Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6, and 8. A
pin c, (Figs. 1 and 5) secures the adjustable face in position and ensures
its partial revolution with the breech piece B, while the firing pin
is prevented from revolving by the pin D which secures it to the
hammer C.
The act of unlocking the breech piece causes the withdrawal and
consequent sheathing of the firing pin, as shewn in Fig. 1, where the
cam of the pin is resting in the shallower of the two notches of the
adjustable face, and which said notches are clearly shewn in Figs. 4, 5,
and 6. Upon fully locking the piece, as in Fig. 8, where the firing
pin D is shewn drawn back to full cock, the deeper of the two notches
in the adjustable face 6 is presented to the cam a of the firing pin,
which is thus allowed to protrude and ignite the cartridge upon the
trigger being pulled. The double cam face a possesses the further
advantage of ensuring the force necessary to withdraw, the pin being
applied equally above and below its centre in opposite directions, and
therefore in a line parallel to its longitudinal axis. The point e of the
firing pin is made separate from its body, so that it can be renewed at
pleasure without the necessity for renewing the whole pin.
The second part of my Invention consists in forming a groove or open
space n (Figs. 1, 2, and 8,) in the shoe or breech receiver A around the
cartridge head o (Fig. 2), which allows the free escape of gas in case the
head of the cartridge should burst.
The third part of my Invention consists in reducing the diameter of
the breech piece B in the rear of its face, as shewn at p (Fig. 8), so as
to allow the free escape of gas upwards instead of its passage backwards
under the said breech piece.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is or may be performed, I desire it to be
understood that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, substantially,—
First. The improved construction of the firing pin and the rear end of
the adjustable face of the bolt, and the general arrangement of the same

page_text: parts as already described in the first part of my Invention, and illus-
trated in the Drawings there referred to.
Second. Forming a groove or open space in the shoe or breech
receiver around the cartridge head, as herein-before described under the
second part of my Invention, and illustrated in the Drawings there
referred to.
Third. Reducing the diameter of the breech piece in the rear of its
face in order to allow the free escape of gas upwards, as herein-before
described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Coburn Wilson, have here- 1
unto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one.
In witness whereof, I, the said Hiram Berdan, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of August, in the year of 20
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
I hereby grant my fiat, giving leave to the above-named Hiram
Berdan, to file in the Great Seal Patent Office, with the Specification
to which the same relates, the above-written Disclaimer and Memo- 3
randum of Alteration, upon the condition that no suit shall be instituted
against "The National Arms and Ammunition Comp., of Birmingham,"
for any infringement by them of any claim or claims contained in the
amended Specification, by reason of the said company manufacturing

page_text: for, and supplying the Prussian Government Manser rifles under the
contract now existing between the said company and the said Govern-
ment for the manufacture of 150,000 of such rifles.
Dated this lent day
seventy-four.
snow ON TO
RICHARD BAGGALLAY,
Attorney-General.