IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LOCK AND OTHER PARTS OF BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR THE SAME."
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Vincent Fosbery, V.C., a Captain in the
Bengal Army, of Ladywell House, near Brixham, in the County of
Devon, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LOCK AND OTHER
PARTS OF BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR THE SAME."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Vincent Fosbery
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 19th May 1866.
I, GEORGE VINCENT FOSBERY, V.C., a Captain in the Bengal Army, of
Ladywell House, near Brixham, in the County of Devon, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LOCK AND OTHER
PARTS OF BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR THE SAME," to be
as follows:-
The said improvements consist, first, in forging the lock plate and trigger
plate in one piece; second, in the arrangement of the tumbler and mode of
connecting the same to the axle; third, in the mode of securing the lock to
the barrel and stock; fourth, in the mode of securing the plunger, the needle,

page_text: and spring to the trap or lid of the chamber; fifth, in the mode of operating
the bolt or striker; sixth, in the means for extracting the cartridge cases;
seventh, in the general arrangement and combination of parts; eighth, in the
peculiar mode of forming the cartridges for breech-loading fire-arms.
The lock plate to which the mainspring and other parts of the lock are
secured is forged upon one side of the trigger plate; this method of construction
enables the lock to be placed in the centre of the gun, and also allows the
tumbler to be placed in such a position that in firing the piece it will deliver
its blow in a direct line with the centre of the barrel; this arrangement also
obviates the necessity of cutting away the stock to the extent ordinarily
required for the introduction of the lock, and so greatly adds to the strength
of the piece. The piece may be still further strengthened by the addition of
side plates placed on the exterior of the stock on each side of the lock, and
united by screws passing through both plates and stock. The tumbler is
formed with a trunnion on each side, by which it is supported so as to turn
freely in bearings formed in the lock plate and bridle; these trunnions are
bored through from end to end, and the axle of the tumbler is fitted therein.
The said axle is furnished with a key or feather which fits into a keyway or
recess formed in the tumbler. This while ensuring a firm connection between the
axle and tumbler allows the former to be easily removed from the said tumbler
when required. The end of the axle is furnished with a screw and nut, the
exterior of the latter being turned to work freely in the hole in the side plate.
'This nut is so formed that when unscrewed and reversed end wise it will serve
as a punch to drive out the axle. A screw passes through the forward end of
the trigger plate and through the stock, and is tapped into a hole in the
under side of the breech end of the barrel. Another screw passes down
through the tail piece of the breech, through the stock, through the trigger
plate, and is tapped into the trigger guard below. By means of these
screws the several portions of the gun are firmly and securely united. The
ordinary sear is dispensed with, the trigger serving in place thereof to act
upon the tumblor, the connection between the latter and the mainspring being
effected by a swivel in the ordinary manner. The trigger spring is secured to
the trigger plate by a screw, and the "pull-off" or force required to release
the tumbler is regulated by adjusting the said screw. The barrel and breech
are by preference forged in one piece. The barrel is bored from end to end,
and the chamber is afterwards cut or slotted out to receive the plunger. The
trap or lid of the breech chamber is hinged or pivotted to the top of the
barrel at the front of the breech chamber. The plunger for closing the breech
opening, and which also carries the needle, is dovetailed or otherwise properly

