AN IMPROVED BREECH- LOADING FIRE-ARM
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ethan Allen, of the State of Massachusetts, of the
United States of America, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED BREECH-
LOADING FIRE-ARM."
Sealed the 3rd August 1855, and dated the 5th June 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ethan Allen at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th June
1855.
I, ETHAN ALLEN, of the State of Massachusetts, of the United States of
America, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention of "AN IMPROVED
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARM" to be fully described and ascertained in and by
the following Specification, and the accompanying Drawings, letters, figures,
and references thereof, that is to say:-
Of the said Drawings, Figure 1 denotes a side view of that part of the
barrel and stock of a rifle or gun to which my Invention is applied; Figure 2
is a top view of the same; Figure 3 is a vertical, central, and longitudinal
section of the same, the turning block lever thereof being shown as closed
down upon the stock; Figure 4 is a similar section, in which the turning block
lever is represented as elevated to its highest position above the stock;
Figure 5 is a vertical and transverse section, taken through the axis of the
turning breech block; Figure 6 is a top view of said turning. breech block,

page_text: its confining screw and turning lever to be herein-after described; Figure 7 is
an inner side view of such block, screw, and lever.
A
In these Drawings, A denotes the barrel of a common rifle or fire-arm,
while B is the handle or stock of the same. The rear end of the
barrel opens into a cylindrical chamber C, within which is placed a rotary
charge chamber and breech block D, whose axis is arranged at right
angles to that of the "barrel. The said breech block is provided with
journals a, a, as seen in Figures .5, 6, and 7, and it is attached by one of
said journals, to a lever E, which extends from the journal and down on
the top or upper side of the stock B, so as to constitute when closed
thereupon a cover or protection to a grooved passage F, formed in the stock,
and made to open into the cylindrical chamber C, and in or about in line
with the bore of the barrel A. That end of the chamber through which
that journal a which is immediately attached to the lever E passes is formed
with a bearing 6 for such journal to revolve in, and has a confining inale
screw c, by which it is either fastened to or unfastened from 'the-remainder of
the chamber C, as occasion may require such chamber being formed with a
female screw for the reception of such screw c.
The other cylindrical journal of the block, Dafits into, a corresponding
bearing d, formed in the other end of the chamber C: The said turning -
block D is provided with a charge chamber e, which extends entirely through
it axially, or in one direction, and leads out of it in another or laternally, and
nearly or about at right angles to the first, as seen in the Drawings. The
segmental part of the block D; I-term the breech, its purpose being not
only to cover the passage F and serve as a breech to the barrel when the axis
of the charge chamber e stands in a vertical position, but to uncover said
passage F when said-axis is in a horizontal. position. The chamber e, should
have a diameter corresponding with that of a bore of the rear part of the
barrel, or, that part which is to receive, the cartridge, such part in.-breech-
loading fire-arms (for a purpose well known) being generally made of ä
somewhat larger diameter than the remaining part of the bore of the barrel..
The segmental breech part of the block D has its external cylindric
surface curved with a, radius corresponding to that of the chamber C, while
the remainder of the external curved surface of the block may be formed
with a smaller radius, in order that, there may be a space g, g, between such
part of the block and the internal surface of the chamber, C, such space
serving to prevent any carbonaceous matter that may be between the block
D'and the sides of, the chamber C from so fouling the block as to materially
impede .its. rotations

page_text: As the segmental part
+
projects! beyond the remainder of the block, it
serves 'when put in movement to scrape, and clean;.the inside surface of the
cliamber C. The percussion nipple is represented at G, while the percussion
hammer. of the lock is shown at B, in the Drawings. The flame passage of
said nipple may be made to 1 communicate directly with the chamber e when
the axis of said chamber e stands in a vertical position, or the percussion
nipple may communicate, directly with it by means of a. hole or passage i
made through thetsegmental part or breech f.d
16
In using, my.improved fire-arm, the lever E is first to be raised above the:
stock, so as to bring the axis of the chamber e horizontal, or into line with,
the bore of the barrel A and the passage F., While the said parts are in such
positions, a cartridge may be placed in the passage F, and pushed from thence
into the charge chamber e and; the bore of the barrel A. This having been:
done, the lever Eis next to be turned down towards and upon the stock, so
as to, move, the axis of the chamber e.into an angular position with respect:
to that of the barrel A. In consequences of the. peculiar formation of the.
chamber e, such chamber during its return or last-described movement will
so act in conjunction with the bore of the barrel as to bend and break the
cartridge, and expose its contents or powder, so that it may be readily ignited
when a percussion cap is exploded on the nipple. Under these circums
it will be seen that the chamber e performs the function of holding a part
of the charge or cartridge while the remainder extends into the barrel:
circumstances:
A breech-loading fire-arm constructed in the manner above described has
been found, very efficient, and to possess many advantages in its operation not
incident to most other arms of such description in use.
I do not claim a rotary charge, receiver, placed within or applied to a gun
barrel, nor do I claim a perforated rotary breech cylinder,,so combined with or
applied to a gun barrel and entirely in rear of its charge chamber, that it (or its
cylinder), may be capable of being rotated or turned in one direction, so as not
only to uncover the rear end of such charge chamber, and present a passage or
opening through which a charge may be introduced into, it, but -rotated back,
so as to cover the rear end of the charge chamber, and constitute a breech
thereto; nor do I claim, a. turning, lever and breech so applied, to the rear, end
or part of a gun barrel as to be capable of being turned up so as to uncover
such end sufficiently to permit a charge or cartridge, to be introduced into the
barrel nor do I claim a sliding or moveable breech, so applied to the barrel
as not only to constitute a breech thereto and a means of uncovering the rear
end of the bore of-the-barrel, and enabling-a cartridge to be introduced into the
same, but. a contrivance, for.shearing or cutting off the rear-part or end of

