In- PROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS KNOWN AS 'CHASSEPOT' RIFLES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Carter and George Henry Edwards, both
of Bow, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "In-
PROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS KNOWN AS 'CHASSEPOT' RIFLES."
Sealed the 7th December 1869, and dated the 8th June 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Carter and
George Henry Edwards at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 8th June 1869.
We, HENRY CARTER and GEORGE HENRY EDWARDS, both of Bow,
in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS KNOWN AS
CHASSEPOT RIFLES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of
that description of fire-arm known as the ordinary or improved Chassepot
breech-loading rifle, whereby the Boxer or Daw cartridge may be used
instead of the French cartridge, an extractor being applied directly to
the closing bolt of the arm.

page_text: The improvements are applicable to the primary manufacture of the
gun, or to the conversion of the ordinary or improved Chassepot rifle ;
and further to the construction and conversion of such guns, whereby
they are discharged with greater rapidity and safety than at present, and
rendered impossible to discharge unless the movements are in their true
or proper position of security.
In the improvement on his original gun Mr. Chassepot devised a
means whereby a central percussive fire cartridge could be used and
discharged by a striker, instead of his original penetrating needle; he
also applied an extractor consisting of a slotted flat plate having a
curvilinear notch at its extremity to grip the rim of the cartridge, and
into this slotted plate a tooth or sliding bolt was caused to enter, and
thus when the bolt was nearly drawn back from the breech to its full
extent the tooth geared with the slotted end of the extractor, and with-
drew the metallic end of the cartridge to the extent of about half an
inch, merely sufficient to extract the detonator, the fore part of the
cartridge case having been exploded by the discharge. This arrange-
ment could not be applied to the Boxer or Daw cartridge because it
would in such case be necessary to withdraw the entire case of the
cartridge from the breech, and moreover the arrangement of the breech
itself in the improved Chassepot does not permit the the use of the
Boxer or Daw cartridge.
The extractor in Chassepot's improvement is a sliding extractor
separate from and independent of the bolt and deriving motion from
the tooth below the bolt, but by our improvements in the breech and
extractor we are enabled to render the original and improved Chassepot
capable of using the Boxer or Daw cartridge, neither of which it has
hitherto been capable of firing and extracting.
In order to adapt the Boxer central-fire cartridge we first alter the
bore of the breech end of the barrel, in so far as the reception of the
cartridge is concerned. In the primary manufacture of the gun this
alteration of the form of breech would be made direct, but in the process
of conversion we accomplish the change in the following manner :-
We take an exact model of the original form of breech in rear of the
rifling, that is to say, so much of the bore and cavity of the breech
behind it as is necessary to constitute the receptacle or space for the
cartridge when the arm is loaded, and from this model we form a

page_text: corresponding metallic plug or stopper of similar shape and dimensions;
this we subject to a red heat and insert it firmly into the breech and
rear of the cavity or shoe close to the breech, so as to close or plug the
same; we then bore or drill through the body or sides of the barrel
two apertures a short distance apart and at right angles each to each,
passing completely through the sides of the barrel and plug, and we
then insert two screws (forming screw rivets by hammering) which
serve to secure the plug in position. We then re-bore the breech
through this plug in order to form within the plug a new breech of a
partly parallel or cylindrical form to suit the shape of that portion of the
cartridge containing the powder and terminating in a curved or some-
what conical and graduating form to suit the bullet end, and comply
with the requirements of the rifle grooves of the Chassepot gun, or the
cartridge may be of a complete taper from end to end. In other words
we bore the plug to suit the Boxer cartridge and enable it to fit such
altered bore and to leave an annular surface of stop or contact for the
rim of the cartridge to bear upon when it is thrust home into the breech
by the action of the sliding bolt ready for discharge. The breech having
thus become contracted, and a flush annular surface being left for the
reception of the cartridge rim, we then enlarge the cavity of the open
breech (to suit the requirements of our improved extractor hereafter
described) by cutting out a dip at the bottom of the groove or shoe close
to the breech and extending beneath the position of the cartridge rim
when inserted, we continue this enlargement by cutting away a circular
sweep towards the left-hand side of the interior of the open breech, and
around the left side of the rear extremity of the plug (when the gun has
been converted) or similarly when the gun is primarily manufactured
in a corresponding form, in order to permit the point of the extractor
to turn with the bolt when the bolt is operated by the handle, the
extractor being fixed by means of a spring and screw to the bottom of
the sliding piston or bolt which drives home the cartridge. When the
extractor which projects from the sliding bolt presents its tapering or
wedge surface to the under edge or rim of the cartridge it is necessary
in order that the lock or notch of the extractor shall grip the rim, that
the extractor must first descend or dip into the enlarged shoe of the arm,
otherwise it would jam or wedge itself between the shoe or groove and
the cartridge and would not freely pass between the two. This dip of
the extractor is therefore permitted by the enlarged cavity referred to,

