IMPROVEMENTS IN REPEATING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gustav Adolph Blittkowski, of the City of New
York, United States of America, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REPEATING FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 24th June 1856, and dated the 21st January 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Gustav Adolph Blittkowski
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st January 1856.
I, GUSTAV ADOLPH BLITTKOWSKI, of the City of New York, United States of
America, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN REPEATING FIRE-ARMS, to be as follows:-
My improvement in repeating fire-arms consists mainly in the following
particulars; namely, in the method of working the revolving cylinder or
breech chamber, whereby the cartridge is deposited and rammed, the caps
applied, and the charge conveyed to the gun barrel by the act of cocking;
and in the peculiar arrangement of the lock, whereby the several recipro-
cating and rotating motions of the breech chamber, together with the
operation of priming and firing are produced. The breech chamber has two
movements, one rotating upon an axis, and the other vibratory in the direction
of the said axis. The cavities in the breech chamber are bored out as usual,
the nipples however being placed on the back and in a line with the bore.

page_text: On the front of the breech chamber there is likewise around each cavity a
bevelled projection, which will fit within a bevelled cavity of like character
at the base of the barrel. In order, therefore, to be able to turn the breech,
it must first be drawn back sufficiently to allow this projection to clear. The
return movement is made use of to ram home the amunition which has in
the meantime been deposited from the magazine.. Thus--this vibratory motion
of the breech enables me to effect the locking of the same to prevent rotation;
it forms a very close and secure joint where it joins the barrel, and it effects
the feeding and ramming of the load: At A is the breech chamber, supported
upon a shaft lying parallel to the barrel and between two strong circular plates
framed together. The shaft extends quite through both of these plates, being
prolonged in the back part, so as to enter the lock, where vibratory and rotatory
motions are given to effect the several charges for loading and firing. On the
outside of the plate B, there are two nozzles, one placed directly over the
other. The larger of these is at the top, as shewn at B', and is where
the barrel is screwed on, the lower nozzle is for securing the magazine tube C.
In the breech there are six charge chambers; thus, when a chamber is opposite
to the barrel, there will also always be one opposite to the magazine tube, as
in the sectional view Eig...IV. The charges drop into these chambers from
the magazine by gravity, the muzzle of the gun being elevated after each fire
sufficiently high for the purpose, as the cartridge fits the chamber snugly by
reason of a slight taper, it will require force to send it quite home. This is
accomplished as follows: In bringing the hammer of the lock to "half
cock," the breech. A is drawn back, so that the bevelled mouths a, before
mentioned, will stand clear of the plate B, and also- clear of the bevelled
concavity on the inside of the nozzle B.
Carrying the hammer on to full cock
first, it rotates the breech one chamber
completed, the second one, vizt; in the direction of the axis,"
returns the barrel back to its general place against the plate B, whereby
a enters the recess in the nozzle. Through the plate B is a blunt pin b
screwed; so as to render it capable of adjustment: This is placed one step
forward, and in such position as to point directly into one of the chambers
whenever there is one opposite to the barrel and mouth of the magazine.
Thus, by pulling the hammer of the lock to half cock," the breech
will be drawn back from the position shewn in Fig. IV. to that shewn
in Fig. VII, continuing to draw back the hammer, the breech will begin
to rotate and transfer the cartridge c, Fig TV to the position c, Figure VII,
when it will stand opposite to the point of the pin b; the hammer
The breech is thus free to revolve.
effects the two following motions:
onward, and when that motion is
takes place, which
still

page_text: moving back, so soon as the rotary motion ceases, it thrusts forward the
breech toward the plate B, when the pin 6 enters the cavity and drives
home the cartridge to the position shewn at c", Figure IV. Thus there are
always four charges in the breech, viz., one just sent in from the magazine
as at c, Fig. IV., one in the act of being rammed by the pin b, one in the
chamber opposite the barrel as at c, Fig. IV., and one in a chamber between
the pin and c"; as the charges fall from the magazine by gravity into the
chamber of the breech, some means must be used to prevent them moving on
when the breech is withdrawn preparatory to rotating it. At d, Figures
I. and IV., is a stop passing through the magazine tube, and having a spring
outside tending always to withdraw it. A knob on the unattached end of this
spring presses against the shaft of the breech where there is another knob d'.
