IMPROVE- MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING AND OTHER FIRE-ARMS, AND IN LOADING RODS TO BE USED THEREWITH
Year: 1866

page_text: :
LETTERS PATENT to George Sturrock, Quartermaster, Royal Engineers,
of Woolwich, in the County of Kent, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING AND OTHER FIRE-ARMS, AND IN LOADING RODS TO
BE USED THEREWITH."
Sealed the 28th September 1866, and dated the 29th March 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Sturrock at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th March 1866.
I, GEORGE STURROCK, Quartermaster, Royal Engineers, of Woolwich, in
the County of Kent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING AND OTHER FIRE-ARMS, AND IN LOADING
RODS TO BE USED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of
breech-loading and other fire-arms, applicable also to the conversion of muzzle
loaders into breech loaders, and also in loading rods to be used therewith.
The first part of the Invention consists in boring out or recessing the breech
end of the barrel, and then cutting a slot in the side of the barrel (on the
same side as the lock), so that the recess and slot shall be of sufficient width
to admit any of the central-fire cartridges now in use that may be suitable for
A

page_text: the size of the bore. The slot extends from the face of the breech plug in a
forward direction towards the muzzle for such length as will allow of the ensy
insertion or withdrawal of the loaded or empty cartridge case. At the end of
the slot nearest the muzzle the barrel is also bored out or recessed so as to
form a slightly conical chamber for the reception of the cartridge case, which
contains within itself both the priming and the charge. The first recess and
the slot in the side of the barrel are made sufficiently large to admit the base
of the cartridge, which is of greater diameter than any other part, but the
second recess or chamber is only of such size and slightly tapering form as
will admit the body of the cartridge, but not its base. When the cartridge
is pushed into its place its base will therefore bear against the shoulder formed
in the interior of the barrel by the difference in the diameters of the recessed
portions, so that it cannot be moved any further towards the muzzle. A
portion of this shoulder is cut, away at the lower part of the barrel, and the
space so obtained has a piece of steel accurately fitted to it in such manner
that its upper surface corresponds with the curvature of the chamber, and its
rear face with that of the shoulder previously mentioned. A narrow slot with
inclined or dovetailed sides is cut in the under portion of the barrel and
parallel to the large slot in the side, but extending slightly more in the
direction of the muzzle. A portion of the piece of steel referred to fits into
this narrow slot, and is firmly screwed to a moveable plate of steel or iron
lying under the barrel in a shallow groovo cut in the stock. This groove
corresponds in length to that of the dovetail slot in the barrel, and the
moveable plate is made to traverse it from one end to the other in a back-
ward or forward direction by means of a jointed lever or handle fixed to it for
that purpose. This lever or handle may be made to fold into the right or
left side of the stock, or it may pass quite through it (in a downward
direction) and fold into a slot or groove cut in the under part of the stock in
front of the trigger guard. In the former case the jointed lever or handle is
fitted to one side of the moveable plate, and in the latter to a stud fixed to or
forming a solid continuation of the under sido of the moveable plate of
sufficient length and thickness to allow of a perforation being made in it of
such size as to admit the ordinary ramrod of the gun or rifle, if such is fitted
to it, so that the stud and plate can be moved backward or forward without
affecting or being affected by the position of the ramrod. As the piece of
steel fitted to the dovetailed slot is fixed by screws to the moveable plate and
is free to move backward and forward in that slot, it follows that motion given
to one will be instantly imparted to the other, so that a backward motion
towards the breech of the moveable plate when operated upon by means of

page_text: its jointed lever or handle produces a similar motion of the piece of steel to
which it is attached, and as the rear face of the latter is made to coincide
with the shoulder formed by the difference of the diameters of the recessed
portions of the barrel, and consequently abuts against a portion of the projecting
base of the cartridge, such motion effects the withdrawal of the cartridge from
the chamber of the barrel. When the contrary motion towards the muzzle
has been made to the full extent of the dovetailed slot the chamber is then
ready for the insertion of another cartridge and provision made for extracting
the empty cartridgo case after the gun or rifle is discharged. This
piece of steel is therefore with its plate and lever the cartridge extractor.
In order to form a solid breech or abutment to sustain and support the
base of the cartridge when the gun or rifle is discharged a block of
steel, or of wrought or malleable cast iron, or of gun metal or brass is
accurately shaped and fitted, so that it may be placed in the first recess
and the largo slot in the side of the breech end of the barrel, its rear
end then abutting against the face of the breech plug and its front end
against the baso of the cartridge, thus making a solid and effective resistance
to any displacement of the cartridge when its charge is fixed. This block is
therefore called the moveable breech piece. For a portion of its length the
front or muzzle end of this block is perforated with a small cylindrical hole
coinciding exactly with the axis of the bore of the barrel, whilst the rest of
its length is slotted on the side corresponding with the lock. In this per-
foration and slot the striker which ignites the priming of the charge is placed.
The front portion of the striker is shaped as a small cylindrical rod. or bolt
which works horizontally backward and forward in the cylindrical hole in the
front of the block; the rear end is formed into a broad, flat, and slightly
thicker plate, which projects at a right angle from one side of the rod or bolt
and works in the slot cut in the rear end and part of the side of the block
or moveable breech. A portion of the front edge of this plate is bevilled off
so as to form an angle with the axis of the cylindrical holo in the block, the
lower or base anglo being towards the muzzle of the barrel; a portion of the
rear edge is also bovilled off at an angle of equal value, but reversed, its
lower or base angle being towards the breech. A circular or rectangular
countersink is made in the under part of the moveable breech, and coinciding
with it a dovetailed notch is made in that portion of the side of the moveable
breech which projects from the large slot in the side of the barrel. This
countersink and notch are for the reception of a bent catch, which is raised
or depressed by the partial rotation of a small side lever. When depressed
the nose of the catch descends into the dovetailed slot provided for the

