IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Southgate, of Burton Crescent, in the County of
Middlesex, and James Woodward, the younger, of St. James' Street, in the
City of Westminster, Gunmakers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 19th April 1876, and dated the 14th February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Southgate and James
Woodward at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th February
1876.
THOMAS SOUTHGATE, of Burton Crescent, in the County of Middlesex, and JAMES
WOODWARD, the younger, of St. James' Street, in the City of Westminster, Gun-
makers. IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.'
"
This Invention relates to certain improvements in snap-action breech-loading
fire-arms, and it consists in and has for its especial objects the provision and com-
bination of efficient and easily manipulated automatic actions or means of half or
full cocking the hammers at the time of unlocking the barrels, with improved
means of actuating the usual or modifications of the ordinary locking bolts; such
self-cocking actions however being altogether independent of the said bolts or other
part of the usual barrel-locking action or mechanism, save that they and the said
barrel-locking action are each dependent upon (but upon different parts of) the
barrel-locking lever for primary action.
Each modification of the improved automatic cocking actions is specially designed
for and adapted to be used in combination with the ordinary cock-locking actions
of such fire-arms, and to the tumblers of which the necessary motion is thus and by
the following improvements and means given.
In constructing these tumblers we make them of a substantial pattern and of
considerable strength, and at that part nearest the breech facing or plate we provide
them with stout shoulders projecting inwardly about one-half the width of
the space enclosed by the side walls of the lock plates, and according to one
modification we make these shoulders with under bearing faces flattened for the
lessening of friction. The addition of these shoulders the only alteration and
improvement (in either modification) we make in any part of the ordinary cock-
locking actions. According to this modification a short distance vertically or nearly
so above the usual pivot upon which the barrel-locking lever works, we also pivot
Price Gidl

page_text: (in bearings rising from the trigger plate on each side of the said barrel-locking
lever) a stout excentrically curved or shaped cocking cam lever, with an upper bearing
surface immediately under the under faces of the above mentioned shoulders, and
with an under projecting spur presenting a full bearing face against which abuts
a similar full bearing projection or spur which we form on the centre or boss of the
barrel-locking lever.
In the improved means which we employ in combination with the above
described automatic cocking action for effecting the unlocking and locking of the
barrels, we do not make any addition to or improvement in the locking bolt itself,
save that it is necessary to have or make therein a suitable recess or projec-
tions, or any equivalent for our peculiarly formed locking and unlocking excentric
spur to engage with and actuate it; but we form that part of the barrel-locking
action for actuating the said bolt double acting, and of a curved excentric cam
form or shape; the said curve being struck from a centre above that on which the
said barrel-locking lever works; this excentric spur projection or cam, as above
referred to, engages in or with a slot, recess, or projections in the said bolt, and acts
therein on opposite ends thereof, in withdrawing and thrusting home the bolt ;. it
is quite distinct from the spur above mentioned for actuating the cocking cam
lever, and preferably springs from a different and more advanced part of the boss
of the barrel-locking lever. The effect of this peculiar arrangement and combi-
nation is that upon the barrel-locking lever being depressed as usually, its firstly
mentioned spur being so near its centre of motion bears with considerable force
against the spur of the cocking cam lever, and acts upon it in such a manner as to
rotate it about its pivot and cause its peculiarly curved bearing portion to bear
upwardly against the flat under bearing faces of the said shoulders of the cock-
locking tumblers; the necessary pressure is thus exerted very nearly directly above
the resistance it has to overcome and afforded by the usual tumbler springs, and the
half or full-cocking of the hammers is thus effected, and at the same time the
withdrawal of the said locking bolt is effected by the secondly mentioned spur of
the barrel-locking lever, and the usual unlocking of the barrels is effected, both
these movements being obtained with the greatest facility, ease, and quickness of
manipulation and action, and with the minimum of power.
In another modification we make the said shoulders of the tumblers with curved,
circular, or V or inverted V shaped under bearing faces, and in order to effect the
desired raising of the same and other movements simultaneously, and as and at the
times required and above mentioned, we pivot to the boss of the barrel-locking
lever, as near as convenient (but so as to allow of its having a necessary or certain
degree of movement) to the usual pivot upon which the said lever works, a stoutly
formed and curved straight or slightly curved lifter, with an upper or top
bearing surface of a curved, circular, V or inverted V shape; and this bearing
surface we arrange and adjust and cause to work (by so shaping the woodwork of
the stock), immediately under the similarly shaped under bearing surfaces of the said
shoulders.