When the breech is locked up against the plate B, the knob on the spring
presses up into the cavity behind the knob d, and thus the stop & will be
partially withdrawn, and cartridges in the tube will be permitted to slide
along. When the breech is drawn back, then the large part of the knob d
presses against the spring and forces the stop in, so as to punch up the
cartridge and keep it back during rotation, and until an empty chamber is
brought round and the breech returned to its forward position. In the
partition which separates the breech from the lock is situated the cap box.
This is a bent tube, shewn in the sectional view.at e, Fig. V., terminating at
the bottom directly opposite the nipple, which will be in place when a chamber
is opposite the magazine, and as shewn at e' in the several figures, at which
place there is a hole through the back of the box and likewise one through
cach plate of the partition for allowing the cap to be thrust through. On the
inside the box has a slot, in which the end of a spring follower el plays to
force down the caps, as shewn in Figure V.. at f. Figures IV. and VII. is a
rod worked from the tumbler shaft which vibrates back and forth through the
inner partition plate, bottom of the cap box, and outer partitions. This
pushes out the caps.and deposits. them in succession upon the nipples, as will
be described. In exploding the cap, the hammer does not strike directly upon
it, but through the medium of a strong rod placed horizontally, and situated
as shewn at 9. One end, it will be seen, is opposite to the nipple, upon that
chamber which is ithen intorlocked with the barrel, as in Figure IV., a.spiral
spring galways withdrawing the rod after each blow of the hammer upon it.
he lock will now be described. As before mentioned, all the movements of
the breech necessary for loading and priming, are accomplished by the act of
cocking; this cócking is effected by means of a lever or toe attached.to.one
end of the tumbler shaft and upon the outside of the lock plate, as represented

page_text: at D, Figures I. and II., D' being the tumbler shaft. Upon this shaft are the
several devices for withdrawing, rotating, advancing, and securing the breech,
driving the caps upon their nipples, and exploding the same.
When the
breech is in position for firing, it must be firmly locked, so as to prevent
motion in either direction. The rotating is prevented by the fitting of the
bevel a in the socket in the nozzle B', and to prevent the recoil two guards
are provided. To the axis A' a slide his attached by a curved arm h',
terminating in an eye immediately behind the toothed head for rotating. The
sliding of h back and forth (therefore) produces a like movement in the breech.
On the top of the slide at h" there is a recess cut, as seen in Figures III.
and VI., into which the end of a strong bar or plate. i fits. This plate plays
in a dovetail, fixed to the inside of one of the lock plates, and it has further a
toe attached, by which it is raised out of the recess h¹.. At k is a right
angled lever or bell crank, one arm of which presses against the front end of
the slide, while the other k¹, extends out under the toe .. To work this part
there is on the shaft D¹ a three-armed tumbler o, Figures II., III., and VI.,
fitted loosely by a square eye, so that it will be compelled to rotate, but may
have lateral play; this is placed just upon the shaft and towards that side of
the lock plate which has the slide k attached, as seen in Figure II., and a
spiral spring shown only in that Figure keeps it pressing towards that plate.
In pulling the toe D, Figure I., back, the point o¹ of this tumbler strikes the
under side of ke, Figure III., and raises it, together with the bar i, by means of
its toe , out of the notch h¹. At this moment the other arm k strikes
against the end of the slide h and moves it along, this drawing back the breech
by its shaft A'; and as in Figures VI. and VII., as the lever D.is continued
to be pulled back, the projection o of the tumbler will approach the opposite
end of the slide k, when the point o' has passed over and got clear of k', the
point will push the breech back to its first position by its action on the slide,
and the locking bar i must now come back into the notch h. This is
accomplished by the point o¹ striking a lever l, as seen in Figure III. at the
red line. The opposite end of this lever striking upon i forces down i, and
locks the slide. When this is accomplished the piece is at full cock. The
slide his then held firmly in place by the bar i as well as by the point o, and
the bar i is prevented from rising by the position of the point o'. In the ac
of firing both of these are released, but another point o¹¹ comes immediately
under l, as shewn in Figure III., and too soon to allow of any derangemen
or shifting of the plate, for which indeed there is no tendency, as at thi
moment the gun would be raised into position for firing, and the plate would
keep in place by its gravity.

