ROVEMENTS IN ROTATING BREECH FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Collier Bakewell, of No. 6, Haverstock
Terrace, Hampstead, in the County of Middlesex,' for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTATING BREECH FIRE-ARMS."-A communication from
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Sealed the 7th December 1855, and dated the 13th June 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Collier Bakewell
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his 'Petition, on the
13th June 1855.
I, FREDERICK COLLIER BAKEWELL, of No. 6; Haverstöck Terrace, Hampstead,
in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTATING BREECH FIRE-ARMS," being a communication
from Josiah Ells, of the United States of North America, to be as follows:-
The. Invention consists, in the first place, in the application to the rotating
chambered breech. (and forming part thereof) of a short tubular extension
terminating in a collar, which collar fits into a corresponding recess in the
bracket of the barrel, the object being to serve the twofold purpose of prevent-
ing the spindle.on which the breech rotates from fouling, and of connecting
&locking the breech; the latter-object being further secured, if required,
by a screw at the end of the spindle inserted into a female screw-in-the
bracket.
4117
Another part of the Invention consists-in-the-application of a moveable stud

page_text: that fits into a hole in the shoulder of the trigger, in combination with a
hammer having a bevelled edge and a notch at the extremity of its toe, by
means of which stud on pulling the trigger the hammer is raised to full cock,
and may be either allowed to stand so by slightly catching into the notch, or
the fire-arm may be fired at once by drawing the trigger a little farther. The
moveable stud, which is retained in its projecting position by, a spring (yielding
laterally by the pressure of the bevelled edge of the hammer), allows the
descent of the hammer, and then rècovers its former position for repeating
the action.
Another part of the Invention consists in the application of a double spring
(or of a spring lever & spring), so as to allow sufficient play in the trigger,
and thereby giving it the requisite reacting force without using so strong a
spring as would be otherwise...necessary,.the..cam & friction roller that act
against the springs being so arranged as to equalize the resistance in drawing
back, the trigger throughout its. whole.course.
Another part of the Invention consists in a mode of locking the rotating
breech at the moment of firing, by means of a bolt in combination with a cam
shoulder on the trigger, and a hexagonal or polygonal neck on the rotating
breech, the latter being nevertheless permitted to be freely rotated by hand or
otherwise when the trigger is not drawn back, thus allowing the breech to be
turned round for loading without touching the trigger.
Lastly, the Invention further consists in the application of a self-acting
safety bolt, attached to the guard plate of the fire-arm in such manner that
it may be readily slipped in front of the trigger when the fire-arm is loaded,
so as to cause the trigger slightly to withdraw the hammer from the percussion
cap on the nipple, and thus prevent accidental discharge by a blow on the
hammer, the safety bolt receding automatically when the trigger is drawn back
for firing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Frederick Collier Bakewell in the Great Seal Patent Office 3
on the 11th December 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
COLLIER BAKEWELL, of No. 6, Haverstock Terrace, Hampstead, in the County
of Middlesex, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 3
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Frederick Collier Bakewell, Her special licence that I, the said
Frederick Collier Bakewell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Frederick Collier Bakewell, 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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTATING BREECH FIRE-ARMS," being a communi-.
cation from Josiah Ells, of the United States of North America, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Frederick Collier Bakewell, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frederick Collier Bakewell, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
The Invention consists, in the first place, in the addition to the fore part of
the rotating chambered. breech (and forming a part thereof) of a short tubular
extension terminating in a collar, which collar fits into a corresponding recess
in the bracket of the barrel. This improvement is intended to serve the two-
fold purpose of preventing the spindle on which the breech rotates from
fouling, and of connecting and locking the breech, the latter object being
further secured, if required, by a screw at the end of the spindle inserted into
a female screw in the bracket.
Another part of the Invention consists in the application of a moveable stud
that fits into a hole in the shoulder of the trigger, in combination with a
hammer, having a bevelled edge and a notch at the extremity of its toe, by
means of which stud on pulling the trigger the hammer is raised to full cock,
and may be either allowed to stand so by catching slightly into the notch, or the
fire-arm-may-be-discharged-at once. The moveable stud, which is retained in
its projecting position by a spring, by yielding laterally by pressure on the
bevelled edge of the hammer allows the descent of the latter, and then recovers
its former position for repeating the action.
