IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH- LOADING SMALL FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Perkes, of 4, Duck Lane, Soho, in the County of
Middlesex, Gun Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-
LOADING SMALL FIRE-ARMS."
Scaled the 7th July 1876, and dated the 12th January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Perkes at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th January 1876.
THOMAS PERKES; of 4, Duck Lane, Soho, in the County of Middlesex, Gun
Maker. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING SMALL FIRE-ARMS."
The object of my said Invention is to make breech-loading fire-arms self-cocking,
that is to say, to make the lowering or tilting of the barrel whereby the exploded
cartridge is extracted and a fresh one enabled to be inserted in its place, to cock
the arms without any further action on the part of the firer.
1 accomplish tliis object first by employing a lever which presses against the
hammers, or if the arm be double-barrelled, the hammers. This lever is attached to
the steel lump on the under side of the barrels by means of a screw or bolt, by
which the lever is pressed against the hammers, and raises them to full cock when
the barrels are dropped or tilted in the action of loading or unloading after a dis-
charge. The lump is attached to the barrels.
Secondly. I attach to the fore part of the arm a sliding bolt, which slides into a
slot or recess in the loop. This sliding bolt is worked by a lever worked on a pivot
or pin fitting snugly into the woodwork, while to the lever is applied a spring con-
stituting a snap.
It is obvious that iny Invention is applicable to all breech-loading small fire-arms
in which there is a lowering or tilting action of the barrels or barrels in opening the
breech.
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and
of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said Thomas Perkes in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 22nd July 1876.
THOMAS PERKES, of 4, Duck Lane, Soho, in the County of Middlesex, Gun
Maker. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECHI-LOADING SMALL FIRE-ARMS."

page_text: The object of my Invention is to make breech-loading fire-arms self-cocking, that
is to say, to make the lowering or tilting of the barrel whereby the exploded
cartridge is extracted and a fresh one enabled to be inserted. in its place, to cock
the arm without any further action on the part of the firer.
I accomplish this object first by employing a lever which presses against the
hammer, or if the arm be double-barrelled, the hammers. This lover is attached to
a steel lump on the under side of the barrels by means of a screw or bolt, by which
the lever is pressed against the hammers, and raises them to full cock when the
barrels are dropped or tilted in the action of loading or unloading after a discharge.
The lump is attached to the barrels.
Secondly. I attach to the fore part of the arm a sliding bolt, which slides into a
slit or recess in the loop. This sliding bolt is worked by a lever moving on a pivot
or pin fitting snugly into the woodwork, while to the lever is applied a spring con-
stituting a snap.
It is obvious that my Invention is applicable to all breech-loading small fire-arms:
in which there is a lowering or tilting action of the barrel or barrels in opening.
Having thus briefly described my said Invention, I will now proceed to describe
the same more particularly, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, in
which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional side view of an ordinary double grip lever
.gun or rifle constructed according to my Invention; Fig. 2, a top plan view of tho
same, the barrels being removed; Fig. 3, a longitudinal sectional side view of a
snap gun constructed according to my Invention; and Fig. 4, a top plan view of
the same, the other Figures being detail views of separate parts.
My Invention consists in applying a lifter or lever C (in the first case, Figs. 1
and 2) attached to the lump B and pressing against the hammers D, D, the lifting
power being obtained by a cam or incline F on the double grip lever A acting upon
the lump E on the under side of the barrels J, so that by pressing the lever A at
right angles in the ordinary way the barrels J are raised or tilted and the
hammers D, D, are raised to full cock. The gun is closed in the ordinary way
ready for use.
My Invention as applied to ordinary snap guns, that is to say, in the second case,
Figs. 3 and 4, consists in connecting the cocking limb C to a lever A situated on
the under side of a gun made on my treble grip principle over the trigger guard L.
By pressing the said lever A downwards or forwards the lifter or lever C is pressed
against the hammers D, D, by which means I gain my power of withdrawing the
bolts and of tilting the barrels J with one movement by the fore part H of the
lever A working on the fulcrum K and pressing against the lump B with the
greatest case and rapidity.
The second part of my Invention consists in a sliding bolt N, Figs. 3 and 4,
working in a slot or groove P at the end of the fore part R and capable of engaging
in a recess S, which bolt is acted upon by an ordinary tip or lever M at the end of
the wood on the outside, and acted upon by a spring O, which constitutes a snap
fore part.
By the Drawings above described the great advantages over other self-cocking
guns will be seen; first, the ordinary locks are used, the head of the gun is kept
perfectly sound, and the appearance of the gun is in no way departed from;
secondly, the method of applying this limb is so simple, that the firer can apply it
or dispense with it at pleasure. By taking it away the gun can be used in the
ordinary manner.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I would have it understood that I do not confiue myself
to the precise details above enumerated, as these may obviously be modified without
departing from the principle of the Invention; but what I claim is a cocking lever
or levers taking for motive power the lump on the under side of the barrel or barrels
(whether the lever or levers be attached or detached) to raise the hammers to full
cock, whereby the gun is discharged; also a cocking lever or levers taking for
motive power the fore part or front of the fulcrum of the push down or forward

page_text: lever on the under side of the gun, to raise the hammers to full cock, whereby the
gun is discharged; also the sliding bolt working in a slot or groove at the end of
the fore part, substantially as above described and represented in the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Perkes, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
THOMAS PERKES. (LS.)