page_text: secured on the under side of the trap, having a little play endwise to prevent
the shock of the recoil of the piece being borne by the hinge pin. The sides
of the plunger are tapered to correspond with the shape of the chamber, and
to ensure its entering the said chamber in the required position. The said
chamber is perforated or bored through from end to end, the needle being
fitted to slide freely endwise in the perforation in such a direction that when
struck by the bolt its forward end will penetrate the rear of the cartridge.
The spring for keeping the trap firmly closed is placed in a recess formed in
the said trap under the plunger, and is secured therein by a screw, which also
serves to secure the plunger and needle, the said screw being passed from the
outer surface of the trap through the end of the spring, through the side of
the plunger, and into a keyway formed in the side of the needle. The striker
or bolt is arranged to operate under the tail piece of, the breech, the back of
the chamber being perforated for the end of the said bolt to pass; this bolt is
furnished with two catches or projections, which are acted upon by the
tumbler in cocking and firing the piece. The point of the needle is formed
to penetrate the recess in the rear of the cartridge. When the piece is fired
the said needle is tightly wedged in the said cartridge, so that when the needle
is drawn back by the opening of the trap the cartridge is drawn out upon the
point of the needle. Two small catches are fitted to turn upon the hinge pin,
and are so arranged that when the trap is thrown back they will force the
cartridge from the end of the needle. The said cartridge then falls into the
chamber, and may be ejected therefrom by turning the piece partially around
in the hand; or a separate extractor may be employed, consisting of a spring
attached to the plunger, and provided with a notch which takes hold of the
rim of the cartridge. When the trap is opened the cartridge case is drawn
out by the said spring.
I form the cartridge case by stamping it from sheets of tin or other
suitable soft metal or alloy of metal, and cover it with a thin layer of copper
by means of the ordinary electrotype process; or the said cases 'may be
formed of paper or any other suitable substance, which by a coating of
blacklead, tinfoil, or other medium is prepared to receive the copper surface;
the tin or other metal or material may be afterwards melted or burnt out,
leaving a case entirely composed of copper; or the cartridge cases may be
formed by depositing copper by the electrotype process upon flexible moulds,
the said moulds being afterwards withdrawn. The cases are subsequently
dressed in a suitable machine. The said cases may be grooved longitudinally
on their exterior surfaces to allow them to expand and adapt themselves
accrately to the bore of the breech chamber, and also to allow of the

page_text: introduction of lubricating material. The cartridge cases may be tapered to
any required degree by varying the immersion of the said cases in the
electrotype solution during the process. The bullets also may be united to
the said cases, and effectually protected from corrosion by immersion for a
short time in the same solution. Paper, cloth, and other like substances may
also be used for lining or covering the soft metal cases. When used with tho
improved fire-arms herein described a recess or chamber is formed in the
base of the cartridge, into which the point of the needle penetrates when
the piece is fired, the cartridge case being thereby tightly held and drawn out
of the barrel.
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said George Vincent
Fusbery in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th November 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
VINCENT FOSBERY, V.C., a Captain in the Bengal Army, of Ladywell House,
near Brixham, in the County of Devon, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of May, 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 Vincent Fosbery, Her special licence that I, the said
George Vincent Fosbery, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said George Vincent Fosbery, 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 for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LOCK AND OTHER PARTS OF BREECH-
LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR THE SAME," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said George Vincent Fosbery, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Vincent Fosbery, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings forming part of this Specification :-
The said improvements consist, first,, in forging the lock plate and trigger
plate in one piece; second, in the arrangement of the tumbler and mode of
connecting the same to its axle; third, in the mode of securing the lock
to the stock and barrel; fourth, in the mode of securing the plunger, the
needle,, and the spring to the trap or lid of the breech chamber; fifth, in the
mode of operating the bolt or striker; sixth, in the means for extracting
the cartridge cases; seventh, in the general arrangement and combination of
parts; eighth, in the peculiar mode of forming cartridges for breech-loading
fire-arms..
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS..
Figure 1 is a plan of the top of a rifle; Figure 2 is a side view of the
same; Figuro 8 is a longitudinal section on the line a, x, Figure 1; Figure 4
is a transverse section on the line y, y, Figure 2; Figures 5, 6, and 7,
represent detached portions of the said rifle; Figure 8 is a section of one of
my cartridges. Like letters refer to corresponding part in each of the
Figures.
A is the stock, and B the barrel of the said rifle. The lock plate C to
which the mainspring D and other parts of the lock are secured is forged upon
one side of the trigger plate C'. This method of construction enables the
lock to be placed in the centre of the stock A, and also allows the tumbler E
to be placed in such a position that in firing the piece it will deliver its blow
in a direct line with the centre of the barrel B. This arrangement also
obviates the necessity of cutting away the stock A to the extent ordinarily
required for the introduction of the lock, and so greatly adds to the strength
of the piece. The piece may be still further strengthened by the addition of
side plates F placed on the exterior of the stock A on each side of the lock,
and united by screws G passing through both plates and stock. The tumbler
E is formed with a trunnion H on each side by which it is supported so as to
turn freely in bearings formed in the lock plate C and bridle C³. The trunnions
II are bored through from end to end, and the axle I of the tumbler E and
lever J (which actuates the lock in cocking the piece) is fitted therein. The
said axle I is furnished with a feather K which fits into a keyway or recess
formed in the trunnion of the tumbler. This method of construction while

