IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1852

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,.
GEORGE LEOPOLD LUDWIG KUFAHL, of Christopher Street, Finsbury,
London, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria'
by Her Royal Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster
the Third day of March, in the Fifteenth year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
George Leopold Ludwig Kufahl, Her especial licence, full power, sole
privilege, and authority, that I, the said George Leopold Ludwig
Kufahl, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said
George Leopold Ludwig Kufahl, my exors, adññiors, or assigns, should
time agree with, and no others, from time to time, and at all times
during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick upon Tweed, within the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney,
Sark, and Man, and in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations
abroad, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS," in which said
Letters Patent is contained a proviso, requiring that I, the said George
at any

page_text: Leopold Ludwig Kufahl, by an instrument in writing, under my hand
and seal, shall particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, and shall
cause the same to be enrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chan-
cery, within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said in part recited Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the
sad George Leopold Ludwig Kufahl, do hereby declare the nature of
my Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by this present instrument
in writing, as follows, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
attached, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say-
My said Invention relates to various novel and useful improvements
in that class of fire-arms ordinarily known as needle guns. My previous
improvements in the same class of fire-arms, under the title of "Im-
proved Construction of Guns and Cannons, and Manufacture of Cartridges
for the Loading or Charging thereof," have been protected by Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of January, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty, and granted to Matthew Urlwin Sears, of Burton Cre-
scent, London, as a communication from me. The objects of the present
Letters Patent consist of various mechanical arrangements, apparatus,
or means whereby the lock mechanism of fire-arms on the needle
principle, whether shot guns, rifles, pistols, or repeaters, is made more
durable, safe, and efficient than heretofore, and these improvements are
entirely distinct from and unconnected with the subject of the said
Letters Patent granted to the said Matthew Urlwin Sears. And in
order that my said Invention may be readily understood, I shall now
proceed to describe the various Figures on the Sheet of Drawings here-
unto attached.
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, on my Sheet of Drawings, illustrate
the application of my improvements to an ordinary rifled needle gun.
Figure 1, is an external side elevation of the lock portion of a needle
rifle; and Figure 2, is a vertical longitudinal section of the same parts
corresponding. Figure 3, is a transverse vertical section through the

page_text: lock, at the line a, b, in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 4, is a similar
transverse section, a little further forward at c, d, in Figure 2; and
Figure 5, is a third section still further forward, at the line e, f, in
Figure 2. Figure 6, is a horizontal longitudinal section, along the line
of the bore of the barrel and the lock cylinder, as at g, h, in Figure 2;
and Figure 7, is an external plan of the lock and its details.
In carrying out my several improvements I have merely retained the
outside tube or socket A, screwed into or made in one piece with the
barrel B, the needle C, with its guide D, and the lever handle L, as
used in the common Prussian needle gun, such portions being common
to all needle guns. The other details of the ordinary gun I have either
laid wholly aside, or have so modified them as to suit the particular
intention of my improvements. The igniting needle C, is screwed into
a conductor E, carrying at its fore end a piston F, well packed with
some elastic material, say stout leather, and the other or hind end is
formed with a stud G, and disc H. The needle conductor E, is capable of
actuation by the tumbler I, which has a rounded head for that purpose.
This tumbler is set on a fixed stud centre K, near which it is actuated
by the flat main spring J, and a sear, scar spring and trigger, and its
axis projecting through the gun stock carries a cocking lever M. As
the parts are delineated in the Drawings, they are in the position
arising from the lock being at rest, or just discharged by the needle in
passing into the priming. The head of the tumbler rests on the stud G,
forcing the needle conductor and its piston up to the projecting hind
end of the needle guide, so as to prevent the escape of the gaseous products
of the explosion at this point, which escape is a very serious objection
to the ordinary needle arms, especially with powerful charges. The
head of the tumbler in this position, as marked 1, stands up through
two corresponding slots, one in the external fixed tube or socket A, and.
the other in the inner moveable tube N; and hence the latter cannot
now be moved round until the withdrawal of the tumbler head. At the
same time the abutment O, of the inner tube is firmly interlocked with
a shoulder of the external tube A, as represented in Figure 1.
Now in order to withdraw partially the tube N, from the outside one
for loading or cleaning, the abutment O, is first to be brought opposite

page_text: to a longitudinal slot P, on the left side of the external tube A, so that
the breech of the gun can never be opened either wilfully or accidentally,
either in the act of firing or for the purpose of introducing a charge,
whilst the tumbler is in this position, and whilst the needle protrudes
at all from its guide. This arrangement constitutes one of the means
provided for insuring perfect safety in handling the gun, such safe-
guard being entirely wanting in all other needle guns which may be
opened at the breach and charged whilst the needle stands out more
or less from its guide, so that the charge is thus liable to accidental
explosion. When the breech is to be opened for the introduction of
à charge through the loading hole Q, the lock is, in. the first instance,
to be brought to half cock. This movement will carry the tumbler to
the position indicated by the dotted line 2, in Figure 2, and the action
causes the head of the tumbler to act on the face of the lower pro-
jecting portion of the disc H, of the needle conductor, and thus to
draw back the needle to screen it inside the needle guide. At this
position of half cock, but at no other throughout the entire range of
action, the tumbler head is directly opposite a transverse slot R, formed
in the left side of the inner moveable tube or chamber N, and arranged
to receive the tumbler easily, so that the inner tube may then be turned
partially round to the left by means of its lever handle L. When this
movement has been accomplished the abutment of the lever stands
opposite the longitudinal slot P, of the outside tube or socket A, as
represented by the dotted lines in the plan Figure 7, the amount of
turn being accurately determined by the bringing up or the bearing
of the abutment (), against the left side of the longitudinal slot P.
In this condition the slot P, allows of the inner tube N, being slided
backwards until the abutment O, reaches the point S, so as to uncover
the loading hole, the head of the tumbler meanwhile entering a second
longitudinal slot T, of the inner tube, which latter slot communicates
with or opens into the transverse slot R. The piece is now ready for
loading, and while open at the breech for that purpose the tumbler.
and consequently the main actuating spring J, are entirely disconnected
from the needle conductor and needle, the stud G, being passed to the
right side of the tumbler head. This contrivance is the second means

page_text: of safety not to be found in any other class of needle gun.
The car-
tridge having been introduced through the loading hole Q, into the
space U, the inner moveable tube N, must again be pushed forward by
means of its handle. This action covers up the charging hole, and the
movement is rendered complete by turning the lever handle L, back again
to the right, so as to interlock the abutment O, with the shoulder W',
of the socket A, and all this must be done. before the tumbler can act
on the needle conductor. As the gun is now in a condition to be fired
the lock may be brought to full cock, as indicated by the third radial
dotted line 3, of the tumbler's position in Figure 2. In this position
of the details, the head of the tumbler standing up at once in the lower
longitudinal slots of both tlie outer and inner tubes, prevents the initier
one from being turned, so that there is no possibility of the loading hole
being opened. By this means it is. that the arm is rendered perfectly
safe in handling, for the breech cannot be opened for loading or any
other purpose, nor can it fly open accidentally so long as the tumbler,
main spring, and trigger have any communication with or power of
action on the needle, which is the only means of firing the charge.
To facilitate the periodical cleansing of the gun, a simple means is.pro-
vided for the entire withdrawal of the inner tube N, from its socket, and
its replacement without trouble or annoyance. This is done by first
bringing the inner tube to its second position, or that which it occupics.
during loading, when the abutment of the lever handle L, is drawn
back into the longitudinal slot P, until it reaches the point S, the lock
being first brought to half cock to allow of this movement, as already
described. The tumbler must now be drawn back to the extent of
two notches, that is until the notch V, which is one notch beyond full
cock, shall catch upon the detent, and this brings the. tumbler to the
position of the furthest dotted line marked 4. With the tumbler in
this position its head is brought entirely beneath and clear of any part
of the inner tube N, so that the latter may be at once drawn out of
its socket by means of its handle L. When cleaned, the tumbler
being in the position 4, the needle conductor is brought to the position
in tube N, which it occupied when that tube was withdrawn. The
tube is then reinserted at the open end of the socket, and is then pushed

page_text: forward at once to the position for loading. The lock is then lowered
to half cock and the loading hole is closed, as already described. By
the contrivance of the position 4, of the lock an important advantage
is gained, for without it the inner tube could never be wholly with-
drawn from its socket, nor could the gun be effectually cleansed without
removing it from the stock, and unscrewing the lock. After loading,
if the piece is not to be fired at once, the lock is kept at half cock, or
it may be let down to the position of rest. This latter position, however, is
only to be arrived at when the charge is in by bringing the abutment O,
of the lever handle opposite the longitudinal slot P, in the external tube.
It is this feature of the engagement and disengagement of the needle
with the tumbler and main spring which constitutes an essentially
distinct feature of safety of action in my improved gun, for the ordinary
needle guns must be kept either at half or full cock when loaded,
otherwise the needle would enter and explode the charge. Of the minor
details, with the assistance of which the accuracy of the various move-
ments of the lock is insured, the mode in which the piston is caused to
retain the position assigned to it while the lock is at half cock, and the
loading hole opened for receiving a charge, or other purposes, is very
important. To give this holding power a small flat spring W, is ad-
justed on the right side of the needle conductor, and a small projection
on this spring, as represented in Figure 6, falls to a recess in the in-
terior of the inner tube whenever the lock is brought to half cock. This
gives the spring a slight hold upon the piston, sufficient to stay it until
the latter is forcibly drawn along by the lock action. To prevent the
escape of powder gas, or the gases resulting from the explosion of charge,
at the joint between the termination of the barrel and the end of the
inner tube N, the projecting open end of the latter may be turned down
to a knife edge, so as to furnish a thin closely fitting and slightly elastic
exterior bearing surface in contact with the interior of the barrel end,
to form a tight joint when the loading hole is closed. But instead of
this contrivance I prefer to insert into the front open end of the tube
N, a short thin clastic tube X, of copper, or other suitable metal, which
being fast in the tube N, moves with it, and it is left projecting a slight
distance beyond the end of the tube, so as to enter a short distance into

page_text: the end of the barrel, when the breech is closed for firing. This tube
being very thin at the edge becomes expanded and pressed from within
outwards, against the interior of the barrel by the effect of the explosion
when the piece is fired, hence the joint is effectually closed and the
gases are prevented from escaping, just as the cup leather of a hydro-
tatic press prevents the escape of water. For the best guns this thin
joint tube is of platinum, so as to last for a very long period. Both
these kinds of joints are further assisted in their accuracy of fitting by
turning an external cone on the end of the inner tube N, to fit to a
similar internal cone in the barrel end. The flat main spring J, is sub-
stituted for the helix ordinarily employed for actuating the lock mecha-
nism of needle guns, as being much more durable and satisfactory in its
action, and an important feature exists in the external cocking lever M,
the position of which at any angle at once points out whether the lock
is shut down at rest, or at full or half cock, or on the last notch.
Although I have herein-before referred to the use of cartridges in my
improved fire-arms, as affording the greatest facilities for speedy loading,
I may remark that they are not by any means absolutely required for
the effective service of the gun, for instead of cartridges, the powder
may be easily measured into the breech, to lay round the needle guide,
and the bullet, with the priming, may be thereafter inserted. And,
although I have herein-before referred especially to the construction of
needle rifles on my improved principle, it will be obvious to the prac-
tical gun smith that muskets, carabines, shot guns, pistols, and other
arms may be so fitted and managed, as I have described. But the con-
struction of needle revolvers, or repeating pistols, which has never
hitherto been attempted, necessitates the introduction of certain modi-
fications of the details, which I shall now proceed to describe. Figure
8, on my sheet of Drawings is a longitudinal side elevation of a repeating
needle pistol, as fitted with my improvements. Figure 9, is a vertical
longitudinal section of the same corresponding. Figure 10, is a trans-
verse section at the line a, b, through the centre of the tumbler spindle
in Figure 9, and Figure 11, is a second traverse section through the
line c, d, in Figure 9. Figure 12, is a front end elevation of the re-
volving or repeating chamber, forming the magazine of charges, and

page_text: Figure 13, is an end elevation of the hindmost open end of the barrel.
The pistol is delineated in the Figures as unloaded, and having its lock
put down or at rest. The fixed external tube or socket A, is formed at
the upper side of its front euid, next the barrel, with a longitudinal and
a transverse slot meeting in cruciform fashion, for receiving and allowing
of the requisite movements of the lever handle L, of the inner or move-
able tube, containing the needle conductor E, witli its packed piston F,
the stud G, and disc H, as in the same details of the needle rifle. The
lower part of the socket A, is extended downwards at its front end and
on the left side, forming in combination with an adjustable plate on tlie
right side and the trigger plate, a rectangular box for the reception of
the tumbler I, the main spring J, the sear spring upper part of trigger;
as well as those parts by which the revolving magazine B,. containing
the charges is made to revolve. When unloaded and at rest, with the
tumbler in the position 1, as delineated in Figure 9, the tumbler head
projects upwards through the corresponding lowest longitudinal slots in
both tubes, so as to prevent the rotatory movement of the inner tube.
At the same time the needle C, projects into the highest chamber (for
the time being) of the magazine, thus also preventing the latter from
revolving. A needle guide is in this arrangement quite unnecessary as
the needle is so short that it may be used in the interior of the cham-
bers. In commencing to load from the position delineated in my
Drawings, Figure 9, the needle is first of all withdrawn from the
most elevated chamber; this movement being accomplished as in
my needle rifle, by carrying back the tumbler I, to half cock,
that is to the position of the dotted line 2, by means of the external
cocking lever M. The loading lever handle L, is then turned over to
the left side as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 10, whereby the
head of the tumbler entering the transverse slot R, in the inner tube
is disconnected from the needle conductor. The charges may then be
most expeditiously entered into the ring of chambers by removing the
barrel B', of the piece from the centre pin or arbor K', on which the
magazine revolves. This gives free admission to the whole series of
chambers and the charges consisting of powder and a bullet with
suitable priming may be at once entered into the chambers succes-

page_text: sively, a washer of paper, thin felt, or other suitable material being
first laid in the bottom or closed end of each chamber to cover up the
small hole by which the igniting needle C, is to enter. When the
chambers are all duly charged the barrel is replaced and held in
position by a transverse pin O, and the lever L, being still on the left
side, the tumbler may be let down to set the lock at rest. In this
movement the head of the tumbler moves forward in the left hand.
longitudinal slot T, of the inner tube, which slot is now on the bottom:
side and is in accurate correspondence with the bottom slot of the
external socket, and being disconnected from the needle conductor E,
the tumbler leaves the latter behind to remain in the same position
which it occupied on the occurrence of the half-cock movement..
Here it is kept by a flat side spring W, precisely as in the rifle. In
this state, as the needle cannot by any means reach the priming or
detonating compound in the interior of the chambers of the magazine,
the pistol cannot be discharged, and it may be carried about and.
subjected to the roughest usage without the slightest danger. When
the arm is to be fired the tumbler is again moved to half-cock by the
lever M, the lever handle L, being returned to the right hand position
as in Figure 8, so that the tumbler head regains its position between
the stud G, and disc H, of the needle conductor. On going on to full-
cock or to the position of the dotted line of tumbler 3, the magazine
B, will revolve one-sixth round, six chains being here used. This
action arises from the effect of a small bell crank lever O', the short
lower arm of which carries a pin fitting into a long slot in the link
piece P', attached to the tumbler. The charge in the highest
chamber may now be fired, and afterwards the remaining five in suc-
cession, by going at once to full-cock and drawing the trigger. When
the lock is to be cleaned the inner tube N, is to be removed altogether
from its outer socket, carrying with it the needle conductor, the barrel
and magazine being first slipped off their arbor K'. But to permit of
the removal of the inner tube with its internal mechanism, the tumbler
must be brought to the position of the dotted line 4, when its head
will be disengaged just as in the rifle. The means of preventing the
escape of the gases of explosion, namely, the piston F, of the needle
conductor shutting the needle hole in conjunction with the thin metal

