IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIREARMS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Wellington Greener Gunmaker of Birmingham in
the Co of Warwick for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF FIREARMS
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Wellington Greener
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st September 1882.
WILLIAM WELLINGTON GREENER, Gunmaker, of Birmingham, in the Co. of
Warwick, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE ARMS,"
This Invention consists of, First :-The construction and arrangement of the lock -
mechanism of hammerless guns to allow of the gun being more readily stripped and
put together. Secondly: The construction of a swing pivot in the barrel lump for
the purpose of cocking the lock mechanism, and so arranged as to be self acting.
Thirdly-The construction of automatic transversely pivoted swing cams for the
purpose of automatically bolting or rendering safe the lock mechanism of hammerless
guns; and, Fourthly:-The construction of twisted gun barrels without a weld.
The first part of my invention relates to that description of fire arms known as
hammerless breechloaders, and more particularly to the lock mechanism of hammerless
guns on the drop down principle, and consists in the addition of a stud or pin (or
swivelled mainspring to be hereinafter described) to the lock mechanism.for the
purpose of giving a rebound to the tumbler or striker; and to such an arrangement
and shaping of the parts of the lock mechanism as will allow of the mechanism
being more easily taken apart and put together.
In bammerless guns having the lock mechanism arranged in slots in the breech
action body, as for instance in the Greener Hammerless Gun (W. W. Greeners
Patent, No. 930 March 2. 1880) I substitute for the wire pivots knocked through
the breech action body, screw pins which act as pivots for the seears, and tumblers;
in addition to these pivots I place another screw pin, running parallel to the tumbler
pivot but so arranged that it shall stop the main spring before it, (the mainspring),
forces the point of the striker through the face of the breech action on to the cap of
the cartridge. The arm of the main spring, therefore, that acts upon the extended
forearm of the tumbler, when the tumbler is released from but forces the tumbler

page_text: down until this arm of the mainspring comes into contact with the additional screw
pin and is arrested by it. The tumbler still keeps in motion by reason of the
momentum communicated to it by the main spring and the impetus is sufficient to
fire the cap in the cartridge case.
It is the adjustment of this pin as to its distance from the tumbler pivot and arc
of the main spring so as to allow of the spring being arrested, whilst sufficient
impetus is retained by the tumbler, that constitutes a portion of this, the first part
of my invention.
Or I connect the two arms or horns of the ✓ main spring by means of a slotted
swivel, the swivel adjusted so as to arrest the main spring, before carrying the
tumbler right home, thus I effect the same end without the screw stop pin, the
slotted swivel acting exactly as, and for the same purpose as, the screw stop pin,
herein before described:
But by use of the slotted swivel in lieu of the screw stop pin the main spring is
kept partly cramped, may be readily placed in its position in the grooves for the
lock mechanism, and is retained there by the other pieces of the said mechanism.
After firing the cap, the tumbler by reason of the greatest part of its weight
being hung rearward of its pivot, falls from the cap of the cartridge and the face of
the Breech action, until its forward arm is arrested by the main spring or the stop
screw peg.
For taking apart the lock mechanism the stop screw (before described) is necessary
inasmuch as it retains the main spring in its proper position (unless the main spring
is cramped by a slotted swivel as before described) whilst the Tumbler being free
from any pressure of the mainspring may be removed from the slot, after the screw
pivot has been untwined, the mainspring may then by pressure on its lower arm be
moved rearwards, until free of the slot. The seear spring is removed in the ordinary
manner. The seears which have their tails shorter than ordinary in order to allow
of their more readily passing the trigger blades, and trigger box, when being
removed, are released by unscrewing the pivot pin.
The triggers I place as close together as convenient and the trigger box I keep
as narrow as possible, in order that when the seears are, released by the removal of
the seear springs, and seear pivots, they may be passed by, by the seears, whilst the
trigger box and furniture are screwed in their places on the gun.
In putting the lock mechanism together the screw stop peg acts as a cramp for
the mainspring, the spring being forced into the slot and the two arms or turns
being brought close together by the lower arm pressing against the screw stop peg.
The tumblers may thus be replaced without any cramp, for until the gun is
being cocked they receive no pressure from the main spring.
The Second part of my invention also relates to that description of Firearms
known as Hammerless Breechloaders on the drop down principle, but consists in
alterations to the cocking mechanism.
