IMPROVEMENTS IN CANNON AND OTHER CARTRIDGES, AND IN FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Westley Richards, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CANNON AND OTHER
CARTRIDGES, AND IN FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 14th March 1865, and dated the 22nd October 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Westley Richards at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd October 1864.
I, WESTLEY RICHARDS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, do
hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CANNON AND
OTHER CARTRIDGES, AND IN FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in cannon and other
cartridges, and in fire-arms.
In constructing cartridges for cannon it is now common to attach to the fore
part of the woollen powder bag a case of thin metal containing grease which,
thus when in the gun, is situated between the powder and the projectile, and on
firing the case is collapsed and the grease lubricates the bore of the piece;
grease has also in other ways been applied between the powder and projectile.
Now according to my Invention I employ a cap of felt or similar material
saturated with lubricating material. This cap is moulded to fit truly the
bore of the gun, and the fore end of the woollen or other powder bag or case.
fits into it. With this arrangement the charge will occupy less room in the
bore of the piece than when a collapsible lubricator is used; as the distance

page_text: between the projectile and the powder will be less. On firing the charge the
lubricating cap is driven through the bore after the shot, and its sides are by
the pressure of the gases behind it pressed strongly against the sides of the
bore which is consequently effectually lubricated and cleaned.
For breech-loading muskets and fire-arms I construct a cartridge having a
copper or metal capsule at the back, and to ensure a tight joint when the
charge is fired I make the capsule solid for a short distance up the cartridge
by filling it for the required length with pulp, saturated felt, or similar material,
and in order to explode the cartridge in advance of this solid back, I arrange
the fulminating material around the inside of the capsule in a ring just in
advance of the solid back, and the cartridge is exploded by puncturing or
striking its side at a short distance in advance of its rear end. This arrange-
ment enables me to employ on the fire-arm a lock of ordinary construction
with only some slight additions as herein-after explained in place of the com-
plicated and inconvenient arrangements required in arms in which the base of
the cartridge is struck with a needle or striker. The metal capsule is made
with a disc at the back which is too large to enter the chamber of the piece,
and serves both to prevent the cartridge being pushed too far forwards in
loading and also to facilitate its withdrawal after the charge has been fired.
Immediately.in advance of the disc a ring groove is formed in the capsule,
and in this the paper tube forming the fore part of the case is tied or secured
so that the
paper comes outside the cylindrical part of the capsule, and this
ensures its ready withdrawal, which otherwise it would not be easy to secure.
The fulminating material I place on or enclose within a small metal ring or
cylinder, and I fill up the interior of the ring or cylinder with a plug of wood
or other sufficiently hard material so that the ring may be rendered stiff
enough to oppose such a resistance to the blow of the needle or striker as to
ensure the explosion of the fulminating material on or within it. This ring or
cylinder thus prepared is dropped into the capsule and the cartridge is then
loaded with powder as heretofore.
I also construct cartridges for breech-loading muskets and fire-arms intsuch
a manner that the case may after firing the charge be pushed forward and fired
out, in place of being drawn back as with the cartridge above described, and as
has heretofore been necessary with all cartridges carrying their own percussion.
For this purpose I make the cartridge case as heretofore of paper, and attach a
greased wad at the back. Into the case I drop a ring or cylinder with fulmi-
nating material such as already described, but in place of stiffening it with a
plug of wood or similar material which will remain after the charge is fired, I
fill it with hard rammed gunpowder or similar material, which will burn up

page_text: when the charge is fired and leave nothing but the very light metal ring and
the wad to be fired out with the next shot. In order to lubricate the needle
which explodes the fulminating, material I place around the cartridge, just
over the fulminating ring, a belt of flannel saturated with lubricating material
so that the needle to explode the charge passes through this greased flannel
and is so lubricated, and should any slight escape of gas take place by the
needle passage, it will carry so much grease with it that there will be no risk
of the needle being set fast, which, but for this precaution, would probably
take place.
I construct fire-arms for firing these cartridges by preference with locks of
ordinary construction, but the hammer in place of falling on a nipple-falls on
a plug capable of sliding up and down freely in a guide hole in a lump at the
side of the barrel. This plug has at the top an arm, which at its end carries
a needle immediately over the centre line of the barrel, and when the plug is
depressed by the blow of the hammer the needle descends through a vent
hole and strikes the fulminating ring of the cartridge.
In order to raise the needle a lever or similar instrument is, when the lock
is drawn up to half cock, raised by a projection on the hammer or other part
of the lock, and this lever or instrument being in contact with the plug or a
projection therefrom lifts it with the needle, or in place of fixing the needle to
the plug which the hammer strikes, I fix it on a slide moving in a horizontal
guide hole bored in the lump at right angles to the axis of the piece, and on
the slide and also at the lower end of the plug I form inclines which act so
that when the plug is struck down the needle is forced forward through a
vent hole and strikes the fulminating ring of the cartridge. In order to draw
back the needle a link is connected with the hammer or other part of the
lock, and this, when the hammer is drawn up to half cock by an incline or
otherwise, acts on a projection on the slide and draws it back.
When a cartridge with a capsule to be drawn back is employed with breech-
loading fire-arms such as are described in the Specification of the Patent
granted to me, and dated March 25th, 1858, No. 683, I combine therewith
in order to withdraw the said capsule, a slide having a nib on it, entering, the-
side of the open box or receiver at the breech end of the barrel.. This nib,.
when the cartridge is in its place, stands immediately in front of the disc on
the capsule, and when, after firing, the nib is drawn back with its slide, it
brings the capsule with it.
In the Specification of a Patent granted to me and dated 11th September.
1862, No. 2506, there is described a breech-loading fire-arm, wherein the
barrels are mounted on a horizontal axis at a short distance in advance of

page_text: their breech ends, and are locked in position for firing by a self-acting spring,
catch, or bolt at the top of of the stop, and mounted on the tang of the breech
'piece;
this spring catch or bolt by a thumb-piece is drawn back to free the
barrels. In some cases, however, there is a difficulty in starting the catch or
bolt, and to overcome this difficulty I, according to the present Invention,
joint the thumb-piece to the catch or bolt to which it is to give motion in
place of making it rigidly in one piece therewith, and I form on the thumb-
piece a projection which, when the catch or bolt is shot, rests on a fixed incline,
so that when the thumb-piece is pressed upon the incline acts with considerable
power to start the catch or bolt. As soon as it is started it is drawn back as
before by a simple sliding action.
Also in fire-arms in which the barrels turn on a horizontal axis I make
the joint, in place of with a separate pin as heretofore, with a pin or axis
formed in one solid piece with the body, by which means I am able to make
the parts lighter without sacrificing strength.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Westley Richards in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd April 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WESTLEY
RICHARDS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Westley Richards, Her special licence that I, the said Westley
Richards; my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Westley Richards, 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 CANNON AND OTHER CARTRIDGES, AND IN FIRE-ARMS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Westley Richards, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and

page_text: 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 Westley Richards, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in cannon and other cart-
ridges, and in fire-arms.
In constructing cartridges for cannon it is now common to attach to the
fore part of the woollen powder bag a case of thin metal containing grease,
which thus, when in the gun, is situated between the powder and the pro-
jectile, and on firing the case is collapsed and the grease lubricates the bore
of the piece; grease has also in other ways been applied between the powder
and projectile. Now according to my Invention I employ a cap of felt or
similar material saturated with lubricating material; this cap is moulded to
fit truly the bore of the gun, and the fore end of the woollen or other powder
bag or case fits into it. With this arrangement the charge will occupy less
room in the bore of the piece than when a collapsible lubricator is used, as
the distance between the projectile and the powder will be less. On firing
the charge the lubricating cap is driven through the bore after the shot, and
its sides are, by the pressure of the gases behind it, pressed strongly against
the sides of the bore, which is consequently effectually lubricated and cleaned.
I prefer to make this lubricating cap of a coarsely woven and thick woollen
fabric, varying, say, from one-eighth to one-quarter of an inch in thickness,
according to the size of the gun. Of this fabric I make a tube of a diameter
equal to the bore of the gun by sewing together the edges of a strip the length
of the tube corresponding with the depth of the cap which it is desired to
make; into this tube an end is firmly sewn, and the cap so produced is then
saturated with the lubricating material which it is desired to employ; it may
be wax and tallow or other material heretofore employed for saturating lubri-
cating wads. The cap so saturated is placed on a mandril and pressed into a
metal cup or mould, by which it is brought to the proper form, both inside
and out, that is to say, it is made cylindrical and of a diameter somewhat
smaller than the bore of the gun, the cylinder being closed in front by a flat
or nearly flat end, the angles, however, are rounded off. The lubricating
material having set serves to keep the cap in form after it is withdrawn from
the mould and mandril. The length of the cylindrical portion of the cap
should not be less than about the radius of the bore of the gun. In some
cases, however, I make the length of the cap considerably greater, particularly

page_text: when a lubricating cap is applied also at the rear of the cartridge, and then
I make the two caps to meet in the centre of the cartridge and enclose it
entirely, the caps then serve very effectually to protect the cartridge from
wet.
For breech-loading muskets and fire-arms I construct a cartridge having a
copper or metal capsule at the back, and to insure a tight joint when the
charge is fired I make the capsule solid for a short distance up the cartridge
by filling it for the required length with pulp, saturated felt, or similar
material; and in order to explode the cartridge in advance of this solid back
I arrange the fulminating material around the inside of the capsule in a ring
just in advance of the solid back, and the cartridge is exploded by puncturing
or striking its side at a short distance in advance of its rear end. This
arrangement enables me to employ on the fire-arm a lock of ordinary con-
struction with only some slight additions, as herein-after explained, in place
of the complicated and inconvenient arrangements required in arms in which
the base of the cartridge is struck with a needle or striker. The metal
capsule is made with a disc at the back which is too large to enter the
chamber of the piece and serves both to prevent the cartridge being pushed
too far forwards in loading, and also to facilitate its withdrawal after the
charge has been fired. Immediately in advance of the disc a ring groove is
formed in the capsule, and in this the paper tube forming the fore part of the
caso is tied or secured so that the paper comes outside the cylindrical part of
the capsule, and this ensures its ready withdrawal, which otherwise it would
not be easy to secure. The fulminating material I place on or enclose within
a small metal ring or cylinder, and I fill up the interior of the ring or cylinder
with a plug of wood or other sufficiently hard material, so that the ring may
be rendered stiff enough to oppose such a resistance to the blow of the needle
or striker as to ensure the explosion of the fulminating material on or within
it. This ring or cylinder thus prepared is dropped into the capsule and the
cartridge is then loaded with powder as heretofore.
'
Figure 1 of the Drawing hereunto annexed shows a longitudinal section of
a cartridge thus constructed, it is shown about twice the natural size. a is a
copper capsule to form the rear of the cartridge, it is shown separately at
Figures 2; for a short distance up it is filled with paper pulp or similar
material, as is shown at b. The upper part of the cartridge case is formed of
paper rolled up and pasted at the edges, the form of the piece of paper
unfolded is shown at Figure 3; c is the projectile, it is shown separately at
Figure 4; d is a thin metal ring, conveniently, of brass, round it is placed the
fulminating material; this may be enclosed between two strips of thin paper

page_text: so as to make a band, which may be attached with paste around the metal
ring; this ring is shown at Figure 5; d* is a wooden plug introduced into the
ring to support it sufficiently against the blow struck upon it to explode the
cartridge; the plug d* is shewn separately at Figure 5*, it is turned down in
the middle to allow the fire to communicate more readily to the charge of
powder e; f is a lubricating ring, it is a short piece of woollen fabric cut off
from a tube woven of the proper diameter, and it is lodged in a groove in the
paper case formed by passing a broad band tightly around it. The cartridge
is dipped into lubricating material, with which the ring f then becomes satu-
rated. When the cartridge is fired this lubricating ring is driven down the
barrel immediately behind the projectile and lubricates it. The paper case is
tied with fine twine around the groove a¹ in the metal capsule a.
A portion
of a gun suitable for firing cartridges such as the above is shewn at Figs. 12,
13, & 14, Sheet 8, of the Drawings, and is herein-after described.
.
I also construct cartridges or breech-loading muskets and fire-arms in such
a manner that the case may, after firing the charge, be pushed forward and
fired out in place of being drawn back, as with the cartridge above described,
and as has heretofore been necessary with all cartridges carrying their own
percussion. For this purpose I make the cartridge case, as heretofore, of
paper and attach a greased wad at the back; into the case I drop a ring or
cylinder with fulminating material such as already described, but in place of
stiffening it with a plug of wood or similar material, which will remain after
the charge is fired, I fill it with hard-rammed gunpowder or similar material,
which will burn up when the charge is fired and leave nothing but the very
light metal ring and the wad to be fired out with the shot. In order to
lubricate the needle which explodes the fulminating material I place around
the cartridge, just over the fulminating ring, a belt of flannel saturated with
lubricating material, so that the needle, to explode the charge, passes through
this greased flannel and is so lubricated, and should any slight escape of gas
take place by the needle passage it will carry so much grease with it that
there will be no risk of the needle being set fast, which, but for this precaution,
would probably take place..
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of a cartridge thus constructed; it consists
of a paper case, the pieces for which are shown separately at Figure 7; it is
rolled upon a mandril into a tube, which the projectile closes at one end.
The charges introduced into the cartridge, with the fulminator of which some
of the parts are shown separately at Figures 8 and 8*; a few grains of powder
are placed at the back of the cartridge, behind the fulminator, to blow out the
metal ring. At the back of the cartridge, behind the folded end of the case,
'

page_text: a wad of woollen fabric is auached; a lubricating ring also may be used just
behind the ball, as in Figure 1. The cartridge, when complete, is dipped into
the lubricating material. The fulminator consists of the thin metal ring
(Figures 8*) which is closed at the bottom excepting three small vent holes,
as is shewn; into this ring is dropped the block of compressed gunpowder
(Figures 8), which is made by striking gunpowder in suitable dies in a fly or
other press. The block, as will be seen, has a flange at its lower edge, which
serves to keep it central in the metal ring. Fulminating powder is then
dusted into the annular space thus left between the two, and a coat of varnish
is brushed over the top of the fulminator thus prepared to keep the fulminating
powder in its place, and to guard it from moisture. Round the circumference
of the metal ring a lubricating ring is placed, similar to the ring on the
exterior of the cartridge.
It will be seen that both the cartridges above described are arranged to be
struck at the side and some distance in advance of the base or rear end of the
cartridge. This is a novel feature in cartridges carrying their own priming, and
it is important both as permitting of the use of a lock of ordinary and simple
construction, and also because it allows a solid back (it may be of paper pulp
or felt) to be applied to the cartridge, which is of great use in ensuring a tight
joint. The use of a block of compressed powder on which to explode the
fulminating material, as described, and the use of a lubricator for the
exploding needle to strike upon are also important features of my Invention.
I construct fire-arms for firing these cartridges by preference with locks of
ordinary construction, but the hammer in place of falling on a nipple, falls on
a plug capable of sliding up and down freely in a guide hole in a lump at the
side of the barrel; this plug has at the top an arm, which at its end carries a
needle immediately over the centre line of the barrel, and when the plug is
depressed by the blow of the hammer the needle descends through a vent hole
and strikes the fulminating ring of the cartridge.
In order to raise the needle a lever or similar instrument is, when the lock
is drawn up to half-cock, raised by a projection on the hammer or other part
of the lock; and this lever or instrument being in contact with the plug or a
projection therefrom, lifts it with the needle.
Figure 9 is a side view, Figure 10 a plan, and Figure 11 a transverse
section of a portion of a fire-arm thus arranged, my improvements being. shewn
adapted to a breech-loading fire-arm, such as is described in the Specification
of a former Patent granted to me, and dated the 25th of March, 1858, No. 683.
a, a, is a portion of the stock, and 6 a portion of the barrel; c is the breech
chamber, which is closed by the lid or cover d, and a sliding block upon it, as

page_text: is fully described in the Specification of my said former Patent, and is now
well known; e is a lump on the side of the chamber, such as that which
usually receives the nipple; in this case, however, it is bored with a vertical
hole, which serves for a guide for the cylindrical plug f, which at the top ha
an arm f¹, on which is the needle or punch f, which enters the barrel by a
small hole formed for it. When the hammer g of the ordinary lock falls on
the top of the plugf, the needle or punch is forced down, and the cartridge is
exploded, and on the hammer being again raised to half-cock, the lever h,
centered at h' to the lock plate, raises the plug and needle, the lever being
raised by the tooth or projection g¹ formed in a recess at the inner side of the
hammer, and pushing up a stud fs, screwed into the plug f, and projecting
out through a slot formed for it at the side of the lump 6. It will be seen
that the lever h holds the plug f up when the lock is at half-cock, and so it
prevents the needle or punch f³ interfering with the insertion of the cartridge
in loading, at the same time that it places the needle or punch in position
again to receive the blow of the hammer. This arm is suitable for firing tho
cartridge, Figure 6,. and if instruments such as I will presently describe are
applied to draw back the capsule after firing, cartridges like Figure 1 may
also be used with it.
According to a modification of the above arrangement, in place of fixing
the needle to the plug which the hammer strikes, I fix it on a slide moving in
a horizontal guide hole bored in the lump at right angles to the axis of the
piece, and on the slide, and also at the lower end of the plug I form inclines,
which act so that when the plug is struck down the needle is forced forward
through a vent hole, and strikes the fulminating ring of the cartridge.
'
In order to draw back the needle a link is connected with the hammer or
other part of the lock, and this when the hammer is drawn up to half-cock
by an incline, or otherwise, acts on a projection on the slide, and draws
it back.
Figure 12 is a plan of the chamber and some other parts of a breech-
loading gun like that more fully shewn at Figures 9, 10, and 11, excepting
as respects the modification of the parts for firing the charge.
Figures 13 and 14 are side views of the parts shewn at Figure 12; and
Figures 15 shew in detail several portions of the same. In this case the
bainmer strikes a plug f, as before, but this plug, in place of carrying an arnı
and needle or punch, by means of inclines at its lower end fully shewn in the
Drawings, acts on a slide k, working in a horizontal guide hole in the lump;
this slide has an arm k¹, to which the needle or punch is fixed, and this
passes through another guide hole into the bore of the piece. The slide & it

page_text: will be seen has an incline upon it, and it is this that the plug facts on to
force forward the needle or plug ka when the hammer falls on the slide. k is
another incline k; it works with the incline on the link l; this link at its
rear end enters a recess under the hammer somewhat in the same way as the
lever h, Figures 9, 10, and 11. The link has, as will be seen, a groove in
it, and a tooth or projection on the inner side of the hammer acting in this
groove, draws the link back when the hammer is raised to half-cock, and the
link acting by its incline draws back the slide k with the needle or punch, and
the other inclines acting at the same time, the plug fis raised. The tooth
on the hammer leaves the link 1 free, when the hammer falls on to the plug f
and the inclines draw the link forwards.
The position of the parts f, k, and when the needle or punch is thrown
forwards to explode the cartridge is shewn at Figure 16, and a similar view of
the position of the parts when the lock is at half-cock is shewn at Figure 16*.
When a cartridge with a capsule to be drawn back is employed with breech-
loading fire-arms such as are described in the Specification of the Patent
granted to me, and dated 25th March 1858, No. 633, I combine therewith,
in order to withdraw the said capsule, a slide having a nib on it entering the
side of the open box or receiver at the breech end of the barrel; this nib
when the cartridge is in its place stands immediately in front of the disc on
the capsule, and when, after firing, the nib is drawn back with its slide, it
brings the capsule with it.
This arrangement is also shewn in plan at Figure 12, and also in the side
view, Figure 14. A dovetail groove m is formed in the side of the chamber,
and in it a slide n works, and it is moved by a thumb-piece o projecting out-
wards from it. The bottom of the groove m is slotted through into the
chamber for a distance from m* to m*, and a nib on the slide projects into
the chamber, when the slide is forward the back of the nib is just flush with
the neck or contracted part at front of the chamber, when the rim at the
back of the capsule of the cartridge is stopped, and the stud stands in front of
this rim, and also in advance of the block which closes the chamber. After
firing and opening the chamber, on drawing back the nib with its slide, the
capsule is compelled to come back with it, and it is then thrown out of the
chamber. In putting in a fresh cartridge, the rim at the back of it catches
the nib, so that the act of pushing forward the cartridge into the bore returns
the slide. The slide and parts connected therewith, are shown separately at
Figures 17. In place of drawing back the slide n to throw out the capsule by
a separate movement of the hand, it may be geared with the lid or cover
which closes the chamber, as is shewn in plan at Figure 18, and side view at

