AN IMPROVED PRIMER FOR FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1838

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME,. I,
WILLIAM WESTLEY RICHARDS, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Gun Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria,
by Her Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain,
bearing date at Westminster, the Eighth day of March, in the first
year of Her reign, and in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and thirty-eight, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Westley Richards, Her especial
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said William
Westley Richards, my exccutors, administrators, and assigns, and such
others as I, the said William Westley Richards, my executors, adminis-
trators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times during the term of years therein mentioned,
should aud lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within Eng-
land, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of
"AN IMPROVED PRIMER FOR FIRE-ARMS;" in which said Letters Patent
is contained a proviso, obliging me, the said William Westley Richards,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly
to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, and to cause the same

page_text: inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six
endar months next and immediately after the date of the said in
part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the
said William Westley Richards, do hereby declare that the nature of
my said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be per-
formed, are particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing description thereof, reference being had to the Drawings here-
unto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say):
My Invention of an improved primer for fire-arms consists of a novel
construction and arrangement of apparatus or magazine and primer to be
attached to muskets, carbines, pistols, fowling pieces, and other fire-arms,
for the purpose of depositing the priming (as copper percussion caps,
&c.) on to the nipple or touch-hole of the piece, such apparatus being
constructed to hold a proper quantity of copper percussion caps or other
priming for a given number of charges, and is capable of being easily
and readily brought forward over the nipple of the piece, and depressed
thereon so as to cause a cap or priming to be deposited and left upon
the nipple or touch-hole; the magazine or primer returning to its
original situation of its own accord immediately it is released from the
hand of the person using the fire-arms; all of which will be better
understood by reference to the accompanying Drawings, which are
representations of a portion of a carbine or musket, and pistols, with
my improved magazine primer attached thereto. The several Figures
showing the improved primer when in a state of rest, and in the various
positions it is brought into when the priming of the piece is effected.
Fig. 1, is a partial side view of a carbine or musket with my improved
primer applied thereto, in one modification of construction and adapta-
tion; Fig. 2, is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3, is a longitudinal
section taken horizontally to shew the interior of the magazine primer;
and Fig. 4, is a similar section taken vertically; and Fig. 5, is a cross
section taken through the primer, barrel, and stock. Fig. 6, is a partial
representation of the barrel detached from the piece, shewing the parts

page_text: by which the primer is secured in its proper place to the barrel and
protected thereby. Fig. 7, is a side representation of the primer
detached from the barrel; and Fig. 7*, is a front end view of the same.
Figures 8, 10, and 12, are side views of the carbine, shewing the
primer in the different positions it is brought into by the thumb of the
right hand in the act of priming; and Figures 9, 11, and 18, are
sections of the same to shew the interior; the same letters of reference
being marked upon corresponding parts in all the Figures.
a, is the stock; b, the barrel; c, the breeching; d, the false breech;
e, the lock plate; f, the hammer; 9, the nipple; all of which are con-
structed in the ordinary manner, excepting the lock plate, which in this
instance is adapted to receive and act in conjunction with my improved
magazine primer h, h. The primer is secured to the barrel by the shield
i, i; these parts in this mode of affixing it being welded or soldered to the
barrel. But the shield may be formed independant thereof, and secured
to the lock plate or stock in any convenient manner, though I prefer
attaching the shield to the barrel, as it is a stronger method of securing
it, and better adapted to protect the primer from injury by blows from &
sword, &c. The magazine of the primer is a hollow tube h, h, the sides
of which project down to cover the other parts or mechanism; it is
shewn in the Drawings as made of brass, but it may be constructed of
other metal. Into this tube the copper caps k, k, are placed, either
singly by hand through the aperture 1, which is closed when the primer
is at rest by the shield i, or they may be introduced at the end of the
primer by emptying them from a tube or larger magazine, or it may be
filled in any other convenient manner. m, is the thumb piece by which
the primer is drawn towards the nipple, and depressed upon it when in
the act of priming. The exit aperture for the copper caps, &c. is at n,
it being closed by the sliding shutter o at all times, excepting when it is
brought immediately over the nipple or touch-hole. The sliding shutter o
is attached to the piece p, having the tail piece 9 projecting therefrom;
this piece p, slides between the sides of the primer. 1, is an anti-friction
roller turning on an axle placed in the primer. 8, is another roller,
having its axle in the end piece t, of the rod u. These rollers are used
to render the movements and action more easy, but they may be dispensed

page_text: with, as they are not positively necessary. v, is a compressed helical
spring placed on the rod, having its abutments against the pieces t
and w, and by its expansive force returns the primer into its position of
rest after the priming has been effected, the primer being kept up in its
place by the spring in conjunction with the inclined plane a, acting
upon the roller's, as shewn in Figures 4, 9, and 11. y, is a stud or pin
placed on the side of the tube, and determines the position of the shutter
with the exit aperture; and, is a stop picce on the lock plate to arrest
the tail piece q, and open the aperture. The action and operation of
the primer is as follows:-The person using the piece takes hold of the
stock precisely in the same way as when cocking the lock, the thumb of
the right hand being used in the same way upon the thumb picce m, as
if upon the cock or hanımer. The primer is thus brought forward by the
action of the thumb into the position shewn at Fig. 10, that is, over
the nipple; but before it reaches this position the tail piece 7 will have
come against the stop, and thereby be arrested, as shown in Figures 8,
and 9, the sliding shutter also remaining while the primer is drawn on,
carrying the exit aperture from off the shutter and over the nipple, at
which moment the primer is depressed by the thumb into the position
shewn in Figures 12, and 13, thereby causing the nipple to enter the
primer and into the copper cap at the end of the tube; the thumb is
then to be quickly released, when the primer will instantly fly back into
its quiscent position by the action of the spring, the copper cap being
left on the nipple. It will be seen, by inspecting Figures 11 and 18,
that when the primer is drawn out to its full extent the roller r will
have come against the tail piece 7, thus determining the length the
primer shall be drawn out, so that it may always be drawn into the
proper position over the nipple; and, further, that the notch or recess
cut out of the lock plate and the inclined plane a, allow both of the
anti-friction rollers and tail piece q to descend when the primer is being
depressed upon the nipple. But all these parts shown in the Drawings
as being formed upon the lock plate may be made in a separate piece
and attached to the fire-arms if thought desirable. And, moreover,
these parts may be varied, and their position altered, and in some
instances they may be dispensed with, as herein-after set forth.