page_text: movement of the cartridge extractor, and so prevents any lateral motion of
the moveable breech until the catch has been again raised by the action of
the side lever upon the vertical arm of the catch which works in the dovetailed
notch. When the lever is elevated the nose of the catch is raised into the
countersink in the under part of the moveable breech until its lower edge is
clear of the under surface of the breech, which may then be withdrawn
laterally from the barrel. To effect the elevation and depression of the catch
a small horizontal slot is cut in its vertical arm, into which a small pin fixed
The
excentrically upon the inner side of the small side lever engages.
elevation or depression of the lever therefore produces a similar motion of the
catch through the action of this excentric pin working in the horizontal slot.
The side lever is attached by means of a small screw, about which it also
rotates, to a plate of iron, steel, or other suitable metal, which is firmly
fastened by any convenient number of screws to the side of the moveable
breech piece.
When elevated to its fullest extent the side lever forms a
handle by which the whole body of the moveable breech is withdrawn from
or placed in the barrel. The rear end of the side lever is made wider than
the other portion, and is cut at an angle to coincide with the bevilled front edge
of the broad arm of the striker. The elevation of the long arm of the lever makes
these inclined planes act against each other, for that on the short arm of the
lever then descends, and pressing against the incline on the arm of the
striker forces the latter horizontally back towards the breech of the gun, so
that the end of the rod or bolt which ignites the priming is then withdrawn
from the cartridge and placed wholly within the moveable breech piece. The
depression of the long arm of the lever does not affect the position of the
striker, but when the latter is driven forward by the blow of the hanımer
the inclined plane on its front edge engages under the inclined plane of the
short arm of the lever, and thus prevents any motion of the long arm, and
consequently of the bent catch, so long as the hammer rests upon the solid
nipple. The gun therefore possesses this peculiarity, that besides the fastening
effected by hand in closing the breech (which is at all times effective and
good, and not dependent upon a spring,) it also locks and secures itself in
addition, and if it cannot do so will not fire the charge. When the moveable
breech piece is withdrawn from the barrel it is turned upwards in order that
the empty cartridge case may be removed and the recharging of the arm
effected. This is done by piercing a circular hole through the ordinary solid
body of the arm or fixed breech piece, and through both sides of the barrel
at that situation; in this hole a steel tube is placed having an external pro-
jecting rib; it is free to slide in and out, except when the rib is brought into

page_text: contact with the head of a screw which serves to keep it in position; this
tube contains the shaft on which the moveable breech piece turns, the shaft
being fixed as a pivot to the breech piece. I propose in some cases to apply
the moveable breech piece to a slot or groove cut on the upper surface of the
breech of the barrel, and by means of a link motion or a cam or quick-threaded
screw or other equivalent to withdraw the cartridge extractor by the upward
motion of the moveable breech piece. The loading rod consists of a tube of
brass or other metal or vulcanite closed at one end by a block; this block is
perforated by a diagonal bore bisecting the cylindrical block; a second tube
of smaller diameter is fitted in the former tube, and is free to turn about half
round therein by means of a slot cut in the former tube and a screw set in
the second or inner tube, the screw travelling in the slot. The inner tube
is partly closed by a similar block perforated diagonally, so that the two
diagonal openings when brought opposite each other by turning the inner
tube form one continuous bore, but when the inner tube is reversed the
opening which it contains is shut off by the solid portion or surface of the
under block. The bottom block is slightly hollowed out, so as to fit the
round or conical form of the projectile. The exterior surface of the cap or
tube is either shaped to coincide with the form of the rifle bore or is fitted
with studs which engage in two or more of the rifle grooves or angles. .Tho
powder being placed in the tube is conveyed thereby down the barrel to the
breech free from contact with the sides of the bore, then by turning the inner
tube the powder falls directly into the breech of the gun.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,, filed
by the said George Sturrock in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th September 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
STURROCK, Quartermaster, Royal Engineers, of Woolwich, in the County of
Kent, send greeting.'
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said George Sturrock, Her special licence that I, the said
George Sturrock, iny executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said George Sturrock, my executors, administrators, and assigns,

page_text: •
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 AND OTHER FIRE-ARMS, AND IN LOADING
RODS TO BE USED THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said George Sturrock, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the naturo 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 Sturrock, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the samo is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of
breech-loading and other fire-arms, applicable to the conversion of muzzle
loaders into breech loaders, and also in loading rods to be used there-
with..
The first part of the Invention consists in boring out or recessing the
breech end of the barrel, and then cutting a slot in the side of the barrel (on
the same side as the lock), so that the recess and slot shall be of sufficient
width to admit of any of the central-fire cartridges now in use that may be suit-
able for the size of the bore. The slot extends from the face of the breech
plug in a forward direction towards the muzzle for such length as will allow
of the easy insertion or withdrawal of the loaded or empty cartridge case.
At the end of the slot nearest the muzzle the barrel is also bored out or
recessed so as to form a slightly conical chamber for the reception of the
cartridge case, which contains within itself both the priming and the charge.
The first recess and the slot in the side of the barrel are made sufficiently
large to admit of the base of the cartridge, which is of greater diameter than
any other, part, but the second recess or chamber is only of such size and
slightly tapering form as will admit the body of the cartridge, but not its base.
When the cartridge is pushed into its place its base will therefore bear
against the shoulder formed in the interior of the barrel by the difference in
the diameters of the recessed portions, so that it cannot be moved any further
towards the muzzle. A portion of this shoulder is cut away at the lower
part of the barrel, and the space so obtained has a piece of steel accurately

