IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS AND CARTRIDGES.
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for
Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS AND
CARTRIDGES. "A communication.
Sealed the 5th December 1853, and dated the 8th October 1853..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward
Newton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 8th October 1853.
t.
I, WILLIAM.EDWARD NEWTON, do hereby, declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS. IN FIRE-ARMS, AND CARTRIDGES., to be
as follows:
i
The first part of this Invention is specially intended for rifles,
muskets, and carbines, although applicable to other fire-arms, and:
relates, first; to the method of putting the caps on the, nipple, breech-
loading fire-arms..
. I
The caps are placed in a long tube or slot, in which they are forced.
towards the delivery aperture thereof by a spring or its equivalent, in
order to be placed on the nipple attached to a moveable, or vibrating
breech arranged in such a manner that by the act of turning the said;

page_text: breech to receive the charge the nipple shall be brought opposite to or
coinsident with the end of the priming tube, so that a cap may be
forced on to it by the tension of the spring.
The rear end of the chamber in which the breech works is made
with an excentric surface or plane, so that in turning back the breech
to bring the bore thereof in a line with the bore of the barrel for the
discharge the cap shall move in contact with the said excentric surface
or plane, and be thereby forced to its proper place on the nipple, the
rear face of the breech being so formed as to confine the caps in
the tube.
The lever for operating the breech is made part of, or is attached
directly to, the body of the breech, and constitutes the trigger plate,
instead of the lever being simply attached to one of the journals of the
breech, as has heretofore been the case in some breech-loading fire.
arms. By this means the trigger is kept away from the lock until
the breech is brought in line with the barrel, so that the discharge
cannot be effected by the lock until the gun is in a condition to be
discharged.
The breech is also provided with a fixed punch projecting from the
bottom of it, for the purpose of punching or perforating the cartridge
in order to liberate the powder. This operation is effected in the act
of charging, so as to avoid the necessity of breaking the cartridge
before charging.
This punch is made hollow, and communicates with the touch hole,
whereby the discharge is rendered more sure, and the fire communi-
cated to the inside of the charge, so as more effectually to insure the
burning of the whole charge of powder. It will be understood that if
a new fire-arm is to be constructed according to the above improve-
ments, the whole arm will be so arranged as to effect the. intended
object in the most convenient manner; but, if it be thought desirable.
to apply the Invention to muskets or fire-arms already in use 'the
arrangement of the parts must be somewhat modified, so as to suit
the difference of construction.
In adapting the present improvements to fire-arms that are charged
at the breech end, the rear end of a moveable breech, which, when in

page_text: line,. constitutes the rear part of the barrel, is fitted by a soeket joint
to a metallic chamber let into the socket, which chamber forms the
connection between the rear end of the barrel and the stock. This is
combined with a lever, which constitutes the trigger plate, and which
is connected with the moveable breech by a suitable joint to operate it,
and when in a line with the barrel holds it firmly in place during the.
discharge. The percussion caps are placed in a tube, which is pro-"
vided with a spring, the tension of which forces the caps towards the
forward end, and holds the forward cap against an end plate of the tube
when the said tube is open at bottom and at top; at bottom, just over
the nipple, when the breech is in a line with the barrel, that it may
receive the cap, and at top, to permit the descent of the hammer, so
that in the act of firing the point of the hammer shall force the cap
from the priming tube on to the nipple and explode it, the hammer
preventing the next cap from advancing until the next cocking..
The third part of the Invention relates to the method of making
cartridges, and consists in forming the rear end of paper in a cup
form, combined with and surrounded by a wrapper of linen or other
cloth, which envelopes the paper, the powder, and the ball, the end
which embraces the ball being first slitted and pasted or otherwise
cemented around the ball so as to answer the purpose of a patch to
prevent the barrel from leading, and liberate the ball as soon as it
reaches the muzzle of the barrel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 8th April 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-

page_text: teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors;
give and grant unto me, the said William Edward Newton, Her special
license that I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns,. or such others as I, the said William-Edward
Newton, 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 FIRE-ARMS AND CARTRIDGES," being a communication
from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Edward Newton, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, 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..
66
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do
hereby declare the nature of the 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, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say):
The first part of this Invention of improvements in fire-arms and
cartridges which has been-communicated-to-me-by my foreign corre-
spondent is especially intended to apply to rifles, muskets, and carbines,
although it is also in some measure applicable for other fire-arms.
.
The first improvement relates to the method of putting the caps on
the nipple, and consists in the use of a tube containing the caps, and in
which they are forced towards the delivery aperture thereof by a spring
or its equivalent in combination with a contrivance in which the nipple
is placed on a vibrating breech, so that in the act of turning the said
breech to receive the charge the nipple shall be brought to the end of
the priming tube, so that a cap may be forced on to it by the force of
the spring.

