IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Cyrus Avery, of Tunkhannock, Wyoming County,
Pennsylvania, America, residing at No. 7, Little Cross Street, Islington,
London, England, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING
FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 9th April 1868, and dated the 10th October 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Cyrus Avery at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th October 1867.
I, CYRUS AVERY, of Tunkhannock, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania,
America, residing at No. 7, Little Cross Street, Islington, London, England,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows :—
My improvements relate to fire-arms wherein the breech is closed by a
block pivotted at its rear end to the sides of the breech chamber, which has an
aperture in the top, the forward end of the block being turned upward through
this aperture when the breech is opened.
The said improvements consist chiefly in the novel arrangement of the
breech block, and in the peculiar construction and combination of the devices

page_text: for operating the said block to open and close the breech, and for securing the
same when the breeeh is closed; also in the peculiar arrangement of the trigger
and mainspring in the devices employed in connection with the same and the
firing pin, and in the means for preventing the accidental discharge of the piece
before the breech is properly closed. The said improvements also consist
in the novel mode of fixing and adjusting the bayonet. The breech block is
made to slide back away from the end of the barrel and to turn upward upon
its pivot to allow the cartridges to be inserted into the charge chamber which
is formed in the said block. The latter is operated by a hinged piece which
is fitted below the breech chamber, and is forced down when released from its
locking bolt by the mainspring, which is a flat piece of steel bent into the
proper form and lying in a recess in the breech shoe. The locking bolt is
drawn back by a lever and forced into its recess by a spiral spring. When the
breech is closed the block is kept solidly in place by a projection on the hinged
piece which lies in the breech chamber behind the said block, and is con-
nected thereto by a link or swivel. The firing pin is arranged to penetrate
the under side of the charge chamber, and is driven into contact with the
cartridge by a hammer which is pivotted to the hinged piece; this hammer is
held when the arm is cocked by the trigger, which is arranged in line with the
hammer and bolt lever, the said hammer, lever, and trigger being protected by
a trigger guard of suitable form attached to the hinged piece. The bayonet
is attached to a ring or ferrule, and is fitted to slide in a groove at the under
side of the barrel, and when pushed forward is held by a spring catch. The
breech chamber is formed in a strong metal shoe at the rear of the barrel, the
said shoe and barrel being secured to the stock in any strong and convenient
manner. The breech block is square or nearly so in cross section, and is well
fitted to the interior of the breech chamber; the forward end of the said block
is formed with a circular projection or extension which fits and enters the rear
of the barrel when the breech is closed. If desired this part of the barrel
may be bushed with copper or other similarly soft metal. The breech chamber
is made long enough to allow the block to be drawn backward to bring its
circular end clear of the barrel; the pivots or trunnions upon which the rear
end of the block turns are fitted to slide in guide ways formed in the sides of
the breech chamber. The metal piece which carries the trigger and other
parts of the mechanism is hinged or jointed to an extension of the breech shoe
at the rear of the breech chamber. This metal piece lies flush with the
bottom of the shoe when the breech is closed, and is turned downward when
the breech is opened. The projection on this binged piece which extends
upward behind the block is divided into jaws or lugs which are connected by a

page_text: link or swivel to the rear end of the breech block. The said link is fitted
between the jaws, which when the breech is closed fill the space between the
rear end of the block and the back of the breech chamber. As the jaws rise
behind the block the link or swivel forces the latter forward, its circular end
entering the rear of the barrel, and its square shoulder being pressed tightly in
contact with the same; the jaws then form a solid abutment to support the
block against the strain caused by the recoil when the piece is fired. The
forward end of the hinged piece is provided with a sliding bolt which is fitted
to enter a recess in the front of the breech shoe, and the hinged piece cannot
be forced down till this bolt is drawn out of its recess. I operate the said
bolt by means of a small lever which is fitted in an aperture or slot formed in
the hinged piece. This lever is pivotted at its fulcrum to the said piece, and is
provided with a short arm which is connected to a flat rod or bar fitted to slide
at the side of the hinged piece, the other end of which rod or bar is attached to
the locking bolt. The firing pin is arranged below the breech block, its head
being extended downward through the shoe into the proper position to be
struck by the hammer; the latter is pivotted in the central aperture of the
hinged piece, and is arranged in line with the bolt lever and trigger. This
trigger is a short lever which is arranged behind the bolt lever, and is held by
a small spring in a convenient position to be depressed by a slight pressure
of the finger. The trigger is formed with a catch at its lower end, which holds
the hammer when the same is drawn back, the said hammer being formed
with a curved portion or hook extended beyond its head or striking part;
this book is provided with a claw or catch to engage with the catch of the
trigger, and affords a convenient means whereby the hammer is drawn back
to cock the piece. The cartridge being inserted in the charge chamber the
block and hinged piece are adjusted and secured by one movement of the
band, the bolt on the latter being forced into its recess by the spiral spring;
the arm may then be discharged by simply pulling back and releasing the
hammer or may be cocked by locking the said hammer with the trigger.
After the discharge the binged piece is thrown down and the breech opened to
receive a fresh cartridge by simply pulling the bolt lever which releases the
hinged piece, the said lever being so árranged in relation to the hammer and
trigger that no change in the position of the hand is required to operate either of
these parts; the hinged piece is then pressed down by the mainspring, and by
means of the link jointed to the block first draws the latter back clear of the
barrel and then throws it upward; the cartridge being inserted the arm is
again adjusted for firing by simply grasping the block and hinged piece and
pressing them together into their respective places. The groove wherein the

page_text: bayonet slides is formed in a web or ridge projecting from the under surface
of the barrel. The ring or ferrule to which the bayonet is secured is made to
slide freely over the said barrel. The spring catch is so arranged that when
the bayonet is pushed forward the claw of the said catch drops into a notch
or recess formed in the web, the bayonet is thus securely held and cannot be
forced back till the catch is released. A ring is screwed upon the end of the
barrel to form a stop for the ferrule of the bayonet, and this ring carries the
forward sight piece. The rear sight is formed by drilling a small hole in a
projection upon the metal band, which secures the rear end of the barrel to
the stock.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Cyrus Avery in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th April 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CYRUS
AVERY, of Tunkhannock, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, America, residing
at No. 7, Little Cross Street, Islington, London, England, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Cyrus Avery, Her special licence that I, the said Cyrus Avery, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Cyrus
Avery, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agroo 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 FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Cyrus Avery, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Cyrus Avery, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings forming
a part of this Specification:-
My improvements relate to fire-arms wherein the breech is closed by a
block pivotted at its rear end to the sides of the breech chamber, which has aii
aperture in the top, the forward end of the block being turned upward through
this aperture when the breech is opened.
The said improvements consist chiefly in the novel arrangement of the
breech block, and in the peculiar construction and combination of the devices
for operating the said block to open and close the breech, and for securing the
same when the breech is closed; also in the peculiar arrangement of the
trigger and mainspring in the devices employed in connection with the same
and the firing pin, and in the means for preventing the accidental discharge
of the piece before the breech is properly closed. The said improvements
also consist in the novel mode of fixing and adjusting the bayonet. The
breech block is made to slide back away from the end of the barrel and to turn
upward upon its pivot to allow the cartridge to be inserted into the chargo
chamber which is formed in the said. block. The latter is operated by a
hinged piece which is fitted below the breech chamber, and is forced down
when released by its locking bolt by the mainspring, which is a flat piece of
steel bent into the proper form and lying in a recess in the breech shoe. The
locking bolt is drawn back by a lever, and forced into its recess by a spiral
spring. When the breech is closed the block is kept solidly in place by a
projection on the hinged piece which lies in the breech chamber behind the
said block, and is connected thereto by a link or swivel. The firing pin is
arranged to penetrate the under side of the charge chamber, and is driven
into contact with the cartridge by a hammer which is pivoted to the hinged
piece. This hammer is held when the arm is cocked by the trigger, which is
arranged in line with the hammer and bolt lever, the said hammer, lever, and
trigger being protected by a trigger guard of suitable form attached to the
hinged piece. The bayonet is attached to a ring or ferrule, and is fitted to
slide in a groove at the under side of the barrel, and when pushed forward is
hold hy n spring catch..

page_text: closed; Figure 4 is a transverse section through the barrel; Figure 5 is a
side view of the said rifle drawn to a reduced scale. Like letters refer to the
same parts in all of the Figures.
The stock a and barrel b may be of any suitable form and construction, and
the latter is screwed or otherwise firmly secured to a strong metal shoe c at
the rear of the barrel, the said shoe, and barrel being secured to the stock in
any strong and convenient manner. The breech block d is square or nearly
so in cross section, and is well fitted to the interior of the breech chamber e,
which is formed in the breech shoe c. The forward end of the said block is
formed with a circular projection or extension d', which fits and enters the
shoe at the rear of the barrel 6 when the breech is closed. If desired this
part of the barrel may be bushed with copper or other similarly soft metal. The
breech chamber e is made long enough to allow the block d to be drawn back-
ward to bring its circular end d¹ clear of the barrel. The pivots or trunnions
fupon which the rear end of the block d turns are fitted to slide in guide-
ways formed in the sides of the breech chamber e. The hinged piece g
which carries the trigger and other parts of the mechanism is made in two
halves, and is hinged or jointed to an extension c¹ of the breech shoe at the
rear of the breech chamber e.
This hinged piece lies flush with the bottom
of the shoe c when the breech is closed, as in Figure 3, and is turned down-
ward when the breech is opened, as in Figure 2. The projection g¹ on this
hinged piece which extends upward behind the block is divided into jaws or
lugs g³, which are connected by a link or swivel to the rear end of the breech
block d. The said link is fitted between the jaws g, which when the breech
is closed fill the space between the rear end of the block d and the back of
the breech chamber e. As the jaws 9 rise behind the block d the link or
swivel h forces the latter forward, its circular end d' entering the shoe at the
rear of the barrel, and its square shoulder d³ being pressed tightly in contact
with the sanie; the jaws 93 then form a solid abutment to support the
block d against the strain caused by the recoil when the piece is fired. The
forward end of the hinged piece 9 is provided with a sliding bolt i, which is
fitted to enter a recess j in the front of the breech shoe c, and the hinged
piece cannot be forced down till this bolt is drawn out of its recess j. The
bolt i is formed with a handle whereby it is drawn back to release the hinged
piece g, the said bolt being forced forward into the said recess by a spring k;
or the bolt may be operated by means of a small lever fitted in an aperture
or slot formed in the hinged piece g. This lever might be pivoted at its
fulcrum to the said hinged piece and connected by a short arm to a flat rod
or bar fitted to slide at the side of the hinged piece, the other end of the said