page_text: and when the cartridge has been discharged the sliding bolt must be
turned and drawn back to extract the cartridge for re-loading. This
turn of the bolt could not be effected by the fixed extractor thereon
unless the circular enlargement of the open breech on the left of the
arm and interior of the open breech has been made.
Since it is necessary to dispense with the discharging needle as used
in the first Chassepot rifle in order to apply and discharge the central
percussion cartridge of Boxer or Daw we substitute a striking pin and
shorten the stroke of the discharge so that the pin, when the trigger is
pulled, only projects slighty from the cavity or bore in the bolt just
sufficient to operate on the detonator; this plan is of course necessary,
but as Chassepot has already adopted it in his improvements it forms no
part of this Invention. The sliding bolt is to be shortened by the
removal of the small stem or projection of the Chassepot which originally
entered the barrel and made contact with the cartridge, so that we
enable the full diameter and area of the sliding bolt to bear firmly
against the metallic rear of the cartridge and force it home against its
bearing on the plug or enlargement of the breech.
It will be particularly observed that the extractor is a fixture to the
sliding bolt, and acquires all the movements of the bolt simultaneously,
whether advancing, retrograding, or turning; whereas, in the improved
Ohassepot the extractor is separated from the bolt and slides in a groove
cut in the shoe, but with our extractor no groove is required to be cut
in the shoe for the guidance or travel of the extractor, which is let in a
slot cut in the sliding bolt itself in which it is secured by the screw.
When the Boxer cartridge is formed with a tapering surface nearly from
end to end, only about an eighth of an inch of the case is subject to
friction in the insertion and extraction, and thus the extractor has only
to give an initial withdrawal instead of a continuous tension, as is the
case when the cartridge case is cylindrical for a considerable portion of
its length.
In the further improvements we dispense altogether with the
thumb piece or cock, whereby the Chassepot was brought to the
cocking position, and we cause the striker or needle (whichever may
be used) to be drawn back and secured in order for discharge by the
action of pushing forward the sliding bolt in order to drive the and
before turning down on the lever into the side slot to secure the bolt

page_text: this.
from recoil. By these improvements it will be evident that one move-
ment necessary in the present Chassepot, viz., that of cocking the gun
by the thumb piece will be altogether dispensed with, and a self-cocking
action will be substituted, created by the sliding motion of the bolt.
itself. So also in the event of danger of the arm falling into the hands
of an enemy, the entire bolt may be removed in an instant by the
hand of the soldier, thus rendering the gun useless. In order to
accomplish these results the rear division of the bolt has its under
surface tapered down, changing the cylindrical to a flattened form,
terminating in a step by leaving the extreme rear of the bolt in its
original circular form, we then apply a trigger stop in the form of a
vertical stem or tumbler protruding through the shoe of the gun;
stem is pivoted or hinged to a plate continuing from the trigger, and is
pressed upwards by a sear spring and pulled downwards by the backward
motion of the trigger. Now, in order to load the gun the hand lever
is turned up to bring the bolt guide in line with the slot in the top.
of the shoe, and consequently in line with the bolt guide in the rear
division of the bolt, then the entire bolt may be drawn back by the
lever so as to permit of the insertion of the cartridge; the bolt is then
to be pushed forward to drive the cartridge home and the handle is
turned down into, the slot, so as to secure the bolt from the recoil.
But in thus pushing forward the front division of the bolt, the rear
division will be held back by the vertical stem or tumbler, because in
the act of loading the rear division of the bolt by its under tapering.
surface retreating on the surface of the tumbler forces it downwards.
until the front or face of the rear bolt has passed behind the tumbler,
which then is free to spring up into the deep slot cut in the bottom
of the front division; the cartridge being now inserted in the shoe the
bolt is pushed forward, but the front division alone can be moved
against the action of the internal spring actuating the needle or striker
which is held back by its fixture with the rear division of the bolt
retained from forward motion by the tumbler, and thus the arm is ready
for discharge by the pull of the trigger and descent of the tumbler.
The rear of the front division of the bolt is made with a cam projection
and steps gearing with corresponding recesses in the front of the rear
division; their situation is such relatively that unless the fore end
of the bolt is turned down in the slot so as to bring the cam and steps
in, or that they shall register together, the rear division of the bolt can

page_text: never completely meet the fore division; thus, if the fore division is
not turned down leaving its upper guide bar in line with the slot con
taining the guide bar of the rear division the two cannot meet, but the
gear bolt will fly against the first step of the fore bolt; this contact will
prevent any further approach, and the needle or striker will not reach
the cartridge. So also after the discharge if the lever be turned up
it cannot be turned down because the cam will turn slightly driving
back the striker and cause a step to spring back to the rear bolt, locking
the two, and making it necessary to draw both back before they can again
be separated by a forward motion when the tumbler will again hold fast
of the rear division. When the arm is charged and the lever turned
down to prevent the chance of the cartridge being withdrawn by the
accidental upward motion of the lever, and its consequent spring back
to the rear bolt, taking the cartridge with it, we apply to the left and
outside of the shoe and stock in a horizontal position, a small handle or
knob to which a stem is attached, such stem resting in an oblique cavity
cut in the side of the shoe. Between the knob and stem a joint is
formed uniting a flat spring screwed to the outside of the shoe at a point
nearer the breech; a hole is then cut through the shoe exactly opposite
the joint of the stem and spring. A corresponding cavity is then cut in
the fore division of the bolt in such position that when the stem is
inserted in the hole in the side of the shoe, and consequently bears on
the surface of the fore bolt, in the event of the lever being turned
upwards the cavity of the bolt will come in line with that in the shoe
and the stem will instantly enter it by the powerful action of the spring,
and thus the bolt is rendered immoveable until released by the knob of
the stem.
It is obvious that the bolt cannot be entirely withdrawn from the shoe
Tennise the doon't

page_text: edge of the deep groove, he may then instantly draw out the entire bolt
from the shoe and leave the arm in the hands of the enemy as an useless
weapon.
It will also be seen that the construction of the shoe is of the most
simple character, being merely a slotted tube attached to the barrel, and
presenting no difficulty in its manufacture. The bolt itself is more
compact than the ordinary Chassepot bolt, and the absence of the thumb
piece removes that projection from the surface of the arm and improves
its general appearance besides saving considerable expense.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Carter and George Henry Edwards in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th December 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, HENRY
CARTER and GEORGE HENRY EDWARDS, both of Bow, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Henry Carter and George Henry
Edwards, Her special licence that we, the said Henry Carter and George
Henry Edwards, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such'
others as we, the said Henry Carter and George Henry Edwards, our
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
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS KNOWN AS CHASSEPOT RIFLES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said Henry Carter and George Henry
Edwards, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what.

page_text: manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be file
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next an
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patént.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Carter, do hereby declare th
nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the same is to b
performed; to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
Our Invention relates, 1stly, to certain improvements in the con
struction of that description of fire-arm known as the ordinary or
improved Chassepot breech-loading rifle, whereby the Boxer or Daw
cartridge may be used instead of the French cartridge, an extractor
being applied directly to the closing bolt of the arm.
The improvements are applicable to the primary manufacture of the
gun or to the conversion of the ordinary or improved Chassepot rifle.
In the improvement on his original gun Mr. Chassepot devised a
means whereby a central percussive fire cartridge could be used and
discharged by a striker instead of his original penetrating needle; he
also applied an extractor consisting of a slotted flat plate, having a
curvilinear notch at its extremity to grip the rim of the cartridge, and
into this slotted plate a tooth on the sliding bolt was caused to enter,
and thus when the bolt was nearly drawn back from the breech to its
'full extent the tooth geared with the slotted end of the extractor, and
withdrew the metallic end of the cartridge to the extent of about half an
inch, merely sufficient to extract the detonator, the fore part of the
cartridge.case being exploded by the discharge. This arrangement could
not be applied to the Boxer or Daw cartridge, because it would in such
case be necessary to withdraw the entire case of the cartridge from the
breech, and moreover the arrangement of the breech itself in the
improved Chassepot. does not permit the use of the Boxer or Daw
cartridge,
The extractor in Chassepot's improvement is a sliding extractor
separate from and independent of the bolt, and deriving motion. from
the tooth below the bolt, but by my improvements in the breech
and extractor I am enabled to render the original and improved
Chassepot capable of using the Boxer or Daw cartridge, neither of which.
it has hitherto been capable of firing and extracting.