page_text: As a part of the performance of the above described. motions, the breech
must also be rotated. On the end of the shaft A', is a head p, having a series
of teeth projecting, the said teeth being of the same number as the charge
chambers. The parts for actuating, this are shewn in the Figures II.,.IV.,
and VII.. At mis an arm extending from the side of the regular tumbler of a
lock into which the "sear" takes. This is shaped so as to sweep past the
teeth p¹ in such a manner as to engage and turn the breech, but this inter-
ference will not take place until the breech has been drawn back, as may be
seen by Figures II. and IV. Thus, although m moves at the same time with
the cam o, yet the point stands so far out of the way that it does not arrive
at the proper point to engage the pins until the action already described for
drawing back the breech has taken place, and which will be at "half cock;"
m will then be in the position seen in Figure VII., ready to act upon the
teeth. Here it will be seen that the curve shown by the dotted lines allows
the point of m to escape from the tooth when it reaches the position p¹ of
Fig. VII., and this is the distance required for transferring the breech
chamber from point to point in the performance already described for loading,
ramming, &e:
The punch f, for applying the caps, is connected to an arm f', affixed also
to the tumbler shaft. The point of this is so far, withdrawn at the com-
mencement of the cocking that it does not arrive at the cap box until-the
breech has been turned by the action of m at the moment the nipple'e¹,
Figure VII., stands close to the hole where the caps are pushed through.
At this moment the punch farrives, and thrusts out the cap by pushing
against its head; just then, however, the brecch begins to recede, but the
punch travels after it with greater speed, pushing the cap completely upon the
nipple by the time the breech has been locked back in place, the point being,
as seen in red line at e', Fig. IV. The hammer or cock is at s, and placed
upon the tumbler shaft in such position as to be in range of the end of the
punch g, against which it strikes in order to explode the cap. In Figure IV..
it is shewn after the blow has been given, and the position is also shewn in.
the red line s¹ when at full cock. At t is the main spring connected with.
the tumbler by a stirrup as usual; at u is the "sear" with trigger.
The operation is as follows:-The magazine being supplied with fixed
ammunition, I prepare for depositing a charge by raising the muzzle until the
cartridges descend, one of which will then drop partly into a cavity of the
breech as at c, Fig. 1V. The toe D must then be pulled back until the gun
is full cocked. This produces the set of motions already described, viz., first
withdrawing the breech until the bevel a is clear of the cavity in the nozzle,

page_text: pressing down the pin d to keep back the rest of the cartridges, rotating the
breech one-sixth of a revolution, and thereby transferring the chamber,c to
the place of e, Fig. VII., and so that it will be opposite to the rammer b, also
applying the "cap to the nipple: of the empty chamber brought 'opposite the
magazine, and finally the return of the breech to its first position, and the
ramming of the cartridge c, by that last-named "action. As the chamber.
opposite to the barrel is the fourth from that opposite to the magazine, the
cock must be let down and raised that number of. times in the first instance
in order to work the charges round. The top charge may then be fired as
usual. It has not been stated how the point o' and the. arm m avoid.
interference on their return with the pieces they respectively operate upon,
and which are to receive action only in one direction.. It was stated that the
point of might move laterally upon the tumbler shaft, although it must rotate
with it, the spiral spring, Fig. I., keeping it always directed towards the lock
plate. It will be seen that the point of. is bevilled off; therefore in firing,
as the point o' strikes upon the bevil, it presses the piece along the shaft
against the spring, and simply operates as a latch taking hold on the under
side on the return movement. In respect to m, as the breech is at the time of
its return locked forward, the pins p¹ are entirely out of reach, as clearly seen
in Fig. IV. When the trigger is drawn to fire, the hammer strikes a powerful
blow upon the pin g, driving it forward upon the cap and exploding it. To
strip the old-shells from the nipples a small scraper x. (Figures. I. and H.) is
placed upon the inner partition plate, in such position as to interfere with
them on the revolution of the breech, scraping off the exploded caps by, the
forward movement of-A. The -gun thus operating, may by a slight change of
the construction of the end of the hammers and of the punch g, be converted
into a needle gun. The end of the haminer for this purpose has a dovetail,
as seen in Figures IX. and X., and the end of g. in contact with the hammer.