page_text: tubes X, are the same as in the rifle, only that the elastic tubes X, are
inserted into the chambers of the revolving magazine B, where the
discharges take place. To bring the front part of the highest chamber
tube into the open end of the barrel, and to hold it there during the
discharge, a strong horizontal bolt or locking piece Q' is fitted into
the lower part of the lock apparatus. This bolt works through a
vertical guide S', screwed into the trigger plate, and its front end is
kept constantly in contact with the inner or back face of the magazine,
whilst its opposite end similarly bears by means of a small pulley upon
a rounded prominence on the tumbler. Whilst the arm is at half or
full cock, the magazine and the bolt Q', are retained in a back position
and free from contact with the barrel end by a small blade spring U¹,
situated between the front of the magazine and the barrel end, so that
the thin tubes X, are all clear of the latter. But so soon as the
trigger is drawn, the rounded prominence of the tumbler presses
forward the bolt Q', and thus forces the magazine up against the
barrel end, pushing the prominent end of the thin tube into the open
end of the barrel, so as to close up the joint in a most efficient manner
before the needle can reach the priming or detonator and explode the
charge. The recoil of the magazine due to the explosion is not taken
off by the main spring but by the strong axis K, of the tumbler, the
Besides these
bolt Q', being in a horizontal line with that centre.
services the bolt Q', steadies the magazine as the latter revolves, and
provides that a needle hole shall always be in its proper place for the
entrance of the needle. It affects this with the assistance of the slight
spring V', which acting on a pin in the bolt Q', constantly tends to
force a small projection at the front end of the latter into the lowest
needle hole after each revolution of one-sixth. To prevent any dis-
lodgement of the charges in the chambers by the recoil, the end of the
barrel is provided with an enlargement W', which all but touches the
points of the bullets in the five chambers not being fired, and thus the
charges are entirely prevented from moving forward by the concussion.
Figure 14, on my Sheet of Drawings represents a vertical section of a
metal. disc pierced with six holes to correspond with the magazine
chambers, and having a central hole to fit the arbor K. This disc is
intended for screening the thin projecting edges of the clastic tubes X,.

page_text: from injury during loading by being placed over the face of the mȧ-
gazine. It will be obvious that the same general arrangements are
applicable more or less in the construction of repeating needle rifles,
carabines, and shot guns.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I may observe in conclusion that I do not confine or
restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had
occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be made there-
from without deviating from the principles or main features of my
Invention, but what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part re-
cited Letters Patent, is,
First, the application and use of the stud and dise, or details sub-
stantially of a similar nature, to the needle conductor for the purposes
herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of engaging and disengaging the needle
with the tumbler or lock apparatus, as herein-before described.
Third, the application and use of a piston or traversing filling up
piece, for the prevention of gaseous escape into the lock.
Fourth, the adaptation of the lock tumbler, for the prevention of the
withdrawal of the inner tube or chamber from its socket, except at a
certain position of the tumbler.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the
third day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and fifty two.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED that on the Third day of September,
in the year of our Lord 1852, the aforesaid George Leopold Ludwig
35 Kufahl came before our said Lady the Queen, in Her Chancery, and

page_text: acknowledged the Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein
contained and specified, in form above written; and also, the Specifi-
cation aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made:
for that purpose.
Enrolled the third day of September, in the year of our Lord, one
thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.