page_text: Having now particularly described the construction and adaptation
of my improved magazine primer, and one modification thereof, I would
remark that the same may be varied without departing from my Inven-
tion; for instance, the thumb piece m may be formed as a lever of the
first order, its fulcrum being on the side of the tube, and its shorter end
acting against an abutment piece on the primer, as shewn in Figs. 14
and 15, which are side representations of another modification of my
improved magazine primer as adapted and applied to a pistol, the
primer being shewn in different positions. a, is, the thumb piece or.
lever, having its fulcrum at b, its shorter end c acting against the
abutment piece d, which is placed on the end of a spring which allows.
it to move with the primer when descending upon the nipple. It will.
be seen that if this piece d be properly shaped or formed the primer
may be made to descend upon the nipple by the action of the thumb in
drawing the primer forward without the direct pressing action of the
thumb being required. The other letters of reference are marked upon.
corresponding parts to those in the former Figures, therefore no further
description will be necessary.
Figs. 16, 17, and 18, arc representations of a pistol with another
modification of my Invention, in which several parts shewn in the former
Figures are dispensed with, viz, the tail piece q, the stop z, and the anti-
friction roller s. Fig. 16, is a side representation of the pistol with the
primer at rest; Fig. 17, is a section of the same; and Fig. 18, is another
section shewing the primer in action. In this modification the end of the
sliding shutter o comes against the nipple as its stop piece, where it is.
retained while the exit aperture proceeds over the nipple. The primer
is kept up by the inclined plane a, acting against the projecting part t,.
instead of the anti-friction roller s, as in the former instance; and in this.
modification the roller v is placed in the lock plate instead of in the primer.
The extent of motion of the primer, after the sliding shutter is arrested,
is determined by the pin y coming against the short tail piece 1, on the
sliding shutter, at which time the part 2 of the primer will have passed
from over the roller v, and part 3 of the lock plate, when the primer is
at liberty to descend upon the nipple, leaving the cap thereon; the.
nipple being in this instance sufficiently long to allow of the end of the
sliding shutter passing down its side. In order to remove the primer

page_text: from the fire-arms it is necessary in these modifications first to take the
barrel out of the stock, when the primer may be taken away. But it
may be attached to the piece so that it can be readily removed without
disturbing the barrel, if thought desirable, viz, by making the side
holding pieces i, i, of the shield to turn on a screw pin like "turn
buttons," capable of moving out of the way and releasing the primer,
and turning down into the position shewn in the Drawings to secure it.
It will be seen that, should my improved magazine primer from any
cause get out of order, or if it should be inconvenient immediately
to refil it when exhausted, copper percussion caps or other priming
may be applied to the locks by hand in the usual manner, there being
no inconvenience occasioned by my magazine primer to priming by
hand. And further, I would remark, that other shaped springs than that
shewn in the Drawings may be used to return the primer; and also, that
in order to ensure the proper delivery of the caps on to the nipple they
should be made greater in diameter than in height, and the tube shaped
accordingly, and adapted to receive them. If this.is properly attended
to the caps will slide freely down the tube without chance of catching or
stopping; the position of the piece in the act of loading always causing
the caps to descend and come over the exit aperture; and therefore no
spring is required in the tube or magazine to force the caps towards the
exit aperture, which has hitherto been necessarily applied to copper cap
magazine primers; and also that other priming than copper caps may
be used, my improved magazine primer being adapted to receive it; for
instance, detonating pellets or small pieces of tube filled with detonating
powder, or the detonating powder itself, may be applied, the nipple or
touch-hole being constructed and adapted accordingly to receive and
retain the priming, of whatever description it may be. And I would
further remark that, although I have shewn my improved magazine
primer as applied to single barrelled fire-arms only, yet the same is equally
applicable to double barrelled pieces, and when they are so applied they
may be placed either on the top of the barrells (the rib of the piece
being made a little higher than usual), or they may be applied at the
sides thereof; and when this is the case the nipple or touch-hole for
receiving the priming must either be a fixture in the lock plate or fixed
in projecting wing or side breeches screwed into the breech of each

page_text: barrel, so that the wing or side breech may be removed previous to
unscrewing the breeching of the barrels to separate them; all of which
will be easily suggested by any practical workman, and need not be
described by me.
And, in conclusion, I would remark, that I do not claim any parts
of the lock in connection with my improved primer, nor do I confine
myself to any one particular modification thereof; but what I claim
as my Invention is the improved magazine primer for fire-arms, as
herein set forth and described, which is capable of being casily and
readily drawn over the nipple or touch-hole, and depressed by the action
of the thumb, for the purpose of lepositing the priming thereon, and
immediately returning to its quiescent position away from the nipple on
the thumb being withdrawn, and which improved magazine primer is
protected from blows or injury by its casing or shield, and held up into
its proper position when out of action by the force of its spring and
inclined plane.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Westley Richards, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of
August, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred