IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."-A
communication from abroad by George Henry Earnest, of Spring-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 17th February 1872.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-
ARMS," a communication, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to that class of fire-arms having a laterally
swinging breech block, and in which the charge is ignited by a firing
pin or needle, and the said Invention consists,―

page_text: First. In arranging a swinging breech block, entirely independent of
the lock, whereby the breech may be opened or closed, and the arm
loaded without the necessity of changing the position of or manipu-
lating the hammer or the lock.
Secondly. In constructing the laterally swinging breech block of two
parts, one part of which has a movement independent of the other, both
upon its axis and in the direction of the length of the arm, for the
purpose of closing the junction between the barrel and the breech
block, without moving the entire breech block for that purpose.
Third. In operating the firing pin or needle, so that after having per-
formed its function by the act of firing the charge, it will be instantly
relieved and returned to its place within the breech block before the
latter is again opened, thereby rendering the projection and withdrawal of
the firing pin almost simultaneous with the act of firing, and obviating
the necessity of having to accomplish the return of the pin by the
cocking of the piece.
Fourth. In constructing the firing pin or needle of two separate and
distinct sections or parts, one of which is the needle proper arranged
within the breech block, and has a movement laterally therewith, and
the other is arranged within the stock breech, both being operated
by a sliding plate and separate springs so as not to interfere with the
opening and closing of the breech block.
Fifth. In constructing that portion of the breech block having a com-
pound movement with an annular disc sleeve in connection with a
corresponding recess in the end of the barrel, so as to form a seal to the
junction of the parts when closed.
Sixth. In combining a clamp screw with the stock band for the
purpose of firmly uniting the stock and the barrel together, while the
said screw also serves to hold the band in position.
Seventh. In a peculiar shell retractor operating device, by means of
which the empty shell of the cartridge is automatically retracted after
firing by the breech block in opening the breech, and the retractor may
be automatically returned to its normal position by the closing movement
of the breech block.
It consists also in the construction and arrangement of the several
operating devices of the arm.

page_text: The arm is so constructed that the barrel may be readily removed from
and attached to the stock. Between the breech and the end of the
barrel the breech block is hinged to the stock. The rear part is hinged,
and the front part is provided with a screw stem which screws into
a socket in the rear part. The longitudinal movement of the front section
is effected by turning the stem within and upon the hinged part. In
closing and sealing the breech block its axial movement is arrested when
it is closed against the barrel. In opening the breech block however the
axial movement of the front part is limited by its contact with the rear
part, and for this purpose the front part fits over the adjacent end of the
rear part so as to form an enclosed joint.
The front part is provided with an arm, which serves to operate the
breech block. To open the breech block this arm is turned with the
front part upon its screw stem until it abuts against the hinged part, by
closing up the space at their junction, when the two parts are then
turned together until the breech block is fully opened.
The screw stem extends entirely through the rear part of the block,
and is provided with an axial opening for the reception of the firing pin
or needle, and the front end of the front part has an annular recess in its
end for the reception of a disc, a sleeve from which extends into the said
axial opening and has an interior shoulder which, with a shoulder on the
needle, forms a closed joint within the breech block when the needle is
retracted to prevent the passage of gas and to limit the retracting move-
ment of the needle. This sleeved disc also forms a seal with an annular
recess in the end of the barrel, and thus when the parts are closed
prevents the escape of gas at the junction of the barrel with the breech
block. The shank of the needle is screwed into a stem, and the needle
is retracted by means of a coiled spring.
The needle and its stem occupy the central opening exactly between
the ends of the breech block. The needle or firing pin is operated by
an independent stem fitted within the breech of the stock and extending
within the lock. For operating this independent stem to fire the arm
I use a sliding plate arranged within the lock and hinged to a plate.
The latter receives the action of a pin on the lock tumbler. When the
tumbler is released from the trigger the slide will be projected against the
independent stem, which will in turn carry forward the firing pin or
needle. In this action the tumbler pin escapes to a position where its

page_text: movement is limited by a stop against which the tumbler holds the
tumbler pin. The tumbler pin must be returned to the rear end of the
hinged plate, and for this purpose the latter is so hinged to the slide as
to admit of a lateral movement of the said plate to allow the tumbler
pin to pass against its inner inclined side and press it out while moving
to its rear, the plate being returned to its position in front of the
tumbler pin by a spring.
The independent breech stem has a screw stem to allow its length to
be increased or diminished, to adjust the throw of the needle, and it is
retracted by a spring into a notch in which the spring is fastened, the
said stem when retracted being within the breech.
The barrel is secured to the stock by a band embracing the end of the
stock and the barrel. The screw which secures this band I utilize as a
clamping device by forming a shoulder upon it to come in contact with
the inner side of the said stock band, and by unscrewing this screw
which enters the stock the latter is forced tightly against the barrel.
The head of the screw must pass into the stock to allow the band to
pass over it.
The swinging breech block is arranged entirely independent of the
lock and its mechanism, and the loading of the arm is effected without
having first to change the position of or manipulate the hammer or
the lock.
From the rear part of the breech block an arm extends forward over
the front part, and in its forward end is hinged another arm, which
extends downwards and terminates in an inclined slot, into which a
headed pin extends and has a free movement. This pin is formed on
the end of a third arm extending from a segmental piece pivoted to the
stock iron. A recess is formed in the same for the reception of a spring
catch with a plate, from which extends a spring, the tendency of the
spring being to force the plate inwardly against the stock iron. On the
said plate is formed a pin. A slot is formed in the stock iron corre-
sponding with a groove in the outside of the barrel in which the
retracting pin moves freely in a line parallel with the barrel. This
retracting pin extends at its rear end and lies against the flange of the
cartridge and flush with the end of the barrel. It is provided with a
Below the slot is a
pin which extends through the aforesaid slot.
curved groove, the forward end of which is deeper than its rear end,

page_text: forming an inclined plane on which the pin of the spring catch
moves.
This improved breech-loading fire-arm is adapted for use with paper
as well as with metallic cartridges. If used with paper cartridges the
shell retracting device may be omitted.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th August 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent bearing date the Seventeenth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake,
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 BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," a communication to me
from abroad by George Henry Earnest, of Springfield, Ohio, United
States of America, Mechanic, upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said William Robert Lake, 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 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing forming a part of this Specification :—
This Invention relates to that class of fire-arms having a laterally
swinging breech block, and in which the charge is ignited by a firing
pin or needle, and the said Invention consists-
First. In arranging a swinging breech block entirely independent of
the lock, whereby the breech may be opened or closed, and the arm
loaded without the necessity of changing the position of or manipulating
the hammer or the lock.
Second. In constructing the laterally swinging breech block of two
parts, one part of which has a movement independent of the other, both
upon its axis and in the direction of the length of the arm for the
purpose of closing the junction between the barrel and the breech block,
without moving the entire breech block for that purpose.
Third. In operating the firing pin or needle, so that after having per-
formed its function by the act of firing the charge, it will be instantly
relieved and returned to its place within the breech block before the
latter is again opened, thereby rendering the projection and withdrawal
of the firing pin almost simultaneous with the act of firing, and
obviating the necessity of having to accomplish the return of the pin
by the cocking of the piece.
Fourth. In constructing the firing pin or needle of two separate and
distinct sections or parts, one of which the needle proper is arranged
within the breech block, and has a movement laterally therewith, and
the other is arranged within the stock breech, both being operated by a
sliding plate and separate springs so as not to interfere with the opening
and closing of the breech block.
Fifth. In constructing that portion of the breech block having a
compound movement with an annular disc sleeve in connection with a
corresponding recess in the end of the barrel, so as to form a seal to the
junction of the parts when closed.
Sixth. In combining a clamp screw with the stock band for the

page_text: purpose of firmly uniting the stock and the barrel, while the said
screw also serves to hold the band in position.
Seventh. In a peculiar shell retractor operating device, by means of
which the empty shell of the cartridge is automatically retracted after
firing by the breech block in opening the breech, and the retractor may
be automatically returned to its normal position by the closing move-
ment of the breech block.
Also in the construction and arrangement of the several operating
Figure 4 represents an elevation of the said fire-arm on the side
opposite to that shown in Figures 1 and 2, the breech block being
closed.
Figure 5 represents a plan or top view of the said fire-arm with the
breech block open.
Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 represent detached per-
spective and sectional views of parts of the said fire-arm.
The arm represented in the Drawing is so constructed that the barrel A
may be readily removed from and attached to the stock B, as herein-after
described. Between the breech and the end of the barrel the breech
block is interposed. It is so hinged to the stock as to be opened and closed
by a lateral movement, and when so opened it will be clear of the barrel
for the insertion of the cartridge. It is composed of two parts or
sections. The rear part C which is hinged at a, and the front part D
which is provided with a screw stem D¹ to screw into a socket C' in the
rear part C, as shown in Figure 6; by this screw stem D¹ the part D is

page_text: carried and allowed to have an axial movement in opening and closing
the breech block for the purpose of withdrawing the front section from
the end of the barrel and pushing it up to the same in closing the said
breech block. The longitudinal movement of the front section D is
effected by turning the stem D' within and upon the hinged part C; the
axial movement of the part D need only be sufficient to clear the breech
block from its sealed position with the end of the barrel, and in this
independent movement it effects another important advantage by com-
pensating for the expansion and contraction of the barrel and the breech
block, as in closing and sealing the breech block its axial movement is
arrested when it is forced against the barrel. In opening the breech
block however, the axial movement of the front part D is limited by its
contact with the rear part C, and for this purpose the front part fits over
the adjacent end of the rear part so as to form an enclosed joint D², as
shewn in Figure 2, and allow one part to move over the other sufficiently
to seal and unseal it with the barrel, and to lock the two parts to effect
the opening of the breech block.
The part D is provided with an arm E which serves to operate the
breech block. To open the breech block the arm E is turned with the
front part D upon its screw stem D¹ until it abuts against the hinged
part by closing up the space at their junction at D³, the two parts
are then turned together until the breech block rests against the side of
the stock, in which position it is fully opened. The stock B is of course
made to receive the breech block so that the axis of the two parts will
be coincident with the axis of the firing pin or needle and the barrel.
The screw stem D¹ extends entirely through the part C, and is pro-
vided with an axial opening E', Figures 2 and 6, for the reception of the
firing pin or needle, and the front end of the part D has an annular
recess F in its end for the reception of a disc G; a sleeve G' from this
disc extends into the said axial opening, and has an interior shoulder H',
Figure 2, which acts in connection with a shoulder I', Figure 3, on the
needle J¹ to form a closed joint within the breech block when the needle
is retracted to prevent the passage of gas into the said opening, and to
limit the retracting movement of the needle. This sleeved disc G also
projects from the face of the said part D for the purpose of entering and
forming a seal with an annular recess in the end of the barrel, and thus
when the parts are closed to prevent the escape of gas at the junction of
the barrel with the breech block, as shown in Figure 2. The shank of

page_text: the needle J¹ is screwed into a stem J2 for the purpose of securing the
needle to its stem from opposite sides of the breech block, and the
needle is rétracted by means of a coiled spring L, Figure 2, placed over
its stem J' between the end of the sleeve G' of the sealing disc G, and a
shoulder on the said needle stem J.
The needle and its stem occupy the central opening exactly between
the ends of the breech block to allow the latter to be opened and closed
with the breech. The needle or firing pin J¹ is operated by an in-
dependent stem M' fitted within the breech of the stock B and extending
within the lock. The means for operating this independent stem to fire
the arm consist of a sliding plate I arranged within the lock and hinged
to a plate J. This sliding plate I moves between ways N, fixed to the
inner side of the lock plate, the said plate J being so situated as to
receive the action of a pin P on the lock tumbler K, Figures 1, 2, and
15. This plate J is provided with a projection I', which when the parts
are in position to project the needle will be between the pin P of the
tumbler and the inner end of the independent stem M¹, so that when
the tumbler K is released from the trigger L' the slide I will be projected
against the independent stem M', which will in turn carry forward the
firing pin or needle. In this action the tumbler pin P after having
thrown the plate forward passes it and escapes to a position just below
it; its movement is then limited by a stop Q in the lock, against which
the end of a slot R in the tumbler K strikes, and thus holds the said
tumbler pin P in a position to pass between the sliding plate I and the
tumbler in order to bring it again in the rear of said plate.
Simultaneously with the escape of the tumbler pin P from the hinged
plate J the latter with the stem M' is instantly returned to its former
position, so that the act of projecting the firing pin J' thereby instantly
affords the means for effecting its retraction, the one being almost
simultaneous with the other. In this action it will be observed that
the tumbler pin P must be returned to the rear end of the hinged plate J,
and for this purpose the latter is hinged to the slide I, as shewn in
Figure 15, to permit a lateral movement of the said plate J to allow the
tumbler pin P to pass against its inner inclined side 1, Figure 15, and
press it out while moving to its rear, the plate J being returned to its
position in front of the tumbler pin P by a spring S which presses
against the lock plate.

