IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS AND CARTRIDGES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Davis, of the Town and County of the
Town of Southampton, Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN FIRE-ARMS AND CARTRIDGES."
Sealed the 19th April 1865, and.dated the 20th October 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Davis at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th October.
1864.
I, GEORGE DAVIS, of the Town and County of the Town of Southampton,
Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS AND CARTRIDGES," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates, firstly, to improvements in loading guns and small
arms by the butt end or breech. In order to effect this object I make a
chamber at the breech, occupying it by a plug extending from one side to the
other of the barrel, kept in place or slackened by means of a screw nut or
other convenient method, and having one or more convenient handles or
levers, by which it may be opened and shut like an ordinary cock. The plug
is made to fit the chamber tightly, so as to be perfectly gas-tight, and chamber
and plug may be coated with platina, aluminum, or any suitable material to
prevent wear in the working parts. An aperture is made through the plug,
corresponding to that of the gun bore, so that when the plug is turned and
its aperture brought into line with the gun bore, there will be a straight"
passage from end to end of the gun (from the extreme end, butt end, where the

page_text: cascabel or pummelion was placed in old cannon to the mouth); the charge is
then introduced at the butt end, and the loading is performed by means of a
guage ramrod, so that the charge may be rammed to its proper place and no
farther; the plug is then turned until its aperture is vertical, or nearly so,
and its solid parts close the bore behind the charge when the loading is
complete.
Secondly, my Invention may be adapted to almost all ordinary guns or
small arms at a comparatively small cost, and thus any cannon, rifle cannon,
or fire-arm can be made to load at the butt instead of the muzzle. A stop is
used to keep the plug in position when the fire-arm is loaded, and small arms
may be made with double barrel.
__ Thirdly, my Invention relates_to_a_new method of exploding cartridges.
I propose to attach a spring near the touch-hole of the gun, with a hole or
slot in it, ranging over the touch-hole, so as to receive a metal or
steel pin
with a head-shaped top to it, the pin to pierce the touch-hole to nearly the
inside of the barrel when not in use, so that when the cock or hammer is let
go from full-cock it drives the pin into the cartridge (which is primed with
detonating powder) and explodes it. The pin being always in position, the
trouble of capping is avoided. I propose to discharge cannon in the same
way or by a tubular cap with exploding material, and the point pen-shaped to
pierce the cartridge covering the head of a small circular or flat shaped piece.
suitable for the cock to strike on.
Fourthly, my Invention relates to a new method of making cartridges,
whereby the casings of the exploded cartridge cannot remain in the barrel of
breech-loading guns. I propose to employ fine gauze, wire, or other similar
material or article, and make a case of a shape to fit the bore of a gun and of
a.size suitable to contain a wad at the upper or shot end, and also the charge
of powder; the powder may or may not be covered inside the wire with thin
paper, and may or may not be capped; but if the shot be capped over with
paper, as in the ordinary way, the paper capping the shot not to cover the
gauze wire casing more than a short distance down, as the effect of this plan
is to allow the explosion to pass through the side of the wire and not burst
the casing. The wad at the head of the wire casing is to cause it to be.
driven out by the explosion, as it passes through it thoroughly clears the barrel
from paper, the detonating powder to be placed round an indent in the inside
or outside of the cartridge at the lower end, so that the pin when driven in
may explode it.
Fifthly, my Invention also relates to an improvement in locks, whereby
they are so arranged that they cannot go off at half-cock. I propose to place

page_text: á catch bar at the bottom of the lock, and a working catch binged to a' boss
attached to the cock, and driven into the catchies by means of a spring
attached to the same boss, so that when the cock is pulled backwards the
spring drives the catch bar into the catches; there is also a spring attached to
the same boss to throw the cock. The trigger, when pulled throws the catch
bar over both catches, and the cock falls on the exploding' pin at its full
force.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Davis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th April 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
DAVIS of the Town and County of the Town of Southampton, Machinist,
send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her. Letters
Patent, bearing date.the Twentieth 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 George Davis, Her special licence that I, the said. George
Davis, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I; the
said George Davis, my executors; administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agreel with, and no others, from time to time and at all times' there-
after 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 Many an Invention for "]
"IMPROVE
MENTS. IN FIRE-ARMS AND CARTRIDGES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I; the said George Davis, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment 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 George Davis; do hereby declare the
nature of my 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 Sheet of Drawing hereunto annexed,
and forming part of this my Specification, letters of reference being placed on

page_text: the Diagrams to denote the parts, similar letters denoting similar parts, in
each of the Figures respectively:
-
The object of my Invention is to, obtain for fire-arms the greatest facility in
loading, and the greatest security in firing, and the means I employ to effect
these results, are applicable to all sorts of fire-arms, whether the tubes, or
barrels thereof be bored smooth or rifled.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Sheet of Drawing shews, in longitudinal
section the application of one of my improvements, namely, an improved
method of breech-loading as applied to a cannon. I make in the breech of the
cannon a chamber, which I fully occupy by the plug a (shewn detached
Figure 3); this plug passing laterally through the cannon, as shewn, it is
-kept-in-position-tightened-or-slackened,-by-means-of-the-screw-nut 6 (Figure 3)
or other suitable contrivance, and by placing one or more levers in the holes c, c,
of the plug (see Figures 2 and 3) the breech is opened and closed in a similar
manner to the opening or closing of an ordinary tap or cock; a. stop being so
placed that in opening the breech the plug is arrested when its bore d comes
in a true line with bore of the cannon, and the inlet e,.and that in closing
the breech. the plug be stopped at the position shewn, Figure 1, that is to say,
with its bore d vertical. It is necessary that the plug or core a should fit
exactly in its chamber so as to be perfectly gas-tight. If it be preferred,
instead of the rubbing surfaces of the plug and chamber being of brass, copper,
or gun metal, they may be coated with platina, aluminum, or any suitable
material which will prevent the working parts from being deteriorated by wear.
The plug ȧ is not solid, but has an aperture or perforation d. passing through
it, such aperture. corresponding exactly with the bore of the cannon, so that
when the perforation or bore of the plug is brought in line with the bore of
the gun (as shewn in regard to a rifle at Figure 5) the whole presents interiorly
a perfect tube if the cannon be a smooth bore; and if a rifled one, the aperture
in the plug will still correspond with the barrel. Thus from the extreme butt
end, where the cascabel or pummelion was placed in cannon heretofore used,
to the mouth of the fire-arm one straight opening or tube is formed., I.load
this cannon in the following manner :-I first, by means of the lever f turn
the plug a until I bring its bore to the bore of the cannon, and the inlet e in
line; I then introduce the cartridge by the inlet e, and using a guage ramrod,
I pass it through the plug hole d into the breech (which part of the barrel is
rather enlarged to admit a shot and charge large enough to pass tightly through
the barrel to prevent windage or escape of the elastic fluid); this done,
I turn the plug a by means of the lever until its hole d is vertical, as shewn
at Figure 1, and. the cannon is charged. The cannon may be fired by a pin

page_text: arranged either as shewn applied to a small-arm at Figure 4, or as at
Figure 5, or in any other manner which may be preferred.
It will be evident that by using the breech-loading arrangement above
described, cannon may with slight modification be made with more than
one barrel or bore, a corresponding number of holes d. being made in
the plug a,.
•
Figures 4 and 5 shew my method of breech-loading applied to small-arms;
(rifle or fowling piece), Figure 4 shewing the piece loaded, the hole d of the
plug a being in a vertical position, and Figure 5 the piece in position for,
loading, the hole d being in a line with the bore g, the breech being opened
and closed on turning the plug a by means of a lever shewn in. red dotted
lines in both Figures. For. loading fire-arms I prefer using a guage ramrod,.
fitted as shewn, Figure. 4. h, guage ramrod; i, slot, in which the rod. slides,,
being pushed forward or drawn backward by means of the thumb-piece j,
attached to the rod by the screw k (shewn detached). The loading is as.
follows: The cartridge is placed (as shewn by dotted lines), in the receiver ?.
(Figure 4), which is a continuation of the barrel; by raising the lever to the
position indicated by the red dotted lines (Fig. 5), the plug is turned so
that the bore comes to the horizontal position shewn Figure 5; the guage rod.h.
is then pushed forward, carrying the cartridge through.the.plug, and depositing
it in the position shewn Figure 4, the guage rod is drawn back; the lever is
then lowered on to its catch (see red dotted lines Figure 4), bringing the plug,
opening d to a vertical position, and the gun is ready to be. discharged... It
would possibly be more advisable to open the breech, and thus cool the barrel
before presenting a cartridge to the guage ramrod..
I prefer to discharge my improved fire-arms either by means of a pin on the
hammer and corresponding touch-hole, as at Figure 4, or by the special
arrangement shewn Figure 5, namely, a spring m, placed near the touch-hole,;
with a hole or slot in it ranging over the touch-hole, so as to receive a steel or
other metal pin with a head-shaped top to it, the pin when. not acted. upon,
penetrating the touch-hole to nearly the inside of the barrel (as shewn
Figure 5), so that when the hammer comes down it drives the pin into the
cartridge (primed with detonating powder) and explodes it. When the hammer,
is at cock the spring brings back the pin to the position shewn Figure 5,
where it will be seen that the spring is protected by a guard. The pin being;
always in position the trouble of capping is avoided.
To prevent fire-arms going off at half-cock; I use the arrangement of lock
shewn Figure 5. n, lock plate (inside); o, tumbler; 2, catch bar; q, main

page_text: spring attached to the tumbler; r; trigger; 8, guard. When the cock is
pulled backwards the spring q is driven into the catch bar p, and on pulling
the trigger the catch bar is thrown over both catches, and the cock falls on
the exploding pin at its full force.
My improvements in cartridges, whereby, the casings of the exploded
cartridge cannot remain in the barrel of breech-loading fire-arms after
discharge, are as follows:-I use fine wire, gauze, or other similar material to
make a case to fit the bore of a gun, and of size suitable to contain a wad at
the upper or shot end, and also the charge of powder, which may or may not
be covered inside the wire with thin paper, and may or may not be capped ;
but if the shot be capped over with paper, as in the ordinary way, the paper
not to cover-the wire-gauze-more-than-a-short distance-down-as-the-effect-of-
this plan is to allow the explosion to pass through the side of the wire, and
not burst the casing. The wad at the head of the wire casing is to cause it
to be driven out by the explosion, and as it passes through it thoroughly clears
the barrel of paper. The detonating powder is placed round an indent in the
inside or outside of the cartridge, at the lower end, so that the pin when
driven in may explode it. This improved cartridge is shewn Figure 6. t;
greased wad;u, hard wad; v, powder in wire casing ; w, detonating powder';
x, ball. I use the greased: wadt (of felt or other suitable material): beliind
the powder and next to the plug a when' in' the fire-arm to prevent the gasses
of the powder from coming in contact with the plug (see Figure 4).
.
I would here observe that my improved method of breech-loading may be
applied not only to single but also to double barreled rifles, fowling pieces, or
other small arms by suitably boring the plug a..
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and means by
which it is performed or carried into practical effect, I desire it to be distinctly
understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details berein given or
set forth, or to any relative proportions of parts in relation to each other, as
such máy, and indeed must be varied to suit the circumstances of particular
cases; without at all departing from the principle of my improvements, and
I claim to make such variations or modifications so long as the peculiar
character of either part of my Invention be retained, and- I would observe; in
conclusion, that what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim
as the Invention secured to me by the herein in part recited Letters
Patent is,

page_text: Secondly, the arrangement and combination of the plug a working in a
chamber constructed in the breech or butt of the barrel of a rifle or other
small fire-arm.
Thirdly, the arrangement of pin and spring for piercing the cartridge and
discharging the gun, as at Fig. 5, and that of the pin to the hammer, as at
Figure 4.
Fourthly, the arrangement of lock preventing the hammer falling at
half-cock.
Lastly, the combination and composition of cartridge ensuring the expulsion
of the casings of cartridges on the discharge of fire-arms.
The whole substantially as herein-before set forth or described, and illus-
trated by the Drawing.
In witness, whereof, I, the said George Davis, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
GEORGE DAVIS. (L.S.)