In the improved means which we employ in combination with this automatic
cocking action for effecting the unlocking and locking of the barrels, we so con-
struct the barrel-locking bolt as to have an elongated slotted and narrow tail or
part projecting behind the beech piece elongated and slotted for allowing the
pivotted tumbler lifter to pass freely through, and narrowed for allowing a greater
substance to be left at this part in the ordinary wooden stock. Apart, however,
from this alteration in the bolt and which is necessary for this modification, we do
not make herein any improvement or addition to the locking part of the bolt, and
we form on the boss of the barrel-locking lever, in rear of the pivotted tumbler
lifter, a bifurcated or double spurred projection, and in this bifurcation, or between
the two spurs, we cause a rear tail bar or cross piece (forming the hindermost part
of the locking bolt and one extremity of the elongated slot thereof) to lie and work
and engage therewith. Thus it will be seen that upon the barrel-locking lever
being depressed as usually, the desired movement of the cock-locking tumblers and

page_text: necessarily of the hammers is obtained, and the withdrawal of the said locking
bolt is effected with the greatest advantage, simplicity, and directness.
From the application of these respective combinations the number of parts in the
breech action is lessened and as a whole the action is thus simplified, and these
advantages are rendered very apparent.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by tho
said Thomas Southgate and James Woodward in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 10th August 1876.
THOMAS SOUTHGATE, of Burton Crescent, in the County of Middlesex, and JAMES
WOODWARD, the younger, of St. James's Street, in the City of Westminster, Gun-
makers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in snap-action breech-loading
fire-arms, and it consists in and has for its especial objects the provision and
combination of efficient and easily manipulated automatic actions or means of half
or full-cocking the hammers at the time of unlocking the barrels with improved
means of actuating the usual or modifications of the ordinary locking bolts, such
self-cocking actions however being altogether independent of the said bolts or other
part of the usual barrel-locking action or mechanism, save that they and the said
barrel-locking action are each dependant upon (but upon different parts of) the
barrel-locking lever for primary action.
Each modification of the improved automatic cocking actions is specially designed
for and adapted to be used in combination with the ordinary cock-locking actions
of such fire-arms, and to the tumblers of which the necessary motion is thus and by.
the following improvements and means given.
In constructing these tumblers 1 we make them of a substantial pattern and of
considerable strength, and at that part nearest the breech facing or plate 2 we'
provide them with stout shoulders 3, projecting inwardly about one-half the width
of the space enclosed by the side walls of the lock plates 4, and according to the
modification illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 we make these shoulders 3 with under
bearing faces 10, flattened for the lessening of friction. The addition of these
shoulders 3 to the tumblers 1 (which will be seen most clearly in Figure 5, illus-
trative of the secondly described modification) is the only alteration and improve-
ment (in each modification) we make in any part of the ordinary cock-locking
actions.
According to the modification illustrated in these Figures a short distance
vertically, or nearly so, above the usual pivot 5 upon which the barrel-locking
lever 6 works, we also pivot or centre (in bearings 7 rising from the trigger plate 8
on each side of the lever 6) a stout excentrically curved or shaped cocking cam
lever 9, with an upper bearing surface 11, immediately under the under faces 10 of
the shoulders 3, and with an under projecting spur 12 presenting a full bearing
face, against which abuts a similar full bearing projection or spur 13, which we
form on the centre or boss 14 of the lever 6.
In the improved means which we employ in combination with this automatic.
cocking action for effecting the unlocking and locking of the barrels 15 we do not
make any addition to or improvement in the locking bolt 16, save that it is
necessary to have or make therein a suitable recess 17 (or equivalent inward pro-
jections) for our peculiarly formed locking and unlocking excentric spur 18 to
engage with and actuate it. This spur we form double acting (and of a curved
excentric cam form or shape, the curve being struck from a centre above the
pivot 5), so that at each motion it engages in or with the slot or recess 17 (or the
equivalent inward projections) of the bolt 16, and acts thereon on opposite ends
thereof in withdrawing or thrusting the latter home. The spur 18 is quite distinct
from the spur 13, and preferably springs from a different and more advanced part

page_text: of the boss 14 of the lever 6. The effect of this peculiar arrangement and
combination is that upon the lever 6 being depressed, as usually, from the position
represented in Figure 1, in which the barrels 15 are. locked, and in the position
represented in Figure 3, to the position represented in Figure 2, in which the barrels
are unlocked, and in the position represented in Figure 4, its spur 13 being so near
its centre of motion bears with considerable force against the spur 12 of the lever 9
(firstly against its outer end, and then, as the resistance decreases, nearer its pivot 19),
and acts upon it in such a manner as to rotate it about its pivot 19, and cause its
peculiarly curved bearing portion 11 to bear upwardly against the flat under,
bearing faces 10 of the shoulders 3 of the cock-locking tumblers 1; the necessary
pressure is thus exerted very nearly directly above the resistance it has to over-
come and afforded by the usual tumbler springs 20 (Figure 5), and the half or full-
cocking of the hammers 21 is thus effected, and at the same time the withdrawal of
the barrel-locking bolt 10 is effected by the spur 18, and the usual unlocking of the
barrels 15 is effected, both these movements being obtained with the greatest
facility, ease, and quickness of manipulation and action and with the minimum of
power.