page_text: fitted to it in such manner that its upper surface corresponds with the curva-
ture of the chamber and its rear face with that of the shoulder previously
mentioned. A narrow slot with inclined or dovetailed sides is cut in the
under portion of the barrel and parallel to the large slot in the side, but
extending slightly more in the direction of the muzzle. A portion of the
piece of steel referred to fits into this narrow slot, and is firmly screwed to a
moveable plate of steel or iron lying under the barrel in a shallow groove cut
in the stock. This groove corresponds in length to that of the dovetailed slot
in the barrel, and the moveable plate is made to traverse it from one end to
the other in a backward or forward direction by means of a jointed lever or
handle fixed to it for that purpose. This lever or handle may be made to
fold into the right or left side of the stock, or it may pass quite through it
(in a downward direction) and fold into a slot or groove cut in the under
part of the stock in front of the trigger guard. In the former case the jointed
lever or handle is fitted to one side of the moveable plate, and in the latter to
a stud fixed to or forming a solid continuation of the under side of the move-
able plate of sufficient length and thickness to allow of a perforation being
made in it of such sizo as to admit the ordinary ramrod of the gun or rifle, if
such is fitted to it, so that the stud and plate can be moved backward or
forward without affecting or being affected by the position of the ramrod.
the piece of steel fitted to the dovetailed slot is fixed by screws to the moveable
plate and is free to move backward and forward in that slot, it follows that
motion given to one will be instantly imparted to the other, so that a back-
ward motion towards the breech of the moveable plate when operated upon
by means of its jointed lever or handle produces a similar motion of the piece
of steel to which it is attached; and as the rear face of the latter is made to
coincide with the shoulder formed by the difference of the diameters of the
recessed portions of the barrel, and consequently abuts against a portion of
the projecting base of the cartridge, such motion effects the withdrawal of
the cartridge from the chamber of the barrel. When the contrary motion
towards the muzzle has been made to the full extent of the dovetailed slot the
chamber is then ready for the insertion of another cartridge and provision
made for extracting the empty cartridge case after the gun or rifle is dis-
charged. This piece of steel is therefore with its plate and lever the cartridge
extractor. In order to form a solid breech or abutment to sustain and
support the base of the cartridge when the gun or rifle is discharged a block
of steel, or of wrought or malleable cast iron, or of gun metal or brass
is accurately shaped and fitted so that it may be placed in the fist
recess and the large shot in the side of the breech
As
end of the barrel,

page_text: its rear end then abutting against the face of the breech plug and its
front end against the base of the cartridge, thus making a solid and
effective resistance to any displacement of the cartridge when its charge
is fired. This block is therefore called the moveable breech piece.
For a portion of its length the front or muzzle end of this block is
perforated with a small cylindrical hole coinciding exactly with the axis
of the bore of the barrel, whilst the rest of its length is slotted on
the side corresponding with the lock. In this perforation and slot the
striker which ignites the priming of the charge is placed. The front portion
of the striker is shaped as a small cylindrical rod or bolt which works
horizontally backward and forward in the cylindrical hole in the front of the
the block; the rear end is formed into a broad, flat, and slightly thicker plate.
which projects at a right angle from one side of the rod or bolt and works in
the slot cut in the rear end and part of the side of the block or moveable
breech. A portion of the front edge of this plate is bevilled off so as to form
an angle with the axis of the cylindrical hole in the block, the lower or base.
angle being towards the muzzle of the barrel; a portion of the rear edge is.
also bevilled off at an angle of equal value, but reversed, its lower or base.
angle being towards the breech. A circular or rectangular countersink is.
made in the under part of the moveable breech and coinciding with it; a
dovetailed notch is made in that portion of the side of the moveable breech
which projects from the large slot in the side of the barrel. This countersink,
and notch are for the reception of a bent catch, which is raised or depressed.
by the partial rotation of a small side lever. When depressed the nose of the
catch descends into the dovetailed slot provided for the movement of the
cartridge extractor, and so prevents any lateral motion of the moveable breech
until the catch has been again raised by the action of the side lever upon the.
vertical arm of the catch which works in the dovetailed notch. When the
lever is elevated the nose of the catch is raised into the countersink in
the under part of the moveable breech until its lower edge is clear of the
under surface of the breech, which may then be withdrawn laterally from
the barrel. To effect the elevation and depression of the catch a small
horizontal slot is cut in its vertical arm, into which a small pin fixed
eccentrically upon the inner side of the small side lever engages. The
elevation or depression of the lever therefore produces a similar motion of the
catch through the action of this eccentric pin working in the horizontal slot.
The side lever is attached by means of a small screw, about which it also
rotates, to a plate of iron, steel, or other suitable metal, which is firmly
fastened by any convenient number of screws to the side of the moveable

page_text: breech piece. When elevated to its fullest extent the side lever forms a
handle by which the whole body of the moveable breech is withdrawn from or
placed in the barrel. The rear end of the side lever is made wider than the
other portion, and is cut at an angle to coincide with the bevilled front edge
of the broad arm of the striker. The elevation of the long arm of the lever
makes these inclined planes act against each other, for that on the short arm
of the lever then descends, and pressing against the incline on the arm of the
striker forces the latter horizontally back towards the breech of the gun, so
that the end of the rod or bolt which ignites the priming is then withdrawn
from the cartridge and placed wholly within the moveable breech piece. The
depression of the long arm of the lever does not affect the position of the
striker, but when the latter is driven forward by the blow of the hammer the
inclined plane on its front edge engages under the inclined plane of the short
arm of the lever, and thus prevents any motion of the long arm, and con-
sequently of the bent catch, so long as the hammer rests upon the solid nipple..
The gun therefore possesses this peculiarity, that besides the fastening
effected by hand in closing the breech (which is at all times effective and
good, and not dependent upon a spring), it also locks and secures itself in
addition, and if it cannot do so will not fire the charge. In the case of military'
or other single guns or rifles the side plate with the lever folded down serves
to fill up and make good the space made by removing a small portion
of the edge of the stock to admit of the insertion or withdrawal of the
moveable breech. In double guns or rifles these side pieces or plates are
unnecessary, and the lever instead of working in a vertical plane will
rotate horizontally, its fulcrum or pivot being in the body of the breech
instead of fixed to the side plate, and its long arm folding into a suitable
recess cut along the external side of the moveable breech. The under and
upper sides of the lever immediately surrounding the pivot are bevilled off so
as to form a pair of cams, which by the rotation of the lever effects the
elevation or depression of an ordinary spring or other catch attached to the
under part of the moveable breech, as in the other case; this catch engages
itself in the angular slot provided for the movement of the cartridge extractor.
The removal of the long arm of the lever from its recess in the moveable
breech causes the action of the outer edge of its short arm to withdraw the
striker from the cartridge and place it wholly within the moveable breech
piece. When side pieces are used they may be made of one plate, which
carries the side lever, solid nipple, and the breech bolt or pivot, by means of
which the whole of the moveable breech piece is made to rotate either
upwards or downwards after it has been withdrawn laterally from the barrel,