has a catch which takes into that dovetail, so that the punch will, by the act
of cocking the gun, be withdrawn to a suitable distance when the catch rides
out of the dovetail, and the hammer. goes on to "full cock." In this arrange-
ment a needle is placed on the forward end of the punch g, and the nipples
and capping apparatus are dispensed with.
'

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Gustav Adolph Blittkowski in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 21st July 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GUSTAV
ADOLPH BLITTKOWSKI, of, the City of New York, United States of America,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent bearing date the Twenty-first day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give. and' grant unto
me, the said Gustav Adolphe Blittkowski, Her special licence that I, the said
Gustav Adolph Blittkowski, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Gustav Adolph Blittkowski, 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 niake, 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 REPEATING FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Gustav Adolph Blittkowski, my executors or adnii-
nistrators, 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., "
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said.Gustav. Adolph Blittkowski, rdo hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner thei same, is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in iand by the
following statement: thereof, reference being had tos the-Drawings hert unto
annexed, that is to say:
My improvement in repeating fire-arms consists mainly in- the following
particulars, viz. In the method of working the revolving cylinder or breech
chamber, whereby the cartridge is deposited, rammed, the caps' supplied; the
charge conveyed to the gun barrel by the act of cocking, and in the peculiar,
arrangement of the lock, whereby the several reciprocating and rotating
motions of the breech chamber, together with the operation of priming and
firing, are produced. The breech chamber has two 'movements, one rotating
upon an axis, and the other vibratory in the directions of said axis. The
cavities in the breech chamber are bored out as usual, the nipples, however,

page_text: being placed on the back and in a line with the bore. On the front of the
breech chamber there is likewise around each cavity a bevelled projection
which will fit within a bevelled cavity of like character at the base of the
barrel. In order, therefore, to be able to turn the breech, it must first be
drawn back sufficiently to allow this projection to clear. The return move-
ment is made use of. to ram home the ammunition, which has in the mean
time been deposited from the magazine; thus this vibratory motion of the
breech enables me to effect the locking of the same to prevent rotation, it
forms a very close and secure joint where it joins the barrel, and it effects the
feeding and the ramming of. the load.
At A is the breech chamber, supported upon a shaft lying parallel to the
barrel, and between two strong circular plates framed together. The shaft
extends quite through both of these plates, being prolonged in the back part
so as to enter the lock where the vibratory and rotatory motions are given to
effect the several changes for loading and firing. On the outside of the plate
B there are two nozzles, one placed directly over the other. The larger of
these is at the top, as shown at B, and is where the barrel is screwed on;
the lower nozzle is for securing the magazine tube C. In the breech there
are six charge chambers; thus, when a chamber is opposite to the barrel
there will also always, be one opposite to the magazine tube, as in the sectional
view, Fig. IV. The charges drop into these chambers from the magazine by
gravity, the muzzle of the gun being elevated after each fire sufficiently high
for the purpose; as the cartridge fits the chamber snugly by reason of a slight
taper, it will require some force to send it quite home. This is accomplished
as follows: In bringing the hammer of the lock to "half-cock," the breech
A is drawn back, so that the bevelled mouths (a), before mentioned, will stand