page_text: the cartridge after the introduction of such cartridge into the barrel; but what
I do claim as my Invention is, so combining a rotary or movable breech and
a charge chamber together and with the barrel of a fire-arm, that not only
when they, the said breech and chamber, are moved or rotated in one direction
shall the breech uncover the passage into the barrel, and such charge chamber
be brought into a position to permit a cartridge to be passed into it and the
barrel, but when they, the said breech and chamber, are rotated in the opposite
direction, such breech shall be made to cover the passage into the barrel, and
such charge chamber in conjunction with the barrel be caused to bend, break,
and hold such cartridge, as specified.
I also claim, when the charge chamber and breech block D are provided
with journals and bearings as specified, extending the movable breech beyond
the block, in manner as described, in order that not only may said breech serve
as a scraper to the inside surface of the case C, but that the block may be pro-
tected from the injury and friction from carbonaneous matter, resulting from
the explosion of a charge, as specified.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Ethan Allen in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd
November 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ETHAN
ALLEN, of the State of Massachusetts, of the United States of America, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of June, A.D. 1855, in the eighteenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Ethan Allen, Her special license that I, the said Ethan
Allen, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Ethan Allen, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention of "AN IMPROVED BREECH-LOADING
FIRE-ARM," upon the condition [amongst others] that I, the said Ethan Allen,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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

page_text: 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 Ethan Allen, 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 Specifica-
tion, and the accompanying Drawings, letters, figures, and references thereof:-
Of the said Drawings, Figure 1 denotes a side view of that part of the
barrel and stock of a rifle or gun to which my Invention is applied; Figure 2
is a top view of the same; Figure 3 is a vertical, central, and longitudinal
section of the same, the turning block lever thereof being shown as closed
down upon the stock; Figure 4 is a similar section, in which the turning block
lever is represented as elevated to its highest position above the stock; Figure 5
is a vertical and transverse section, taking through the axis of the turning
breech block; Figure 6 is a top view of said turning breech block, its con-
fining screw and turning lever to be herein-after described; Figure 7 is an
inner side view of such block, screw, and lever.
In these Drawings, A denotes the barrel of a common rifle or fire-arm,
while B is the handle or stock of the same. The rear of the barrel opens
into a cylindrical chamber C, within which there is placed a rotary charge
chamber and breech block D, whose axis is arranged at right angles to that
of the barrel. The said breech block is provided with journals a, a, as seen
in Figures 5, 6, and 7, and it is attached by one of said journals to a lever E,
which extends from the journal and down on the top or upper side of the stock
B, so as to constitute when closed thereupon a cover or protection to a grooved
passage F, formed in the stock, and made to open into the cylindrical chamber
C, and in or about in line with the barrel A. That end of the chamber C,
through which that journal a, which is immediately attached to the lever E
passes, is formed with a bearing 6 for such journal to revolve in, and has a
confining male screw c, by which it is either fastened or unfastened from the
remainder of the chamber C, as occasion may require, such chamber being
formed with a female screw for the reception of such screw c. The other
cylindrical journal of the block D fits into a corresponding bearing d, formed
in the other end of the chamber. C. The said turning block D is provided
with a charge chamber e, which extends entirely through it, or axially, in one
direction, and leads out of it in another, or laterally, and nearly or about at
right angles to the first, as seen in the Drawings. The segmental part f of
the block D, I. term the breech; it purpose being. not only to cover the
passage F and serve as a breech to the barrel when the axis of the charge
chamber e stands in vertical position, but to uncover the said passage F