page_text: In order to adapt the Boxer or Daw central-fire cartridge to the gun
we first alter- the bore of the breech end of the barrel, in so far as the
reception of the cartridge is concerned. In the primary manufacture of
the gun this alteration of the form of breech would be made direct, but
in the process of conversion we accomplish the change in the following
manner:-We take an exact model of the original form of breech in rear
of the rifling, that is to say, so much of the bore and cavity of the
breech behind it as is necessary to constitute the receptacle or space for
the cartridge, when the arm is loaded, and from this model we form a
corresponding metallic plug or stopper of similar shape and dimensions;
this we subject to a red heat and insert it firmly into the breech and
rear of the cavity or shoe close to the barrel, so as to close or plug the
same; we then bore or drill through the body or sides of the barrel
two apertures a short distance apart, and at right angles each to each,:
passing completely through the sides of the barrel and plug, and we then
insert two screws (forming screw rivets by hammering) which serve to
secure the plug in position. We then rebore the breech through this.
plug in order to form within the plug a new breech of a partly parallel
or cylindrical form to suit the shape of that portion of the cartridge.
containing the powder, and terminating in a curved or somewhat conical
and graduating form to suit the bullet end, and comply with the
requirements of the rifle grooves of the Chassepot gun, or the cartridge
may be of a complete taper from end to end. In other words we bore.
the plug to suit the Boxer cartridge, and enable it to fit such altered
bore, and to leave an annular surface of stop or contact for the rim of
the cartridge to bear upon when it is thrust home into the breech by
the action of the sliding bolt ready for discharge. The breech having
thus become contracted and a flush annular surface being left for the
reception of the cartridge rim, we then enlarge the cavity of the open
breech (to suit the requirements of our improved extractor hereafter
described) by cutting out a dip at the bottom of the groove or shoe close
to the breech, and extending beneath the position of the cartridge rim
when inserted; we continue this enlargement by cutting away a circular
sweep towards the left-hand side of the interior of the open breech,
and around the left side of the rear extremity of the plug (when the gun
has been converted), or similarly when the gun is primarily manu-.
factured in a corresponding form, in order to permit the point of the.
extractor to turn with the bolt when the bolt is operated by the handle,

page_text: the extractor being fixed by means of a spring and screw to the bottom
of the sliding piston or bolt which drives home the cartridge. When the
extractor which projects from the sliding bolt presents its tapering or
wedge surface to the under edge or rim of the cartridge, it is necessary in
order that the lock or notch of the extractor shall grip the rim that the
extractor must first descend or dip into the enlarged shoe of the arm,
otherwise it would jam or wedge itself between the shoe or groove and
the cartridge, and would not freely pass between the two. This dip of
the extractor is therefore permitted by the enlarged cavity referred to,
and when the cartridge has been discharged the sliding bolt must be
turned and drawn back to extract the cartridge for reloading. This turn
of the bolt could not be effected with our fixed extractor thereon unless
the circular enlargement of the open breech on the left hand of the arm
and interior of the open breech had been made.
Since it is necessary to dispense with the discharging needle as used in
the first Chassepot rifle, in order to apply and discharge the central
percussion cartridge of Boxer or Daw, we substitute a striking pin and
shorten the stroke of the discharge, so that the pin when the trigger is
pulled only projects slightly from the cavity or bore in the bolt .just
sufficient to operate on the detonator; this plan is of course necessary,
but as Chassepot has already adopted it in his improvements, it forms
no portion of our Invention. The sliding bolt is to be shortened by the
removal of the small stem or projection of the Chassepot which originally
entered the barrel and made contact with the cartridge, so that we
enable the full diameter and area of the sliding bolt to bear firmly
against the metallic rear of the cartridge, and force it home against its
bearing on the plug or enlargement of the breech.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a longitudinal section
of these improvements; Fig. 2 a plan view of the entrance to the
breech; Fig. 3 an under plan view of the sliding bolt, shewing the
formation and position of the extractor; and Fig. 4 is a side view of the
same.
In Fig. 1a shews the plug rebored to suit the cartridge; b, the
enlarged cavity of the open breech to allow of the dip or descent and
circular movement of the extractor; the line 6' shews the dip at the
end of the shoe close to the barrel to allow of the descent or dip of the
extractor at the moment of its engaging with the rim of the cartridge.