page_text: rod or bar being attached to the locking bolt i. The firing pin l is arranged
below the breech block, its head being extended downward through the
piece g into the proper position to be struck by the bammer m. The latter
is pivoted in the central aperture between the two parts of the hinged piece,
and is arranged in line with the bolt handle and trigger n. This trigger is
a short lever, which is arranged behind the bolt handle 1 and is formed or
provided with a small spring o, whereby it is held in a convenient position to be
depressed by the finger. The trigger n is formed with a catch n' at its lower
end, which holds the hammer m when the same is drawn back, as shewn in
Figure 3, the said hammer being formed with a curved extremity or hook m¹
extended beyond its head or striking part m³. This hook or curved portion
is provided with a claw or catch m³ to engage with the catch n' of the trigger,
and affords a convenient means whereby the hammer is drawn back to cock
the piece. The cartridge being inserted in the charge chamber d* the block d
and hinged piece 9 are adjusted and secured as shown in Figure 3 by
one movement of the hand, the bolt i being forced into its recess j by the
spiral spring; the arm may then be discharged without cocking by simply
pulling back and releasing the hammer m, or may be cocked as shown in the
samo Figure by locking the said hammer with the trigger n by means of the
catches m³ and n'. After the discharge the hinged piece 9 is thrown down
as in Figure 2, and the breech opened to receive a fresh cartridge by
simply drawing back the bolt i, which releases the hinged piece 9, the handle
or lever of the said bolt being so arranged in relation to the hammer m and
trigger n that no change in the position of the band is required to operate
either of these parts. The hinged piece 9 when thus released yields to the
pressure of the mainspring a", which forces it down into the position represented-
in Figure 2. By means of the link h the said block first draws the block d
back clear of the barrel b, and then throws the said block upward, as in
Figure 2; a fresh cartridge may then be inserted in the charge chamber d®,
the arm being again adjusted for firing by simply grasping the block d and
binged piece g and pressing them together into their respective places. The
groove p wherein the bayonet q slides is formed in a web or ridge r projecting
from the under surface of the barrel b. The ring or ferrule s to which the
bayonet q is secured is made to slide freely over the said barrel. The spring
catch t is so arranged that when the bayonet is pushed forward the claw t' of
the said catch drops into a notch or recess r¹ formed in the web r. The
bayonet q is thus securely held, and cannot be forced back till the catch t² is
released. A ring u is screwed upon the end of the barrel 6 to form a stop
for the ferrule's of the bayonet, and this ring carries the forward sight piece v.

page_text: The rear sight is formed by drilling a small hole in a projection w' upon the
inetal band w which secures the rear end of the barrel b to the stock a.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and shown how the same
may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I wish it
understood that I do not limit myself to the precise form and arrangement of
parts illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, as some of these parts may bo
varied or modified without departing from the principles of the said Invention;
but I claim,
First. A block formed with a chamber to hold the cartridge, and so arranged
that by the dropping of the front end of the binged pieco or guard g it is drawn
back and turned up on its rear end to open the breech and to receive the
cartridge, and which is also formed at its front end to fit the barrel or shoe,
forming therewith when the breech is closed a male and female joint substantially
as set forth.
Second. Constructing and arranging the haminer m in such a manner that
the hook or curved portion m³ whereby it is drawn back is locked with the
trigger n substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Third. A bayonet constructed and arranged to slide outward upon the
barrel when in use and secured or locked upon the said barrel substantially as
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Cyrus Avery, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-eight.
CIRUS AVERY. (L.S.)