clear of the plate B, and also clear of the bevelled concavity on the inside of
the nozzle B¹. The breech is then free to revolve. Carrying the hammer on
to "full cock" effects the two following motions: first, it rotates the breech
one chamber onward, and when that motion. is completed, the second one,
viz., in the direction of the axis, takes place, which returns the breech back
to its general place against the plate B, whereby (a) enters the concave in
the nozzle. Through the plate B there is blunt pin (b) screwed so as to
render it capable of adjustment. This is placed one step forward, and in
such position as to point directly into one of the chambers whenever there is
one opposite to the barrel and mouth of the magazine. Thus, by pulling the
hammer of the lock to "half-cock," the breech will be drawn back from
the position shown in Fig. IV. to that shown in Fig. VII. Continuing to
draw back the hammer, the breech will begin to rotate and transfer the

page_text: cartridge (c). Fig. IV., to the position (c), Fig. VII., when it will stand
opposite to the point of the pin (b). The hammer still moving back, so soon
as the rotatory motion ceases, it thrusts forward the breech towards the plate
B, when the pin (6) enters the cavity. and drives home the cartridge to the
position shown at (c"), Fig. IV. Thus there are always four charges in
the breech, viz., one just sent in from the magazine as at (c), Fig. IV., one
in the act of being rammed by the pin (b), one in the chamber.opposite the
barrel, as at (c), Fig. IV., and one in a chamber between the pin (b) and
(c). As the charges fall from the magazine by gravity into the chamber of
the breech some means must be used to prevent them moving on when the
breech is withdrawn preparatory to rotating it. At (d), Figs. I. and IV., is
a stop passing through the magazine tube, and having a spring outside tending.
always to withdraw it. A knob on the unattached end of this spring presses
against the shaft of the breech where there is another knob (d¹). When the
breech is locked up against the plate B, the knob or the spring presses up
into the cavity behind the knob (d'), and thus the stop (d) will be partially..
withdrawn, and cartridges in the tube will be permitted to slide along.
When the breech is drawn back, then the large part of the knob (d) presses
against the spring, and forces the stop in so as to pinch upon the cartridge
and keep it back during rotation, and until an empty chamber is brought
round, and the breech returned to its former position. In the partition which
separates the breech from the lock is situated the cap box. This is a bent
tube shown in the sectional view at (e), Fig. V., terminating at the bottom
directly opposite that nipple which will be in place when a chamber is
opposite the magazine, and as shown at (e¹) in the several Figures, at which
place there is a hole through the back of the box, and likewise one through
each plate of the partitions for allowing the cap to be thrust through. On
the inside of the box it has a.slot, in which the end of a spring follower (e")
plays to force down the caps, as shown in Fig. V. At (f), Figs. IV. and
VII., is a rod worked from the tumbler shaft, which vibrates back and forth
through the inner partition plate, the bottom of the cap box, and the outer
partition. This pushes out the caps and deposits them in succession upon
the nipples, as will be described. In exploding the cap the hammer does not
strike directly upon it, but through the medium of a strong rod placed
horizontally, and situated as shown at (g). One end, it will be seen, is
opposite to the nipple upon that chamber, which is then interlocked with the
barrel, as in Fig. IV., a spiral spring (g) always withdrawing the rod after
each blow of the hammer upon it. The lock will now be described. As
before mentioned, all the movements. of the breech necessary for loading and

page_text: priming are accomplished. by the act of cocking. This, cocking is effected by
means of a lever.or.toe attached. to one end of the tumbler shaft, and upon
the outside.of.the lock: plate,. as represented at D, Figs. I and II, D being.