page_text: I also propose, in combination with the above, to make the rear-end
of the chamber in which the breech works with an excentric surface
or plane, so that in turning back the breech to bring the bore thereof
in a line with the bore of the barrel for the discharge, the cap shall move
in contact with the said excentric surface, and be thereby forced to its
proper place on the nipple, the rear face of the breech being so formed
ás to. confine the caps in the tube.
The next improvement consists in making the lever for operating
the breech to form a part of or attached directly to the body of the
breech, and also to constitute the trigger plate, instead of having
the lever attached to one of the journals of the breech, as heretofore;
by this means the trigger is kept away from the lock until the breech
is brought in line with the barrel, so that the discharge cannot be
effected by the lock until the gun is in a-condition to be discharged.
-
Another improvement consists in forming the breech with a fixed
punch projecting from the bottom of it for the 'purpose of punching
the cartridge in order to liberate the powder by the act of charging,
so as to avoid the necessity of breaking the cartridge before charging.
The next and last improvement under this head of the Invention
consists in making the said punch hollow and communicating with the
touch hole, whereby the discharge is rendered more sure and the fire
communicated to the inside of the charge, the better to ensure the
burning of the whole charge of powder.
The leading object of the second part of the Invention is to arrange
the several parts and improvements in such a manner that the muskets
now in the service may be altered in conformity to the present Inven-
tion' at small expense, so that they may be made to load at the breech,
and be primed with a cap in the act of loading.
Another improvement consists in fitting the rear end of a moveable
breechi, which when in line constitutes the rear part of the barrel, by a
socket joint to a-metallic chamber let into the stock, this chamber
forming the connection between the rear end of the barrel and the
stock, when this is combined with a lever which constitutes the trigger
plate, and which is connected with the movable breech by a suitable'
joint to operate it, and when in a 'line with the barrel to hold it firmly
in place during the discharge.
.

page_text: The next improvement under this head relates to the use of a tube
containing the percussion caps, and provided with a spring the tension
of which forces the caps towards the forward end, and holds the for-
ward cap against an end plate of the tube, when the said tube is open
at bottom and at top; at bottom just over the nipple when the breech is
in a line with the barrel, so that it may receive the cap, and at top to
permit the descent of the hammer, so that in the act of firing the point
of the hammer shall force the cap from the priming tube on to the
nipple and explode it, the hammer preventing the next cap from
advancing until the next cocking.
The third head of the Invention relates to the method of making
cartridges, and consists in forming the rear end of paper in a cup form,
combined with and surrounded by a wrapper of linen or other cloth
which envelopes the paper, the powder, and the ball, the end that
embraces the ball being first slit and pasted or otherwise cemented
around the ball so as to answer the purpose of a patch to prevent the
barrel from leading.
Fig. 1, in the accompanying Drawings is a side elevation of a rifle
constructed according to the improved plan; Fig. 2, a longitudinal
section representing part of the internal arrangement. Fig. 3, is
another longitudinal section, representing the internal arrangement of
the primer. Fig. 4, is an end view of the movable breech. Fig. 5,
a cross section taken at the line A, a, of Fig. 2. Fig. 6, is a longitu-
dinal section of a musket. Fig. 7, another longitudinal section of the
same. Eig. 8, a cross section taken at the line B, b, of Fig. 7.
Fig. 9, a cross section taken at the line C, c, of Fig. 6. Fig. 10, is
an elevation of a cartridge of the improved kind. Fig. 11, is a section
thereof, and Fig. 12, represents the cloth wrapping thereof before the
cartridge is formed.
In Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, a, represents a chamber made of metal
and properly secured to the stock b, the cavity of which is formed to
receive the turning breech c, hung therein by journals on the sides of
the breech fitted to the sides of the chamber. The front and rear ends
of the chamber are concentric with the breech, and the rear end
of the barrel, is let into and properly secured to the forward end of
the chamber.