A third part of the Invention consists in the application of a double-spring

page_text: or a spring lever and spring, so as to allow sufficient play in the trigger, and
'thereby giving it the requisite reacting force without using so strong a spring
as would otherwise be necessary, the cam that acts against the spring being
so arranged as to equalize the resistance of the trigger to the finger throughout
its sweep.
A fourth part of the Invention consists in a mode of locking the rotating
breech at the moment of firing, by means of a locking bolt in combination
with the cam shoulder on the trigger, and a hexagonal or polygonal neck
on the rotating breech, the latter being, nevertheless, permitted to be freely
rotated by hand or otherwise when the trigger is not drawn back, thus
allowing the breech to be turned round for loading without touching the
trigger.
Lastly, the Invention further consists of the application of a self-acting
safety bolt, attached to the guard plate of the fire-arm in such manner that it
may be readily slipped in front of the trigger when the fire-arm is loaded, so
as to cause the trigger slightly to withdraw the hammer from the percussion
cap on the nipple of the breech, and thus to prevent accidental discharge by a
blow on the hammer, the safety bolt receding automatically when the trigger
is drawn back in firing.
Having thus stated generally the several parts of the Invention, I will pro-
ceed to describe in detail the construction, arrangement, and operation of the
improved fire-arm, referring particularly to the accompanying Drawing, com-
prising twelve Figures, which forms part of this Specification, and in each of
which Figures like letters are employed to indicate corresponding parts. I
must also observe, that though the description and Drawing refer only to
rotating breech pistols, commonly called "revolvers," the Invention is equally
applicable to guns, rifles, and fire-arms generally, by the necessary changes of
size and arrangement, which any skilful mechanic can readily make. In the
following description I shall be obliged to refer to several parts of fire-arms
commonly known and used, without, however, claiming originality in any
other parts than those noticed in the foregoing statement of the parts claimed
as new.
In the Drawing accompanying this Specification, Figure 1 is a sectional side
view of a revolving pistol constructed with the improvements, excepting that
the locking bolt is removed to exhibit the other parts more clearly; Figure 2
is a side view of a similar pistol, exhibiting the several parts of the lock in
their positions when the trigger is drawn back, and the pistol is cocked ready
for firing; Figure 3 is a sectional view the stock and lock frame of a pistol,
showing the reverse side of the interior of the lock, the several parts being in

page_text: their positions when the trigger is fully drawn back immediately after firing
and before the trigger is released; Figure 4 is a sectional view of the lock
frame with all the parts removed excepting the locking bolt and its spring;
Figure 5 is a view of the under side of the lock frame, all the works of the
lock being removed.
In Figure 1 the parts of the lock are represented in a state of rest in their
positions before the trigger is pulled; in Figure 2 the hammer is raised by the
action of the moveable stud on the cam-shaped toe of the hammer, and is at
full cock, the side of the stud resting in the notch in the toe, and preventing
the fall of the hammer until the trigger is pulled farther back; and the cam
shoulder of the trigger, pressing the level face of the locking bolt against the
squared surface of the neck of the rotating chamber, locks it in its proper
position; the slightest touch on the trigger would now fire the pistol. In
Figure 3 the hammer has fallen, and the trigger, if released, would instantly
regain its position for repeating the fire.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the hammer, designed to show more
clearly the chamfered edge, against which the moveable stud in the trigger
works; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the trigger, exhibiting the position
of the moveable stud and of the shoulder on which the trigger spring rests;
Figure 8 is a side view of the trigger, showing the side not seen in Figure 7;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the locking bolt; Figure 10 is a view of the
front end of the rotating breech; Figure 11 is a perspective view of the rotating
breech; Figure 12 is a perspective view of the trigger guard frame, showing
the position of the safety bolt.