the tumbler shaft. Upon this shaft are: the several devices for withdrawing,
rotating, advancing, and securing. the breech, driving the caps upon their
nipples, and exploding the same. When the breech is in position for firing, it
must be firmly locked, so as to prevent motion in either direction. The
rotary is prevented by the fitting, of the bevel (a) of the socket into the
nozzle B. And to prevent the recoil, two guards are provided. To the axis
A: a slide (h) is attached. by a curved arm (h), terminating in an eye
immediately.back of the toothed head for rotating. The sliding of (h). there:
fore back and forth produces a like movement in the breech. On the top of
the slide at (h) there is a recess, cut, as seen in Figs. III..and VI., into
which the end of a strong bar. or plate ().fits: This plate plays in a dovetail
fixed to the inside of one of the Jock plates; and it has further atoe (2)
attached, by which it is raised out.of the recess (h).. At (k) is a right
angled lever or, bell crank, one arm of which presses against the front end of
the slide, while the other() extends. out under the toe (¹). To work this
part there is on the shaft Da three-armed.tumbler (o), Figs. II., III., and
VI., fitted loosely by a square. eye, so that it will be compelled to rotate, but
may have lateral..play; this. is placed first upon the shaft and toward that
side of the lock plate which has the: slide (h) attached, as seen in Fig. II.,
and a spiral spring, shown only in. that Figure, keeps it pressing toward that
plate. In pulling the toe D, Fig. I, back, the point (o¹) of this tumbler
strikes the under side of (k), Fig. III., and.raises it, together with.the.bar (i),
by means of: its toe (¹), out of the notch. (h"), at this. noment.the other.arm
(k) slides against the end of the slide (h) and moves it along, thus..drawing
back the breech by its shaft A', and, as in Eigs. VI. and VII. As tlie :lever
Discontinued to be pulled back, the projection (0) of the tumbler will
approach, the opposite end of the slide (k): When the point (o)shas.passed
over, and got clear of (k), the point (o) will push the breech back to its first
position by its action..on the slide; and the locking bar (i) must now.come
back into..the notch (h). This is accomplished by the point (o) striking
alexer (); as seen in Fig. II. at the dotted line. The opposite end of this
lever striking upon (i). forces down (2), and locks the slide... When this is
accomplished the piece is. at full-cock... .The.slide (h) is,then held firmly, in
lace by the bar:(i),.as.well as. by the point (0), and the bar, (i) is prevented
from rising by the position of the point (o). In the act! of firing, both of
these are released, but, another point. (o)..comes immediately.under (l),.as

page_text: shewn in Fig. III., and too soon to allow of any derangement or, shifting of
the plate, for which indeed there is no tendency, as at this moment the gun
would be raised, into position for firing, and the plate would keep in place by
its gravity. As a part of the performance of the above described motion, the
breech must also be rotated. On the end of the shaft A' is a head (p).
having a series of teeth projecting, said teeth being of the same number as
the charge chambers. The parts for actuating this are shown in the Figs. II.,
IV., and VII. At (m) is an arm extending from the side of the regular
tumbler of a lock into which the "sear" takes. This is shaped so as to sweep
past the teeth (p') in such manner as to engage and turn the breech, but this
interference will not take place until the breech has been drawn back, as may
be seen by Figs. II. and IV. Thus, although (m) moves at the same tinie
with the cam (0), yet the point stands so far out. of the way that it does not
arrive at the proper point to engage the pius until the action already described
for drawing back: the breech has taken place, and which will be at "half-cock,"
(m) will then be in the position 'seen in Fig. VII., ready to act upon the teeth.
Here it will be seen that the curve shown by the dotted lines.allows. the
point of (m) to escape from the tooth when it reaches.the position (p) of Fig.
VII., and this is the distance required for transferring the breech chamber from
point to point in the performance already described for loading, ramming, &c.
The punch (f), for applying the caps, is connected to an arm (f), affixed
also to the tumbler shaft. The point of this is so far withdrawn at the com-
mencement of the cocking that it does not arrive at the cap box until the
breech has been turned by the action of (m); at the moment the nipple (e'),
Fig. VII., stands close to the hole, where the caps, are pushed through. At
this moment the punch (f) arrives, and thrusts out the cap by pushing against
its head; just then, however, the breech begins to recede, but the punch
travels after it with greater speed, pushing the cap completely upon the nipple
by the time the breech has been locked, back, in place, the point, being as seen
in dotted line at (e¹), Fig. IV. The hammer or cock is at (s), and placed
upon the tumbler. shaft, in such, position as to be in range of the end of the
punch (9), against which it strikes, in order to explode the cap. In Fig. 1V.,
it is shown after the blow has been given, and this position, is also shown in
the red line (s), when at full cock. At,(t), is the main spring connected with
the tumbler by a stirrup, as usual;,at. (u), is the sear, with trigger.