In lieu of a swing cocking cam pivoted high up in the Barrel lump and requiring
to be kept up to its work by an additional cam, rod, lever or spring, as for instance
in the Greener Hammerless Gun (W. W. Greener's Patent Specification No. 930,
March 2. 1880) I make use of a pivoted cocking cam, so pivoted as to, allow of 4
another arm extending from the pivot coming into contact with the barrel lump or
a stud thereon, such stud and arm bearing such relation to each other that they
prevent any depression of the opposite arm of the swing cam, whilst such contact
continues, this additional arm is, however capable of being depressed and does so
automatically, when the opposite arm passes, or during a downward movement, 5
comes into contact with, the extended fore arms of the tumblers; having passed
below the extended fore-arms of the tumblers the additional arm of the cam comes
into contact with the bottom of the barrel lump slot, a stud therein, or the
cover plate and by this contact depresses the opposite arm of the swing cam,
until it is extended beneath the forearms of the tumblers and in such a position
as to raise the tumblers, upon the breech ends of the barrels being raised for
loading.

page_text: The third part of my invention also relates to that description of Guns known
as Hammerless but consists in a safety bolt applicable to the lock and firing
mechanism.
On the back of the Breech action body I pivot two cams, (one to each striker or
lock) these cams swing transversely to the longitudinal axes of the barrels, or at
right angles to the grooves in which the tumblers or strikers move, the lower
extremities of these cams are notched (or have studs affixed to them) and into these
notches I carry arms extending forward from the trigger blades, the upper
extremities extend so as to block the passage, through which the striker has to pass
before it can reach the cap of the cartridge case; or to extend in such a manner as
to arrest the progress of the striker before it reaches the cap
When the gun is cocked, the seear spring so depresses the seear and with it the
trigger as to keep the trigger at "bearer," i.e. keeping the seear and trigger in
contact with each other, the triggers being thus depressed, that portion of the
trigger blades extended forward for the purpose of entering the swinging bolting.
cam, comes into contact with the upper side of the notch and forces the upper arm
of the cam into such a position as to lock the striker, upon the trigger being pulled
the extended arms of the trigger blade so actuate the swing cams as to withdraw
them from the locking position and leave the strikers free to come into contact with
the caps of the cartridges.
The fourth and last part of my invention relates to the improved manufacture
of twisted gun barrels.
I take of gun barrel iron, that is a rod composed of iron and steel, and twisting
this rod upon itself whilst at a red heat, I throw the edges of the iron and steel
laminæ to the outside extending spirally the whole length of the rod, this process
is ordinarily done in the manufacture of Damascus iron for making the ribands,
but instead of rolling the rods or: welding them together, I drill the twisted rod
throughout its entire length and then bore, grind, and treat it as an ordinary forged
barrel tube.
Or I take a piece of iron and drill it, then draw it out through the rolls on a
mandril, and when the proper length for the barrel required I twist the hollow
tube on itself whilst at a red heat; passing it through the rolls after twisting to
take off the excrescences thrown up by the twisting.
By following either of these processés I obtain a twisted barrel with the grain of
the metal composing it extending spirally the entire length of the barrel-but
without a weld.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Wellington Greener in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 20th March 1883.
WILLIAM WELLINGTON GREENER of Birmingham in the County of Warwick
Gunmaker "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE ARMS "
·
My Invention consists of Firstly. The construction and arrangements of
Lock Mechanism of Hammerless guns to allow of the gun being more readily
stripped and put together-Secondly-The construction of a swing pivot in the
Barrel lump for the purpose of cocking the lock mechanism, and so arranged as to
be self acting. Thirdly-the construction of automatic transversely pivoted swing
cams for the purpose of automatically Bolting or rendering safe the lock mechanism
of Hammerless guns, and-Fourthly-The construction of twisted gun barrels
without a weld
The first part of my invention relates to that description of firearms known as
hammerless breech loaders, and more particularly to the lock mechanism thereof.
The description of gun best adapted to the improvements of my mechanism being
Hammerless guns on the drop down principle.
My invention consists of the following parts and combinations to the lock
mechanism.