page_text: cover.
Figure 19, a rack n' is formed on the slide, and a toothed arc p on the lid or
When a cartridge is put in, the slide n goes so far forward that the
chamber may be shut without the teeth of the arc p touching those of 'the
ráck n', but on firing, the explosion starts the rack back a short distance,
and then, on raising the cover or lever which closes the chamber, the teeth
gear, and the slide is thrown back, bringing the capsule with it.
In the Specification of a Patent granted to me and dated 11th September
1862, No. 2506, there is described a breech-loading fire-arm wherein the
barrels are mounted on a horizontal axis at a short distance in advance of their
breech ends, and are locked in position for firing by a self-acting spring catch
or bolt at the top of the stock and mounted on the tang of the breech piece.
This spring catch or bolt by a thumb-piece is drawn back to free the barrels.
In some cases, however, there is a difficulty in starting the catch or bolt, and
to overcome this difficulty, I, according to the present Invention, joint the
thumb-piece to the catch or bolt to which it is to give motion, in place of
making it rigidly in one piece therewith; and I form on the thumb-piece a
projection which when the catch or bolt is shot rests on a fixed incline, so that
when the thumb-piece is pressed upon, the incline acts with considerable
power to start the catch or bolt; as soon as it is started it may be drawn back
as before by a simple sliding action.
Also in fire-arms in which the barrels turn on a horizontal axis I make the
joint in place of with a separate pin as heretofore, with a pin or axis formed
in one solid piece with the body, by which means I am able to make the parts
lighter without sacrificing strength.
Both these improvements are shown at Figure 20, which shows a plan of
the body or action of a fire-arm of this description. Figure 21 is an under
side view of the same. a is the spring catch, which, as before, works on the
tang of the breech piece; in front at a* it passes through a hole in the tang,
and at the back it slides as is shown in a guide groove on the upper surface
thereof. The catch is thrown forward as before by a spring 6 acting on a
short lever C, which in turn presses on a pin a¹ projecting from the under side
of the catch, and passing through a small slot in the tang. The thumb-piece
d is jointed to the catch at d', and a projection from the thumb-piece at d*
rests when the catch or bolt is shot on an incline at e on the tang; thus it
will be seen that when the thumb-piece is pushed sideways the catch or bolt
is started, and it is then readily drawn back. It is not, however, necessary to
draw the thumb-piece straight back, as sufficient movement can be obtained
by its sideway motion, and consequently I sometimes put in a small screw at f,
entering a slot in the tang to prevent the thumb-piece being drawn back.

page_text: Figure 22 shows in plan, and Fig. 23 in longitudinal section, a slight
modification of the above arrangement; here it will be seen that the thumb-
piece d is connected by a pin or centre d' to the tang, and another pin d'
projects from its under side into a slotted hole in the spring catch a. As
respects the centre or axis g, on which the barrels turn, it will be seen that
it is cut out of the solid metal of which the body is made, and consequently I
am able to make it as large in diameter as the cheeks which support it on
either side, and it then comes actually in contact with the under side of the
barrels; whereas, heretofore, when the axis has been a separate pin screwed
through the cheeks, it was necessarily kept at a distance from the barrels equal
to the thickness required for the cheeks, and this was objectionable, as it kept
the axis so far from the line of strain, and for this and other reasons it rendered
it necessary to make the parts heavier.
In witness whereof, I, the said Westley Richards, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.