page_text: trigger plate C¹
ensuring the proper connection between the axle I and tumbler E allows the
former to be easily removed from the said tumbler when required. A screw
is formed on the end of the axle I and a long nut L is fitted thereon. The
exterior of the latter is round, and is turned to work freely in the hole in one
of the side plates G. This nut L is so formed that when unscrewed and
reversed endwise it will serve as a punch to drive out the axle I. A screw
M I passes through the forward end of the trigger plate C, and through the
stock A, and is tapped into a hole N in the under side of the barrel B. Another
screw passes down through the tail piece P of the breech Q, through the
stock A, through the trigger plate C¹ and is tapped into the trigger guard R
below. By means of these screws M, O, the several portions of the gun are
firmly and securely united. The ordinary sear is dispensed with, the trigger
S serving in place thereof to act upon the tumbler E. The connection
between the latter and the mainspring D is effected by a swivel T in the
ordinary manner. The trigger spring U is secured to the
by a screw V, and the "pull-off" or force required to release the tumbler E
is regulated by adjusting the said screw V. The barrel B and breech Q are
by preference forged in one piece. The barrel B is bored from end to end,
and the chamber W is afterwards cut or slotted out to receive the plunger X.
The trap or lid Y of the breech chamber W is hinged or pivotted at Z to the
top of the barrel at the front of the breech chamber W. The plunger X for
closing the breech opening, and which also carries the needle a, is by prefer-
ence secured to the trap or lid Y by the screws b, c. The holes in the trap Y
through which these screws b, c, pass are made slightly oblong to permit the
plunger X to have a little play endwise, and to prevent the recoil of the piece
being borne by the hinge pin d. The plunger X instead of being attached to
the trap or lid Y by screws, may be dovetailed or otherwise properly secured
thereto. The rear end e of the trap or lid Y is tapered to correspond to the
shape of the chamber W, and to ensure its entering the said chamber with
facility. The sides of the plunger X may be made taper, but it is preferred
to make the plunger of a round sectional form, as shewn in Figure 4. The
said plunger X is perforated or bored through from end to end, the needle a
being fitted to slide freely in the perforation in such a direction that when
struck by the bolt fits forward end will penetrate the rear of the cartridge.
The needle a is retained in the hole in the plunger X by the point of the
screw (which secures the plunger to the lid or trap) extending down into a
keyway or notch g formed in its side. The spring h for keeping the trap or
lid Y firmly closed is secured to the said trap by the screw i and stud j. The
front end of the spring h pressing against the under face of the cam k keeps

page_text: the lid or trap Y down when the trap is closed, but when the trap is thrown
up to open the breech, in order to charge the piece, the said end of the spring h
acts upon the upper face of the cam k and causes the trap to lie on the
barrel B. The cam k is fixed to the barrel B and does not turn with the lid
or trap Y. The spring hinstead of being placed on the side of the trap Y
may be placed in a recess formed in the said trap above the plunger X, and
may be secured therein by the screw 6 which is passed from the outer surface
of the trap through the end of the spring, through the side of the plunger,
and into a keyway formed in the side of the needle. The closing of the
trap Y is further secured during the discharge of the piece by the end of the
bolt or striker fentering into the perforation in the plunger X, and by the
arm on the lever J catching over the arm or projection m which extends out
from the lid or trap Y. The arm m also serves as a catch for throwing up
the trap in opening the breech. The striker or bolt f is arranged to operate
under the tail piece P of the breech Q, the back of the chamber W being
perforated for the end of the said bolt to pass through. This bolt f is furnished
with two catches or projections n which are acted upon by the tumbler E in
cocking and firing the piece. The bolt fis guided by the screw o which
passes through the slot p in the said bolt. Two small levers having arms q
and rare fitted to turn upon the hinge pin d. The lower arms 9 have each a
projections, which fits into a recess t in the barrel behind the rim of the
cartridge. The upper arms r which stand above the barrel B are struck by
the trap Y as it is thrown up to open the breech and are carried around
therewith into a recess u in the top of the barrel B, the arms q moving at the
same time withdraw the empty cartridge case. The cartridge case may also
be withdrawn by the needle being wedged into the rear thereof or by a spring
provided with a hook attached to plunger X. The cartridge cases t¹ are
formed by stamping them from sheets of tin or other suitable metal or alloy
of metal, and are covered by a thin layer of copper by means of the ordinary
electrotype process. Or the said cases may be formed of paper or any other
suitable substance which by a coating of blacklead, tinfoil, or any other medium
is prepared to receive the copper surface. The tin or other metal or material
may be afterward melted or burnt out, leaving a case entirely composed of
copper. Or the cartridge cases may be formed by depositing copper by the
5 electrotype process upon flexible moulds, the said moulds being afterwards
withdrawn. The cases are subsequently dressed in a suitable machine. The
said cases may be grooved longitudinally on their exterior surfaces to allow
them to expand and adapt themselves accurately to the bore of the breech

page_text: chamber, and also to allow of the introduction of lubricating material.
The cartridge cases may be tapered to any required degree by varying the
immersion of the said cases in the electrotype solution during the process.
The bullets also may be united to the said cases, and effectually protected from
corrosion by immersion for a short time in the same solution. Paper, cloth,
and other like substances may be used for lining or covering the soft metal
cases.
The base u of the cartridge t', shewn in Figure 8, is composed of copper,
and the tube v of paper coated with copper by the electrotype process as
described. In the base u a felt wad w is placed, and in front of this wad w
is a metal plate x, and percussion cap y. In the centre of the wad w, a small
pin is inserted, and in its rear a recess z¹ is formed into which the end of the
pin z projects. In discharging the piece the needle a penetrates through a
small hole y¹ in the base u into the recess and striking the pin z forces it
into the fulminate of the cap y and so discharges the piece. The end of the
needle a being somewhat greater in diameter than the hole y¹ becomes wedged
therein, and thus assists in withdrawing the cartridge when the trap Y is thrown
up in opening the breech.
Having thus fully described the said improvements, and shown how the same
may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I claim,-
First, constructing the lock plate C, and trigger plate D, by forging
them in one piece, for the purpose and substantially in the manner set forth.
Second, the arrangement of the tumbler E, and the mode of connecting
the said tumbler with its axle, for the purposes and substantially in the manner
set forth.
Third, uniting the stock A, barrel B, and lock C by the screws M and O,
substantially in the manner described.
Fourth, the mode of securing the plunger X., the needle a, and spring h
to the trap or lid, for the purpose and substantially in the manner set
forth.
Fifth, providing the bolt or strikerf with the catches n, and arranging the
same to be operated by the tumbler E, for the purposes and substantially in
the manner set forth.
Sixth, the devices for extracting the empty cartridge cases, arranged and
operating substantially in the manner set forth.
Seventh, the lock C, tumbler E, chamber W, trap Y, needle a, striker f, and
other parts of a rifle combined, arranged and operating substantially as herein
set forth.
Я
8

page_text: Eighth, forming cartridges for breech-loading fire-arms, substantially in the
manner set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Vincent Fosbery, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
GEORGE
ASELtine,
GEORGE V. FOSBERY, V.C. (L.S.)
Captain.
8, Southampton Buildings,
W. C.