page_text: The breech c, is properly fitted to the inside of the chamber, the sides
being parallel and the periphery cylindrical, and then bored radially to
correspond with the bore of the barrel, as represented by dotted lines in
Fig. 2; segments of this circle are then cut off at top and bottom, at top
to be in a line with the top of the barrel, and at bottom to be in a
line with the trigger plate. A groove e, is cut all around the bore
of this breech on that face of it which fits up against the front of the
chamber, and on each side of this groove a part is cut away, as shewn
in Fig. 4. The object of this groove is for the free discharge laterally of
the fire which will escape at the joint, and which, if confined, will soon
foul the gun and be otherwise injurious. A corresponding groove may
also be made, if desired, in the corresponding face of the chamber, as
this groove may be in either or both. A concentric groove f, is cut
into one side of the brecch, which works on a pin g, projecting inwards
from one of the sides of the chamber, the length of this groove
limiting the extent to which the breech may be turned, and it must
be of sufficient length to permit the bore of the breech to be elevated
upon the top of the barrel, so that the charge may be inserted with
facility.
This breech is operated by a lever h, which is a continuation of the
bottom of the breech, and which runs back to the required distance, and
at its rear end it has a mortice which fits on to the end of a spring
friction lever or catch j, let into the mortice in the stock, as shewn in
Fig. 1. The end of the friction lever j, being so formed as to hold the
breech lever h, by friction only. This lever, is let into a recess in
the under side of the stock, and constitutes the trigger plate, and
therefore the trigger k, is hung in the usual way with a guard 7, all
around it. The nipple m, is secured to the breech on the top, and at
or near the rear end thereof, and the touch hole extends down in the
body of the breech and through to the inside of a hollow punch n, which
is fitted and tapped into a hole in the rear end of the breech in a line
with the bore, the forward end of the said punch extending within
the bore of the breech, and bevilled from the top and brought to a
point, the hole in the said punch passing through the bevel face thereof.
In this way, as the cartridge is forced into the bore of the breech, the

page_text: punch penetrates it, so that the fire from the cap, when discharged,
passes directly. to the inside of the charge of powder, and thus insures
the discharge and the more effectual burning of the powder..::..
A tube o. Fig. 3, is inserted in a hole, made for it in ther stock, and
held in place by a spring catch.p, so that it can be taken out and
inserted at pleasure. The open end of this tube passes. to the rear
face of the chamber a, in the position represented at Fig. 3, so that
when the breech is thrown up to receive the charge the nipple shall
be brought down, into a line, with the tube, as represented in Fig. 3:
Within this tube is fitted a follower or piston. q, with a pin which
passes through and slides in a longitudinal,slotzin: the tube. This slot
is notched at s, near the rear end of..the.. tube for the purpose of
receiving, the pin, in order to hold back, the follower or..piston.against
the tension of the helical spring.t....
.
The follower is provided with a stem, within the helical spring,
which stem, when the follower is drawn out, passes out, through a
central hole, in the back end of the tube for the purpose of turning
the follower when it is desirable to lock or liberate it from the notch s.
The tube o, is taken out, of the stock, the follower drawn back
and secured, and then the caps are inserted with the open .ends
towards the open end of the tube, which is then inserted in its place.in
the stock and the follower liberated, so that, by the force of the helical
spring t, the caps are forced towards the delivery aperture of the tube,
and when the nipple is brought in line, as in Fig. 3, a cap is pushed
on to it. The breech is then turned back to bring it in line with the
barrel, thereby bringing the nipple with its cap to the required position:
to be struck by the hammer of the lock. But to ensure the forcing of
the
cap down on to the nipple the rear part of the chamber along..the:
path of the nipple, as the breech is moved, is inade in the form of an
excentric plane w, (Fig. 3,). against which the top of the cápcrubs, and
by which it is forced to the required position on the nipple.. And as
the rear part of, the breech below, the nipple is concentric. it will
prevent the next cap from being forced forward 'out of the tube until
the nipple is again brought down, when the breech is again turned to
receive another charge. In this way the caps, are put on the nipple 3

page_text: by self-acting means when the breech is turned up to receive the
charge, after which it must be again brought in line for the discharge:
And as the trigger is attached to the lever which operates the breech,
no discharge can take place by the action of the lock until the breech
is in line with the barrel and there held, because until this takes place
the trigger is not in place to act on the lock."
What I claim in this the first part of the Invention is the use of
a tube containing the caps, which are forced forward by a spring or
its equivalent, as set forth; in conibination with the nipple located on
the movable breech; as described, so that by the act of moving the
breech up to receive the charge, the nipple shall be brought in a line
with the tube; to receive a cap, and then up to receive the action of
the hammer, as set forth.
1
And I also claim the use of an excentric. or its equivalent, as
specified, in combination with the capping tube. and nipple on the
moveable breech, as specified, for the purpose of forcing the caps to
their proper place on the nipple, as the breech is brought in line with
the barrel for a discharge.
T
And I also claim making the trigger plate which carries the trigger
the lever for operating the breech, so that the trigger shall not be in a
position to act upon the lock until the breech is in a line with the
barrel, as set forth.
:
I also claim the employment of a fixed punch projecting within, the.
breech, as described, for the purpose of breaking through the cartridge
to liberate the powder in the act of charging, as set förtli...
And I also claim making the said punch. hollow, and communicating
with the touch hole, as described, and for the purpose of conveying the
fire to the inside of the charge of powder, as set forth.
In Figures.6, 7, 8, and 9, of the accompanying Drawings, in which
the same letters, indicate like parts, I have shewn the method I
propose of adapting the present: improvements.. to fire-arms already
made upon the old plan.
"
:f
The breech part of the stock is cut out at a', to receive a metallic
chamber which is properly secured thereto. The forward end of;
this chamber at c', is tapped to receive the rear end of the barrel d';:

page_text: and the rear end is cut out to form a semi-cylindrical socket, to which
is fitted the rear end of a movable breech e', which vibrates vertically
in the said socket, the sides of the chambers properly enclosing the sides
of the breech. The front end of the breech is in the form of a segment
of a circle struck from the axis of 'vibration so as to fit snugly against
the rear end of the barrel, which is made of corresponding curvature
the metallic chamber in which the breech lies when in a line with the
barrel having an opening f, which passes entirely through the bottom
and in line with the junction of the breechi with the barrel for the free
escape of gases, &c. which may escape at the junction of the breech
and barrel. There is a projection g', from the bottom of the breechi,
with a pin p', which fits in a slightly curved mortise in a projection of
the trigger plate i¹, which, instead of being permanently let into the
under part of the stock, turns on a fulcrum pin j', just under the pin h
the position of the two being in a line at right angles, or nearly so,
with the line of the barrel.
From this arrangement it will be seen that when the trigger plate or
lever, is in the position represented by red lines in Fig. 6, the breech
is sufficiently elevated to receive the charge, and when drawn back
to the position represented by black lines, and secured by the spring
friction lever or catch ', in the usual position of the trigger plate, the
breech is brought down to a line with the barrel for the discharge,
and so held that it cannot be lifted up by the force of the explosion
without breaking the connections.
The trigger is jointed to this lever , for the same purpose as in the
first part of the Invention, and it is in like manner provided with a
trigger guard .
A tube m', is inserted in the stock, as under the first part of the
Invention, but instead of being cylindrical it is square, and the caps n',
are inserted sideways, that is, with the open end downwards. The
end of the tube is closed as at o', and there is an aperture at the
bottom and directly over the nipple p', on the moveable breech, when
the breech is thrown down in a line for the discharge, and another
aperture at the top and in the same line for the passage of the ham-
mer q', of the cock,

page_text: From this it will be seen that the caps are forced forward by the
spring in the tube, and the forward one is griped against the end
of the tube, and there held. until the hammer comes down, and
transfers it on to the nipple, and there explodes it to effect the 'dis-
charge, the fire passing down the touch hole and through the hollow
punch to the charge, as in the first part of the Invention.
It will be seen from the foregoing that by simply cutting off the
breech part of the barrel, and cutting into the stock to receive the
metallic chamber 6; and forming the trigger plate into a lever, and
inserting the capping tube, the ordinary musket of the 'service can
be changed into a breech-loading and self-priming musket at very little
cost.
..
What I claim under the second part of the Invention is, fitting
the rear end of the moveable breech by a socket joint to the metallic
chamber, let into and secured to the stock, and to which is secured
the rear end of the barrel, as described, in combination with the
manner, or the equivalent thereof, of connecting the said moveable
breech with the trigger plate, which constitutes a lever for operating
the breech and holding it in line during the discharge, as described.
And I also claim the priming or cap tube, as herein described,
when made with an end plate, against which the forward cap is held by
the tension of the spring, until transferred to the nipple by the hammer
of the lock at the time of the discharge, as specified.
The third part of the Invention relates to the method of forming
cartridges.
In Figures 10, 11, and 12, of the accompanying Drawings, the same
letters indicate like parts.
In Figures 10, and 11, a, represents a cup made of paper suitably
folded, and corresponding in diameter with the calibre of the barrel
in which the cartridges are to be used. I then take a piece of linen or
other thin cloth, and cut it in the form represented at Fig. 12, and
with the upper end slit down for a short distance, from a quarter to
three eighths of an inch more or less. This cloth is then wrapped in
a cylindrical form around the paper cup a², to form the powder tube b²,.
the edges and the inner surface being secured to the paper cup by paste
.

page_text: or other cement. The charge of powder; is then put in and the ball c²,
over the powder, and then finally the split or slitted end is pasted over
the ball to secure and enclose the whole...
The cloth being slit longitudinally where it passes around and is
secured to the ball admits of making the diameter of the cartridge a
little larger.at the ball, so as to answer the purpose of a patch to pre-
vent the barrel from leading, and to liberate the ball the moment it
leaves the muzzle of the barrel.
What I claim as the third part of the. Invention is, forming the
rear part of the cartridge of paper in cup form, in combination with
and surrounded by a wrapper-of linen or other cloth which envelopes:
the paper cup, the powder and the ball, the end of the said cloth
being slit where it .envelopes the ball for the purpose of and in, the
manner described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Eifth day of April; in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four..
Witness,
J. W. MOFfatt,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)