page_text: when said axis is in a horizontal position. The chamber e should have a
diameter corresponding with that of the bore of the rear part of the barrel,
or that part which is to receive the cartridge, such part in breech-loading fire-
arms being, for a purpose well known; generally made of a diameter somewhat
larger than the remaining part of the bore of the barrel. The segmental
breech part of the block D has its external cylindric surface curved, with a
radius corresponding to that of the chamber C, while the remainder of the
external curved surface of the block may be formed with a smaller radius, in
order that there may be a smaller radius, in order that there may be a space
9. g, between such part of the block and the internal surface of the chamber C,
such space serving to prevent any carbonaceous matter that may be between
the block D and the sides of the chamber C from so fouling the block as to'
materially impede its rotations. As the segmental part f'projects beyond
the remainder of the block, it serves when put in. movement to scrape and
clean the inside surface of the chamber C..
The percussion nipple is represented at G, while the percussion hammer of
the block is shown at H, in the Drawings: The flame passage of said nipple
may be made to communicate directly with the chamber e when, the.axis of
said chamber e stands in a vertical position, or "the" percussion nipple may
communicate directly with it by means of-a-hole or passage i made through.
the segmental; part or breech f
In using my improved, fire-arm, the lever, Eis first to be raised above the
stock, so as to bring the axis of the chamber e horizontal, or 'into line with
the bore of the barrel. A and passage: f. While the said parts are in said:
position, a cartridge. may be, laid in the passage F, and pushed from thence
into the charge chamber e and the bore of the barrel A. This having been:
done, the lever E-is next to be turned. down toward-and upon the stock, and
so as to move the axis of the chamber e into an angular, position with respect
to that of the barrel A. In consequence, of the peculiar formation of the
chamber e; such chamber during its return or last described movement will so
act in conjunction with the bore of the barrel as to bend, and break the
cartridge, and expose its contents or powder, so that it may readily be ignited.
when a percussion cap is exploded on the nipple. Under these circumstances
it will be seen that the chamber e also performs the function of holding a part
of the charge or cartridge while the remainder extends into the barrel.:
A breech-loading fire-arm constructed in manner as above described has
been found very efficient; and to possess many advantages in its operation
not incident to most other arms of such description in use.
By the peculiar construction of the faucet breech,.. and the manner in which.

page_text: 'it is applied to the barrel, the force of the explosion of a charge is caused not
only to press the breech backward; so as to close the rear joint, but also to
press the breech laterally; so as to close the joint between it and the screw.c.
When a 'charge' is wholly placed in the barrel, and in front of a faucet breech,
the force of the explosion of such charge tends to open the joint between the
breech and the rear end of the barrel, causing more or less gas to escape
out of such joint. Closing the joints by the force of the explosion is an
important advantage, as the fouling of them by the gas or smoke is thereby
prevented in a great degree from taking place. The sides of the chamber
C.can easily be made of sufficient strength to successfully resist the explosion,
of the charge, whatever may be the direction in which it may operate, and
as the cartridge is broken apart at or near, its middle, its contents are much
better exposed to ignition from the fire of the priming, and are more thoroughly
ignited, than would be the case were such made to act against the rear end
only of the cartridge.
I do not claim a rotary charge receiver placed within or applied to a gun
barrel, nor do I claim a sliding or movable breech so applied to the barrel
as to constitute not only a breech thereto, and a means of uncovering the rear
end of the bore of the barrel, and enabling a cartridge to be introduced into
the same, but a contrivance for shearing or cutting off the rear part or end of
the cartridge after the introduction of such cartridge into the barrel; nor do I
claim a perforated rotary breech cylinder, so combined with or applied to a gun
barrel and entirely in rear of its charge chamber, that it (or its cylinder) may
be capable of being rotated or turned in one direction, so as not only to
uncover the rear end of such charge chamber, and present a passage or opening
through which a charge may be introduced into it, but rotated back, so as to
cover the rear end of the charge chamber, and constitute a breech thereto;
nor do I claim a turning lever and breech so applied to the rear end or part
of a gun barrel as to be capable of being turned up so as to uncover such end
sufficiently to permit a charge or cartridge to be introduced into the barrel;
but what I do claim as my Invention is, so combining a rotary or movable
breech and a charge chamber together and with the barrel of a fire-arm, that
not only when they (the said breech and chamber) are moved or rotated in
one direction shall the breech uncover the passage into the barrel, and such
charge chamber be brought into a position to permit a cartridge to be passed
into it and the barrel, but when they (the said breech and chamber) are
rotated in the opposite direction, such breech shall be made to cover the
passage into the barrel, and such charge chamber in conjunction with the
barrel be caused to bend, break, and hold such cartridge, as specified.

page_text: I also claim, when the charge chamber and breech block D are provided
with journals and bearings, as specified, extending the movable breech beyond
the block, in manner as described, in order, that not only may said breech serve
as a scraper to the inside surface of the case C; but that the block may be
protected from the injury and friction of the carbonaceous matter resulting
from the explosion of a charge, as specified.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my signature and seal, this
Second day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-five.
ETHAN ALLEN. (L.S.)