page_text: or they may consist of two small plates, one end of each being accurately
fitted to one end of the other; in this case the front plate (or that nearest
the muzzle) carries the small side lever only, and the rear plate carries the
solid nipple and the breech bolt or pivot. The rear end of the side plate is
prolonged backward beyond the rear end of the moveable breech piece, and
on the inner side of this prolonged portion of the plate a dovetailed groove is
cut, which slopes towards the muzzle at an angle of about
degrees with
the axis of the barrel. The lower end of this groove passes by a portion of
the side of the moveable breech piece. Into this groove a piece of steel is
accurately fitted, the lower part of which is made sufficiently thin to work
freely in the lower part of the groove without jamming against the side of
the moveable breech piece. This thin part lengthens the bearing in the
groove, and acts as a guide to the upper portion, which receives the blow
from the hammer of the lock. To give neatness of appearance the upper
portion is shaped like the ordinary nipple of the percussion gun, but is solid,
and is therefore called the solid nipple. The lower end of the thick part or
shaft of this piece of steel, where it joins the thin part which acts as a guide,
is bevilled upward in front at an angle to correspond with the inclined plane
on the rear edge of the arm of the striker. When the hammer falls upon the
top of the solid nipple its shaft and guide portions descend in the sloping
dovetailed groove, and the bevilled face of the bottom of the thick part of the
shaft meets the inclined plane of the striker, so that the latter is driven
forward with force and fires the charge. The striker and side lever are then
locked and immoveable until the hammer is again raised to half-cock. The
elevation of the long arm of the side lever, as previously stated, causes a
backward motion of the striker. This motion causes the inclined plane on
the rear edge of its arm to press under the bevilled edge of the shaft of the
solid nipple, and as there is then no pressure on the top of the nipple (the
hammer being at half-cock) the nipple is pushed upwards in its groove to
the position proper for it to receive the next blow of the hammer. In this
case the force of the hammer is communicated indirectly through the moveable
solid nipple to the striker. The nipple is prevented from quitting its groove
by a small screw, which passes through the side plate and enters a small
notch cut in the flat side of the nipple shaft. Under this arrangement the
minimum amount of alteration takes place in converting muzzle-loading arms
into breech loaders under this system, for the ordinary percussion hammer
the gun had as a muzzle loader is perfectly available and does not require
the least alteration. If, however, in making these conversions there is no
objection to the cost of a new (or alteration of the former) hammer, the

page_text: latter is made to deliver its blow in a direct manner upon the striker. To
effect this the rear edge of the arm of the striker is not bevilled off, but
has a solid continuation of its substance, which rises vertically above the
top of the back end of the moveable breech piece, and occupies the space
where under the former arrangement the moveable nipple would be. The
upper portion of this continuation can be shaped either as a nipple or of
any ornamental form.
The upper portion of the rear face of this solid.
continuation then receives the blow of the hammer, and the striker is driven
bodily forward by the direct impact. The front face of this part of the
striker is prolonged forward so as to form a close cover to prevent the
entrance of wet or dirt into the space left between its shoulder and the end
of the moveable breech piece when the striker is drawn back ready to
meet the hammer, and in like manner the lower part of its rear face above
the shoulder is prolonged backward so as to form a corresponding cover
for the space necessarily left between the rear part of its shoulder and the
permanent or ordinary fixed breech when the striker is driven forward.by.
the impact of the hammer. The lock bammers suitable for this arrangement
are considerably shorter and more bent in the body than those ordinarily
required for percussion muzzle-loading fire-arms, but beyond this there is
nothing unusual in their construction. When the moveable breech piece is:
withdrawn from the barrel it is necessary that it should be capable of being.
removed away from a position opposite to the opening in the side of the
barrel, in order that empty cartridge cases may be removed and the.
recharging of the arm be effected with facility, but it is essential that.
this removal should not wholly detach the breech piece from the arm. This
is done by piercing a circular hole through the ordinary permanent or fixed
breech of the fire-arm and through both sides of the barrel at that part..
The axis of this perforation is horizontal and at right angles to the axis of.
the bore of the arm. On one side of this perforation a shallow straight
groove
is cut, the end of which is closed by the overlapping of the head of a
small screw fitted into such portion of the ordinary nipple lump as is allowed.
to remain. A steel tube with a short external projecting rib is accurately
fitted to the perforation and groove, but is free to move or slide to and fro
from one side of the breech to the other, except when stopped by the short
projecting rib coming into contact with the overlapping head of the screw
when drawn out to that side of the barrel from which the moveable breech
piece would be withdrawn for the purpose of reloading. This tube has two
narrow slots cut through its side, one, the longest, is parallel to its own
longitudinal axis, the other, the shortest, is at right angles to the former, and

page_text: leads from it. Into this tube a cylindrical bolt is fitted, which has a small
screw or pin fixed in its side. This screw or pin fits into the slots in the tube,
so that the bolt may be drawn out from the tube until the screw or pin arrives
at the end of the longitudinal slot, the tube will then follow until prevented
by its projecting rib and the head of the stopping screw. The bolt cannot
then be drawn any further in that direction, but may be rotated until the
screw or pin reaches the end of the transverse slot. One end of the bolt is
either screwed into the extreme rear end of the side plate or is made
rectangular and fitted into a corresponding hole in the plate, and kept there
by a strong short screw with a broad head screwed into the centre of the end
of the bolt from the outside of the side plate. By this arrangement the
moveable breech piece can be withdrawn from the barrel and then turned
away so as to leave a clear opening for the insertion or withdrawal of the
cartridge, and yet not become absolutely detached from the fire-arm. The
tube and bolt therefore constitute the pivot of the moveable breech piece.
Neither of them extend beyond the ordinary thickness of the breech end of
the barrel, but if preferred the tube may be dispensed with, and either a
cylindrical or rectangular bolt may be used of such length as will pass quite
through the barrel and its end be flush with the outside of the stock on the
side of the gun opposite to that on which the breech piece works. When this
is done the bolt does not rotate but only slides to and fro across the breech,
and has a circular head or shoulder formed at one end, upon which the rear
end of the side plate is fitted and allowed to rotate upward or downward to
such extent as may be necessary to clear the moveable breech piece from the
opening in the barrel, and so allow of the free insertion or removal of the
cartridge. I propose in some cases to apply the moveable breech piece to a
slot or groovo cut on the upper surface of the breech of the barrel, and by
means of a link motion or a cam or quick-threaded screw or other equivalent to
withdraw the cartridge extractor by the upward motion of the moveable
breech piece. In this arrangement I prefer to make the large slot for the
breech piece on the top of the barrel instead of at the side, and instead of
being attached to the fire-arm by a shaft sliding horizontally in a moveable
tube placed in a circular hole perforated through both sides of the barrel and
the breech plug, the breech piece is connected at the fore end by a hinged
joint to the front of a moveable stopper of peculiar construction. The
external form of this stopper is exactly similar to the large opening or slot in
the barrel, into which it accurately fits; it is slightly coned in front, and the
cone enters into and fills up a part of the recess formed in the barrel for the
reception of the base of the cartridge, the recess with this arrangement of

page_text: breech being purposely made deeper than is necessary for the base of the
cartridge alone. The stopper is also attached by one or more screws to the
body of the cartridge extractor (which as before stated slides in a small slot or
groove in the bottom of the barrel), and is free to move backward and forward in
the open part of the barrel when the breech piece is raised. The latter being
hinged to the upper part of the front of this stopper forms when raised a lever
or handle by which it can be drawn back or pushed forward. As the stopper_is
firmly attached to the body of the cartridge extractor any motion given to
one is necessarily communicated to the other, so that the sliding of the
stopper from the front of the large slot back to the face of the breech plug
brings the extractor with it, and the latter by this movement is made to with-
draw the cartridge from the barrel. In like manner the reverse movement
produces a contrary effect and places the cartridge in the barrel in the
position for firing. In loading a gun of this construction it is therefore only
necessary to drop the cartridge into the open part of the barrel with its base
resting against the face of the stopper and the projecting rim of the cartridge
behind the upright arms of the extractor or lugger. The pushing forward of
the stopper by means of the breech piece used as a handle forces the cartridge
into the chamber of the barrel, and when the breech piece is shut down both
the stopper and cartridge are held immoveably in their places. A special
peculiarity of this stopper is that it is bored through centrally; the front of
the aperture in the face of the stopper, or that portion against which the base
of the cartridge abuts, is circular and coincides exactly with the centre of the
barrel, while the back part is enlarged until its cross section assimilates in
form, but of course smaller, to the external shape of the stopper; the aperture
therefore gradually tapers from the enlarged opening of irregular form at the
back to a perfectly circular and smaller one in the front of the stopper. The
object of this perforation is that a projecting piece or nose of solid metal left
on the front end of the breech piece may freely insert itself into the stopper
when the breech is shut down, and withdraw itself when the breech pieco
is raised. This projection or nose is made of circular form in front
to coincide with the hole in the face of the stopper, and behind may be
of cylindrical shape or so formed as to fill up and fit into completely
the enlarged part of the opening at the back of the stopper. Thus
when the breech piece is shut down the hole in the centre of the
front or face of the stopper is completely closed, and a perfectly flat
and even surface of solid metal bears against the whole of the base
of the cartridge, except the central point containing the percussion cap or
other priming, while the rear face of the stopper joints up to and abuts against

page_text: the flat part of the fore end of the moveable breech. In this I develope the
application of a new principle in the construction of breech-loading fire-arms,
namely, that the resistance of the moveable breech and stopper shall be in
parallel planes to the action of the charge, so that there shall be nothing in the
shape of any part that will produce by the pressure of the charge when fired
lateral expansion, setting up, or divergence of the metallic fibres in an outward
direction from the axis of the barrel; it is therefore impossible that the
stopper or breech piece can by the simple force of the charge alone ever
become jammed in the large slot of the barrel. The sides of that slot being
also high, afford such lateral support to the moveable breech as to contribute
in a great degree to the permanent stability of this peculiar resistance, so that
the arm may be fired with perfect safety even if the lever and locking bolt
were removed. Both of these are, however, deemed essential to the completion
of the arm with a view to guard against accidents from imperfect closing or
displacement of the breech. To ignite the cap or priming a small cylindrical
hole is drilled through the centre of the projecting nose of the breech piece
backwards into the body of the same, and starting from the termination of
this hole a vertical slot is cut through the breech piece backward and quite to
its end. At this stage the breech piece is considerably shorter than the space
it has to fill in the barrel. As in the first-mentioned arrangement the fore
part of the striker is shaped as a small cylindrical rod or bolt, which moves
freely backward and forward in the cylindrical hole bored through the nose
and into the body of the breech piece. The rear part of the striker, as in the
first arrangement, consists of a broad plate thicker than the rod or bolt part,
with which its front edge forms a "tee" or pair of right angles. This plate
fits into the vertical slot cut through the back part of the body of the breech
piece and moves freely backward and forward in it, giving at the same time a
similar motion to its rod or bolt in front. The rod and plate may be made of
one piece of metal, or the rod may be a separate piece screwed into the front
edge of the plate. In order that the blow of the hammer may act directly
upon the striker the plate is formed with a "cross head" or "tee on its
upper edge. The arms of this cross head lap over and project horizontally
on each side of the top of the vertical slot in the breech piece.
A sloping
block or anvil is formed upon the right or left arm of the cross head,
according as the hammer of the lock may be on the right or left side of the
gun; this arm projects sufficiently far from the side of the moveable breech
to place the block or anvil at its extremity directly under the fall of the
hammer, the impact of which drives it forward and so impels the point of the
striker bolt or of the needle, as the case may be, against the priming of
"

page_text: In
the charge. The opposite arm of the cross head is bevilled off at its front as
in the case of the plate of the striker in the first arrangement, so that the
upper short arm of the locking lever shall, when depressed, push the striker
back to such extent as may be requisite to withdraw the bolt or needle from
the cartridge. This arm is of course also driven forward by the blow of the
hammer on the block or anvil on the other arm, and locks the lever until the
hammer is again raised. In this case the locking lever and its bolt is fixed.
on the side of the moveable breech opposite to that on which the anvil is
placed, but if preferred the lever and bolt may be on the same side of the
breech as the anvil, in which case the opposite arm of the cross bead merely
steadies the motion of the striker, or it may be dispensed with altogether. If
desired that the locking lever should be on the same side of the moveable
breech as the anvil, the construction of the striker can be simplified by making
the slot in the breech piece at an angle instead of vertically.
This ange
should be such as will place the anvil in the proper position for the hammer
to descend upon it. Instead of being at the extremity of an arm of a cross
head, the anvil will then be but an enlarged portion of the upper edge of the
plate of the striker shaped to the proper form for receiving the blow of
the hammer, so that the cross head is not necessary in this arrangement.
either of these cases the fore part of tho block or anvil on which the hammer
falls is so shaped as to form a sliding cover, which conceals and protects from
wet and dirt the opening in the side of the moveable breech in which either
the arm of the cross head or the top part of the striker plate respectively
work. With either of these arrangements of strikers or needles it is necessary
in converting muzzle-loading arms into breech loaders that new and suitable
hammers should be fitted to the locks, but if it be deemed essential that the
original hammers should be retained the striker or needle is then driven
forward against the priming, either by the descent of a moveable solid nipple,
as described in the first arrangement, or by one pivotted at the rear end of
the breech piece, having formed in its front part a long bent arm or lever
which fits into a suitable notch in the striker plate. The pivot of this nipple,
lever is slightly in front of the centre of the nipple across the breech piece, so
that when struck by the hammer the nipple itself moves but a short distance
on its arc of rotation, but the long bent arm in front describes a much larger
arc of a circle in the same time, and by means of the notch in which it works
impels the striker with great force and velocity against the priming. The
pushing back of this bent arm by the locking lever also acts upon the striker
or needle and withdraws it from the cartridge.
By another modification the hinged joint which connects the breech piece

page_text: and stopper, and the movement of lifting or drawing the breech piece entirely
out of the barrel when the large slot is either at its side or on its top may
be dispensed with altogether. This is effected in the following manner :-
The back end of the barrel is bored out with a cutter whose diameter is
larger than that of the base of the cartridge. A slot of sufficient width and
length to admit the cartridge, but no more as regards the width, is cut either
through the top or through the side of the barrel, as may be preferred. A
cylindrical plug about an inch and a quarter or an inch and a half long is
turned to fit accurately into the bored out portion of the barrel, the diameter
of this plug being therefore greater than the width of the slot for the cartridge
it can neither be taken out of nor placed in the barrel through that slot, but
is still free to slide backward and forward in that part of the barrel in which
it fits. Into the rear end of this plug the end of a flat rectangular bar is
screwed or otherwise fitted so that they shall be firmly connected together,
or the bar and plug may be of one piece of metal. The fixed breech plug
screwed into the end of the barrel has a rectangular hole pierced through its.
centre which coincides with the cross section of the bar, so that the latter
can slide steadily through it when the cylindrical plug is drawn back or
pushed forward. The bar is of such length that when the cylindrical plug is
in the position for closing the barrel its rear end just clears the face of
the fixed breech plug, so that if the cylindrical plug be partially rotated for,
say, a quarter of a circle, the bar will also turn to the same extent, and its
rectangular end, instead of coinciding with the corresponding hole in the fixed
plug, will be at right angles to it and extend beyond it on each side. In
this position it is evident the cylindrical plug and bar can neither be moved
backward or forward, so that the barrel is then effectually closed. In order
that the end of the bar may always be brought into the exact position for
opening the barrel, or, in other words, that it shall invariably and without
possibility of error be placed in the proper position for sliding through the
hole in the fixed breech plug, a thin circular disc, having an exactly similar
rectangular hole across its centre, is placed in the end of the barrel in front of
the face of the fixed plug. This disk is not screwed or fixed in the barrel,
but merely placed in a small recess formed in the barrel for it immediately
in front of the female screw for the fixed breech plug. The disk fits
on the end of the bar, which never leaves the hole across its centre; the
disk therefore rotates with the bar and acts as a guide for making its end
always coincide with the hole in the fixed plug when the barrel is to bo
opened. To furnish the means for partially rotating the moveable cylindrical
plug a projecting piece, which may be shaped as a bandle, knob, or lever,

page_text: is screwed on one side after it has been placed in the barrel. A notch is>
made on one side of the cartridge slot, into which this projecting piece enters:
when the cylindrical plug is rotated for closing the barrel. The action of:
the arrangement is therefore as follows:-To open the arm for loading
raise the projecting handle, knob, or lever by turning it, upwards until its top
side comes into contact with the opposite side of the cartridge slot, then pull
back towards the butt of the gun as far as the moveable breech will go, drop a
cartridge into the open trough of tho barrel, push the handle forward until
stopped by the front end of the cartridge slot, then turn the handle down into
the notch at the side of that slot, and the arm is then loaded and ready to be
fired. The front part of the cylindrical plug is coned for a short length, as in
the previous arrangement with the hinged stopper, enters into the barrel for a
short distance behind the base of the cartridge. From the base of the cone back-
wards towards the breech for about half an inch the cylindrical plug is turned
down until the diameter is about a quarter of an inch less than the diameter
of the rear part. At about the middle of the length of this reduced portion a
rectangular groove is also cut of such depth as may be deemed desirable.
Over the whole of the first reduced portion (and covering the rectangular
groove) an annular collar or ring of steel or iron is fitted, the thickness of
which is such as to make good the metal removed, so that tho plug again
forms a cylinder from its rear end to the base of the cone at the front. This
collar or ring is retained in its position by several screws, which are made to
pass through it and their extremities to enter into the rectangular groove,
but not fix themselves permanently to it. By this 'means the collar can be
freely rotated about the reduced part of the plug, but cannot be withdrawn
longitudinally from it, the ends of the screws projecting into the groove
preventing the latter, but offering no resistance to the rotation either of the
plug or of the collar. To the under part of this collar the cartridge extractor
is attached, and may either be of the form previously described or such other
as may be preferred; the only difference in this and the previous arrange-
ment being that a slot in the under part of the barrel for the body of the
extractor is not necessary, there being now sufficient space for it between
the base of the cone and the inside of the trough of the barrel without
cutting a slot, although such slot is particularly useful in acting as a
drain for water or dirt or for the action of a lever, the free end of which
rises suddenly through such slot, and striking the under part of the cartridge
case just in front of the extract or when the latter is quite drawn back
throws the caso completely out of the barrel. This lever can be equally
applied to any of the previous arrangements of moveable breoch picces, tho.
D