In the modification illustrated in Figures 5 to 8 we make the shoulders 3 of the
tumblers 1 with curved, circular, or V or inverted V shaped under bearing faces 10,
and in order to effect the desired raising of the same and other movements simul-
taneously, and as and at the times required and above mentioned, we pivot or
centre to the boss 14 of the lever 6, as near as convenient (but so as to allow of its
having a necessary or certain degree of movement) to the pivot 5, a stoutly formed
curved, slightly curved, or straight lifter 22, with an upper or top bearing surface 23
of a curved, circular, V, or inverted V shape, and this bearing surface we arrange.
and adjust and cause to work (by so shaping the woodwork of the stock at this
part) against and immediately under the similarly shaped under bearing surfaces 10
of the shoulders 3.
In the improved means which we employ in combination with this automatic
cocking action for effecting the unlocking and locking of the barrels 15, we so
construct the bolt 16 as to have an elongated slotted and narrowed tail or part 24,
Figure 8, projecting behind the breech facing 2, Figures 6 and 7, elongated and
slotted for allowing the lifter 22 to pass freely through, and narrowed for allowing
a greater substance to be left at this part in the ordinary wooden stock. Apart
however from this alteration in the bolt 16, and which is necessary for this modifi.
cation, we do not make herein any improvement or addition to the forward or
locking part of the bolt; and we form on the boss 14 of the lever 6 in rear of the
lifter 22 a bifurcated or double-spurred projection 25, and in this bifurcation or
between the two spurs we cause a rear tail bar or cross piece 26 (forming the
hindermost part of the bolt 16, and one extremity of the elongated slotted part
thereof) to lie and work and engage therewith. Thus it will be seen that
lever 6 being depressed, as usually, from the position represented in Figure 6
(corresponding to Figure 1) to the position represented in Figure 2 (corresponding
to Figure 7), the desired movement of the tumblers 1, and necessarily of the
hammers 21, is obtained, and the withdrawal of the bolt 16 is effected with the
greatest advantage, simplicity, and directness.
upon the
From the application of these respective combinations the number of parts in the
breech action is lessened, and as a whole the action is thus simplified, and these
advantages are rendered very apparent.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and objects of our
said Invention for "Improvements in Breech-loading Fire-arms," together with the
manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, we would remark in conclusion that we claim as our Invention in snap-action
breech-loading fire-arms,
Firstly. The combination with the ordinary barrel-locking lever of a piece or
lifter pivotted or centred thereto, and working in combination with inner projecting
shoulders formed on the tumblers of the ordinary cock-locking actions, for effecting

page_text: the automatic cocking of the hammers; and the further combination therewith of
bifurcations or double-acting spurs for simultaneously withdrawing the usual or
modifications of the ordinary barrel-locking bolts, and subsequently thrusting the
same home.
And, secondly. The combination with the ordinary barrel-locking lever of a spur
actuating a pivotted or centred spurred cam lever working in combination with
inner projecting shoulders formed on the tumblers of the ordinary cock-locking
actions, for effecting the automatic cocking of the hammers; and the further com-
bination therewith of an excentrically curved spur for simultaneously withdrawing
the usual barrel-locking bolt, and subsequently thrusting the same home, all sub-
stantially as herein-above described, and as illustrated on the accompanying Sheet
of Drawings.
In witness whereof, wc, the said Thomas Southgate and James Woodward,
the younger, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-fourth
day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy civ
Witness,
20
BRISTOW HUNT,
Solicitor and Patent Agent,
5, Serle Street,
Lincoln's Inn.
(L.S.)
THOMAS SOUTHGATE.
JAMES WOODWARD, JUN". (LS