In the several Figures referred to, a is the stock of the pistol; b is the lock
plate; c is the barrel; d is the rotating breech. From the lock plate b, and
in a suitable position, extends the spindle e, parallel to the axis of the barrel.
This spindle is of iron, and may be of one piece with the lock plate. When
the several parts of the pistol are in place, the spindle e extends through the
rotating breech, and, if desired, enters into the bracket h of the barrel. If the.
spindle is made to pass into the bracket of the barrel (as shown in Figures 1
and 3), that portion which enters the bracket has the thread of a screw cut
on it, and is made to screw into a female screw cut in the bracket h. The
object of this is to give additional firmness and security to the attachment of
the-barrel-to-the-lock-frame. This screw-on-the-spindle is not necessary, how-
ever, as a very firm connection is effected by means of the tubular extension f
and collar g, as herein-after described.
The rotating breech is made of the usual form of that of repeating fire-
arms, so far as relates to the chamber to receive the charge, and the nipples-

page_text: for receiving the percussion caps; yet it differs materially from the usual form,
by the addition to the lower end of the tubular extension f having at the
extremity the circular collar g. In the bracket of the barrel below the bore is
a recess y', of the exact shape and size of the upper half of the cylindrical
extension and collar, so as to receive the collar readily and yet fit closely, as
shown in Figure 1. The barrel fits close up to the end of the rotating breech,
so that the centre of the bore of the barrel, and each of the chambers of the
breech if brought round to the barrel, will be in the same line exactly, the
spindle passing through the centre of the breech. The collar and tubular
extension of the rotating breech not only form a locking connection between
the breech and the barrel, but the collar by fitting close into the recess sustains
the recoil of the breech on firing, which in ordinary repeating fire-arms is
borne by that part of the lock plate called the recoil shield. The tubular
extension and collar so effectually cover up the spindle on which the breech
rotates as to prevent it from being fouled by the residuum of the gunpowder
after firing, which is a great impediment to the action of the rotating breech
in pistols as generally constructed. The mode of attaching the barrel and
breech to the lock plate is as follows:-The lock plate 6 (of the shape shown
in Figures 1 and 4) does not extend so far forward as to reach the bracket h
of the barrel 'c, but has a projecting pin b', which enters into a corresponding
hole sunk in the guard frame d' of the pistol. The bracket h, being attached
to the rotating breech by the tubular extension f, and sustained by the spindle
as already described, is fastened to the guard frame d¹ by a screws or spring
bolt, which may readily be removed, and when so removed the barrel may be
unscrewed from the spindle, and the rotating breech is then free to slip off it.
The shape and construction of the rotating breech d is seen in Figure 11.
the extremity of the neck of the breech are ratchets i, i, equal in number to
the number of chambers in the breech. These ratchets or projecting points
need not project far, being only intended to catch against the point of the
finger k, which serves, as herein-after described, to rotate the breech. Near
the extremity of the neck of the rotating breech, the circumference, which is
elsewhere circular, is of the shape shown at 1 (Figures 2 and 11), with flattened
sides, the number of sides being the same as the number of chambers in the
breech, that portion of the breech thus forming a sort of polygonal cylinder,
so that a section of it at right angles to the axis in a pistol with six chambers
would present a regular hexagon, one flattened side being opposite, each
chamber in the breech.