page_text: construction and action being as follows:-A small cam or detant is fixed on to
the end of the body of the cartridge extractor, and is made to rotate through
a short arc of a circle. The lever is pivotted to the stock immediately under
and coinciding with the small slot in which the body of the extractor works.
When the latter is drawn back to the fixed breach the cam or detant
meets the short arm of the lever, and as the cam or detant cannot move
beyond the limit assigned to it it depresses that arm of the lever until the
detant has passed over it, and so throws up the long arm and jerks the empty
cartridge caso out of the barrel. When the hinged stopper or the cylindrical
plug is being moved forward the detant yields to the short arm of the lever,
so that no movement of the long arm then takes place.
The striker partakes of the character of those previously described, and may
be impelled against the priming either by the descent of a solid sliding nipple
acted upon by the original hammer of the lock, or by the new and shorter
hammer striking upon an anvil, the only difference being that in this instance
the anvil is separated from the plate of the striker, and is attached loosely to
the rear end of the barrel at one sido of the cartridge slot. The striker bolt
and its plate work partly in a slot and partly in a long notch cut on one side
of the rotating breech bar; the front part of the bolt passes through a central.
hole in the cylindrical plug. The anvil has an arm which projects laterally
into the trough of the barrel, so that when the bar is rotated from the vertical
to the horizontal position the width of the bar then places the striker plate in
such manner as causes tho projecting arm of the anvil to enter into a notch
cut on its head, so that the forward impulsion of the anvil by the blow of the
haminer carries the striker with it and ignites the priming. The reverse or
opening motion of the breech removes the striker plate from the arm of the
anvil, so that unless the breech is perfectly secured the arm cannot be fired,
for when the bar is in the vertical position the blow of the hammer only drives
the anvil forward without affecting the striker, the impact of which alone can
fire the charge. The slot and trough of the arm is protected from wet and
dirt by a tubular shield which slips over and is free to rotate about the breech
part of the barrel, but has no longitudinal motion whatever. It rotates to
and fro by the movement of the cylindrical plug; if preferred, however, the
protection may be ensured by a plate which is free to slide longitudinally
backward and forward in the cartridge slot but has no rotatory motion; or
the whole may be covered in by a hinged plate which folds into and closes the
cartridge slot, the hinge or pivot for the said plate being on the upper part of
the arm or lever by which the cylindrical plug is rotated, so that the plate when
raised forms a bandle by means of which the whole of the breech arrangement

page_text: may be acted upon. The position of the strap of the fixed breech plug is at the
under part of the barrel instead of the usual place at the top. The head of
the breech pin fits into a countersink in the strap in the usual manner, so
that the breech bar slides over it when the arm is opened for loading. The
necessary opening in the stock to allow of this is covered over by a short plato
or false strap, which occupies the same place as that usually filled by
the strap of the ordinary breech plug. In opening the breech the cylindrical
plug rotates within the collar at its front part, the latter and its extractor.
then remaining immoveable in the barrel until the cylindrical part is drawn
back towards the butt, when they at once move with it.
From the foregoing description the Invention will be understood by those
conversant with the art of converting muzzle loaders into breech-loading arms.
I annex a Sheet of Drawings in order to illustrate the principal features of
the Invention.
Fig 1 is a plan view of the breech as closed down; Fig. 2 is a side view
of the breech when raised up for the purpose of withdrawing the empty
cartridge and replacing a loaded cartridge; Fig. 8 is an opposite side view of
the moveable breech plug shewing the adjusting lever closed down..
a, is the stock; b, the barrel; c, the main body of the breech plug; d, the
hinge to the barrel; e, the hammer; f, the striker attached to the discharging
pin g; h, the elevating and depressing lover which acts upon the striker and
fastener simultaneously in order to pass the bolt or fastener i into the recess in
the body, and to throw back the striker f and ping for the blow. of the
hammer. The extractor is shewn at k. In Fig. 3, f shews the continuation
of the striker in communication with the opposite side f, Figs. 1 and 2, the
wedge being thrust back. by the wedge h¹.
Figs. 4 and 5 are plan views of the modification of gun previously described,
in which a sliding cap covers the opening of the breech; this cap is placed
within the opening, which it fits, it slides backwards and forwards, but does
not turn round by reason of its attachment to the sliding breech plug by a
screw terminating in a pin which gears in the slot a, so that a corresponding
slot being cut in the sliding plate the breech plug is free to turn, and the
plate merely slides to and fro when the breech is opened and closed.
b is the barrel with necessary opening cut out to contain the breech plug c,
having a thumb-piece d and projection e for attachment of a jointed lever ;
f shews the position of the cartridge extractor; and g is a bar of an oblong
square section attached to the breech plug and bearing against the extremity
of the breech ath by the intervention of the ring i, through which the bar
slides, and whereby it is steadied and guided.

page_text: Fig. 4 shews the breech shut down ready for firing, the bar g exposing its
broad face transversely to the narrow slot, whereas in Fig. 5, the bar and
breech plug having been turned up about a quarter of a turn, the bar presents
its narrow section to the corresponding cavity in the body of the breech, and
enables the bar to slide back as shewn in Fig. 5.
The arrangement of the central-firing pin is too obvious to need descrip-
tion. A slot is cut in the bar for the purpose of avoiding hindrance from the
striker and its component parts while the bar is turned. The ring i simply
turns to and fro with the bar, but does not travel, being held by the interior
circular groove in which it turns in the breech.
The improvement shewn in Fig. 6 will be easily understood by the
following references:-a is the solid breech piece fitting accurately into large
slot of the barrel; b, b, ordinary breech plug screwed into breech end of
barrel with central cylindrical holo through the same for spring locking bolt; c,
locking bolt acted upon by a spring of any ordinary form; d, striking bolt
which ignites the priming, it works in a hole drilled diagonally through the
solid breech piece at such an angle as conducts the point of the bolt to the
centre of the base of the cartridge; this bolt may be used with or without
a spiral spring; e, retaining screw for the striking bolt; it allows the bolt
a certain amount of longitudinal motion, but will not allow it to be removed
from the breech piece until the screw is taken out; f, one of the screws which
connects the flap of the stopper hinge with the solid breech; g, hinge joint
connecting stopper and breech piece; h, h, nose of breech piece which enters
into and fills up the central opening in the stopper. In this modification the
stopper and cartridge extractor are unaltered, and the lever for throwing the
empty cartridge case out of the barrel may or may not be applied. It would
be well to observe here that this striking bolt is not my Invention, but its
application to my breech arrangement is new.
Fig. 7 shows the arrangement for unlocking the moveable breech when
necessary to open the arm. It is a transverse section; a, a, a, transverse
section of the barrel at the rear end of solid breech piece; b, b, end of solid
breech piece that bears against the face of the fixed breech plug; c, hole in rear
end of breech piece into which the spring locking bolt enters; d, d, short
lever for pushing back the spring bolt and releasing the breech piece; e, c,
pivot of lever; f, thumb-piece of lever chequered or roughened to prevent
lipping on pushing this thumb-piece forward towards the muzzle the
opposite arm of the lever pushes the spring bolt back into the hole in the
fixed plug, metal left at the top of the breech piece for the guiding
hole of the striking bolt; h, rear end of hole for striking bolt. From tho

page_text: shape of the point of the locking bolt in Fig. 6 it will be seen that in closing
the breech with this modification it is not necessary to touch the lever, for it'
shuts down with a snap action and secures itself.
Fig. 8 shews the arrangement of the bottom slot of the barrel by which
the whole of the breech action can be taken out on removing a single stopping
screw.
a, a, is the large slot of barrel into which the breech piece fits; b, b, small
slot in bottom of barrel in which the body of the cartridge extractor slides;
c, c, enlarged portion of small slot to admit of the body of the extractor being
lifted out of the barrel with the moveable breech for cleaning purposes; d, d;
stopping screw which prevents the body of the cartridgo extractor being lifted`
out unless the screw is first removed; e, e, ordinary breech plug screwed into'
end of barrel; f,f, outside of barret.
The object of that part of my Invention relating to the loading rod is to
furnish the means by which the powder charge of ordinary muzzle-loading
rifles may at all times be placed in the proper place at the breech of the rifle
without coming in contact with any grease or fouling matter which the other
part of the interior of the barrel may contain. This is effected by taking a
piece of tube of brass or any other metal, or of vulcanite or other hardened
preparation of india-rubber, and closing one end by a block of the same
material as that of the tube. This block should be about of an inch in
length, and should be formed with a sloping side, which should commence from
near the bottom of the block and reach quite to the top of the opposite side,
thus almost diagonally bisecting the cylindrical form it originally had. The
block is then secured in the end of the tube by solder, cement, or screws, as
may be preferred. At the side of the block which forms the base of the
slope or angle a hole is made, one side of which is formed by a portion of
the interior side of the tube and the remainder by the thickness of the block
there. The portion formed by the block is splayed out, or enlarged as it'
extends up the original slope or angle. The centre of this hole is eccentric
to the axis of the tube, and no portion of its circumference must ever meet
that axis.
Another cylindrical piece of metal or vulcanite, &c. is bored out or
recessed at one end, so that it may be drawn over the end of the tube con-
taining the fixed sloping block like a cap, and is retained in that position by:
a screw which passes through a slot cut in the side of the cap, and fixes itself
in the side of the interior tube and its block. The two are therefore so
attached to each other that no longitudinal motion can take place, but they
are free to rotate (one within the other) to the extent of the slot in the side

page_text: of the cap. The other end of the cap is formed with a cup-shaped hollow to
suit the point of the bullet when the rod is used as a rammer.
An eccentric
hole is also worked through this cavity, so that it and the eccentric hole in
the side of the block at the end of the interior tube can be made to coincide
by rotating the interior tube to the extent allowed by the slot and screw on
the side of the cap. The head of the loading rod is then open and ready to
receive or pass out the powder charge. The reversal of the motion of the
interior tube closes the head of the rod, and the powder can then neither be
passed in or out of it. The exterior surface of tho cap is either shaped to coincide
with the form of the rifle bore or is fitted with studs which engage in two or
more of the rifle grooves or angles. These loading heads may be fixed to the
wood or steel ramrods in ordinary use, and are available for every size and
description of rifle bore. Iu using them the head is to be opened before
removing the rod from its place in the stock; the powder, whether it be from
a cartridge or a flask, is then poured into the head (instead of into the
barrel); the head is then closed and the rod wholly withdrawn from the stock.
The head is then passed down the bore until it reaches the breech; it is then
raised for about an inch or so, and the small end of the rod is made to turn
towards the left side until it will not move further. This turning or rotation
of the rod makes the interior tube of the head rotate until stopped by the
meeting of the side screw with the end of the slot in the side of the cap;
owing to the studs on the latter or its shape being adapted to the angles of
the bore it cannot rotate, and is therefore held fast, so that the rotation of the
interior tubo makes the two eccentric holes coincide when the powder falls
from the head into the barrel. The rod is then withdrawn from the barrel
bullet home, leaving the loading head still
and is available for ramming the
open for the next powder charge.
In Fig. 8 f is a detent binged to the block; g is a lever on which the
detent acts when the block is drawn back; the lever has its bearing in the
stock; the end g¹ suddenly rises through the slot in the barrel and jerks out
the cartridge.
Figs. 9 and 10 are side and plan views of part of breech according to the
first part of this Specification, where the breech opens at the side and is
hinged by a pin and slotted tube; this breech is used with a solid nipple,
and the ordinary hammer is employed; the nipple moves up and down and
acts upon the discharging pin by the intervention of the wedge piece shewn
in dotted lines. a is the slotted plate whereby the breech is secured and
released.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in

page_text: which the same is to be performed, I would remark in conclusion that I do
not limit myself to the precise details and configuration of parts I have.
expressed and shewn (in part); but what I claim and desire to be secured to me
by the herein in part recited Letters Patent are, the general arrangements
and combinations of parts constituting "Improvements in Breech-loading and
other Fire-arms, and in Loading Rods to be used therewith, substantially as
berein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Sturrock, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE,
Office for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.
GEORGE STURROCK, (Ls.)
Quartermaster,
Royal Engineers.