page_text: case, and the parallel surface 6 of the circular cavity or shoe main-
tains the parallel position of the extractor while being withdrawn, and
keeps it to its work, firmly clutching the cartridge rim. In Fig. 2
c represents the circular rim of the breech on which the cartridge rim
is borne, and d is the deepened semicircular groove or receptacle on
the left-hand of breech for the turning motion of the point of the
extractor. In Fig. 3 e is the extractor consisting of a flat spring fand
inclined tooth or wedge g secured to the under part of the bolt by the
screw i. The spring permits the tooth of the extractor to dip into the
enlarged cavity b' in the shoe at the moment when it grips the rim of
the cartridge, and then it cannot descend further while the cartridge is
being extracted.
Fig. 4 represents a side view of the same, shewing an elevation of
the extractor with its notch K to receive the rim. It will be par-
ticularly observed that the extractor is a fixture to the sliding bolt;
and acquires all the movements of the bolt simultaneously, whether
advancing, retrograding, or turning, whereas in the improved Chassepot
the extractor is separated from the bolt and slides in a groove cut in the
shoe, but with our extractor no groove is required to be cut in the shoe
for the guidance or travel of the extractor, which is let in a slot cut in
the sliding bolt itself, in which is secured by the screws. When the
Boxer cartridge is formed with a tapering surface nearly from end to end
only about an eighth of an inch of the case is subject to friction
in the insertion and extraction, and thus the extractor has only to give
an initial withdrawal instead of a continuous tension, as is the case when
the cartridge case is cylindrical for a considerable portion of its length.
In the further improvements we dispense altogether with the thumb
piece or cock whereby the Chassepot was brought to the cocking
position, and we cause the striker or needle (whichever may be used)
to be drawn back and secured in order for discharge by the action
of pushing forward the sliding bolt in order to drive the cartridge home
and before turning down the lever into the side slot to secure the bolt
from recoil. By these improvements it will be evident that one
movement necessary in the present Chassepot, viz., that of cocking
the gun by the thumb piece will be altogether dispensed with, and
a self-cocking action will be substituted, created by the sliding motion
of the bolt itself; so also in the event of danger of the arm falling

page_text: into the hands of an enemy the entire bolt may be removed in an
instant by the hand of the soldier, thus rendering the gun useless.
In order to accomplish these results the rear division of the bolt
has its under surface tapered down changing the cylindrical to a
flattened form terminating in a step by leaving the extreme rear of
the bolt in its original circular form. We then apply a trigger stop
in the form of a vertical stem or tumbler protruding through the shoe
of the gun. This stem is pivoted or hinged to a plate continuing from
the trigger and is pressed upwards by a sear spring and pulled down-
wards by the backward motion of the trigger. Now in order to load
the gun the hand lever is turned up to bring the bolt guide in line
with the slot in the top of the shoe, and consequently in line with
the bolt guide in the rear division of the bolt; 'then the entire bolt
may be drawn back by the lever so as to permit of the insertion of
the cartridge, the bolt is then to be pushed forward to drive the cartridge
home and the handle is turned down into the slot so as to secure the
bolt from the recoil. But in thus pushing forward the front division
of the bolt the rear division will be held back by the vertical stem
or tumbler, because in the act of loading the rear division of the bolt
by its under tapering surface retreating on the surface of the tumbler
forces it downwards until the front or face of the rear bolt has passed
behind the tumbler, which then is free to spring up into the deep slot
cut in the bottom of the front division. The cartridge being now
inserted in the shoe the bolt is pushed forward, but the front division
alone can be moved against the action of the internal spring actuating
the needle or striker which is held back by its fixture with the rear
division of the bolt retained from forward motion by the tumbler,
and thus the arm is ready for discharge by the pull of the trigger
and descent of the tumbler. The rear of the front division of the
bolt is made with a cam projection and steps gearing with corresponding
recesses in the front of the rear division; their situation is such
relatively, that unless the fore end of the bolt is turned down in the
slot so as to bring the cam and steps in line or that they shall register
together the rear division of the bolt can never completely meet the
fore division, thus, if the fore division is not turned down leaving
its' upper guide bar in line with the slot containing the guide bar of
the rear division the two cannot meet, but the rear bolt will fly against