At
'The several pieces of the lock are shown (with the exception of the locking
bolt) in Figure 1; the locking bolt j with its spring being shown in Figure 4,

page_text: The reverse side of the several parts is shown in Figure 3, wherein m is the
hammer, which turns on the hammer pin a'. At S is the main spring, attached
to the lock frame, and passing up through the hollow stock of the pistol. The
extremity of the main spring rests on a friction roller u at the heel of the
hammer, which forces it down when released from the trigger. The under
side of the hammer is broad and curved, and comes to a point or nearly so at
the toe. The front edge of the hammer is chamfered or bevelled, and, from
being broad at the base, gradually narrows to an edge at the top of the' recess
in the side of the hammer (see Figures 3 and 6), made to allow of the passage
of the trigger o. The trigger is of the shape shown in Figures 7 and 8; it
works in the lock on the trigger pin a². Near the point the trigger is reduced
to nearly half its thickness by a recess made to allow of the passage of the toe of
the hammer m. In this recess and near the point of the trigger is the moveable
stud p, which is a short steel rod or stud, with a rounded projecting point, and
flat head, inserted in a cylindrical bore in the trigger. It is kept in its place by
a fine spring r inserted in a groove in the trigger (shown in Figures 3 and 8),
the head of the stud preventing its being forced out of the trigger by the
spring. This stud is fitted nicely into its hole, so that while it moves back
and forward when pressed in the direction of its length, it remains firm when
the projecting side of the stud presses against the toe of the hammer. The
shoulder in the side of the trigger serves as the bearing point of the spring
lever t, which transmits to the trigger the force of the spring u, the spring
lever resting on a friction roller v in the shoulder. The spring levert and
spring u form a double spring, which is very useful when a strong spring is
required and a good deal of play is necessary, being more efficient and less
liable to get out of order. The arrangement is as follows:-The spring lever t
is placed with its point resting on the friction roller in the shoulder q of the
trigger, and the other extremity, which has a circular hole through it, is slipped
over a pin w (see Figure 3) in the base of the lock plate. This spring lever
is not screwed or otherwise fastened down, but is kept in place by the point of
the strong spring u, the base of which is fastened to the under side of the
lock plate (see Figure 2) by a screw s', which screws into a hole at a.
9
In Figure 1 the relative positions of the hammer and trigger before firing, and
the position of the moveable stud p, are clearly shown. The base of the hammer-
near its toe rests on the side of the moveable stud. The relative positions of
the centre pins a' and a² are so adjusted, that when the trigger is drawn back,
the stud p, pressing on the broad base of the toe of the hammer, raises it
up, the hammer as it rises pressing down the main spring S. As the hammer
rises, the turning point a' being stationary, the point a³, (being the centre of the

page_text: friction wheel at the heel of the hammer,) which sustains the whole pressure
of the main spring S, gradually descends, until the trigger is drawn back so far
as to raise the hammer to the point of full cock (as shown in Figure 2), when
the centre a³ is almost immediately under the centre a', thus gradually reducing
the effective resistance of the main spring, so that the power required to
raise the hammer gradually diminishes as the hammer rises instead of increas
ing, as in the locks of fire-armis ordinarily, till at the point of full cock a very
slight touch is enough to fire the pistol, the main spring S gaining strength or
leverage as the hammer falls, and exerting its greatest force when the hammer
strikes the percussion cap.. When the moveable stud p has raised the
hammer, and the latter is drawn as far back as represented in Figure 2, it
slips into a notch near the toe of the hammer (seen in Figure 1 immediately
in front of the moveable stud) with a slight click, causing a sensation percep-
tible by the person using the pistol, and will thus stand at full cock although
the notch is very slight, because the pressure of the spring on the toe of the
hammer at that point is very small. If the trigger. is now drawn a little
farther back (to the position shewn in Figure 3), the stud p will pass out of
the notch and over the extremity of the toe of the hammer, which is imme-
diately liberated, and fires the pistol. So soon as the pressure of the finger is
removed from the trigger after firing, the trigger recedes, and the moveable
stud sliding up the chamfered edge of the hammer until it comes into the
position shown in Figure 3, (where the stud comes to the point of the hammer
marked in Figure 6,) the point of the stud slips over the thin edge of the
hammer and down over its side, the spring r allowing the stud to recede as
the thickness of the hammer increases until it reaches the base of the hammer,
when the stud slips off its edge, and the trigger resumes its place, as shown in
Figure 1,.with the edge of the stud lying under the toe of the hammer ready
for repeated action.