page_text: The independent breech stem M' has a screw stem M² to allow its
length to be increased or diminished to adjust the throw of the needle,
and it is retracted by a spring T pressing against the head of the screw
section M² into a notch u, Figure 3, in which the spring is fastened to
hold the part M³ when set, the said stem when retracted being within
the breech H. The tumbler K is locked with and released from the
trigger L' in the usual manner, and is operated to project the firing pin
or needle J' by a main spring M, as shewn in the Drawing or in any
other approved manner.
The barrel is secured to the stock by means of the band F embracing
the end of the stock and the barrel. The screw W which secures this
band F, I utilize as a clamping device, by forming a shoulder X upon it
to come in contact with the inner side of the said stock band F, and
by unscrewing the screw W which enters the stock force the latter
tightly against the barrel and hold them firmly together, as shewn in
Figures 2 and 9. In this case the head of the screw must pass into the
stock to allow the band to pass over it so as to bring the hole therein
opposite the head of the screw to bring its shoulder X against the band.
It will be observed that the swinging breech block is arranged entirely
free and independent of the lock, and its mechanism and the loading of
the arm is effected without having first to change the position of or
manipulate the hammer or the lock. And this advantage is obtained
whether the swinging breech is hinged at the side or at the rear by
means of the independent firing pin J', J³, operated by the independent
breech stem M'.
From the part C of the breech block, just above the hinge a an arm c
extends forward over the part D to within a very short distance of the
rear end of the barrel A, and in its forward end is hinged an arm f,
which extends downward at right angles to the arm c and terminates in
an inclined slot g, into which a headed pin i extends and has a free
movement. This pin i is formed on the end of an arm h extending
rearwardly and upwardly from a segmental piece ; pivoted to the stock
iron at k, as shewn in Figure 1. A view of the inner side of this
segmental piece ; is shewn in Figure 12, and a recess is formed in the
same for the reception of the spring catch, shewn in Figure 11. This
spring catch consists of a plate m from which extends a spring n, the
tendency of the spring n being to force the plate m inwardly against the

page_text: stock iron. On the plate m is formed a pin m¹ having an inclined face,
as clearly shewn in the Drawing. That part of the face of the stock
iron against which this segmental piecej is pivoted is shewn in Figure 13.
A slot P is formed in it corresponding with a groove in the outside of the
rear end of the barrel, in which the retracting pin » moves freely in a
line parallel with the barrel. This retracting pin extends at its rear end
sufficiently over the thickness at the rear of the barrel to lie against the
flange of the cartridge and flush with the end of the barrel. It is
provided with a pin which extends outwardly through the slot p
against a shoulder m³ of the plate m when the latter is in its recess in
the segmental piece j. Below the slot p is a curved groove 8, Figure 13,
the forward end of this groove is deeper than its rear end, forming an
inclined plane on which the pin m¹ on the plate m moves when the
piece j is swung on its pivot k.
The operation of this improved retracting device is as follows:-The
rear part C of the breech block remains immovable until the forward
part, by means of its lever E, has been turned firmly against it, when
both parts begin to move on the hinge a. As the rear part of the breech
block moves out of the breech the hinged arm f is depressed, but by
reason of its inclined slot g it does not operate the segmental piece j
until the pin i has reached the extreme rear end of the slot; the latter
is so arranged that the pin i reaches its rear end only at the moment
when the combined breech block has moved clear out of the breech so as
to allow a free rearward movement of the empty metallic cartridge shell.
From that moment the slotted arm operates the segmental piece j,
turning it upon its pivot by depressing the pin i. When the segmental
piece commences to turn on its pivot, the shoulder m² on the plate m
forces the pin ¹ rearwardly, until the pin m³ moving on the incline of
the groove & forces the plate m against the tendency of the spring n over
and out of contact with said pin r¹, leaving the retractor r entirely free
to be pushed back. The rearward motion of this pin r¹ and its re-
tractor has forced the cartridge shell out of the rear of the barrel,
and at the same time the opening movement of the breech block
has been completed. The flange of the new cartridge bears, while being
inserted in the rear of the barrel, against the rear end of the retractor ",
and the act of pushing the cartridge into its seat also returns the
retractor to its first position, the pin r¹ being free to move in its slot, as
it is entirely out of contact with the plate m. In closing the breech the

page_text: through the arm c, slotted arm f, g, and pin i, on the segmental piece j,
essentially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of August, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.
Witness,
CHAS. J. GOOCH.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)