page_text: the first step of the fore bolt, this contact will prevent any further
approach, and the needle or striker will not reach the cartridge. So also
after the discharge if the lever be turned up it cannot be turned down
because the cam will turn slightly, driving back the striker, and cause
a step to spring back to the rear bolt, locking the two, and making
it necessary to draw both back before they can again be separated
by a forward motion, when the tumbler will again hold fast of the
rear division. It is obvious that the bolt cannot, be entirely withdrawn
from the shoe because the deep slot in the fore division terminates
at a point sufficient to permit of the requisite withdrawal for insertion
of the cartridge; the tumbler serves as an ultimate stop to the retrograde
motion of the fore division to prevent. its removal from the shoe.equally
as it does for the stop to the forward motion of the discharging end
of the bolt, so also this vertical tumbler must be withdrawn from
the contact of the forward division in order to remove it entirely.
It is clear, therefore, that if the soldier pulls with some degree of force
the trigger, so as to bring down the tumbler catch to its extreme point
of descent so as to escape the edge of the deep groove, he may then
instantly draw out the entire bolt from the shoe and leave the arm
in the hands of an enemy as an useless weapon.
It will also be seen. that the construction of the shoe is of the
most simple character, being merely a slotted tube attached to the
barrel and presenting no difficulty in its manufacture. The bolt itself
is more compact than the ordinary Chassepot bolt, and the absence
of the thumb piece removes that projection from the surface of the
arm, and improves its general appearance, besides saving considerable
expense. When the arm is charged and the lever turned down to
prevent the chance of the cartridge being withdrawn by the accidental
upward motion of the lever and its consequent spring back to the
rear bolt taking the cartridge with it, we apply to the left and outside
of the shoe a circular slide, working in a channel or groove cut round
the outside of the shoe and held therein by a slot and screw, so that
the thumb piece of the slide may be brought over and across the top
of the bolt or moved back within the channel. This alide consequently
acts as a barrier intervening between the two divisions of the bolt,
and therefore when it is moved across the bolt the arm cannot possibly
be discharged accidentally, as the rear division of the bolt with the

page_text: striker cannot possibly fly in contact with the front divsion when
the stop is pushed between the two. This safety stop is applicable to
other bolt guns.
Fig. 5 is a section of so much of the gun as is necessary to shew
these improvements.
Fig. 6 being an under plan view of the sliding bolt.
Figs. 7 and 8 the views of the bolt detached, the breech end of the
bolt being in the position for closing the gun. Similar letters denote
corresponding parts in each Figure. The action of the compound
bolt a, a, and tumbler 6 are here shewn, and will be thoroughly
understood by the preceding description. c is the extractor; d, the
sear spring; e, the oblique cut under the rear portion of the bolt; f, the
channel under the front portion of the bolt, permitting its movement
in rear of the tumbler. The parts marked g, g, of the top guide bar
and shoe are rounded off to permit of the ready entrance of the rear
guide into the slot of the shoe.
Fig. 9 is a plan view of the shoe for containing the sliding bolt h,
shewing the safety stop described.
Having now described the nature of our said improvements and
the manner in which they are to be carried into effect, we claim,-
Firstly. The improvements on the original and improved Chassepot
rifle, consisting of the change in the breech bore by primary manu-
facture to suit the Boxer or any central-fire cartridge suitable for the
bore, or by conversion of the guns by the application of a plug and by
reboring the same.
. Secondly. The construction and application of our improved extractor
whereby it is made to form an addition to the sliding bolt fixed to
and acting concomitantly with the same, such extractor being thus
rendered applicable to the withdrawal of the Boxer or other central-
fire cartridge. And in conjunction with the extractor we claim the
enlargement of the shoe to permit of the dip of the extractor to grip
the cartridge rim, and to permit of the point of the extractor turning
round within the open breech during the turning of the sliding bolt
to which it is attached.
And, lastly, The improved construction of Chassepot rifle whereby
the cock is dispensed with, and the gun is rendered self-cocking by

page_text: the action of closing the sliding bolt, and whereby the arm may be
rendered useless by the complete withdrawal of the bolt from the open
breech or shoe, together with the application to the bolts of guns of
the circular slide or safety stop, all substantially as herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Carter, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE,
Office for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.
HENRY CARTER.
ARTER. (L.8.)