First The addition of a stud or pin g Fig: 3 to the lock mechanism for the
purpose either of giving a Rebound to the tumbler B of the lock, or to check the
mainspring i from pressing on the tumbler B when it-the tumbler-is down at
bearer
Or I connect the two arms 2 Fig: 2 of the mainspring i by means of a
swivel f Fig: 2 to accomplish the same purpose as the stud g Fig: 3 hereinbefore
described
Whichever way effected my invention reduces the serviceable part of the main-
spring Fig 1 from its extended form there shown to the limited distance of
travel lying between the two ends of the cramping swivel f Fig: 2 or between the
stud g Fig 1 and the upper bearing of the mainspring in the Slot of the Breech
action body; in short always keeping the mainspring cramped
In the case of the stud the mainspring is cramped from the moment it is placed
in the Breech-action-body slot, and so long as it therein remains, it is cramped
independent of any bearing on the tumbler or any limb of the lock mechanism,
save the stud placed there for the express purpose of cramping the mainspring.
In the case of the swivel the mainspring is cramped ere it is placed in the
breech action body slot, and remains cramped so long as the swivel is in position,
it being immaterial whether the spring is in or out of position in the lock
mechanism
By the use of the stud 9 or the cramping swivel f the tumbler B is free from any
pressure of the mainspring i thus the tumbler may be readily removed from the
lock mechanism, and by substituting screw pins for the pivots p. p' I further increase
the facility for removing and replacing the limbs of the lock mechanism and of
this, and the adjustment of the stud g as to its distance from the tumbler pivot p
and are of the mainspring so as to allow of the spring being arrested, whilst
sufficient impetus is retained by the tumbler, or the length of the cramping swivel f
does the first part of my invention consist
I further aid the facility of shipping guns in conjunction with my improved
mechanism hereinbefore described, by making the seears with the tails shorter and

page_text: placing the trigger blades more closely together enabling the separate limbs to be
the more readily placed in their respective positions
The second part of my invention also relates to that description of firearms
known as Hammerless Breechloaders on the drop down principle but consists in
improvements to the cocking mechanism thereof
In lieu of a swing cocking cam pivoted high up in the barrel lump and requiring
to be kept up to its work by an additional cam, rod, lever or spring, as for instance
in the Greener Hammerless Gun (W. W. Greener's Patent Specification N° 930,
March 2nd 1880)
I make use of a pivoted cocking cam Fig: 7 so pivoted at h Fig: 6 in the Barrel
lump D as to allow of another arm C Figs: 6. 7. 8 extending from it rearward of
the pivot coming into contact with the Barrel lump D or some stud or stop
thereon
This stop, whether the solid Barrel lump D or an artificial affix thereto, has such
relation to the arm C² of the cocking cam C as to prevent any depression of the
arm C¹ when the two (D and C) are in contact
The swing cam C turning freely on the pivot h and its arm 02 being capable of
depression, when, on placing the Barrels A in the Breach action body, the arm C¹
comes into contact with the extended arme of the tumbler B the arm C' slips past
the tumbler B and upon the opposite arm, arm C2 coming into contact with the body of
the Breach action body slot, a stud affixed therein, or any stop at, f, the arm C' passes
beneath the extended fore arms e of the tumblers B and when the Barrels A are
again opened to load, the cocking swivel C having its arın C2 bearing against the
lump, the opposite arm is rigid beneath the extended arms e and raises the tumblers B
to full cock.
Fig: 6 shows the cocking mechanism in position and makes its automatic action
readily comprehensible
Fig 7 is a top elevation of the cocking cam C and Fig: 8 side elevation of the
same
It is the pivoting of an automatically swinging cam in the Barrel lump either
as the principle limb or as an adjunct to the cocking mechanism of drop down
Hammerless guns that constitutes this the second part of my invention
The Third part of my invention relates to that description of guns known as
Hammerless, and has special reference to the lock and firing mechanism thereof
I affix to the back of the Breech action body of hammerless guns in which the
Lock mechanisin is contained in grooves beneath the barrels two cams C. C. Figs : 4
and 5 one to each striker or lock
These cams pivoted at K swing transversely to the longitudinal axes of the
Barrels, that is at right angles to the grooves in which the tumblers or strikers B. B
move
The lower extremities C¹ of these cams are notched (or have studs affixed to
them) and into these notches I carry arms d' extending forward from the
triggers D.