When the pistol has been fired, and the trigger and other parts have
returned to their first positions, it is necessary before firing again that the
rotating breech be turned so far round as to bring the next loaded chamber in a
line with the barrel. This is accomplished during the pulling of the trigger for
the second fire by means of the finger k, which is connected with the trigger
by a pin projecting from its side at the lower extremity, which enters into a
corresponding hole in the side of the trigger between the moveable stud and
the centre pin a². The finger k lies in a recess y in the side of the lock plate
(see Figure 1.) This recess opens into the circular recess round the base of the
spindle e, in which the neck of the rotating breech is inserted. The spring.c
at the back of the finger k presses against the wall of the recess, and presses

page_text: the finger forward. When the trigger is not drawn back, as in Figure 1, the
finger k does not come in contact with the ratchets i, i, but as the trigger
is drawn back it raises the finger until it enters the recess in which the
ratchets i, i, are situated, and, pressing against one of them, turns the rotating
breech just far enough to bring another loaded chamber exactly in line with
the barrel, in which position it is retained, as herein-after explained, until the
pistol is fired. By the falling of the trigger after firing, the finger k is
withdrawn, and resumes its first position.
The locking bolt j, the shape of which is more clearly shown in Figure 9, is
designed to lock the rotating breech in its proper position at the moment of
firing, leaving it at all other times to be freely rotated by the finger k, or by the
hand, at pleasure. In Figure 4 this locking bolt is shown in place in a recess
in the side of the lock plate made for its reception. The spring c², which fits
into a notch in the wall of the recess, presses against the leg of the locking
bolt, and presses the head o¹ of the bolt through an opening e¹ (see Figure 4)
into the recess round the spindle e (see Figures 2 and 4). Now, the neck of
the rotating chambered breech having as many sides as there are chambers
in the breech, whenever the breech is turned round, the flat head of the bolt j,
pressing by means of the spring c² on the hexagonal neck 1, causes the breech
always to rest in such a position that one of the chambers is in an exact line
with the barrel, the spring c² being strong enough to prevent the breech from
turning round accidentally, and yet permitting it to be rotated freely when
required. When the trigger is drawn back to the point of full cock, or nearly
so, as in Figure 2, a hump or cam shoulder g¹ comes in contact with the under
side of the head o¹ of the locking bolt (as in Figure 2), and presses the face of
the head of the bolt firmly against one of the flat sides of the neck of the
rotating breech, thus preventing its rotation during firing, and until the trigger
is released. This arrangement enables a person in loading the breech to
rotate it freely without touching the trigger; whereas in revolving fire-arms
as usually constructed, the trigger has to be pulled part way back, and to be
held in that position before the breech can be turned.
To
When the pistol is loaded, the end of the hammer ordinarily presses against
the percussion cap placed on the nipple of the chamber, which is then on a
line with the barrel. Under these circumstances, an accidental blow on the
hammer might explode the cap and fire the pistol, as frequently occurs.
remove this danger, and at the same time to place no obstacle to an immediate
use of the pistol, there is attached to the lock plate b, immediately in front of
the trigger, a small bolt or pin f', which turns on a pin or centre i. The point
of this safety-bolt-fits into-a-small-hole in the trigger; when the latter is drawn

page_text: back just far enough to withdraw the face of the hammer from contact with
the percussion cap. As the trigger spring u presses the trigger forward, the
safety bolt cannot get out of place until the trigger is drawn back still farther,
and when this is done, as in firing the pistol, a slight spring c³ throws the
safety bolt out of the way automatically, (see Figure 12.)
Having thus given a detailed description of the several parts of the
Invention, I wish it to be understood that I disclaim originality in the use
of rotating chambered breeches, excepting so far as relates to the mode of
attaching and rotating them. I also disclaim originality in the use of recoil
shields as such, the strain occasioned by any attempt at recoil of the breech
being sustained, and any actual recoil being prevented by the tubular extension
in the fore part of the chambered breech, and its locking connection with the
bracket of the barrel. The parts claimed as new are specifically stated at
the commencement of this Specification. The advantages of the improved
fire-arm are, its simplicity of construction, which renders it less liable to miss
fire or get out of order; the great ease and rapidity with which it may be fired;
and its standing cocked by merely pulling the trigger.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Collier Bakewell, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
FRED COLLIER BAKEWELL. (L.S.)