The operation is as follows:-The magazine being supplied with fixed
ammunition, we prepare for depositing a charge by raising the muzzle until
the cartridges descend, one of which will then drop partly into a cavity of the
breech, as at (c), Fig. IV. The toe D must then be pulled back until the

page_text: gun is full cocked. This produces the set of motions already described, viz.,
first withdrawing the breech until the bevel (a) is clear of the cavity in the
nozzle, pressing down the pin (d) to keep back the rest, of the cartridges,
rotating the breech one-sixth of a revolution, and thereby transferring the
chamber (c) to the place of (c¹), Fig. VII., and so that it will be opposite to
the rammer (b), also applying the cap to the nipple of the empty chamber
brought opposite the magazine, and finally the return of the breech to its first
position, and the ramming of the cartridge (c) by that last-named' action. As
the chamber opposite to the barrel is the fourth from that opposite to the
magazine, the cock must be let down and raised that number of times, in the
first instance, in order to work the charge round. The top charge may then
be fired as usual. It has not been stated how the point (o') and the arm (m)
avoid interference. on their return with the pieces they respectively operate
upon, and which are to receive action only in one direction. It was stated
that the piece (0¹) might move laterally upon the tumbler shaft, although it
must rotate with it, the spiral spring, Fig. II., keeping it always directed
toward the lock plate. It will be seen that the point of (¹) is bevelled off;
therefore, in firing, as the point (o') strikes upon the bevel, it presses the piece
along the shaft against the spring, and simply operates as a latch, taking hold
on the under side on the return movement. In respect to (m), as the breech
is at the time of its return locked forward, the pins (p') are entirely out of
reach, as clearly seen in Fig. IV. When the trigger is drawn to fire, the
hämmer strikes a powerful blow upon the pin (9), driving it forward upon the
cap, and exploding it. To strip the old shells from the nipples, a small
scraper (a), Figs. I. and II., is placed upon the inner partition plate in such
position as to interfere with them en the revolution of the breech scraping off
the exploded caps by its forward movements. The gun thus operating may;
by a slight change of the construction of the end of the hammer (s) and of the
punch (9), be converted into a needle gun. The end of the hammer for this
purpose has a dovetail, as seen in Figs. IX. and X., and the end of (9), in
contact with the hammer, has a catch which takes into that dovetail, so that
the punch will, by the act of cocking the gun, be withdrawn to a suitable
distance, at which time the catch rides out of the dovetail, and the hammer
goes on to "full cock." In this arrangement a needle is placed on the forward
end of the punch (9), and the nipples and capping apparatus are of course dis-
pensed with, inasmuch as the ammunition will then be prepared as is usual for
needle guns.
I claim, firstly, ramming the cartridge by means of the fixed raminer in
combination with the reciprocating breech chamber, as described.

page_text: Secondly, the arrangement for holding and releasing the cartridges, consisting
of the clamp-spring, the knob, or its equivalent, upon the axis of the breech
chamber, and the magazine, as described.
Thirdly, effecting the several motions required for operating the rotating
breech, by means of an axis rigidly connected therewith, and operated from
one of the ends of said axis, as described.
Fourthly, the combination of the slide (h) with the axis of the revolving
breech chamber, the locking bolt (i), and the tumbler (o¹), or the mechanical
equivalents of these several parts, for the purpose set forth.
Fifthly, in the arrangement of my said Invention as a needle gun, I claim
the method of withdrawing the needle by a positive force applied thereto by
means of the knob upon the end of the needle stock in combination with the
claw or catch upon the end of the hammer, so arranged that becoming
engaged at the moment of giving the blow, it shall cause the withdrawal
of the needle in the operation of cocking the piece, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Gustav Adolph Blittkowski, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of May, A.D.
KI. (L.S.)
GUSTAV ADOLPH BLITTKOWSKI.
Taken and declared at Her Britannick Majesty's
Consulate in the City of New York, this
Twenty-third day of May 1856, before me,
(Consular)
Seal.
ANTH. BARCLAY,
Her Britannick Majesty's Consul
at New York.