The Upper extremities C extend so as to Block the passage through which the.
nose of the striker B has to pass, to reach the cap of the cartridge case,--or extend.
in such a manner as to arrest the progress of the striker B before it reaches the Cap
In this latter event I place upon the back of the Tumbler B a projecting stud H
between which stud and the back of the Breech action the arm C of the cain C lies
when the gun is at cock
The action of the limbs is as follows-when the trigger D is pressed, the arm D
the reverse side of the pivot is depressed and engaging in the slot C' swing trans-
versely the cam pivoted at K. and withdraws its upper end C2 from obstructing the
tumblers B
When the gun has been fired and again raised to cock, the triggers by reason of
the seears pressing upon them cause the arm D to press on the upper portion of the
slot C in the cam C again causing its upper extremity C³ to obstruct the tumbler B
"

page_text: To prevent the possibility of both barrels going off simultaneously I swing my
cam C Figs 10-14 at right angles to the triggers and seears D, b. The cam swings
easily upon its pivot K, and I so form the two extremities C¹ and C that one or
other must be continually bearing upon and locking either one of the triggers D or
the seears B
This comb is shown in three positions in Fig: 10-over triggers behind Trigger plate
stud over triggers or seears before trigger plate stud and pivoted at K into breach-
action-body over the Seears; I make use of either of these positions as expediency
of manufacture may demand, the effect in all is the same, to lock one of the parts
leaving the other free
Fig: 12 shows this cam in side and Fig 13 in end elevation
Fig 14 shows a section of Back of Breach Action body and parts thereto
belonging the swing comb C locking the seears b. b
The action of the swing cam is as follows-in its normal position either C or C³
must be pressing and locking one seear, we will suppose C2 is bearing upon the
seear 6 Fig: 14 the trigger D, is depressed to fire the gun and with it the tail end
of the seear 6 is raised this throws the other extremity C¹ upon and locks the other
seear, if any attempt be made to depress both triggers simultaneously both seears
are locked and firing the gun thus is an impossibility
It is the construction and combination of the parts herein described and their
automatic working and arrangement that constitute this the third part of my
invention
The fourth and last part of my invention has relation to the manufacture of
Twisted gun Barrels without a weld
To effect this I take of gun barrel iron, that is a rod composed of iron and steel,
and generally of alternate laminæ extending the length of the Rod, and then when
at a red heat I twist the rod upon itself throwing thereby the edges of the iron and
steel lamina to the outside appearing in alternate spirals, similar to a screw thread
and extending regularly the whole length of the rod as Fig: 9
I then drill the rod, and grind it treating it in all subsequent stages as an ordinary
Barrel tube
Or I effect the same end by using a piece of the same gun iron, first drilling it,
and drawing it out to the proper length and thickness for a gun barrel tube and
then when at a red heat twisting the said tube upon itself to give a spiral to the
figure and afterwards pass it through the rolls to take off the excrescenses thrown
up by the twisting
By either of the above processes and the employment of the proper laminated
metal I obtain a twisted gun barrel with the grain of the metal composing it
extending spirally the entire length of the Barrel but without a weld and of this
the fourth and last part of my invention consists Gun iron on metal technically
so known is in reality a conglomeration of iron and steel welded together either
indiscriminately on in an agreed fashion, the Welding of two or other metals together
in any fashion and of equal or unequal portions of iron and steel following any
arrangement is immaterial to the Fourth part of my invention, and such or any
welding and arrangement of the metals does not invalidate my claim to the making 4
of a twist gun barrel without a weld
1. The use of a cramped mainspring in hammerless Breech loaders for the purpose
either of giving or allowing of-a rebound of the tumbler or as rendering the
stripping of the gun more facile
2. The use of a stud for the purpose of cramping the mainspring as herein before
shown and described
3. The adjustment of the stud and spring cramp with the pivots of the tumblers

page_text: seears, and the other parts of the lock mechanism, for the purposes as herein-
before specified
The use of an automatically swinging cam in the barrel lump, as an adjunct
to the cocking mechanism of Hammerless guns
The use of swinging cams pivoted transversely on the Back of Breech action
bodies or on the trigger plate for the purpose of locking any part of the
lock mechanism as herein before set forth and described
The use of Solid twisted gun iron rods for the purpose of making weldless gun
Barrels as hereinbefore set forth and described
The use of drilled and twisted gun iron rods for the purpose of making weldless
Gun Barrels as herein before set forth and described
In witness whereof I the said William Wellington Greener have hereunto set
my hand and seal this nineteenth day of March in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three
WILLIAM WELLINGTON GREENER (L.S.)